On this West Virginia Week, we look at the challenges online gambling can bring, efforts to revitalize river otter populations and a peer accountability program for teens.
95-year-old Elmer Rich, a famous old-time fiddler, died this past June 20th, West Virginia Day, at his home in Westover, West Virginia. He’ll be missed throughout these old hills.
He was born in December of 1919 and grew up just outside a coal community near Morgantown. His father was a miner; his mother was a telephone switchboard operator. Elmer was one of six kids and they all played music. It was 1936 when he and his family played for Eleanor Roosevelt out in Arthurdale.
Elmer Rich was 16 and playing the mandolin for Eleanor. He spent the next 70 years competing at various fiddle competitions, winning trophies and prizes.
A recording of the music and thoughts of Elmer Rich, recorded in August 2014 at an informal after-lunch concert during Old Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center. He’s accompanied by Mark Crabtree on guitar and Tom Gibson on mandolin.
***Audio Courtesy of Andrew Carroll and the Augusta Heritage Center.
Credit Andrew Carroll / Augusta Heritage Center
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Augusta Heritage Center
Elmer Rich with a crowd at the Augusta Heritage Center, August 2014.
On this West Virginia Week, we look at the challenges online gambling can bring, efforts to revitalize river otter populations and a peer accountability program for teens.
This week, textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars. Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song. And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley.
The Contemporary American Theater Festival brings playwrights and creatives from across the U.S. to Shepherdstown for theater productions. This year, they will put on five new plays.
Colton Copley and Greg Williams are cousins and eighth graders at Williamson PK8 School in Mingo County. When the rain started, they were hopeful. Recalling it, they spoke overtop of each other in their excitement.
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