Tom Dula: Wilkes County Jail, Part 2 (2020)

16 Sunday Feb 2020

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, crime, Elkville, history, justice of the peace, Laura Foster, North Carolina, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Pickins Carter, Tom Dula, true crime, Wilkes County, Wilkes County Jail, Wilkesboro

The Wilkes County Jail was built in 1859. Here’s our guide showing us the jail cell on the lower floor. 8 January 2020

All three cells have the original doors, wood, and iron bars. The keys still operate the door! 8 January 2020

The jail was used until 1915, when it was converted into apartments. It was scheduled for demolition in 1968 but a local group saved it. It began operation as a museum in the 1970s. Here’s the lower floor cell before restoration… 8 January 2020

This way to the two cells upstairs… 8 January 2020

Was a knife like this one used to kill Laura Foster? 8 January 2020

In June of 1866, Justice of the Peace Pickins Carter wrote the warrant for Tom Dula’s arrest from this desk in Elkville, NC. 8 January 2020 For more info, go here: http://www.kronsell.net/the_story_3.htm

No known photographs of Tom Dula exist, but here is one local artist’s rendition of him. Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020 For information about the fake Tom Dula picture, read this article: https://www.statesville.com/news/local/joel-reese-column-who-s-the-soldier-in-the-photo/article_48eb0f0c-4c93-11e8-8455-abac2bbbaf82.html

Through these bars is Tom Dula’s jail cell. 8 January 2020

Looking inside of Tom Dula’s cell… 8 January 2020

Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020

Inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell with the guide. Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020

Inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020

Tour happening! Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020

Side window inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020

Looking out of the front window inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020

Tom Dula: Ferguson, NC (2020)

08 Saturday Feb 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Music, Tom Dula

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, civil war, Confederate Army, Elkville, Ferguson, fiddler, Frank Proffitt, Grayson and Whittier, history, Kingston Trio, music, North Carolina, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Sharyn McCrumb, The Ballad of Tom Dooley, Tom Dooley, Tom Dula, Wilkes County

Reading Sharyn McCrumb’s masterpiece “The Ballad of Tom Dooley” sent us down to find historical sites in the vicinity of Ferguson in Wilkes County, NC. 7 January 2020. Most anyone will remember this 1958 mega-hit by the Kingston Trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhXuO4Gz3Wo

Tom Dula (1845-1868), a Confederate veteran and fiddler, lived in Elkville, just above Ferguson, NC. Few sites remain from his time; most of the old buildings are gone. 7 January 2020. Here’s the first recording of “Tom Dooley” by Grayson and Whittier (1929): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWd1rNmDAgg

Finding this sign in Ferguson meant that we were basically at Ground Zero. More discoveries to come! Photo by Mom. 7 January 2020. Here’s a personal favorite version of “Tom Dooley” by Frank Proffitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfPdCveqQRw

Kiahs Creek, Wayne and Lincoln Counties, WV

19 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Kiahsville

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bear, Big Laurel Fork, Brandon Kirk, Francis Fork, horses, Kiahs Creek, Lincoln County, Mountain Home Cemetery, nature, New Salem Old Regular Baptist Church, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Wade Adkins Branch, Wayne County, West Virginia

Black Bear, Francis Fork of Kiahs Creek, WV. Photo by Mom. 2015

House With the Rock, Wade Adkins Branch of Kiahs Creek, WV. 15 July 2016

Log Structure on Francis Fork of Kiahs Creek, WV. 31 August 2019

Mountain Home Cemetery, Trough Fork of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. 5 August 2017

New Salem Old Regular Baptist Church, Big Laurel Fork of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. 15 July 2016

Old School at Big Laurel Fork of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. 15 July 2016

Head of Big Laurel Fork of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. 15 July 2016

Head of Big Laurel Fork of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. Photo by Mom. 15 July 2016

Road in the Road, Wade Adkins Branch of Kiahs Creek, Wayne County, WV. 15 July 2016

West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville, WV (2019)

23 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Music

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banjo, banjo contests, Betty Vornbrock, fiddle contests, fiddlers, fiddling, folk festivals, Glenville, history, Lincoln County, music, Paul Gartner, Phyllis Kirk, The Country Store and Museum, The Pioneer Stage, West Virginia, West Virginia State Folk Festival

