Remembering Christmas in the coal camps of McDowell County
Carla Brown Lashmeet Peel from Chestnut Mountain recalls her early Christmas memories in Tunnel Hill Newhall coal camps. She details a child’s magic with a tree Santa and company gifts while acknowledging parental sacrifice during a strike. Robert C. Farley Jr. of Charlottesville, Va. recalls community warmth from Machine Shop Hollow and a note of gratitude.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McDowell County
Stephen
Tunnel Hill
Newhall
Santa
Peel Chestnut Mountain
Mission Church of
Santa Across the Street Memories from Albermarle Street
Diana Brookshire of Bluefield Virginia recalls Christmas traditions and surprise visits by a neighbor who dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. She describes gifts for children, a middle of the night tree, and family joy with relatives present.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albermarle Street
Mr. Simmons
B.J
Jessica
Diana Brookshire
Bluefield
Coal camp memories from a coal miner's daughter in Clearco
The narrator recalls growing up in Clearco Greenbrier County a coal camp run by a company with a store houses and playground. She describes communal benefits strict oversight and a close knit community including Christmas plays above the company store and a simpler time before commercialization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clearco
Greenbrier County
Church fosters strong character and community
A parish bulletin celebrates a church program that sings of unity and care for children through a communal sharing of treats. Preacher Ernest leads with a hymn about Jesus loving all the children of the world while Sister Clara arranges a bounty of fruit and snacks. Brothers Dave and Charlie share smiles as Sisters Reba Ethel and Sally distribute goodies.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ernest
Jesus
Clara
Dave
Charlie
Reba
Ethel
Sally
Habitat house best present ever in 2001
Linda Hudson Hoagland recalls moving into a Tazewell County Habitat for Humanity home in December 2001 after completing 400 hours of sweat equity and becoming homeowners during her 18 years of marriage Sonny and Linda describe the moment as the best Christmas gift and soon received the deed to their house in North Tazewell Virginia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sonny
Tazewell County
Habitat For Humanity
Linda Hudson Hoagland
North Tazewell, Va
Candy Man special to Northfork kids
Sharon Hunnell recalls a Christmas memory from the 1960s in Northfork. An engineer on the train known as the Candy Man tossed candy to children along the hollow as the slow train approached the railroad near their school, ending with a box of candy bars handed from the caboose.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Northfork Hollow
Caboose
Sharon Hunnell Northfork
Candy and Christmas at the Elbert Union Supply Store
In the Great low mood era a family faced hardship with a WPA dad who washed and waxed cars for 50 cents. On Christmas morning the author and sister Joan waited to bug their father into taking them to the Elbert Union Supply company store for a small box of hard candy handed out by Santa, the day’s bright highlight despite poverty.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dad
Brother
Santa
Carla Brown Lashmeet
WPA
Joan
Elbert Union Supply Company
Family Christmas Memory From Hemphill 1939
In Hemphill West Virginia during 1939 family visits filled a house with food laughs and homemade treats. Sam and Lu tapped down stairs in red silk peasant blouses while Elmer played guitar as kids watched and laughed Lu fell but no one was hurt grandfather urged another performance and the crowd kept eating popcorn balls.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Virginia
Hemphill
McDowell County
Mom
Sam
Elmer
Cousin Lu
Fred
Ginger
Deanna Lilly
Princeton
Anna Farley
Roderfield and Hemphill
Seven Siblings Winter Memories From War McDowell Family
In War McDowell County seven Justice siblings recall Christmas traditions with Rush and Riley Justice, hosting rotating family gatherings, Santa visits, caroling, snowball mischief, and feasts. Relatives Rachel Connie Whitt Judy McKinney share stories of cedar trees, wine, and treasured holidays, now continued by their descendants.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
War
McDowell County
Rush and
Riley Justice
Justice Twins
Mary Anne
Margaret
Uncle Riley
Dad
Aunt Deloise
Albert
Santa
Rachel
Connie Whitt
Riley
Anita
Judy McKinney Lashmeet
Santa's Pepsi visit stuns Knoxville families on Christmas
Carol Lee Plaster recalls a warm Christmas Eve when Santa arrived at her two aunts' homes. After long directions from her father, the family ended the night with sleigh tracks and Santa boot prints on the porch, noting the cookies and Pepsi left in Santa's honor. Santa left gifts, proving his visit to the children of Raven, Virginia, now Knoxville, Tennessee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Green Sisters
Velma
Emyle
Michael
Santa
Carol Lee
Knoxville
Tenn
Raven
Ely's Creek Santa Claus remembered as quiet gift bearer
In Virginia's Ely's Creek the petite Santa, Elsie Garret, brought Christmas gifts to needy children on foot. Known for a feminine voice, she delivered by night to porches, keeping her secret hidden. Norma Napier of Tazewell recalls Granny's legacy and the joyful memory lives on.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa Claus
Ely’s Creek
Lee County
Santa
Elsie Garret
Granny
Norma Napier Tazewell
Pennington Gap
Raysal memories of life in McDowell County
A nostalgic reminiscence recalls Raysal, a bustling Raysal Holler community in McDowell County. The author notes island Creek mine closures and family ties to Island Creek Number 6 in Bear Town, with Christmas lights brightening the holler, capturing a close knit town's daily life and changes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raysal
McDowell County
Island Creek
Bear Town
Also Mentioned on This Page
A-1
Robert C. Farley Jr
Charlottesville, Va
Pocahontas, Va
Church
Habitat House
Northfork
Candy
Keith Shrader
Graaycare.e
Patricia Radar
Tanya Muncy Roderfield
Granny Santa A
Virginia
Loren Dominguez, D.D
Blue Ridge Internal Medicine
Professional Park
12Th Street
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