The legend of the Appalachian Alvon hotel brothel and Claudie McCoy - Hotel to grave.

[@oneGypsy]

Loved this. Brothel, cheap hotel, moonshine....what could go wrong. Great history being told.

[@Christina-xp9ys]

My aunt did our ancestry before she passed away and she told me our family is part of the McCoys. My maternal great- grandparents, grandparents, my mom and four aunts are from Kentucky. I was born in Ohio though. I love watching and listening to all the country things. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤

[@janetsides901]

My husband and I will be buried next to his mom ,dad and 2 of his siblings. I wouldn't want to be buried near any of my siblings. Bad childhood. I love your channel ❤️

[@thehillbillyfiles]

I understand and thank you 😊

[@RhondaDoubleday]

I remmber a Steve Ball when I was there the summer of 1976.Very nice guy.Didn t get a chance to say goodbye before I went back to Connecticut. But I always remmber kindness. Great guy!

[@Trindal]

I’m from Harrison County. There’s a lot of history there that I never got the chance to learn. I left when I was 3 and didn’t get to come back and see my dad and that side of my family until I was 17. It was so weird when I went back. So many people knew me and had stories about me from back then… I still don’t know 90% of the people I met in that first week back. They treated me like I never left. So much love and happy memories of that return home. I dreamed about my grand parents house and barn for 15 years. I guess a lot of the stuff I dreamed about was things that actually happened before I left. It just played on repeat every night. When I saw that house as we rounded the corner I teared up and told my dad that I remember taking that turn and seeing that house I felt scared, excited and flustered in my nervous state worrying about how many people I saw and how it all was going to happen and if they would like who I was. But I felt like I belonged and that I was home all at the same time.

[@brianmaxey7568]

My step dad was born in Bell County Kentucky, always talked about the 1977 flood that covered Pineville..

[@justin_smith556]

Making me homesick

[@melaniegudgel1]

Peanut butter oil. He shot up peanut butter oil. Can you imagine being so desperate for a high that you would shoot up peanut butter oil? That may be the saddest thing I’ve heard today. This is another great video. Thank you Heather and Leo.

[@teresaclontz3574]

Y'all did it again. Another interesting video. Thanks for all you do to bring history to life. We need to preserve our history ,not forget it. Y'all are very appreciated!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

thanks! appreciate it a lot

[@cynthiacarter514]

I like the background noise. It makes me feel I am right there in town.

[@lazarusmesserian8186]

Great job Heather and Leo. I remember when you could peek though that window that is now boarded up. Business was so good in the early 50's that Claudia also had a bar and brothel on 3rd Ave called the Mingo Hotel. She did have a big heart, she raised her daughter, niece and grandchildren in that house on First Ave. We use to kid her grandson that he was older than Claudia's daughter. That alley that you started to go into is where I use to take guys into to have fights. It was convenient to the back door of the pool hall where Leo probably hung out.

[@voiceimage]

My uncle John Tsutras and his wife Helen owned the Eat Well Cafe. My grandfather Gus Tsutras owned Gus’ Place also on Fourth. My Dad Frank Tsutras was born in a room above in the New Central in 1929. I was born in the Old Hospital on College Hill in 1957 and lived on Joseph Ave. I went to Main Building for early school.

[@patricatfurever4051]

Thanks for sharing!! 😊

[@rodneybender6865]

Great content very interesting slice of history

[@candacefarmer9269]

My grand father used to go hear all the time, I would go with my grandmother in there Big Green 💚 Bronco with the big window inthe back loved it,But I used to ride with my grand mother she would drop him off there an go back home,sonetimes I'm sure she would go shopping an ect. .My grand father great man,hard working he also loved goibg to Pecos Beer 🍻🍺 store great people im sure he would also go to other poker places in Williamson WV ,I would look up in the window s when I was young in our ride an in the top rooms you could see like a fall on the ceilings lol 😆👍✌️🙏 Better times

[@melissabohms9871]

My dad's side is from Barbourville Kentucky way up in the holler there I miss them so much

[@beverlydixon5921]

I always enjoy yalls.videos they are so I trusting....Beverly from Fort Worth Tx

[@michelleturner8486]

I will join patron. Would love for yall to be able to do more. I truly learned alot so Thank you ❤

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@mrbutch308]

Great Video! Very interesting. Almost every year I find myself in West Virginia on one of my week long road trips (I live in Philly) ... last summer I went to Beckley to visit the coal museum. Also I visited Charleston, the state capital.

