My grandpa worked for Pocahontas coal company until he was recruited by US Steel in 1946. my mom was born in Jenkinjones, the third of ten kids, in 1939. They moved to Bluefield for a few years then moved to Butler, Ohio and grandpa went to work in the steel mill in Mansfield, Ohio. I went to a family reunion back in Virginia and West Virginia in 2017, some of the most beautiful area I have ever seen!
After you made the turn from the post office you went through Newtown. That was the "black " section of Jenkinjones. If you kept on going through Conclintown you would have ended up in the town of Anawalt,WV. It was bigger and had several stores and gas stations. And it had it's own police officer. This video sure does bring back good memories of growing up. Thanks
I lived in #8 Hollow as a young girl in early 1950's, which was the section of homes above where the video started. My grandfather George Willie Blizzard was a fire boss in the mine at the top of the holler near Walt Harman's home. My dad, Floyd Blizzard worked in the mines for a few years until he and his brother George helped recover bodies of miners from the Bishop and Amonate mine explosions. Dad then left mining and got his certification as an electrician. I feel it was from seeing the aftermath and loss of lives in those explosions that inspired him to leave. Back in those good ol' days, the area had many company houses that were kept up nicely. Painted white and trimmed in dark green paint, mowed lawns, and there was a company store "up 6 Holler" and the busy little town of Anawalt nearby made it a very desirable place to live. Anawalt boasted of a bank, movie theatre, drug store, clothing and hardware stores and a larger grocery. When I was young a Mr. Rector owned the grocery. There were a couple of "filling" stations and the Central Cafe where Bonnie Hatfield had a cook named Julia Sage who made the best fish sandwiches I have ever eaten! They were one of a kind, fried fish filet on a hotdog bun, topped with mustard, onions and homemade chili! Back then the streams were clear, life was serene, people worked hard, and we children played hard. It was a wonderful place to grow up. One thing I have taken with me is West Virginia pride. The kind of pride in doing a good job, going the extra mile, being kind and helpful to your neighbor, and a backbone of steel. We were West Virginia strong! There were a few exceptions to the rule, as in any community/state. Some were lazy, didn't keep things clean and cared for, some were uneducated in "book learning" but then there were also those who were highly intelligent, took care of themselves and their homes, worked hard, gave to others and made their world a better place with good values and fine character. It's sad that people who were had no real clue of the character traits of REAL Appalachian folks, often spoke only negativity. Today, if one really looks, they will see a strong people who have gone through extremely difficult circumstances who came out even stronger, even more determined to not give up, to fight on and to turn things around. I'm proud to be a "Holler Girl", a "Mountain Momma", a "Coal Miner's daughter, granddaughter, sister. I am West Virginia strong.
I can’t believe that I was born and raised in West Virginia and never heard of all of these towns. Especially coal mining towns. These towns are amazing and I feel like I am back again watching your videos!! Thank you so much for sharing these with us
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Jenkinjones, WV. Had to move away to find work in 1985 after high school graduation. I graduated from Mount View H.S in Welch, WV.
Ok you will know...lol. What are the small buildings in front of many of the houses. Right up on the street. They are built of different things but are all built alike...it has been driving me nuts..I grew up in NY so I have no idea..
@Hunter Hamiltom They were called coal houses. A small dump truck would off load coal in the coal houses and the homeowners would then carry the coal in the house in a coal bucket.
Another fine production! If anybody ever questions you two for authenticity, Let them watch you back up! THIS is what makes your channel fun and that fun adventiures.Thanks
I started my coal mining career with Pocahontas Coal Company. Then it changed it's name to Consolidation Coal Company, then shortened it to Consol Energy or just Consol. Worked at their Maitland facility until they shut down and then worked at their Amanate shaft mine. 21 1/2 years with the company.
I came for the history and culture, I stayed (and subscribed) because of your genuine care concern for this wonderful part of American history and its hardworking people.
Great video I from McDowell county my grandparents used to tell me stories of how business and booming it was. I am 54 now it's changed so much since I was a kid. Sadly there is a lot of ghost towns now.
This part of the country has always intrigued me even though I've never been there. I did have an online friend in Hazard, KY once, but she passed away last year.
I have a special place in my heart for old historic structures and it pains me to see beautiful architecture being left to rot this way. I wish there were a way to restore the town and turn it into a tourist destination.