Straight ahead…the WV State Folk Festival! Glenville, WV. 21 July 2019

Here we are early in the day. 21 June 2019

Highlight: The Country Store and Museum. 21 June 2019 https://www.wvstatefolkfestival.com/country-store-and-museum

Inside of The Country Store and Museum are many great things! 21 June 2019

Black Diamond Strings in The Country Store and Museum. 21 June 2019

Here’s Betty Vornbrock winning the fiddle contest. 21 June 2019

Paul Gartner, the winner of the banjo contest, lives in Lincoln County, WV. Photo by Mom. 21 June 2019

Out and about on the grounds. 21 June 2019

Hatfield-McCoy Feud: Ellison Hatfield Grave at Newtown, WV (2019)

17 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Ellison Hatfield, Floyd Hatfield, genealogy, Hatfield Cemetery, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Mate Creek, Mingo County, Newtown, Phyllis Kirk, Sarah Hatfield, West Virginia

Up this way to the old Hatfield cemetery. Newtown, Mingo County, WV. Photo by Mom. 6 July 2019.

Entering the old Hatfield cemetery. It was a bit weedy! Photo by Mom. 6 July 2019.

I mowed some of the graves and made sure to place flowers at the grave of Ellison Hatfield. Photo by Mom. 6 July 2019

Leaving the cemetery, you can return to the paved road by going left over the bridge or right through Mate Creek. 6 July 2019

Antique Timber Branding Stamp Hammer (2019)

09 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Timber

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history, logging, photos, Phyllis Kirk, timber, timbering

These well-worn hammers were used to “brand” the ends of freshly cut logs so as to identify the owner of each log. Photo by Mom. 7 June 2019

When timber men sent hundreds or thousands of logs floating down the river to market, the identifying mark proved ownership. Cutting the end of the log, thus removing the brand symbol, was a penitentiary offense. Photo by Mom. 7 June 2019

Gov. Simon Bolivar Buckner Grave in Frankfort, KY (2019)

26 Sunday May 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Civil War, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, civil war, Confederacy, Confederate Army, Frankfort, Frankfort Cemetery, genealogy, governor, history, Kentucky, Phyllis Kirk, Simon B. Buckner, U.S. Military Academy

Simon Bolivar Buckner grave at Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, KY. Governor Buckner, a veteran of the Confederate Army, played a role in the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. Located in Section I of the cemetery. Photo by Mom. 21 May 2019

Barboursville Cemetery (2015/2017)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Cemeteries, Lincoln County Feud

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Anthony Shelton, Appalachia, Barboursville, Barboursville Cemetery, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, genealogy, history, Hollena Brumfield, Lincoln County Feud, Margaret Shelton, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Randolph Moss, West Virginia, William S. Kelley

Anthony and Margaret Shelton headstone, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 14 February 2015

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Dr. Moss was an attending physician to Hollena Brumfield after her gunshot wound to the face in September of 1889. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 5 May 2017

William S. Kelley grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 15 February 2015

Buskirk Cemetery at Buskirk, KY (2015)

09 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Coal, Culture of Honor, Matewan

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Appalachia, Baldwin-Felts Agency, Brandon Kirk, Buskirk, Buskirk Cemetery, Cable Testerman, cemeteries, Ed Chambers, genealogy, history, Kentucky, Matewan, Matewan Massacre, mayor, McDowell County, Mine Wars, Phyllis Kirk, Pike County, Sid Hatfield, Welch, West Virginia

Partial view of the Buskirk Cemetery in Buskirk, Pike County, KY. 16 May 2015.

Sid Hatfield grave (left) and Cable Testerman grave (right). Note gap between the headstones.. After Cable’s death, Sid married his widow. Was the burial spot between the two men reserved for her? 16 May 2015. https://yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/married-the-man-who-killed-her-husband-and-then/

Sid Hatfield headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Sid was chief of police in Matewan, WV. 16 May 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHY7HHPhCw

Sid Hatfield headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. After his murder, labor activists fashioned a mythical Sid Hatfield. The real Sid Hatfield has been largely lost to history. 16 May 2015. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/282

“Defender of the Rights of Working People”…? 16 May 2015.

Cable Testerman headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Mayor Testerman was shot and killed in the Matewan Massacre. 16 May 2015.

Ed Chambers headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Chambers and Hatfield were murdered at Welch, WV. 3000 people reportedly attended their funerals. 16 May 2015.