Fries, Virginia - An Appalachian Town With a Strange Name and Pronunciation And, No, It Isn't French

[@carolyns5596]

Ahh, the home of my Father and Grandfathers. My Gr-Grandfather was a Stoneman, buried in the cemetery you passed. Yes, Fries is German. Washington Mills the cotton mill stood on the New River by the little Bridge you crossed. My Grandfather worked there and lived on the other side of the road within walking distance in the houses which were built on stilts, so when the river flooded, he got out the rowboat under the house and rowed to work! Beautiful place!

[@chipcather4042]

Stoneman family great Bluegrass Country Music. One of the daughters came to Winchester 4 Apple Blossom Bluegrass Festival put on a great show late 90s.

[@monoXcide01]

Got a Fries here in Missouri. The joke is that it's pronounced freeze in the Winter and frys in the summer.

[@aliciaburcham1074]

We say that too! I’ve heard that saying my whole life

[@Stephanie-kt9vh]

Same in ours Fries

[@karencaddle7288]

All those houses were so well maintained. The residents obviously take pride in living in Fries.

[@realappalachia]

We really noticed that as well. It seems like a great place to live because of that pride! - Melody

[@kennethhauser1645]

Most of them are summer rentals

[@reginaldwinthrop9480]

@@realappalachia yes..well living here is elegant and pretty

[@martyelliott2167]

A couple of quick facts . At start of the video you was overlooking where use to stand the old cotton mill . The cotton mill built all the houses in the town for its workers. They had a company store that would deliver the goods to the workers houses . The YMCA that you was in had one of the first pools in VA. As well it has a theatre, bowling alley, Gym, weight room, library etc.

[@audramatney1148]

First to thumbs up great video friends God bless

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much, Audra

[@rw2629]

Very nice! Towns like that are where the real people of Virginia live, not in areas like the suburbs of DC.

[@appalachiangunman9589]

I live ten minutes from the Virginia line and most of the people in Southwest Virginia are freedom-loving patriots.

[@gingerlancaster3033]

Since I moved to Virginia two years ago, I have come across the strangest town names and the most unexpected pronunciations

[@Stephanie-kt9vh]

My grandparents lived on main street with the river and mountain as the view from their porch. Small but absolutely beautiful. So far in this video, you have driven past my Grandparents home, my Cousin's home, my Aunts and Uncles houses . You just took me on a family reunion. Which I've had family reunions in the old Theater you went into. Yes YMCA . Multipurpose

[@realappalachia]

That’s fantastic, thanks for watching

[@mikebass9943]

I'm going to fries this winter, y'all are getting really clever in the intros . Thank y'all funny people.

[@lawrencetaylor8064]

They are.

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much! - Melody

[@debbieepperly3821]

Fries is a really nice place. Been there a few times several years ago. Hubby used to do hand-lettering on buses, racecars & signs which is now a forgotten art! He painted some buses for a childcare place in Fries. If my memory serves me well, he also lettered a racecar there at a racer's home. Y'all make these videos so nice & love hanging out with y'all! Y'all stay safe and God bless! 🎄

[@c103110a]

Hand-lettering is a lost art, but it's coming back !

[@ronaldcooper7609]

My wife was born in Galax. Whenever we visited we would drive through Fries. I noticed that a lot of the houses were alike and probably cotton mill company houses. The coal company houses in eastern KY were not as solidly built.

[@gregbutterfuss8590]

Just love your videos Shane and Melody!!!!! You are moving into the big time now…. I see Melody is having wardrobe changes. Shane I’ve got your back LOL

[@realappalachia]

Thanks, Greg! Yeahhh we kinda hit a malfunction haha! - Melody

[@kathyangle1179]

My sister has a vacation home there. I've visited her there a couple of times with my other sisters and spent a couple of days there. Nice little town.

[@sandraking8251]

I went to high school in Fries Va. and learnt to drive on these roads

[@ClaytonHensley]

So did I. I was in the next to the last graduating class, 1988.

