Appalachian History

Ramps are the first green thing of spring in Appalachia, and certainly the smelliest. Mountain folks have traditionally looked forward to the return of the ramp after a winter of eating mostly dried foods, often believing the ramp to possess the revitalizing power of a spring tonic (not unreasonable: they are high in vitamins A & C.)

The "little stinkers" are typically served with ham, bacon, fried potatoes, brown beans, cornbread, and a dessert. If you’re a serious aficionado of allium tricoccum, you know it’s an acquired taste: take garlic and multiply that intensity by about ten. The mere scent of those who have recently eaten a mess of ramps has been known to clear a room.

Opening day of The Ramps & Rainbow Festival takes place tomorrow at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds in Cherokee, NC, kicking off a month and more of festivals celebrating the most loved bulb in Appalachia. The high points of these community fundraisers include the Ramp Festival at Cosby, TN, and the Feast of the Ramson (this year is the 71st one) at Richwood, WV. But many smaller events proliferate throughout April and well into May.
Feast of the Ramson? Ramson is a variety of garlic, but there’s a more poetic answer to the question: the first sign of the Zodiac calendar is Aries, which ushers in spring during March and April. Aries is the Arabic word for Ram, the male of the sheep family---stout, rambunctious, and a bit odoriferous! It only makes sense to call spring's first green shoot the "Ram's Son."

When the first ramp feed was held in Cherry Bottom, VA (now Richwood) is lost to history. That there were springtime get-togethers of frontier settlers with ramp feeds is certain. Ramp feasting as an event began about 1921 when some Richwood men met for a cookout during ramp season. Eventually their gathering moved indoors and came under the jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce. The success of the Richwood event inspired other communities to start their own dinners. The town went on to become home to the NRA—the National Ramp Association.

Festivals celebrating a community point of pride were not commonplace in 1954 when the Cosby Ruritan Club of Cocke County TN decided to establish a celebration centered around the ramp. The first Festival attracted a crowd of between 5,000 and 6,000, including the Tennessee governor. Although the festival differs from year to year, there have been common threads: bountiful food, music, dancing, politicians, and a young woman who is crowned "Maid of Ramps."

In 1955, the Festival was attended by ex-President Harry Truman. In 1959, at the sixth annual Ramp Festival, attendance approached a never-again-topped 30,000 due to the featured guest, "Tennessee Ernie Ford," a popular television celebrity, and native of nearby Bristol. Other festivals have featured entertainment notables such as Eddie Arnold, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, songstress Dorothy Collins of "Hit Parade" fame, Minnie Pearl, Brenda Lee, and Dinah Shore.

But no matter which of the many available ramp festivals you choose to attend, two factors remain unchanged: the celebration of the region and its culture, and the return of spring and the adulation of the ramp.

related post: "The salient feature of ramps is the smell"

sources: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/TN/200003547.html
www.richwoodwv.com/ramp.asp


Cosby+TN Richwood+WV ramp+festivals allium+tricoccum ramps appalachia appalachian+history appalachian+mountains+history

"The Barrenshe Run mishap was one of the worst log train wrecks in West Virginia history.

"As the story became legendary, the runaway train gained additional notoriety as the subject of a local blind poet, who supported himself by selling copies of his works for a nickel on Oakford Avenue in Richwood WV. The poem brought additional attention to the accident, popularizing it more than recounting of the wreck circulated by word of mouth.

"Like so many items from the past, today there are several uncertainties about the poem. In one version of the poem, Charles Lough [one of 3 railroadmen known to have been killed in the accident] is replaced by Luke King, and the identities of the loadermen seem a bit uncertain. Although the poem leads to a degree of confusion, it is invaluable in many respects-including verifying the date of the accident.

“As for the story behind the poem, one version is that J. A. Howell of Diana wrote and peddled it with his other poetry. Another recollection is that J. A. Collins was the blind poet from Diana. Jim Comstock, editor of the West Virginia Hillbilly, prefers the story that J. A. Howell originated the rhyme, adding that Howell wrote other poems about mountain railroading.”

---Long Train Runaway on Berrenshe Run 1912, by George Deike, publ. in The Log Train, issue 80, Nov 2004

Original photo caption reads: Before the clean up: wreckage strewn down the hillside on Barrenshe Run. Visible are several tracks from the skeleton log cars, the Barnhart loader, and Shay no. 7’s diamond smokestack.



THE WRECK ON THE BAREEN-SHE RUN"

On Cranberry River,
Up Barren-She Run,
The trainmen seemed jolly,
Were having their fun,

Eight cars they had loaded,
And four empties, it seemed,
The crew got on board and
turned on the steam.