Thank you for showing me see where my family is from as they moved to Detroit in the 50's. My great grandfather was a town famous moonshiner who died running from the law off tank hill in 1940. There is a bluegrass song on TH-cam Ballad of Hobie Young.. My heart ❤️ is in Jenkinjones.
God I LUV your videos!!! Sooo interesting. I love West Virginia for some unknown reason. Always thinking about those poor people and the lives they lead. Thank you sooo much for sharing all these amazing places n' Melody is sooo Beautiful!!! Kisses from Ohio.
You both just keep getting better, and better. Love your light hearted banter between you two. I always read the comments before I post, and there are some really good ones here. Not much I can add. I guess I will say how important it is that you explore these small towns and show and educate us about them. Because soon nature will take it back and they will be gone forever.
I’m usually just a quiet watcher but man I just love these old abandoned buildings of the coal mining era, love to tag along with you on your adventures
My whole family on my mom and dad's sides grew up in Jenkinjones through the 1920s up until the mid 1980s I believe. My dad actually managed that company store you were in some 70 years ago. I used to visit there every summer with my mom. We attended that padlocked church every Sunday during the summer, and we had family and family friends in all the "hollers" around Jenkinjones, and in Anawalt and Welch as well. Back in those days Jenkinjones was actually a Black community, which slowly changed over time.
Hi Tulalove , my father's family was from Jenkinjones. It is such a small town . I wonder if your family new mine. I have never been but I have heard stories from different family members who have.
Did people had to rent those buildings back then or did they buy ? over here in Saarland we have the most self owned houses per capita in all of Germany...all because the coal mines and the iron industry! you guys should do some more exploring in those old buildings...and perhaps show us those old shafts and entrys of the mines in the woods behind the hollas :)
According to WikiPedia, "Jenkinjones is the location of the Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992." If so, I hope someone gets in there an fixes them up soon.
Just imagine watching the movie Poltergeist on top of a mountain in house with graves in the back yard. Then having to walk a quarter of a mile out the road in the dark to your grandmas house with a flash light at ten years old!
Oh my goodness! What an interesting video! This is one little town in WV that I didn't know existed! WOW! It must be in McDowell County which produced much of the State's coat at one time. The mines shut down and McDowell County became impoverished. Thank you for this most interesting historical piece. Melody, I love your accent.
Wow my great grandparents lived there. My grandparents lived there and my mama lived there so I have quite a bit of history that I really don’t know anything about. It’s sad. My mom passed on three years ago and she talked about Jenkin Jones a lot. Her and her sister always wanted to go back and visit and never got the chance ❤😢
I’ve gotten a many of Appalachian whoopins in my day! Love these old coal mining towns. Also I feel like if Melody came on my channel and told them to live and subscribe they’d do it! Lol
I missed my two favorite traveling history teachers. Thank y,all for showing us these places , even if kinda depressing but much needed learning , love y,all
Another great video. Thank you both for your efforts. All this around me within two hours and I never knew. We are just about to lose it just like most our barns.
I delivered Coca Cola to a store beside the post office in Jenkinjones in the late 70s to the very early 80s. And believe it or not the very first house you guys came to at the intersection as you came out of the holler at the beginning, with all the Halloween decorations, which is across from the post office had a store in it too. The old company store up there was still barely open when I first started in 78 but soon closed.
My grandpa was a barber 💈 in the company store in the 1940’s, I believe. Thanks for the tour. We are hoping to make a trip to Jenkinjones in the near future.
Thank you for showing us this. I used to live in swandale West Virginia it was a logging town. At the time. For Georgia Pacific. We moved there in 1963. My dad was the manager. It was like stepping back in time. It was the best childhood anyone could have. bless you both be safe.