[@timgriffith2094]

I met Roni Stoneman in the late 70’s when I worked at the Holiday Inn in Bristol. She was in Bristol to perform at the tv station for the annual telethon. I talked with her briefly as she checked in. About 30 minutes to an hour later, she called down to the front desk, told me she saw someone’s poodle wandering around in the parking lot. She put it in her room because she didn’t want someone to run over it. Being a major animal lover myself, whenever I think of her, the kind and funny person that she was always comes to mind.

[@realappalachia]

That’s great, sounds like she must have been a great lady

[@freddielong2275]

Love you're voice Melody. Could listen to you talk all day.

[@realappalachia]

Thank you!! - Melody

[@Valady49]

Thank you for showing this town. I have friends from there. Last name was Goad.

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

Never heard of Fries, nor Grayson County. Lived in Fairfax, most of my life. I lived in Newington. You mentioned The Washington Inn. Is that the same thing as the Little Inn at Washington? My husband took me there, after I said "yes", August 22, 1976

[@judithpack6124]

First, yes it pronunciation is German in origin. The blue building you were curious about downtown was a garage and gas station. The mill was by the dam and canal. It was huge and was dismantled around 2000. When the schools were consolidated the elementary school was relocated to a school in the Providence community. The section of the school across from the Methodist church has the gym, lunchroom and a locker room. When I graduated we had just under 300 students K to 12 in one building. There was another section that was torn down. Let me know if you are curious about anything else. Enjoyed the video

[@jeffreyhopkins5503]

I was on an all star baseball team from Radford Va. and we played the Fries all stars on that field in 1977. Such a fond memory.

[@bruceh4180]

Terrible video... for my diet! 🍟 Great town, so nicely kept up. Thanks 👍

[@belindafabila4527]

The school you passed is open. Has been for years. My son who is 19yrs old now had went to that school and my 13yr old is going there right now. She's been there since kindergarten. The highest grade is 7th grade in the school.

[@beachbum9869]

Always great videos. I think I like this town the best. Did I hear you correctly when you said the population is only 400? Looks like a pretty big town for 400 people. Keep up the great work. Have fun, stay safe and stay healthy!

[@realappalachia]

Thank you! It sure is a great town. And you got it, a little over 400 people. I agree I would’ve thought more than that. - Melody

[@MatthewThomasFunk]

I am enjoying your videos. Thank you for sharing your passion for Appalachia

[@sierrachoco5271]

Great video, thanks and best wishes from upstate N.Y.!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks and great to see your name again :)

[@EdensVision]

Please keep your neighbor in Kentucky in your hearts and prayers❤🙏🇺🇲

[@realappalachia]

Absolutely, I just heard about that devastation. We are praying for all impacted by the terrible situation. I 🙏

[@EdensVision]

Beautiful little town. Tyvm for sharing🇺🇲

[@EdensVision]

@Real Appalachia They rescue thus far 40 out of 110 (?) people in the candle factory. Mayfield, Marshal County, Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, so many of our small towns devastated. We love help assist and dig out each other round these places. Proving the greatness of America 🇺🇸 Everyone is helping, bringing their light love and help. Proving good ol fashioned Americans are more united just as the days past.

[@EdensVision]

I have all the faith that once we embrace each other into the surrounding towns, we will help them recover the greatness of their rich history. This was an amazing share today. We shall rebuild they way we always do. In Style and with love ❤️

[@samanthab1923]

Edens Vision Thank you for the update. I follow a fellow with dogs from Bowling Green. Pray all is well 🙏🏻

[@jamese3169]

Great video. Its been years since I've been over that way. You probably drove right past my house depending on which way you went or came back.

[@brendalane4228]

Beautiful town! Thanks Shane and Meoldy for the tour.

[@larrym.johnson9219]

Beautiful town nice tour thanks Shane and Melody 🤟 and of course I cought the pun!

[@Julie-ms9ss]

Interesting little town . Thanks for taking us along to visit.

[@randykey5700]

Y’all are always great, you’re video’s are amazing! We enjoyed this video as usual, we go there every once in a while, I remember the old mill very well and the trestle over the road there on 94, when the train still ran to Fries, great little town! Keep up the great work!

