Appalachia is home to many types of music: Old-time and bluegrass, of course, but also rock and hip hop, Americana and jazz, metal and hardcore — and dungeon synth. In fact, that genre, which spun out of black metal, will be showcased outside Whitesburg, Kentucky this weekend, June 13 and 14, at Appalachian Dungeon Fest.
Harpers Ferry Mayor Gregory Vaughn says an early morning fire has devastated the historic town’s commercial area.
Vaughn says the fire destroyed seven to eight businesses housed in one building. An adjacent restaurant sustained substantial damage. No one was injured.
Credit Liz McCormick / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Crews were still on scene Thursday morning.
The buildings were constructed in the 1800s. The commercial area is adjacent to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.
Vaughn says he was notified of the fire around 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The cause hasn’t been determined, but emergency officials say it began around 3 in the morning.
Vaughn says he is grief stricken for the community and for the shop and property owners affected by the fire.
Credit Liz McCormick / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Damage from a fire in downtown Harpers Ferry.
“It’s a personal, of course loss, huge loss, but the loss for our town is devastating. This is such a beautiful town, and people come here literally from all over the world,” said Cindi Dunn, whose shop, the Vintage Lady, was caught in the blaze.
Many shop owners are trying to salvage what they can, reaching through burned window frames. Local emergency officials say there were no injuries.
Harpers Ferry was the site of a failed raid on a federal arsenal in 1858 by abolitionist John Brown. During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865.
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Appalachia is home to many types of music: Old-time and bluegrass, of course, but also rock and hip hop, Americana and jazz, metal and hardcore — and dungeon synth. In fact, that genre, which spun out of black metal, will be showcased outside Whitesburg, Kentucky this weekend, June 13 and 14, at Appalachian Dungeon Fest.
This week, some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet. Also, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive.
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