When The Whirlwind Came: The 1929 Tragedy at Rye Cove, Virginia

Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they tell the story of Nancy Emmeline Callahan Dollar, affectionately known as Granny Dollar. This Cherokee matriarch lived on Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, and became a legendary figure in her community. Born in 1826, Granny Dollar's life was a rich tapestry of Cherokee heritage, history, and survival. Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more tales from the heart of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Thank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

This week on the Stories podcast, we tell of the harrowing events of the first Battle of Saltville and its tragic aftermath. Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they recount the significance of Saltville's salt mines during the Civil War, a resource as valuable as gold for preserving food.  We also shed light on a lesser-known but profoundly impactful event involving the brave soldiers of the Fifth US Colored Cavalry. These newly formed African American troops, composed mainly of formerly enslaved men, faced not only the enemy but also prejudice and abuse from their own ranks. Despite these challenges, their courage during the battle earned them respect and admiration.  What happened to them and their commanders after the battle, however, was harrowing, in an event that’s come to be known as the Saltville massacre.  Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Don't forget to subscribe for more tales from the heart of Appalachia.  You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Thank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

In this week’s episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the captivating tale of the Beale Treasure—a story that has fascinated treasure hunters and cryptographers for well over a century. Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they share the story of the mystery surrounding a massive cache of gold, silver, and jewels allegedly buried in Bedford County, Virginia, worth over $63 million today. Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Don't forget to subscribe for more stories from the heart of Appalachia. You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!  

In this episode of the Stories podcast, we tell a crime story involving a wealthy heir from Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, whose life ended tragically in New Orleans. James Mahoney, a man of many talents and pursuits, found himself entangled in a web of mystery and murder that has intrigued many for decades.  Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they tell the story of the bizarre case of Mahoney's murder in a French Quarter hotel room.  This is a tale you won't want to miss.  Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more tales from the heart of Appalachia.  You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:   https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends.    

In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the story of the prelude to the infamous Trail of Tears—the murder that inflamed Cherokee tensions and provided the legal framework for the tragic forced relocation of the tribe from the southeast to what’s now Oklahoma.   Join Rod Mullins and Steve Gilly as they unravel the complex tale of Jack Walker Jr., a Cherokee man caught in the crossfire of a nation's strife and the murky politics that led to a pivotal moment in American history. Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Don't forget to subscribe for more captivating tales from the heart of Appalachia. You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support Thank you for listening.

In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the story of one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike southwest Virginia: the Rye Cove cyclone of 1929. A day that began like any other would end in tragedy as a powerful tornado tore across the community of Rye Cove, leaving death and destruction in its wake.  Listen as Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins recount the terrifying moments when a monstrous F2 tornado descended upon the small community of Rye Cove, Virginia, demolishing the school and claiming the lives of 12 children and one of their teachers.  Be sure to listen to this episode of Stories of Appalachia on your favorite podcast app.  We invite you to make Spreaker your app of choice, and also invite you to go there and become a supporter of Stories to gain access to unreleased podcasts and other extras.  You can find out more here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Catch us on YouTube @StoriesOfAppalachia as well.   Thanks for listening!  

Today we tell the remarkable story of James Smith, a frontiersman and longhunter whose fight for survival in the Appalachian wilderness in 1767 after a hunting expedition tested his knowledge, ingenuity and determination to live.   Listen to our podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or on your favorite podcast app, and consider supporting us on Spreaker to keep these extraordinary tales coming.  https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  

In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the remarkable tale of Talmadge Judd, a backyard innovator from Kingsport, Tennessee, whose vision and mechanical abilities led to the creation in 1945 of the Humming Bird, an automobile far ahead of its time.  With no blueprints, Judd built the Humming Bird in just four months—a subcompact marvel that boasted impressive fuel efficiency and a sleek design decades ahead of its time.  Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they tell another one of the Stories of Appalachia!  Listen now on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to share the wonder of our Stories of Appalachia with your friends, and consider becoming a supporter on Spreaker to keep these tales alive.  https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  

Today we tell a story with echoes of the Wild West…along with a twist! We unravel the mysterious life of Jack Vermillion of Mendota, Virginia, a man who many say once walked the dusty streets of Tombstone, Arizona, alongside the legendary Earp brothers.  Join hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they journey through the tangled tales of a figure many believed to be the notorious Texas Jack Vermillion!  Was the Jack Vermillion laid to rest in Mendota the same man who earned his fame in the deserts of Arizona?  Subscribe and listen to the Stories of Appalachia podcast on your favorite podcast app to join us on this fascinating exploration of the history of this place we call home, Appalachia.  Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to share these stories of Appalachia with your friends.

In the heart of Appalachia, a legend looms as large as the mountains themselves. Today, we tell the story of John Wesley Wright.Born in the Elkhorn Valley of Kentucky, John Wright's life was a mix of adventure, violence, and survival. From his early days as a Confederate soldier making a daring escape from Union forces, Wright's exploits during the Civil War set the stage for his legendary status. But his story doesn't end with the war. Wright's journey led him to the circus spotlight alongside his uncle, the famed Kentucky Giant, Martin Van Buren Bates, to the shadowy world of manhunting with the Pinkerton and Baldwin-Felts detective agencies.As a lawman, Wright's reputation for meting out justice was as formidable as his skills with a gun, earning him the nicknames "Bad John” and “Devil John” from those outlaws he pursued and captured.  But his life was not solely defined by bullets and bravado. Wright's complex personal life, fathering over 30 children with multiple women, paints a portrait of a man as multifaceted as the hills he called home.Join us as we explore John Wright's story, from his encounters with outlaws and feudists to his final days, when he sought redemption and left his devilish nickname behind. It's a journey through Appalachia's past that's as captivating as the landscape itself.  Don't miss this episode of Stories of Appalachia, available on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or your favorite podcast platform.  Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories of Appalachia with your friends.