[@ClaytonHensley]

I was hoping you'd make it to Fries on your travels. The High School did close in 1989. I graduated in 1988. The old High School wing was torn down and it became a Middle School for several years. A new addition was built and to my knowledge it is now a K-8 school as two smaller elementary schools nearby closed. I lived in Fries for four years. Love the town and nearly everyone has a view of the New River.

[@ClaytonHensley]

Since we've been talking to each other for years, you do know someone that at least lived in Fries for awhile.

[@ClaytonHensley]

Yes, the Rec Center was the YMCA originally. When I lived there people still called it the "Y". Spent many an evening at dances at the theater and swam at the pool many times too.

[@ClaytonHensley]

The Blue building was part of the Mill complex. The Mill was across the street next to the dam. My mother had a shop in that blue building when we lived there.

[@realappalachia]

not sure how I just saw this comment, KZbin is terrible at notifications. I totally forgot you went to Fries. Melody and i were talking while we were there, Fries seems to be about the cleanest and most laid back town we have visited. Relative to most towns we go to in SWVA, I would suspect the drug epidemic isn't quite as bad there either although I am totally speculating on that one. Thanks for all the info.

[@charlesmahaffey4143]

The school is k- 7th garde my wife works there and son goes there. It awesome school and fries is a great place full of wonderful people. I've lived in Grayson County all my life. We live in galax now which just 5 miles from fries. Thank you guys for doing a video here drive it all the time but enjoyed seeing your video and sharing fries with everybody.

[@michaeld_68]

What's the name of the river? They may have said and I missed it but just curious !

[@charlesmahaffey4143]

@@michaeld_68 It's the New River

[@travisjones5191]

Hey Chuck!

[@buzsalmon]

Thank you so much! Very nice video you two!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much

[@bigjon9740]

My dads side of the family were from fteeze the Linville’s. Some still live there now.

[@kennethhauser1645]

My family owned a truffle farm in this town that is not the closed high school but if you ever go back you need to travel down clito rd it's a beautiful hollar with a old church and a truffle farm

[@realappalachia]

That sounds right up our alley, thanks for the heads up

[@alvankarpas6245]

Sewer plant road, as long as there is a Dollar General nearby, who cares what folks might think? As always, great job y'all. Hey Shane, let Melody know we have DG's over here in TN too! Come visit sometime!

[@jeffstrong4311]

So how did Y'all fare with this last storm? Safe I hope.

[@teresahill14]

Well you were just around the corner of Galax. I know where Fries is. I am from Galax but I currently live in Florida, thank you for sharing.

[@samanthab1923]

Thought of you right away. You've been to so many of these small towns. Just tragic to see 🙏🏻

[@cherylrichardson8743]

Thank you for your delightful videos of Appalachia. I am reading a book about Fries, VA. Do you know when the cotton mill quit operating or is it still operating?

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure when the cotton mill ceased operations but it does appear to be closed now.

[@cherylrichardson8743]

I finished reading the book. The mill closed in 1989. The title of the book is, “Saturday, My Day to Wear the Underwear.” The author is Allen Jennings.

[@miask]

There was a little crossroads called Fries in Prince William County. The only thing there was Fries Garage, LOL. Fries in Grayson is a cute town. I love small towns! Y’all do a great job!

[@karenmcgrady5110]

If you kept goin straight when you reached the Carroll county sign it still fries you went across low water bridge that bridge gets covered in water when we get lot rain

[@herdfreak2]

I always enjoy these videos!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, we are glad to hear it

[@lawrencepurkiss7836]

Great video I've been enjoying everyone thank you

[@dicklong600]

Damnit girl, you could have shared! Have a great weekend thanks for sharing.

[@realappalachia]

I share when someone else has the fries! Haha - Melody

[@dicklong600]

@@realappalachia Nice! Just checking... LOL

[@karenmcgrady5110]

Grew up in that area my sister graduated from fries high school my parents worked at the cotton mill. Fries is next to galax va on one side independence on the other side. The school was high school the elementary school was vaughan school. Then the schools closed and latter they turned the fries school into a elementary school.