[@autumnlei9285]

My great great aunt owned the alvon

[@mikehardy2348]

Thank you for the video.

[@candacefarmer9269]

I'll have to check your other video on Avon Yes,my grand father was definitely a member,he loved playing cards

[@JosephBoot-ln7mw]

Howdy y’all from Mississippi….the very tail end of Appalachia . Really enjoy you vids and channel. You’ns are very close to look and talk of us. Funny huh? Yea my people lived in Pike co. Ky. Til other whiskey makers fun him off to Tennessee….then Mississippi. Lookin forward to more stories.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Hello!

[@LibertyBelleVA2]

These stories are informative and interesting. It seems where ever there are McCoys, there are Hatfields. People are interested in those families because the names are well known. Thank you from preserving little known history.

[@melancholygirl840]

I just love this channel! It's so cool! Thank you a lot and Leo your momma was a real looker!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you so much!

[@freddielong2275]

I really enjoyed this video. I felt like I was right there with you. Ya'll did a great job.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@florancechapman6481]

My mommy used to live there at times I've always heard. She was a bar hopper and a drunk for years. She left me when I was a baby. And went to Kermit where tha bars was. And so she lived in Kermit and Williamson. Just drinking and doing what she wanted. She never did come back home. She ran and worked in Kermit bars and Williamson. She's gone now, but I'm sure she remembers all of that stuff.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Ah yes, many of us had mom's like yours here

[@corahester9138]

Thanks! Mother grew up in Williamson, and we have been enjoying your videos. Have not visited since my uncle died in 2011.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank You! :-)

[@sharonholt3118]

Claudia Jane Dotson was listed in my family tree as my 9th cousin twice removed ..thanks for sharing your video. Love them all❤

[@belindaturnersmith5610]

I love you’re videos. Y’all have some very interesting and cool content, keep them coming!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Great compliment! Thank you so much 😊

[@maggiesfarm7970]

Agreed!

[@jessiemerritt9147]

Ty for story R.I.P. God bless

[@SteveBall1]

A very good video love taking a step back in time

[@RhondaDoubleday]

Hi Steve,I don t know if your the Steve I met in the summer of 1976 in my relative store in Williamson the Evan's it's not there no more cause they lost it in the flood a year or two later.But if your the Steve I met ,I just want to thankyou for being kind to me while I was there.I didn t get a chance to say bye and thankyou again.

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

I'm a long way from home but when the angels come I'm going home to the cemetery where my grandparents parents cousins are buried. I'm not spending eternity buried all by myself

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Luckily you have family and options

[@ronnieferguson5706]

Loved your story about Williamson I lived at lenore for a year work in the coal field now live in lewis county done grocery shopping at piggy wiggly

[@thehillbillyfiles]

That is awesome!

[@retiredsignalman5865]

I went to the Williamson Lunch stayed at the Mountaineer remember a pedestrian underpass by the railroad station before the floodwall.

[@kerrydennison7947]

Another very interesting history of a small mountain community, I myself personally enjoyed a longer videos you and your wife put together they ones that are at least sixty minutes,

[@thehillbillyfiles]

We try, its just hard sometimes, but we will try and do longer ones when we can!

[@mygrammieis]

Great video thanks for sharing 🧐👏

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you 🙏

[@billsmith5166]

Nice relaxing video. Thank you!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you too!

[@alec19811]

I love your videos they always teach me something really interesting so thank you for the great videos and have a merry Christmas to you both

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you! Merry Christmas 🎄

[@robindavis2137]

Thank you for the history and interesting story..Just found your site..God Bless for your time and energy you put into these vids..