Well I never, Jenkin was born and raised in Glynneath where our last big underground mine is now, I’m there every couple of weeks! From his name I’d guessed he just had to be from South Wales
Enjoyed this! Very beautiful area! Love the old Tressel and the old historic buildings. Nature reclaiming them. That backup was not as bad as cigarette holler 😉😉😂....The leaves getting that early autumn look. Love the adventures. ..thanks guys. Appreciate y'all. God bless
Hi, I'm Janet, I grew up in Jenkinjones in the 60's & 70's. We lived in Newtown and my grandfather was a coal miner. My Grandmother was a Minister at Clinton Chapel church. Your video did not show the Southwood school in Newtown. I use to walk to the company store. Jenkinjones was a beautiful place once with lots of wonderful memories. I seen James Brown and many other performers at the Union Hall, my stomping ground on the weekends. I plan to visit soon. Thank you for the video. I proud to be a Jenkinjonian😊
One of the neatest places you ever explored. There's a lot more in Jenkinjones I'd like to see. I guess the school bus went by when you were checking out the church. I wonder what happened to the railroad that went by the general store? I think that gravel road you were on by the square building covered in vines might be the old right of way.
Even though it's a nasty business, I hate to see what's become of the coal industry. For what it's worth WV still mines more than 80 million tons of coal a year, mostly to be shipped overseas. That number is believed to increase to possibly 90 million for 2022.The industry is far from dead. There's lots of coal train action in Thurmond. I think you've been there.
I'm wondering if there will be a demand for coal to supply Europe if this Ukrainian situation goes on into the fall and winter. Folks are going to have to stay warm and supply power plants somehow. It'll be interesting to see if there's something of a revival of the industry in Appalachia.
@@kesmarn I would like to see that happen. We have vast coal reserves in the USA that we ought to either use for ourselves or to help out others. Right now most of the coal mined in WV is going towards export, much of it to India.
My maternal grandfather, Virgil Waldon, grew up in McDowell County. The spelling of his last name is different than some of his siblings. His was Waldon, some siblings were Waldron. It turns out his father had two separate families. That’s why the siblings have two different, but similar, last names. I want to visit McDowell County some day. I have The Mountains in my blood.
So weird seeing my grandmas house on TH-cam lol, the area looks a little rough but I love visiting. watched some July 4th fireworks by that church just a couple days ago
I got plenty of then there WOPPENS!!!! There's one thing I was good at and that was being NAUGHTY!!! Even when I TRIED HARD to be good I was still naughty/a bad boy. It's the only thing I'm good at my mother said... To this day at 63 I try to do all good things and in my mind I see what I'm doing as good, BUT people say I'm just naughty... I'm just thankful that Jesus LOVES even naughty/bad boys who are trying to be good... You kids be blessed in Jesus name... BBE..
I love 3 miles from where Jenkin Jones was from Glynneath. Wales. Uk. Coal mining is still going on in that area. Aberpergwm coal mine. Thanks for the video. The area is very similar to our valley.
Parents were from Ashland, Kentucky and I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia as Dad had joined the US Navy. I remember the drive to family reunions in Ashland every summer before Interstate 64 went all the way through, there was a stretch of Rte. 60 through Hawk's Nest State Park in West Virginia that might make a good video. I was a little tyke in the back of a station wagon as Mom made the drive on switchbacks going up and down mountainsides on a two lane highway, gigantic trucks loaded with freshly cut logs passing in the opposite direction missing us by a couple feet at most. At the top of a mountain was Hawk's Nest State Park, where Mom was always ready to pull over for a rest and me and my brothers would pile out to burn off some nervous energy.
Love your adventures into Appalachia. Suggestion for future trips: Have a map that shows your location in relation to well known places like Bristol, Bluefield, Grundy, Johnson City etc. Skip Salmon
I loved this video and the beautiful scenery, as well. Those old buildings are likely a curiosity for people who are just taking road trips. And while it's too bad they've been abandoned, perhaps they provide shelter for wild animals to get out of the rain and snow. I guess that's a perk for the critters! Thank you for showing us important pieces of our history. I sure do miss that area. When I was a teen, my friends and I used to go on road trips all over West Virginia. I'm from the Ohio Valley. I can't expect you to remember that. 😄
I was wondering which way y'all came through I keep looking for Anawalt , I have a aunt they lives across from were they load coal on the coal cars in Jenkinjones it looked like her driveway were you turned around at the gaurdrail she has lived there over 50 yrs. my dad and his family are from McDowell county, right there in Anawalt
04:33 That is a beautifully designed brick church! I'm going to see if I can find who designed it and if that person designed other churches in the area. Really nice! Thanks for taking us there 😊
@@kesmarn the church is NOT on the register of historic places! I can't believe that. I also couldn't find anything out on who built it so I would have to go to a local library or find a book.
