Stories of the Mountains

Tuesday evening, we were privileged to learn from John Wyatt, a founding member of the Appalachian Cultural Heritage Alliance. He works to preserve and pass along the rich cultural heritage of Appalachia to young people, through songs and stories. He is a master bard, in all the best ways.

He told us of growing up on Sewell Mountain (about 25 miles from where we are staying) as a boy, and attending a one-room schoolhouse where he met his wife. Today, he still lives on that mountain, having seen the world and cities (he can do a mean Boston accent) and been drawn back to the mountains. As he explained, his childhood house had "running water" -- grab a bucket and run down to the stream, a chore that often fell to him. At one time his father worked as a coal miner, earning $2 a day. He spoke powerfully about the ways Appalachia is changing, and the rapid pace of that change in his 60-odd years. As he explained, he grew up the way multiple generations of his family had grown up, farming and practicing nearly-entire self-sufficiency, learning the use of every single root and plant (he even brought a bag of greenery and taught us what each root or leaf was good for). And now, Appalachia (pronounced "Ap-ah-lAH-chia" locally) has entered the 'jet age,' though it remains beset by significant poverty. He also spoke at some length about mining, especially mountain-top mining and its environmental ravages.

Mixed in were many songs. Here are some video clips of them, posted with John's eager permission.