[@sandib9152]

Great video. Yall do a great service remembering all the people in all the cemeteries yall go to. I really enjoy yalls channel. God bless yall

[@DeckApe]

Once Again you two did a super job bring W.V. and the town Williamson. Thank Question for that OLD man. In the flood of 1977? Do you remember those Yankees coming down to help out with the clean up? I was a part to that mess. I was lawed off from the G.M. plants (659 UAW) They sent us to help out our ????brother Union member????? I worked close to where you started your Vido at. It was hard and long work

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you! I vaguely remember people coming to help. That's really cool you were involved, small world sometimes, I'm sure it was a lot of work

[@marlenataylor8758]

Another great history video, wishing you both a terrific year.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Same to you!

[@jamespreece8512]

i was arrested coming out of there back in my younger years lol

[@robinfreyburger3097]

Wish Claudia would have written a book. What is your other channel?? Love your videos.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Dead-time stories

[@kerrydennison7947]

As I understand that marker that you featured with two different people, the smaller one normally use a small concrete box that normally has someone cremated remains interred With a loved one,

[@stephenhobbs1174]

There is a star not seen. A memory of a grandmother. The month of August.

[@retiredsignalman5865]

I want to add before the floodwall there was a little shotgun house where the rear faced the Tug and it was a bar.They tore all of the structures down to build the wall but I can't remember the name of that little bar they had a keg night for $5.00 while it lasted ...LOL...

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Oh cool

[@happycappy-jn6jc]

My step mom was a Williamson from west Virginia

[@janicewhite1113]

great video

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks!

[@floridahomesteadwiththeand8605]

Thank you so much for these videos. I spent many summers roaming the streets in Williamson. Went to the junior high and walked for lunch through town. My momma was born in Williamson and my brother was born there at the hospital on the hill. My momma was raised in Chattaroy. I have a lot of family still there. Do you know any Bowens’? My Mamaw and Pawpaw were Otis and Sadie Bowen.

[@floridahomesteadwiththeand8605]

My momma was raised in Chattaroy. Do you know any Bowens? My mamaw and pawpaw were Otis and Sadie.

[@helenneal4950]

Love the channel! What is the other channel that she abandoned? I wanna see it too! 😂

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Haunted hillbilles

[@ted70281]

Love You Guys

[@6412mars]

We would be related too,Leo..I would like to talk to you sometime..we are from there..Vulcan.. Williamson..Sand Siding.. Pikeville

[@moorek1967]

Lawdy, Miss Claudie......

[@cherylverhelst8245]

My husband and I have cemetery plots in the cemetery his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins are buried. Now we aren’t so sure we want to be buried there. We might just get cremated and scattered in our favorite place. Take care.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks for the comment, that's not a bad idea 💡

[@lynnestamey7272]

Cremation is my choice. I think that it is just cleaner.

[@bobbyjones8752]

Appreciate the video, the only joy and peace and salvation is in Jesus

[@auntiejen5376]

My mouth literally dropped open when you said you were at Mountain View cemetery. I think that's where my grandfather Ratliff is buried. I think it's time to get back to my family history research. There's a lot I still don't know. Watching your videos since I happened across the first one has really been a wonderful experience for me. I commented on one of the first, if not the very first, that it was like going home. Now I'm homesick for the mountains. I don't know if I'll ever see them again, but I would really like to be buried in West Virginia where so many of my family have been laid to rest.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Im so glad you enjoy them! I hope you get to make it back soon, even if just for a few days..where is your family buried?

[@auntiejen5376]

@@thehillbillyfiles It's my mother's family in the area around Mingo County, WV and Pike County, KY. My father's people are around Ashford in Boone County, WV.

[@eliotoole]

I floated downtown in 77 with my uncle...it was Wild. 😅

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Haha fun times

[@m988022]

Leo if you buy a brothel I'm moving to wv lol

[@Matereater]

Let me know if you need a Mod. Although I can't see you needing one...but🤷. Have a wonderful blessed day y'all

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you for supporting us! you would be surprised, we block someone almost daily for being rude and we may need one soon for lives etc. I will sure reach out to you and ty!