I love your old hallow or holler drives. I never heard of a telephone pole tree, hmmm will have to look that up. That building is getting dangerous to be in.
Hey again guys. You're videos are so good that I feel ad if I'm actually riding along with y'all. The sights...the sounds. All I need to make it really real would be the smell. This one was exceptionally good. Thank you both. Be safe.
Good video and you can tell your woman is a country girl 100% I love her accent....lol I always heard country girl always take good care of there man and are good cooks to get to there man's heart......lol
actually you were already in JJ, it begins before you get to the first house. a lot of times if you just put in a city and state into a GPS it will take you close to Post Office. The Church does not have regular service, but it kept up and used for special occasions, like my best friends mother just had a wake there. That road that dead ended comes out in Bossevain Virginia
Do you have a video of St. Paul, Va? My husband lived with his grandparents for a year there. We live in Ohio it’s been 30 years since we’ve been there. Have you heard of a Holler call Walkinve? I probably miss spelled that.
@@realappalachia we just watched the Castlewood one. Hubby got all excited when you turned towards St. Paul. Lol. His grandparents lived just past the bridge/ overpass on the left. A little light blue house with a porch. The last we looked on good le street view it’s still blue.
I live in Jenkinjones wv now, you actually passed my house in this video. The building on the hill is the kings closet church. It’s still open and remodeled but no church services. Just community things held there
I do really enjoy this stuff !!! Thanks Same stuff here in Texas But I’m very interested in the w.v Coal minging days And the stuff YU all are doing aswell The other thing is your a very very incredible man to have her in your life !!! Very SWEET CUTE LADY THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS KEEPI THEM COMMING !!!!
My grandpa worked for Pocahontas coal company until he was recruited by US Steel in 1946. my mom was born in Jenkinjones, the third of ten kids, in 1939. They moved to Bluefield for a few years then moved to Butler, Ohio and grandpa went to work in the steel mill in Mansfield, Ohio. I went to a family reunion back in Virginia and West Virginia in 2017, some of the most beautiful area I have ever seen!
After you made the turn from the post office you went through Newtown. That was the "black " section of Jenkinjones.
If you kept on going through Conclintown you would have ended up in the town of Anawalt,WV. It was bigger and had several stores and gas stations. And it had it's own police officer. This video sure does bring back good memories of growing up. Thanks
I had a coworker named Barbara Nofsinger that ran a little country store in Anawalt, I believe.
I lived in #8 Hollow as a young girl in early 1950's, which was the section of homes above where the video started. My grandfather George Willie Blizzard was a fire boss in the mine at the top of the holler near Walt Harman's home. My dad, Floyd Blizzard worked in the mines for a few years until he and his brother George helped recover bodies of miners from the Bishop and Amonate mine explosions. Dad then left mining and got his certification as an electrician. I feel it was from seeing the aftermath and loss of lives in those explosions that inspired him to leave. Back in those good ol' days, the area had many company houses that were kept up nicely. Painted white and trimmed in dark green paint, mowed lawns, and there was a company store "up 6 Holler" and the busy little town of Anawalt nearby made it a very desirable place to live. Anawalt boasted of a bank, movie theatre, drug store, clothing and hardware stores and a larger grocery. When I was young a Mr. Rector owned the grocery. There were a couple of "filling" stations and the Central Cafe where Bonnie Hatfield had a cook named Julia Sage who made the best fish sandwiches I have ever eaten! They were one of a kind, fried fish filet on a hotdog bun, topped with mustard, onions and homemade chili! Back then the streams were clear, life was serene, people worked hard, and we children played hard. It was a wonderful place to grow up. One thing I have taken with me is West Virginia pride. The kind of pride in doing a good job, going the extra mile, being kind and helpful to your neighbor, and a backbone of steel. We were West Virginia strong! There were a few exceptions to the rule, as in any community/state. Some were lazy, didn't keep things clean and cared for, some were uneducated in "book learning" but then there were also those who were highly intelligent, took care of themselves and their homes, worked hard, gave to others and made their world a better place with good values and fine character. It's sad that people who were had no real clue of the character traits of REAL Appalachian folks, often spoke only negativity. Today, if one really looks, they will see a strong people who have gone through extremely difficult circumstances who came out even stronger, even more determined to not give up, to fight on and to turn things around. I'm proud to be a "Holler Girl", a "Mountain Momma", a "Coal Miner's daughter, granddaughter, sister. I am West Virginia strong.