[@muddsenior]

We played basketball in that gym in junior high, the top of the circle around each foul line touched the center court circle cause the gym wasn't any bigger. There were other schools like that. At Mt. Rogers school we had to change in the home DC room since they didn't have locker rooms. We used to joke that it was Fries (freeze) in the winter but since it was at lower, it was Fries in the summer since it was always a lot hotter than Sugar Grove. Go Maple Leafs! Plus some of the maple syrup comes from the White Top area as well. Scott

[@johnwilkinson6067]

melody i absolutely love your southern accent

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much! - Melody

[@gregharmon3797]

Shane you worked in Ft. Chiswell, my family lives in Piney. You know where that is?

[@kennethhauser1645]

The fire and rescue house you passed 1/2 way through was built out of square

[@johnnielson7676]

Many years ago, before my Uncle Howard would sing “The Wreck of the Old 97” he’d say, “It’s time to kill an engineer, boys!” and launch right into the song. Now I know where the author was from.

[@Alamito24]

Agreed, visually looks like a wonderful place to live. Maintenance spectacular, homes are charming. I bet it's safe too, with rarely an incident of malicious mischief -- you drove by an unfenced cemetery which surely indicates stupid vandalism is minimal to non-existent. Outstanding! Having lived in small communities, a concern if I had one, would be that personal privacy (like vandalism) is in pretty short supply. Moving to a larger community you come to appreciate folks not knowing everything about you.

[@rw2629]

I’d like to see you go to Roan Mtn State Park sometime.

[@byrdsdoityourselfgarage7330]

I used to live down the road, in elk creek :)

[@roachdoggjr7145]

Weird seeing my town on here. Anyone else remember the Cafe being Big Daddys

[@jakebuttrum6826]

that song New River Train was on the Andy Griffith show

[@donaldjones3121]

Henery Whitter was my Great father on my dads side..

[@colabear2490]

I'll take fries with that !

[@mikea5424]

Need to ride the trail for more great views.

[@Mirianda-mv2fh]

You guys should come back one day, the bank is gone but now we have a steak house!! Lol😂

[@realappalachia]

I’ll take that trade any time

[@Heavy_Distortion]

Very nice town indeed.

[@barbarajohnson1801]

Hey this is my neck of the woods.

[@Shermaxphil]

That is a very beautiful place, I'd definitely live there, probably would constantly mispronounce the name though :-)

[@alongtheblueridge8902]

We’ve always said it’s Freeze in the winter and Fries in the summer!!! Thanks for coming to our neck of the woods!!

[@bacoda58]

These two are just plain likable.....they get us out of the big, dirty city for a moment.....

[@realappalachia]

Thank you! We’re glad to bring you along with us! - Melody

[@ssexton7865]

The school is an elementary school k thru 7th grade after the closing of providence elementary. Then kids are off to independence for high school

[@kayladawnXD]

Freeze in winter fries in summer lived here my whole life wouldn't want to live anywhere else. And the school is a prek to 7 grade.

[@mikeanderson7165]

Really cool. I always thought was call 🍟🤣

[@josephhall3761]

My mom's dad side of the family is from fries!!

[@realappalachia]

Beautiful town

[@ralphjonesog7149]

Did the ol West Virginia slow and go at that stop sign by the dollar general didn’t ya 😆😆

[@realappalachia]

No comment lol

[@danalynch8889]

I would be concerned that old man Thompson throws the ball back.

[@beverlyleonard7402]

😂

[@danreed7889]

Fries does have a German pronunciation as in a IE word combination, one pronounces the E.

[@kargandarr]

The German pronunciation of the town name where the ie sounds like ee in cheese.

[@abby-a]

I can't believe the name of the city is fries

[@barbarajohnson1801]

And it’s Fries 🍟 in the summer and freeze in the winter.

[@johnwhite993]

Y’all need to go to bumpass VA too

[@realappalachia]

Not sure where that is? What county is it in?

[@johnwhite993]

@@realappalachia Louisa county. Mainly a dot on the map. Haha

[@WayOffTheTrail]

@@johnwhite993 I see they have a Dollar General though. LOL

[@johnwhite993]

@@WayOffTheTrail there every where, there every where. Lol

[@nathaniels.sexton2114]

It’s still a functioning school

[@nathaniels.sexton2114]

Use to be the fire house

[@dicklong600]

I actually think it was a school for 6 to 12th grades. I could be wrong guys but memory says otherwise.