[@ralphcartoof598]

I would like to know Leo’s precise ancestry. Thanks 🙏

[@michaelbedinger4121]

Interesting video. Too bad that building was allowed to get that bad from water damage, what will become of it now? Nice cemetery, it seems well cared for. Thank you very much again. Take care.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

It will just rot most likely, like most the historic places around here

[@michaelbedinger4121]

@@thehillbillyfiles Unfortunate. And even if someone actually bought that building, it would probably cost so much money to completely tear out the floors and restore them to their original condition, or as close as possible. Replace the roof, do some work on the foundation, the outside walls; The cost might be much more than the building is worth. Unless, someone who is a multimillionaire with millions to throw away, is willing to do it. Thank you very much for getting back to me, you are doing great work with your videos. Have a great day.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

@@michaelbedinger4121 very true! its really a shame. Thanks again Michael, we appreciate you

[@michaelbedinger4121]

@@thehillbillyfiles Thank you, you are appreciated as well.

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

What an interesting wild history seems a lot of history in a not very big place.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you 🙏 yes for sure

[@ragnartvedt5991]

What's the name of your other channel?

[@tammyparsons1597]

Is Leo related to the Dotson's?

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Yes, his mom was a Dotson/coleman/Blair

[@chistinecox368]

You Guys keep on doing what you're doing, Just got to ask, How did you end up in West Virginia from California 🤔🤔🤔

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you! I went to south Carolina to meet my dad. I had not seen him since I was little. I just never went back and sort of wandered since then till I married Leo and found my home here in wv, about 18 years ago.

[@naomihensley4828]

So happy to have you settle in our beautiful state of WVA and Ky I’m from Logan WVA I love the work you guys are doing about the two families so I hope you continue to do your amazing work ,Thank you so much

[@kerrydennison7947]

You would think with what your channel is doing for tourism in your area you could get more cooperation from the local merchants and hopefully do one of these tours of the town with all of the shops open 😁

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Pretty unlikely lol

[@eliotoole]

Y'all remember the Top Hat?😀

[@jehovahuponyou]

I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND THOSE BROTHEL HOTELS, THERE WERE ALWAYS A BUNCH OF SCANTLY CLAD WOMEN ROAMING AROUND AND THEY ONLY RENTED THE ROOMS OUT FOR THIRTY MINUTES AT A TIME, AND THE PRICES WERE WAY TOO HIGH, HOW CAN A HOTEL MAKE MONEY LIKE THAT???!!!!

[@myrtlecombs2210]

I always heard it was the Avalon.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

No its Alvon, people just called it that because its similar

[@jeffreycalderwood9893]

That's sad that historical buildings are disappearing to the eliminates

[@thehillbillyfiles]

It really is

[@bamadude1581]

Two markers on the same grave like you all just found usually means that there are cremains interred there.

[@6mm250]

Claudia James Dotson McCoy ?? My wife has Dotsons in her family tree , there were and probably still are a pile of Dotsons in and around Buncombe County NC going back to at least the 1740s

[@hookasmokincaterpiller]

A bunch of Dotsons in Tennessee also.

[@Mr_badjoke]

Now what the hell is with the no fishin?!mean ol' goat! 🎣 & people got to have somewhere to store their junk. An old proud fellow will tryn buy the whole town up and kill all dreams🇺🇲👍

[@audiriley2663]

I loved all the details in your videos. But I'm stuck on the death over injecting peanut butter oil and mayonnaise oil mixed. I am just floored that someone thought they could get high off that

[@rhondacantwell8900]

I seen to names ...Philip and Anna Macoy...didn't you guys do a video to try and find them....is that same people......

[@thehillbillyfiles]

I think your thinking of Nancy McCoy and Phillip

[@melindaschluter1669]

I think i am going to be cremated. Don't like the thought of being in the ground.

[@michelleturner8486]

We have 5 Guys😂

[@rhondacantwell8900]

McCoy