I@@connie3800
I can’t believe that I was born and raised in West Virginia and never heard of all of these towns. Especially coal mining towns. These towns are amazing and I feel like I am back again watching your videos!! Thank you so much for sharing these with us
Same here Kimberly.
Glad you enjoy them, Kimberly
LoL
LoL
@@lovelife7249 LoL
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Jenkinjones, WV. Had to move away to find work in 1985 after high school graduation. I graduated from Mount View H.S in Welch, WV.
Ok you will know...lol. What are the small buildings in front of many of the houses. Right up on the street. They are built of different things but are all built alike...it has been driving me nuts..I grew up in NY so I have no idea..
@Hunter Hamiltom They were called coal houses. A small dump truck would off load coal in the coal houses and the homeowners would then carry the coal in the house in a coal bucket.
@@jamespenland479 Thank you!!! You rock...
@jamespenland479 You attended Anawalt Elementary?
Are you kidding !?
Another fine production! If anybody ever questions you two for authenticity, Let them watch you back up! THIS is what makes your channel fun and that fun adventiures.Thanks
That Church is super cool.
I started my coal mining career with Pocahontas Coal Company. Then it changed it's name to Consolidation Coal Company, then shortened it to Consol Energy or just Consol. Worked at their Maitland facility until they shut down and then worked at their Amanate shaft mine. 21 1/2 years with the company.
I heard that Amonate mine has been reopened, which was a pleasant surprise to me
I came for the history and culture, I stayed (and subscribed) because of your genuine care concern for this wonderful part of American history and its hardworking people.
That’s so awesome, welcome to the family
Great video I from McDowell county my grandparents used to tell me stories of how business and booming it was. I am 54 now it's changed so much since I was a kid. Sadly there is a lot of ghost towns now.
Thanks for another great video. Y'all take us to amazing places that we would otherwise never get to see.
This part of the country has always intrigued me even though I've never been there. I did have an online friend in Hazard, KY once, but she passed away last year.
I have a special place in my heart for old historic structures and it pains me to see beautiful architecture being left to rot this way. I wish there were a way to restore the town and turn it into a tourist destination.
We feel the same way
Thank you for showing me see where my family is from as they moved to Detroit in the 50's. My great grandfather was a town famous moonshiner who died running from the law off tank hill in 1940. There is a bluegrass song on TH-cam Ballad of Hobie Young.. My heart ❤️ is in Jenkinjones.
Oh man, I looked up that song and it was awesome!
God I LUV your videos!!! Sooo interesting. I love West Virginia for some unknown reason. Always thinking about those poor people and the lives they lead. Thank you sooo much for sharing all these amazing places n' Melody is sooo Beautiful!!!
Kisses from Ohio.
Oh still enjoying the ride, thanks 👍
I like it when you guys travel especially the Hollors?
The store was my favorite especially the old photos of it 🤩
I can't tell but are those glass insulators at the top of those trees,ha ha 📞poles...🤔🤔🤔
You both just keep getting better, and better. Love your light hearted banter between you two. I always read the comments before I post, and there are some really good ones here. Not much I can add. I guess I will say how important it is that you explore these small towns and show and educate us about them. Because soon nature will take it back and they will be gone forever.
I’m usually just a quiet watcher but man I just love these old abandoned buildings of the coal mining era, love to tag along with you on your adventures
My whole family on my mom and dad's sides grew up in Jenkinjones through the 1920s up until the mid 1980s I believe. My dad actually managed that company store you were in some 70 years ago. I used to visit there every summer with my mom. We attended that padlocked church every Sunday during the summer, and we had family and family friends in all the "hollers" around Jenkinjones, and in Anawalt and Welch as well. Back in those days Jenkinjones was actually a Black community, which slowly changed over time.
Hi Tulalove , my father's family was from Jenkinjones. It is such a small town . I wonder if your family new mine. I have never been but I have heard stories from different family members who have.
