A Mine Wars Graphic Novel, Storytelling And W.Va. Life, Inside Appalachia

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This week, Inside Appalachia speaks with the author of a new graphic novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars. The labor struggle culminated in the largest armed uprising since the Civil War.

Also, professional storyteller James Froemel invents quirky characters, like a sign maker who can't spell. Froemel’s stories are drawn from small town life.

And, one of the most common animals to get hit by cars are possums. But, there’s a kind of animal rescue called pouch picking. We talk with author Laura Jackson.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Black Coal And Red Bandanas, A Graphic Novel
Talking With Storyteller James Froemel
Digging Under Ground Leads To Spoonmaking
Exploring And Explaining West Virginia

Black Coal And Red Bandanas, A Graphic Novel

A comic panel with a horse and a miner, depicting an explosion. — "Black Coal and Red Bandanas" retells the story of the West Virginia Mine Wars.
*Courtesy*

The West Virginia Mine Wars are an important but little known piece of American history. Coal miners in southern West Virginia had been trying to organize a union, while coal companies tried to stop them. Strikes and violent clashes ensued, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. A version of the story is told in the new graphic novel “Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars.”

Mason Adams spoke with its author, Raymond Tyler.

Talking With Storyteller James Froemel

James Froemel continues in the long line of Appalachian storytellers.
Courtesy

James Froemel's journey into storytelling has taken a lifetime. Last year, he worked with author, Liars Competition champ and professional storyteller Bil Lepp to hone his craft.

Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef spoke with Froemel.

Digging Under Ground Leads To Spoonmaking

Two older people, a man and a woman, work on handmade wooden spoons in a workshop. Both people are wearing flannel shirts. — Stan (L) and Sue (R) Jennings shape spoons on sanding machines in their Allegheny Treenware workshop in Preston County, West Virginia. Sue is pre-shaping while Stan is fine shaping on 40 grit sandpaper. These two stations are only used by the Jennings to shape each spoon by hand.
*Photo Credit: Zack Gray/Allegheny Treenware*

For 30 years, Sue and Stan Jennings have run Allegheny Treenware, a West Virginia company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. They started off as a couple of coal miners. And when they weren’t underground, they talked about what else they could be doing.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro visited the Jennings, and brought us this story.

Exploring And Explaining West Virginia

A blonde woman in a blue shirt smiles as three young possums crawl on her head. — Humorist and essayist Laura Jackson's book *Deep & Wild* explores and explains West Virginia -- or some of it.
*Courtesy*

West Virginia writer and humorist Laura Jackson is an avid explorer of backroads and scenic byways. Inspired by her trips, she wrote a series of essays about what she saw in her home state. They became her 2023 book, “Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums & Finding Your Way in West Virginia.”

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Jackson.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Edd Snodderly, Jeff Ellis, David Mayfield Parade, Dinosaur Burps, Kaia Kater, Steve Earle, Sean Watkins and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Nicole Musgrave.

You can send us an email: [email protected].

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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