Ivan Green jumped off
As she started down hill;
They had lost all control,
It was running at will,

Dick Green and Luke King
Both jumped off alarmed;
Near eighty rod further the
excitement grew worse,

The further the faster
Those loaded cars flew.
Frazier Adams, engineer,
Jumped off and was killed;

His head struck a tie,
His brains they were spilled,
Joe Taylor, conductor,
And Russell Berry turned brake.

Both stood to their places,
Which was a mistake.
For the cars jumped the track,
And their lives fled as fog

Their bodies were covered
With the wreckage of logs.
The engine still rolling
And left on the road

Pete King, (the log rollerman)
Alone left on board.
The engine turned over
In Barren-She Run

But, Pete, he slipped out
Of the cab as she turned.
So, he took a tie-ticket
For Camp Four, so they say;

And he arrived there quickly,
The very same day.
For he thought himself all
That was left to tell now

The crew, cars and engine
Broke up in a row.
Squire Thomas and Doctor McClung
Got the word and rushed

To the scene - as quick as they could,
Ivan Green and Dick King
Were both badly hurt,
So Doctor McClung was
Soon put to work.

I must speak of an act
Joe Taylor in Life;
He left some support for his
children and wife.

Sixteen-hundred dollars,
In a check that was good,
His wife she received from their
good brotherhood.

Taylor, Adams and Berry
Were three youngful men,
So prompt in their business,
But sudden their end.

Their bodies were mangled,
In all abscess.
Their spirits departed:
They greatly are missed.

But, those four should be thankful,
To God for their breath,
He, the Great Prophet,
Hath saved them from death,

That they may have time
To prepare for the grave:
God is always able and willing
to save.

I am grateful to Paul Richard Greathouse of Richwood, WV for the generous research assistance and time he offered on this post.


Barrenshe+Run Richwood+WV log+train+wrecks blind+poet+of+WV JA+Howell appalachia appalachia+history Appalachian+ballads appalachian+mountains+history

Richwood, WV Aug 26, 1937 --- "The Cherry River Navy's flagship 'Clothespin' is riding at anchor this morning, resplendent in gala attire awaiting her christening this afternoon in ceremonies to be attended by the Governors of Maryland and West Virginia, both Admirals, by Congressmen Andrew Edmiston and Jennings Randolph, also Admirals, and some five hundred line Admirals coming here from points all over West Virginia and many adjacent states to participate in the colorful ceremonies, the Admirals banquet and ball featuring today's program of Spud and Splinter Festival week.

"At dawn this morning the city was awakened by nineteen lusty charges of dynamite, the salute from the flagship to the Admirals of the Navy. Shortly afterwards a bugler, supposedly on board the flagship anchored off Fork Mountain Light, blew revilee [sic]. At ten o'clock this morning Admirals will begin to call at headquarters here, where they will meet Admiral E.C. Bennette, M. D., chief of staff.

"Following the Spud and Splinter Parade which takes place at two o'clock, Admirals will assemble at the high school campus on the banks of the Cherry River for the ceremonies relevant to presenting the colors, the christening of the ship and retreat. The banquet follows at six-thirty and the Admirals Ball staring at nine-thirty will bring the Navy Day program to a close. Admirals, Governor Nice of Maryland and Governor Holt of West Virginia, with their ladies, will lead the grand march at the Admirals ball.

"Last night more that fifty Admirals were in town. Telegrams and letters received indicate that this number will be augmented and increased six or eight times by today at noon when Admirals have been asked to report for duty. Due to rain Admiral Harry W. Nice, Governor of Maryland, who left Annapolis for Richwood yesterday morning, wired that his arrival would be delayed until around noon today. Governor Holt will join his ship-mates here about noon along with a dozen or so other Admirals from State Departments in Charleston and business men of that city.

"Other delays in arrival are being occasioned. For instance Admiral Fred Thompson, commander of the Battleship 'Times' of Mannington wired the radio officer on the Clothespin, 'Delayed by maneuverings in another port. Steam is up ready to sail in case of attack. Communicate in code.' There are likely other delays from similar causes.

"Admiral Frank Woods of Jerryville arrived last night. Asked if any of the lumberjacks from that section planned to attend the festival, Woods stated. 'Only a few,- I don't suspect that more than a hundred will come in for it.' It has been planned to have a squadron of Lumberjacks participate in the festival parade this afternoon."

The Nicholas Republican
Richwood, WV
August 26, 1937

Source: www.wvculture.org/history/entertainment/spudandsplinter01.html

Related posts: "Religious persecution in Richwood WV"


Spud and Splinter Festival
Richwood WV
Appalachia
Appalachian history
Appalachia history
Appalachian culture