Last week I sat down with Carolyn and David Anderson to talk to them about their life in Clay County North Carolina.
We also discussed the longevity of family lines in Appalachia and the reason there are so many ghost stories found in the area.
My favorite quote from the video: “I’ve been to Maine to Spain from Bagdad to Trinidad to two world fairs and a hog calling contest, but this is the best place I’ve found.” Yep that pretty much sums up how I feel about my homeland.
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For ” DEE ” above,I too am from North East,Ms.Never heard of Goose Hollow.I live near ” Goose Pond” just west of Corinth,Ms.Please share more info @ Goose Hollow.My e-mail is bobby.garrett98@yahoo.com.Very intrested!!
Their description of their childhood sounds just like what I knew, even though I came along a bit later. Overall, I think it is fair to say you all were fortunate to have not had coal, though when the timbering era was over a lot of jobs were gone to.
Hearing the Andersons reminds me again why I think I can go anywhere in Appalachia and fit it once people get to know me. I’m grateful for that.
I enjoyed the Anderson’s conversation with you. My 4 times great grandfather came to this country before the Revolution too as others in my family line. When I worked on my genealogy I found these lines and was so surprised when they all led back to before the Revolution. It was interesting to see how they moved down the wagon road to Surry, N.C., and later further on into GA, TN, AL and MS. Your great-grandparents in cemeteries all over the country can now be located by googling Findagrave. Usually someone in that area has listed all the people that have been laid to rest there so our grandchildren can find their ancestors’ graves. My parents always took us to see our ancestors’ grave sites from the time we were little children. Now you can even find pictures that have been posted of the old cemeteries.
Thanks for the wonderful interview as it brought back memories of how my parents were raised and when they finally brought in electricity to Goose Hollow in NE MS. They still have Homecoming there at a little country church.
What a lovely couple! I so enjoyed the visit.
I agree with David, as it is important to me to know my roots. I have been to the grave of my 5x gr grandfather’s grave, Daniel Cook (Koch), marked with a very large flat rock. I know the burial places of many ancestors, and I know their stories. That is comforting, and I do not associate fear with a cemetery.
This is almost unbelievable to tell this story, but I will tell it anyway. It seems my Grandpa from Pinnacle Creek was a wonderful friend and neighbor to many. However, he had his limits! He lived in a beautiful area, and had practically a lifetime lease. In bygone days Pinnacle Creek boasted a thriving lumber company, and then later farming. He had come across many camping out by the creek, and had advised them it was fine. In his nice gentle manner he did ask them to clean up their trash. After several efforts to warn, the campers persisted in leaving a mess in the 1940’s. Grandpa, maybe out of boredom, had learned this terrible sound to make with mouth and hands they called the “yodeling mule.” So, one late night Grandpa went up on the mountain right above the campers and started this Gosh awful noise he had learned. Apparently it echoed across the valley sending chills down the spine of everyone within earshot. It scared the wits out of the campers who promptly left never to return again. My uncle had the article from the small town newspaper where it had been reported. Only many years later was this “yodeling mule” story told to family, and I had an uncle who had also learned it. That sound way up in the night would indeed give you the willies, and Pinnacle Creek had another couple of ghosts that none of the family ever knew the source of. Grandpa had his own way of dealing with any problem that came up.
Where do you find these wonderful people, Tipper? They’re just nice, humble, honest, kind, and down to earth! I’m thankful for the people of Appalachia who don’t shift like sands in the wind! I’ve been all over 2 hemispheres and I too believe there’s NO PLACE LIKE APPALACHIA!!! I would love to go to PATAGONIA but probably never will make it. I can go to BEGONIA ,though, in the spring garden. Yesterday I broke into tears THANKING God I cannot have all I desire. If I could, maybe I’d grow proud and greedy. He KNOWS what I need and where I need to go. I do not.
David is a nice man…..talented…
What a great interview, Tip, they really have a long history with Appalachia! Like most Appalachians they are calm, quiet speaking people with a lot to say if you pay attention.