Did any of you (who are discussing Appalachian memories) attend the Appalachia High School Homecoming event last year? I had planned to go but didn't get to at the last minute. I haven't heard any follow-up about it and wondered how it turned out. I never did receive the book I ordered either -- did anyone else? My father graduated from Appalachia High in 1938 and I would loved to have met some of his classmates and a couple of his old girlfriends that I have pictures of. Also, the first wife of my husband's grandfather died in the 1918 flu epidemic in Wise County. They were only married for a short time -- I haven't been able to find out anything about her. All I know is her name was Helen, she was Hungarian, and she was married to Alex HEGEDUS. So if anyone comes across her name in one of the old cemeteries, please let me know. Thanks, Ann

In his auto-biography my g-grandfather, WJ (BIll) Stone, worked in the office of mining companies in Wise co in the early 1900's, wrote the following concerning Hungarians who worked in the various mines: "Many of the Hungarians worked in the mines in Wise co during the early 1900's. The Hungarians were excellent workers. They had a priest who was the leader of the group. The miners paid him a certain amount each month through their paychecks. The Hungarians poured their liquor into large tubs, and drank from it w/ dippers. For their dinner during the work week they brought about a half-gallon of coffee, a large piece of homemade light bread, a large slice of raw, thin breakfast bacon, and some garlic. They baked bread once a week and used a 25 lb. bag of flour at a time. They would bake up a 25-lb sack of flour for someone they liked for $1.00." Connie Hoskins Williams

My In-laws lived at Inman, and when they moved from Laura-Linden, at the foot of the mountain, to the present house in Inman Va.{it's still standing and occupied} there was a brick, or stone oven in the back yard. As time went on, it either fell or was torn down. . Seems I can recall one of the nicknames was,{and I mean no disrespect}Hunktown. I think all the dwellings were occupied by Hungarian or Polish people. Is there another copy of the book you are sending from? Tim & Connie Williams wrote: > In his auto-biography my g-grandfather, WJ (BIll) Stone, worked in the > office of mining companies in Wise co in the early 1900's, wrote the > following concerning Hungarians who worked in the various mines: > > "Many of the Hungarians worked in the mines in Wise co during the early > 1900's. The Hungarians were excellent workers. They had a priest who was > the leader of the group. The miners paid him a certain amount each month > through their paychecks. The Hungarians poured their liquor into large > tubs, and drank from it w/ dippers. For their dinner during the work week > they brought about a half-gallon of coffee, a large piece of homemade light > bread, a large slice of raw, thin breakfast bacon, and some garlic. They > baked bread once a week and used a 25 lb. bag of flour at a time. They > would bake up a 25-lb sack of flour for someone they liked for $1.00." > > Connie Hoskins Williams

Ann - if you get a chance, ask you father if he knows any of the Begleys. Don Begley is my father. Thanks! Vicki O'Neil chory@earthlink.net wrote: > > Did any of you (who are discussing Appalachian memories) attend the > Appalachia High School Homecoming event last year? I had planned to go but > didn't get to at the last minute. I haven't heard any follow-up about it > and wondered how it turned out. I never did receive the book I ordered > either -- did anyone else? My father graduated from Appalachia High in 1938 > and I would loved to have met some of his classmates and a couple of his old > girlfriends that I have pictures of. > > Also, the first wife of my husband's grandfather died in the 1918 flu > epidemic in Wise County. They were only married for a short time -- I > haven't been able to find out anything about her. All I know is her name > was Helen, she was Hungarian, and she was married to Alex HEGEDUS. So if > anyone comes across her name in one of the old cemeteries, please let me > know. > > Thanks, > Ann

Vickie, I am known as Babe Huneycutt. Don Begley took my place on the football team at AHS when I graduated. I may have met you at a reunion at Duffield. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike & Vicki O'Neil" <vmoneil@earthlink.net> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 12:08 PM Subject: Re: [VAWISE] Appalachia > Ann - if you get a chance, ask you father if he knows any of the > Begleys. Don Begley is my father. Thanks! > > Vicki O'Neil > > chory@earthlink.net wrote: > > > > Did any of you (who are discussing Appalachian memories) attend the > > Appalachia High School Homecoming event last year? I had planned to go but > > didn't get to at the last minute. I haven't heard any follow-up about it > > and wondered how it turned out. I never did receive the book I ordered > > either -- did anyone else? My father graduated from Appalachia High in 1938 > > and I would loved to have met some of his classmates and a couple of his old > > girlfriends that I have pictures of. > > > > Also, the first wife of my husband's grandfather died in the 1918 flu > > epidemic in Wise County. They were only married for a short time -- I > > haven't been able to find out anything about her. All I know is her name > > was Helen, she was Hungarian, and she was married to Alex HEGEDUS. So if > > anyone comes across her name in one of the old cemeteries, please let me > > know. > > > > Thanks, > > Ann > >