west virginians? what the heck are you? (Charleston, Huntington: transplants, homes)

[WV_Proud]

Originally Posted by millersangel

Down here on the NW VA border, we are definitely southern in speech, food and culture but different than traditonal southern states because of the Appalachian influence which has it's own idiom and traditions.

I would say the people here are tough and self sufficient. There are places you can go that seems as though you have gone back a half a century in time.

Life is slow paced and it's the kind of place where you can't be in a hurry. The check out clerk in the supermarket might have a fifteen minute conversation with the person in front of you.

You summed us up so well! I love that you can go places here in WV that are so pure and so dated to way back when I also love that we don't get in a hurry. No rushing around here! The clerk can talk and talk!
WV PROUD

[WV_Proud]

Originally Posted by charles hecker

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Lewisburg West Virginia. We are presently living in Jupiter Florida. We are interested in a small town atmosphere with lots of small shops and restaurants. One writer stated that the people in West Virginia are not friendly. Can anyone tell us the pro's and con's of Lewisburg West Virginia. After any answers to my questions. Are there any other states that fit our criteria. Thanks Charlie

I LOVE Lewisburg WV! My husband and I spend nearly every anniversary there. The folks are so friendly. Lewisburg has a Walmart, a few gas stations, a small shopping center, lots of antique shops. They also have a Theatre, Carnegie Hall, a Civil War cemetary, lots of history in Lewisburg. They have a few bed and breaksfasts although my favorite is the General Lewis Inn. Oh and you have to eat at Food And Friends...awesome food. Certainly check out Lewisburg you won't be disapointed!
WV PROUD

[hemidude]

Lewisburg is an interesting town but I only get to visit briefly every couple of months for work when I down in that area. I've yet to see the sights but might go visit on a weekend.

[Bobilee]

Well like a friend in Lynchburg, VA called me, "TRAITOR"

I find that Southerners who criticize West Virginians know nothing about the state, and usually don't know much about their own. As he's from Lynchburg, you should remind him that Lynchburg was saved by West Virginia Gen. John McCausland, and many of his West Virginia troops (including a lot of my relatives). After the war McCausland returned to Mason county and was the oldest living Confederate General.

The citizens of Lynchburg lionized McCausland for the conspicuous part he played in the defense of their city. At the time they expressed thanks by an address from the city council. They also gave him a golden sword with the inscription, "The City of Lynchburg to General John McCausland, July 18, 1864," and a fine saddle horse with equipment, which included a pair of solid silver spurs. These were presented to him with many expressions of gratitude.

For several years, on his birthday, the city council of Lynchburg sent McCausland telegrams of appreciation. On the sixty-first anniversary of the defense of Lynchburg, June 18, 1925, Mayor Walker Pettyjohn sent McCausland this telegram: "On this sixty-first anniversary of the attack on Lynchburg, which you so ably repelled with troops under your command, permit me to remind you of the grateful remembrance of our people and express the wish that you are this day enjoying the satisfaction that must be yours through having served God and your fellowmen." from the Life of Brigadier General John McCausland, by James Earl Brown

McCausland was born in Missouri, but went to live with his aunt in Mason County when he was 13. He was also renowned (or infamous) as the man who burned Chambersburg, PA.

[Drilco]

Originally Posted by snorpus

GottaHerdOn,

I'd say the core starts around Davis, goes south and west taking in Elkiins, Buckhannon, Marlinton, Lewisburg. Weston, Summersville, Beckley, Princeton, Bluefield, Williamson. Sort of "everything east of I-79 or south of US 60".

Morgantown, Clarksburg, Charleston and Huntington are automatically excluded, because of size.

Snorpus

Belington,philipi,junior included ? thanks,last name Samples.

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by Drilco

Belington,philipi,junior included ? thanks,last name Samples.

Well, yeah they're included. Belington is only 9 miles from Elkins and Junior is even closer. So naturally they're included. They share many cultural similarities so it just makes sense to include them

[WVMom]

As someone who grew up in Union (Monroe Co.) less than 20 minutes from Lewisburg...I cannot find any other state or place I find comparable to my home.

WV is not a southern state nor is it a northern state...it is simply it's own. Travelling from Charleston North and NE I have found it to much more of a northern atmosphere. EVERY state has rural areas with 'country people' who I think are much more alike than any state identity.