Did people had to rent those buildings back then or did they buy ? over here in Saarland we have the most self owned houses per capita in all of Germany...all because the coal mines and the iron industry! you guys should do some more exploring in those old buildings...and perhaps show us those old shafts and entrys of the mines in the woods behind the hollas :)
According to WikiPedia, "Jenkinjones is the location of the Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992." If so, I hope someone gets in there an fixes them up soon.
Just imagine watching the movie Poltergeist on top of a mountain in house with graves in the back yard. Then having to walk a quarter of a mile out the road in the dark to your grandmas house with a flash light at ten years old!
Oh my goodness! What an interesting video! This is one little town in WV that I didn't know existed! WOW! It must be in McDowell County which produced much of the State's coat at one time. The mines shut down and McDowell County became impoverished. Thank you for this most interesting historical piece. Melody, I love your accent.
I may be wrong but I think there was a song written about Jenkin Jones back in the good old fifties sixties day's....
Another wonderful video...thanks guys for always turning the awsome up to 12
These were the good ole days when life was so much simpler.
Thanks for preserving history with your videos!
Hi from Michigan! Both sets of my great grandparents used to live there.
These areas are always so breathtaking to me. I can't wait to get a chance to visit a few of these areas on my own. Amazing!
Wow my great grandparents lived there. My grandparents lived there and my mama lived there so I have quite a bit of history that I really don’t know anything about. It’s sad. My mom passed on three years ago and she talked about Jenkin Jones a lot. Her and her sister always wanted to go back and visit and never got the chance ❤😢
My uncle use to talk about jenkinjones many years ago doing the booming coal mining error.
I’ve gotten a many of Appalachian whoopins in my day! Love these old coal mining towns. Also I feel like if Melody came on my channel and told them to live and subscribe they’d do it! Lol
I heard crickets, and I thought one was in my house, until I stopped this video. 😆😆🤣🤣
I grew up in the first light green house on the left during your driving video
the O2 levels must be off the charts in West Virginia. everything is so green & plentiful!! great video as usual!!
I missed my two favorite traveling history teachers. Thank y,all for showing us these places , even if kinda depressing but much needed learning , love y,all
One of my favorite motorcycle rides when traveling through West Virginia is to go through Jenkin Jones. Pretty cool.
Thanks!
It’s so neat to see towns like this and I don’t have to leave my apartment, thank-you!
Glad to have you watch along with us
Another great video. Thank you both for your efforts. All this around me within two hours and I never knew. We are just about to lose it just like most our barns.
You are a real gentleman Shane offering to get that shoe for Melody lol
Shane, you crack me up! " You go first " haha !!! :-)
I delivered Coca Cola to a store beside the post office in Jenkinjones in the late 70s to the very early 80s. And believe it or not the very first house you guys came to at the intersection as you came out of the holler at the beginning, with all the Halloween decorations, which is across from the post office had a store in it too. The old company store up there was still barely open when I first started in 78 but soon closed.
Thanks for sharing those memories - it helps to piece it together because that town is a little trickier than some others we go to
My grandpa was a barber 💈 in the company store in the 1940’s, I believe. Thanks for the tour. We are hoping to make a trip to Jenkinjones in the near future.
Fantastic, we wish you safe travels
I sure got several Appalachian whoopins and sure wasnt a tshirt🤣loved the video.if those old buildings could talk.
Just come across your channel , I have always wanted to visit the back roads of America especially visit that part your in , much love from london 🇬🇧
Thanks! You both work hard to video the region for us!
Bless you, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for showing us this. I used to live in swandale West Virginia it was a logging town. At the time. For Georgia Pacific. We moved there in 1963. My dad was the manager. It was like stepping back in time. It was the best childhood anyone could have. bless you both be safe.
Bless you too and thanks for the comment
Well I never, Jenkin was born and raised in Glynneath where our last big underground mine is now, I’m there every couple of weeks!
From his name I’d guessed he just had to be from South Wales
Enjoyed this! Very beautiful area! Love the old Tressel and the old historic buildings. Nature reclaiming them. That backup was not as bad as cigarette holler 😉😉😂....The leaves getting that early autumn look. Love the adventures. ..thanks guys. Appreciate y'all. God bless
This is great! And very interesting! And ghosts are mere demons, nothing else!
Hi, I'm Janet, I grew up in Jenkinjones in the 60's & 70's. We lived in Newtown and my grandfather was a coal miner. My Grandmother was a Minister at Clinton Chapel church. Your video did not show the Southwood school in Newtown. I use to walk to the company store.
