Folkways

Arts & Culture Rachel Moore, Dec 09, 2022

Western North Carolina Barn Quilts Represent Community, History

If you’ve ever driven in a rural area, you may have seen a wooden quilt block hanging on the side of a barn. There might just be a story behind that block.

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Arts & Culture Zack Harold, Nov 04, 2022

New Podcast Takes Up Snake Handling Churches — But Leaves Behind The Stereotypes

Folkways reporter Zack Harold interviews musician, songwriter, painter and former preacher Abe Partridge about his podcast “Alabama Astronaut,” which chronicles the world of Appalachian snake handling churches and the unique genre of music found within their walls.

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Arts & Culture Leeshia Lee, Oct 21, 2022

Funeral Singer Provides Comfort And Healing To Charleston, W.Va.’s Black Community

For many Black communities throughout the country, music is an essential component of end-of-life rituals. When a loved one dies, families often call upon a skilled singer to perform at a funeral as a way to offer comfort and healing. In Charleston, West Virginia 41-year-old Michelle Dyess is one of the go-to singers that people request when it’s time to plan a funeral.

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Arts & Culture Lauren Griffin, Oct 20, 2022

Dirt, Soot, Smoke And Oil: Mechanics Take on the Dirty Job of Repairing Antique Trains

In this Folkways story about the Cass Railroad, you’ll meet railroad senior employee Rex Cassell. He passed away during the making of this story, but during his life, he was a crucial part of why visiting the Cass Railroad in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, feels like you’re stepping back in time.

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Recent Stories

Arts & Culture Zack Harold, Oct 19, 2022

Water Aficionados Still Seek Healing At Berkeley Springs

In the years before indoors plumbing, many Appalachians got their fresh water from the natural springs created by our ancient mountain range. But in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, people are still filling jugs with spring water to lug back home. Some do it for the taste, but others say the water has healing properties — a tradition that also goes back centuries.

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Arts & Culture Nicole Musgrave, Sep 25, 2022

In Kingsport, TN, Jerry Machen Sr. Passes Down The Art Of Carpet Design And Repair

Lots of people live with common household objects like furniture, silverware, and rugs. But for many of us, we seldom think about who makes these items, or where to turn when they’re in need of repair. One man in Kingsport, Tennessee has been building and repairing carpets and rugs for over 50 years. For Jerry Machen Sr., the business not only provides him with a livelihood, but also an outlet for expressing creativity and an opportunity for discovery.

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