[@DonWayneAnna]

At one time is was grade school and High School. I attended from 1950 thru 1962..... Great memories for sure.

[@andyslate3487]

Home

[@billkitchin4123]

🇺🇸👍👍

[@logicmilkbone]

another great video !! can I get your mailing address??

[@realappalachia]

Sure thing, it is 208 Lavinia St, Bristol, VA 24201. Thanks so much

[@kevinglennN]

I bet the views are better every time Melanie is on 🤪

[@c103110a]

I bet there's very little crime in Fries, VA...

[@c103110a]

@@DAV1979 I trust you implicitly.

[@malapoyo]

Anybody that is living in the Appalachia area, can you tell me, does there seem to be any liberal types living in the area? I'm in Oregon and we have been completely SLAMMED with communist liberals for a few years now. I'm thinking of jumpin' ship. Oh! And thank you folks that put these videos together. It's giving me a chance to scope the area. 👍

[@dicklong600]

LMAO.. Well the woke crowds are everywhere! Mostly not too many in Southern WV. At least they do not run around popping off usually, just the morons. We like, guns, God, family and Freedom. We love our country but are ashamed of the current leader. Lets go Branden

[@monoXcide01]

The Northern Virginia area, also known as NOVA, is just upper middle class, well to do, D.C. suburban sprawl spilling into actual Virginia. They're ashamed of being in a southern state and get offended if you say they have an accent. NOVA should be known as NotVA because I don't consider it Virginia. Virginia proper is the south western (SWVA) and central areas. I've never been to the coastal areas of VA but there's lots of naval bases there in the Chesapeake area. Every other town in VA is a college town that so desperately wants to be or thinks it's Portland, Oregon whose "residents" are there for their parentally funded 4 year stay-cation. This gets offset by the real Virginians with the lifted 4x4s with the gun rack in the rear window and wearing real tree camo, who went to a high school that closes for opening day of deer season. With the recent governor election taking the state back to Republican, Virginia is definitely a swing state. Good places to relocate are Roanoke, Christiansburg, any city along I-81 south of Lexington, anywhere in the New River Valley (NRV), and Lynchburg. Lynchburg is known for Liberty University, which is owned by the Falwells, as in evangelist Jerry Falwell. That school owns that city and so you'll have 0 night life and 0 good bars. Falwells won't allow a Hooters in the city just to give an idea of what's NOT to do in Lynchburg. As far as Liberty students, aka Liberty kids, are concerned, they're annoying but don't pose any threat to your personal life, liberty, or property like left coast college students. Come to VA for the scenery and check out the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smith Mountain Lake. Very beautiful state that MIGHT have some opportunities for you. One of the annoying things about VA is that anything to do always seems to be 50 miles in any other direction so be ready to drive a lot, but in beautiful country.

[@malapoyo]

Oh WOW! THANKS FOR THE INFO! This is awesome to hear from folks that know what it's REALLY like there. 👍 VA sounds like it's MADE for my likings. I'm not interested in any night life type stuff AT ALL, and I just like to stay on my own property as much as possible. Only go into town for food, banking and pick up mail. I bet I could find a quiet little jag up in somewhere that I wouldn't have to but RARELY look at a neighbor. And I myself drive one of those jacked up 4X4's, so I might be well tolerated in any areas with like types. 😁 Thank you guys SO much for sharing that. It gives me hope that "normal" is still alive in other parts of our country, even if it's just about obliterated in Oregon. I might make a run for it in you guys' direction if the woke b.s. gets even worse here. Oregon's governor Kate Brown is making life really miserable here. And to add to the stress of living under such tyrrany, all the pink and purple haired freaks have me living on edge around the clock not knowing WHEN they might fly off into some drug induced "event." Oregon use to be wonderful. But ever since Seattle, Washington and California State discovered us, it's gone straight into the toilet.

[@dicklong600]

@@malapoyo My advice, stay west and south of Richmond. SW Va is great area and majority are just good honest people.

[@jjdillon2007]

I have some relatives that live in "Dumfries", VA, and it's about 45 minutes south of Washington, DC. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumfries,_Virginia.