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2025 Year was crazy …. A good kind of crazy. So much has happened despite the lack of podcast episodes. See (or rather listen) more about this year. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 and Happy New Year 🎆🎊 P.S. I forgot to include that I’ve been writing articles for the LINC Letter, Eastern Montgomery County’s online newsletter. You can find online and subscribe to the newsletter (it’s free!) LINC Letter: https://us18.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=982ce8cbfc7c76ffc79c678be&id=f086ff3e6b

5 years ago, a freelance public historian decided to make a local history podcast regarding his home region of SWVA and published his first episode just days before Thanksgiving about a once holiday tradition that anyone barely knew about… till now. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of History from Southwest Virginia, we revisit that first episode that started it all (posted exactly 5 years ago today). With more interesting facts and new researching content, there is a more in-depth story behind this genuine piece of history long forgotten. Enjoy and thanks to my listeners for helping me to reach this achievement! Photo credit: The Vinton Messenger, 2020 Table of contents: 0:00 - Intro 4:10 - History of VPI & VMI 10:09 - The First Years (1894-95) 14:42 - Comes to Roanoke, 1896 16:41 - Early to Mid 20th century 19:31 - College Tradition origins 29:13 - The Final Years (1960s - 1984) 32:15 - Legacy of the VPI-VMI rivalry 33:07 - End credits

On January 20th, 1775, 15 prominent figures from all over SWVA met in a small settlement called Lead Mines - the county seat of Fincastle - to establish what some called a document that was the roots of the Declaration of Independence that would be written over a year later. Written in response to the recent events of the American Revolution, including Lord Dunmore’s dissolve of the VA House of Burgesses, these men eventually saw that a peace with the mother country was not going to be possible and that they were “resolutely determined never to surrender…to any power upon earth, but at the expense of (their) lives.” Both their constitutional liberties and their religious rights that is. The Fincastle Resolutions was a powerful statement that sparked revolution in all of SWVA, both in Fincastle and Botetourt Counties at the time. Looking at it deeper, its unique structure and text made it a historical landmark that was nearly forgotten till now. To begin the VA250 celebrations, let’s look into the details and history of this magnificent piece of history. *Sorry that this was posted late but now is better than never, right? ;-) Link for the VA250: https://va250.org

Just a quick update regarding the current status of this podcast and to share some really excited things about this year and what is to come in 2025. 😁 Merry Christmas to everyone 🎅🏻🎄🎁 and a Happy New Year 🎊🎆

The valleys carries stories of old and new(ish) and some which seem to be fairy tale or folk lore actually took place. Anywhere from odd to just down right strange, these events were lost in the pages… until now. I will be discussing about a few of the hundreds maybe thousands of stories and/or mysteries. These in this session (to me at least) are considered to be some of the greatest ever told. Also, sorry about any noise in the background as my new puppy was playing around during my recording session. 😅

This special commemorative episode talks about D-Day and how it changed WWII but at the cost of so many lives. Its success turned the war in the Allies' favor and was the beginning of liberating Europe from Nazism. Among those their on the beaches, hundreds if not more Southwestern Virginians were present. Whether storming the beaches or dropping in behind enemy lines, they helped to liberate Europe from Nazism. This episode discusses four separate stories: 2 infantry units and 2 individuals, all from SWVA. Sorry it has been awhile since the last posting and that this is late, but kick back and enjoy this Special recording! Save this podcast to your playlist and hit notifications if you haven't!

May 15th, 2024 marks the 160th anniversary of the Battle of New Market. A tradition that still continues to this day in the form of Freshmen charging across the field and sometimes a reenactment. 257 Cadets were present at this small, yet pivotal battle that gave the Confederacy one last victory in the Valley. Of them was William Morrison Wood, born in Gate City and was raised in the southern way. Proud to have served his state, he was recognized in 1939 as the last living VMI cadet that was at New Market. Let's learn a bit about William and of the events that lead up to, was, and after the Battle of New Market. **I know that I'd mentioned that there was audio in the episode, but there is none. Sorry

This 24-minute birthday special episode talks about one of the finest, Roanoke-built steam locomotives to traverse the rails of Southwest Virginia. A sole survivor of the Y5/Y6 mallet locomotives, N&W Y6a 2156 is one of the N&W's "Big Three" alongside the A-Class 1218 and J-Class 611. 2156 was built to pull the heaviest coal drags and freight trains through the Appalachians, with the largest tractive effort recorded in the history of USA Steam Locomotives. Today marks 82 years ago it rolled out of the Roanoke Locomotive Shops. (82nd birthday) *Sorry if there is any miss steps in the recording, this is the first time using the brand-new Riverside platform to make this episode. I couldn't be able to edit the recording at this time. Will work on it next go around.

New Town was a Neighborhood Community like no other. Similar to Roanoke's Gainsboro community, New Town - located north of Downtown Blacksburg - was the center of African American life and culture, along with social and community pride. The neighborhood dates very far back and and many were in high spirits and happy despite the many hardships of discrimination. Tune in to this 20-minute episode about one of the oldest African American Communities in Montgomery County and its nearly 100 year history.

This (not actually an) episode will give you a sneak peek at what can be expected for this year regarding episodes and lecture content. Several celebrations, birthdays, and commemorative events will be discussed. But listen in to hear what's in store for this new season of "History from Southwest Virginia."

Thank you for this year and I wish you all a wonderful Holiday. I hope that you learned many things from my posts this year and in previous years. History On, my friends! 😁

In the American Civil War, nearly 15,000 men from Southwest Virginia went off to fight for the Confederacy. Of all the units that many Southwest Virginians served in, the 4th Virginia Infantry Regiment is one of the more recognized and well-known units. They were part of the infamous "Stonewall Brigade" and have quite a unique story about themselves. The 4th endured the worst of the war, yet they stayed strong to the end. Watch this 1-hour episode to learn more about them and perhaps be shocked at something you never thought they were known for. *Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only, not to promote any political or social tensions. Sorry that this is late being posted, but Happy Halloween anyway. :)

Ever wonder how a small, 9-mile spur rail line got its name? How far back in time does its story go? How big of a deal was the Huckleberry line to the area? Listen to this 30-minute episode to learn about the history of coal in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area, the early founding of the first coal company, its later run under N&W, and the fate of the singular rail line that ultimately connected Blacksburg to the rest of Montgomery County prior to the arrival of automobiles.

This 1-hour episode looks deeper into some of the oldest college football programs to exist in SWVA, and how they continue to carry a school tradition, despite many setbacks and issues some due to events happening in US History. Some colleges began a football team for money, others prestige. Listen to hear why and how these college teams began, where many fell, become delayed, and rise again, and when or how they made school history; (the number of championships, a origin of on-going tradition(s), and/or impressive season records).

Hi everyone. Yeah, sorry its been a very longtime since my National Women's Month Episode in April. However, I am making some major plans to comeback and made some epic changes that will hopefully grow my listener numbers. Listen now to hear what's new for "History from Southwest Virginia" and let me know what you think if you get the chance.