Jenkinjones was a beautiful place once with lots of wonderful memories.
I seen James Brown and many other performers at the Union Hall, my stomping ground on the weekends.
I plan to visit soon. Thank you for the video.
I proud to be a Jenkinjonian😊
One of the neatest places you ever explored. There's a lot more in Jenkinjones I'd like to see. I guess the school bus went by when you were checking out the church. I wonder what happened to the railroad that went by the general store? I think that gravel road you were on by the square building covered in vines might be the old right of way.
Even though it's a nasty business, I hate to see what's become of the coal industry. For what it's worth WV still mines more than 80 million tons of coal a year, mostly to be shipped overseas. That number is believed to increase to possibly 90 million for 2022.The industry is far from dead. There's lots of coal train action in Thurmond. I think you've been there.
I'm wondering if there will be a demand for coal to supply Europe if this Ukrainian situation goes on into the fall and winter. Folks are going to have to stay warm and supply power plants somehow. It'll be interesting to see if there's something of a revival of the industry in Appalachia.
@@kesmarn I would like to see that happen. We have vast coal reserves in the USA that we ought to either use for ourselves or to help out others. Right now most of the coal mined in WV is going towards export, much of it to India.
@@1940limited I hear you. I care about the environment, but I also care about the survival of humans over this upcoming winter!
My maternal grandfather, Virgil Waldon, grew up in McDowell County.
The spelling of his last name is different than some of his siblings.
His was Waldon, some siblings were Waldron.
It turns out his father had two separate families.
That’s why the siblings have two different, but similar, last names.
I want to visit McDowell County some day.
I have The Mountains in my blood.
I think a lot of people have the mountains in their blood.
So weird seeing my grandmas house on TH-cam lol, the area looks a little rough but I love visiting. watched some July 4th fireworks by that church just a couple days ago
Hello, new sub from Alabama! Love what I see so far.
Thank ya so much, Paul, welcome to the family
I got plenty of then there WOPPENS!!!! There's one thing I was good at and that was being NAUGHTY!!! Even when I TRIED HARD to be good I was still naughty/a bad boy. It's the only thing I'm good at my mother said... To this day at 63 I try to do all good things and in my mind I see what I'm doing as good, BUT people say I'm just naughty... I'm just thankful that Jesus LOVES even naughty/bad boys who are trying to be good... You kids be blessed in Jesus name... BBE..
I grew up in this town
Great job 😊
Great video! Would love to see this in person. Thank you for the tour..
Glad you enjoyed it, Betty
I love 3 miles from where Jenkin Jones was from Glynneath. Wales. Uk. Coal mining is still going on in that area. Aberpergwm coal mine. Thanks for the video. The area is very similar to our valley.
got video in side old church in Raleigh west Virginia not to long ago that was nice
Really enjoyed this one. Thank you
Another delightful trip thru that beauty country with such lovely people. Those buildings really tell a story. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much, Amy ❤️
Parents were from Ashland, Kentucky and I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia as Dad had joined the US Navy.
I remember the drive to family reunions in Ashland every summer before Interstate 64 went all the way through, there was a stretch of Rte. 60 through Hawk's Nest State Park in West Virginia that might make a good video.
I was a little tyke in the back of a station wagon as Mom made the drive on switchbacks going up and down mountainsides on a two lane highway, gigantic trucks loaded with freshly cut logs passing in the opposite direction missing us by a couple feet at most. At the top of a mountain was Hawk's Nest State Park, where Mom was always ready to pull over for a rest and me and my brothers would pile out to burn off some nervous energy.
I Love cruising with You two! 😊
Thanks for riding along with us, Lora
Love your adventures into Appalachia. Suggestion for future trips: Have a map that shows your location in relation to well known places like Bristol, Bluefield, Grundy, Johnson City etc.
Skip Salmon
I loved this video and the beautiful scenery, as well. Those old buildings are likely a curiosity for people who are just taking road trips. And while it's too bad they've been abandoned, perhaps they provide shelter for wild animals to get out of the rain and snow. I guess that's a perk for the critters!
