And I just spent West Virginia day in West Virginia at my parent's home outside of Charleston! My Great Aunt was visiting from Florida (she is only 7 or 8 years older than my mother and was more a sister to her than an aunt.) With some prompting questions, Aunt Freda, with Mom playing a supporting role, graced us with stories of growing up in the coal fields of McDowell Co. during the Great Depression.



The Putnam County Pickers are long gone, but I remember them well. Ron Sowell, of the "Pickers" was, and I think still is, the musical director for "Mountain Stage", produced in Charlestion and broadcast on NPR. I'm not sure what has become of the rest of them.

Janie