But when one travels south of Charleston you do not all of a sudden hit 'appalachian people'. If you go southwest, into coal country, (Wyoming, McDowell, Mingo, Logan, Boone,) the people and experiences are more mountain living, more of what I think of as traditional appalachian.

Whereas if you go southeast, (Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, Fayette, Raleigh, Mercer) are more country/southern I think. I grew up with the experience of having my grandmother call things pokes(bags), cornpone(cornbread) and a variety of other appalachian terms that I think are distinctive to our region..but I do not see our state as just southern.

Reading about West Virginia, visiting for a week or generalizing who we are by sterotypes is not who we are. I also have to say...visiting the most 'famous and prestigious places is not the representation of the state. Lewisburg is a lovely town with lovely shops and lovely people, somewhere I may retire to myself. BUT it is also a place that has been transformed into an entirely different atmosphere and culture from what it was just a couple decades ago. It is debatable whether that is a good thing.

[Bobilee]

The southern/northern question as addressed to WV is based on a false historical premise. WV is as southern as Virginia, although I have heard some people say that even VA is not southern, so what can you do? Historical studies of the last 50 years have shown that WV was created without the consent of its people, and those WV history classes we all had were based on false history. At one time Wheeling was considering adding the entire Shenandoah valley and all the counties south to the N. Carolina border to the new state. And if they had decided to take them Congress would have given them to Wheeling. And we would be wondering here if those counties are southern/northern merely because some politicans took a pencil and drew a line on a map. If you are interested in what really happened in WV you should read "A House Divided" by Richard Curry, or the essay by C. Stuart McGehee in "Virginia At War, 1861", Univ. of KY Press, 2005. The map here shows the counties of WV that voted to secede from the US, and some of those that didn't changed their minds after the war started. I know some of you think that this is 2007 and this has no bearing, but in 2000 the US Census asked people about their ethnic background, and the map, arranged by county, basically showed the old Mason-Dixon/Ohio River line intact, with WV clearly separated from Ohio. History is always with us.

[David Kennedy]

Thank you Bobilee! The real history of West Virginia follows us today in many distinct ways. To some, your blog might be a begining of understanding. I find the intrigue fascinating. Not wishing to start an uproar..I'll just say thanks again...

[millersangel]

WV Mom, I agree totally with what you said except I would not include Mercer Co as being northern. I live in Mercer Co and its roots go back to the 1700's. Everyone is kin to everyone else.

In fact, there is genetic type of muscular dystrophy that appears seemingly randomly here. The families were studied by Duke and the gene was identified.

It requires two families that came here in the 1700's to intermarry. I've cared for a lady who has it and she did her geneology and found out both familes were there. She was part of the study.

Mercer Co borders VA and speech, food and culture are both southern and Appalachian.

There is a Civil War monument in Oakwood Cemetary in Princeton commemorating those who died for the Confederacy at the Battle of Pigeon Roost.

The proliferation of Stars and Bars flying from pick up truck antennas ought to give you a clue. :)

And I think I would also classify Charleston as southern although you can meet some really snooty people there. But most of the people I meet when I visit are down to earth and helpful.

But overall, I think the people of WV are just unique in so many ways and don't fit into any pigeonhole. Even in the relatively small area of Mercer Co., you can identify several different accents that immediately identify where the person is from. For example, people who grew up in Princeton pronounce many of their vowels with a English accent. Bluefield natives definitely have a southern accent.

Add to that mix the Applachian idiom. Pawpaw and mawmaw for grandparents. Kindly as in I'm feeling kindly sick today. Cut the light on. Funny turned which you might think I am. :) I'll holler at ya later.

And place names would stump any outsider. Bramwell is Brammel. MACK Dowell is often referred to as "the county." The four lane is not the interstate but Route 460. Narz is Narrows, VA.

Being in the health field my personal favorite is arthuristis which a lot of elderly people have along with oldtimers (Alzheimers). And when you get a yeast infection you take Di flu KIN not diflucan. You never ask someone if they're diabetic, you ask if they have sugar.

In fact, you could have a whole dictionary of the idiom that is unique to this state. I often wonder how tourists get anywhere given the fact that no one can give understandable directions which are usually based on road names that do not exist like the Old Mall Road and buildings that were torn down fifty years ago as in "Ya know where the old phone company was? Well, go there and bear left."