Thank you for showing us important pieces of our history. I sure do miss that area. When I was a teen, my friends and I used to go on road trips all over West Virginia. I'm from the Ohio Valley. I can't expect you to remember that. 😄
It's a pleasure taking these trips with you all and learning so much about the area. It would be nice if you ever write a book about these places.
You are right near my house! I live I anawalt!!!
How cool, wish we’d have made it down to Anawalt
I was wondering which way y'all came through I keep looking for Anawalt , I have a aunt they lives across from were they load coal on the coal cars in Jenkinjones it looked like her driveway were you turned around at the gaurdrail she has lived there over 50 yrs. my dad and his family are from McDowell county, right there in Anawalt
11:27 says it all, the small things
04:33 That is a beautifully designed brick church! I'm going to see if I can find who designed it and if that person designed other churches in the area. Really nice! Thanks for taking us there 😊
I hope you'll come back and share whatever information you can dig up!
@@kesmarn the church is NOT on the register of historic places! I can't believe that. I also couldn't find anything out on who built it so I would have to go to a local library or find a book.
I really enjoy seeing these places, thank you Shane and Melody!
There were a lot more houses than you see now. Most of them caved in and rotted away.
Very interesting. I have never been to West Virginia
It is isolated but very beautiful
I love your old hallow or holler drives. I never heard of a telephone pole tree, hmmm will have to look that up. That building is getting dangerous to be in.
I don’t think we’d go back in them again lol
@@realappalachia shady looking at best, for sure!! Love you guys. You seem like great people!
@@realappalachia I been going in them for a few years now. Could definitely show you the old coal company and go in it!
At the end when you posted that picture of the Union Hall while showing it, that was good stuff! Thanks.
Thank you!
Hey again guys. You're videos are so good that I feel ad if I'm actually riding along with y'all. The sights...the sounds. All I need to make it really real would be the smell. This one was exceptionally good. Thank you both. Be safe.
Good video and you can tell your woman is a country girl 100% I love her accent....lol I always heard country girl always take good care of there man and are good cooks to get to there man's heart......lol
actually you were already in JJ, it begins before you get to the first house. a lot of times if you just put in a city and state into a GPS it will take you close to Post Office. The Church does not have regular service, but it kept up and used for special occasions, like my best friends mother just had a wake there. That road that dead ended comes out in Bossevain Virginia
Are you all marry
Is this your wife .love your all videos.love the way she talk .from Stephens city VA
Great video. Love seeing those ole mining towns. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it, Michael, thanks for watching
Another excellent video thank you. I'm looking forward to your next video.
Do you have a video of St. Paul, Va? My husband lived with his grandparents for a year there. We live in Ohio it’s been 30 years since we’ve been there. Have you heard of a Holler call Walkinve? I probably miss spelled that.
Hope we can get there soon, we just did Castlewood but hope to get back over. I’m not familiar with that holler.
@@realappalachia we just watched the Castlewood one. Hubby got all excited when you turned towards St. Paul. Lol. His grandparents lived just past the bridge/ overpass on the left. A little light blue house with a porch. The last we looked on good le street view it’s still blue.
Drive to Monongah one day.
Worst mining disaster in US
We hope to make it there someday
I live in Jenkinjones wv now, you actually passed my house in this video. The building on the hill is the kings closet church. It’s still open and remodeled but no church services. Just community things held there
Thank you so much for the information, that is helpful bc we weren’t sure about it. Beautiful church
Beautiful country ❤️ It’s terrible that NO ONE took care of these old buildings 😢 💕🙏
I agree
How TERRIBLY SAD 😞
Such beautiful country, thanks for the history.
Glad you enjoyed it, Patricia
oh, and it was called Kings Closet,, its a old church that give out clothes and things.
MY PICTURE TELLS THE OLD TALES
Sweet 😋
Was born and raised there❤
Not far behind the old buildings is the old jenkinjones coal mine location not there now,most of it has been reclaimed
I’ve had one of those whoppins
My grandparents are from Jenkins jones
I do really enjoy this stuff !!! Thanks Same stuff here in Texas But I’m very interested in the w.v Coal minging days And the stuff YU all are doing aswell The other thing is your a very very incredible man to have her in your life !!! Very SWEET CUTE LADY THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS KEEPI THEM COMMING !!!!
Thanks, Dave
The things y'all do for our entertainment 🐍🕷