Goldenseal

10/17/2024

You can now find Episode 3 of the Goldenseal Podcast on Spotify via the link below!

The third episode of our special 50th Anniversary podcast. Episode 3 focuses on our Fall 2024 issue. We discuss our cover story on beekeeping in West Virginia, and our then-and-now articles, with clips from Shanda King the WV State Apiarist, Hillbilly Hippie Honeybees, basket maker Anne Bowers, and....

10/17/2024

In our Fall anniversary issue, we feature four then-and-now articles for our readers. A fascinating article from Fall of 1994 “Bee Tree: On the Trail of Wild Honey”, followed by a look at some current beekeepers in the state; a moving piece by Cody Burdette, “Home to Swandale” from Spring of 1992, followed by further reminiscences of the same author in “Whistles on the Wind”; We revisit the “Harpers Ferry Ghost Walk” in a reprint from Fall of 2001 followed by an update on the ghost tour today by Carl Feather; lastly we have a reprint from Fall of 1991, featuring Braxton County basket maker Clyde Case, followed by an interview with Jefferson County basket maker Anne Bowers.

In amongst these then-and-now features, you will find the usual sampling of articles that GOLDENSEAL has come to be known for—an article from our State Folklorist Jennie Williams, Reflections on Contemporary Art; memories of growing up in French Creek from Charles M. Morrison; a Tribute to our hard working farmers from Candy Thompson; a look a the life and accomplishments of Joan Browning by Barbara Howe; an Essay from Dana Pastro recounting memories of her grandparents on Muddy Creek Mountain in Greenbrier County; an interview with giant pumpkin growers--the Rodebaughs of Nicholas County; and another West Virginia Back Roads from Carl Feather, featuring the Harpers Ferry John Brown Wax Museum.

The cover photo was taken by Steve Brightwell. We hope you enjoy this issue! To purchase your own copy, or subscribe to the magazine you can visit wvculture.org/goldenseal or give us a call at the office 304-558-0220.

08/05/2024

The Goldenseal Podcast is now available for listening on Spotify!
Check out the first two episodes by following the link below:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenseal-podcast

Keep an eye out for episode three, which will be released with the Fall 2024 issue of the magazine in September.

We are very thankful for the support of our subscribers over the years, and hope you enjoy this celebration of our 50th year.

08/01/2024

GOLDENSEAL will be at Clifftop- The Appalachian String Band Festival at Camp Washington Carver through Saturday August 3rd. Come out and see us, and enjoy some top tier old-time music!

For more about the festival: https://wvculture.org/explore/camp-washington-carver/string-band-music-festival/

07/19/2024

Episode two of the Goldenseal Podcast is now available. Give it a listen if you have the time! We highlight the Summer 2024 issue, feature songs from some great WV musicians, and even include a 2008 clip from the late Bonnie Collins-- a talented WV Storyteller and the 1990 Vandalia Award Winner.

Listen here:

The second episode of our special 50th Anniversary podcast. Episode 2 focuses on our Summer 2024 issue. We discuss our cover story, and then-and-know article...

07/12/2024

The Summer 2024 issue of GOLDENSEAL features a cover story on Mt. Zion Baptist Church, one of only two historically Black churches in Fairmont, Marion County. The congregation will celebrate 122 years of service this July. On the cover is Mother Birdie Williams, a longtime member of the congregation, photo by Danny Leary. The article, written by Barbara Grigg, features excerpts from interviews with elder members of the congregation regarding the church and life growing up in Fairmont.
Our State Folklorist Jennie Williams shares an interview with instrument repairman Bob Smakula who will be retiring this year. Bob has been repairing instruments in Randolph County for decades now, and is a beloved member of the Elkins community.
We feature two then-and-now articles in this issue. First, originally published in 1981, and article by Colleen Anderson of her 1974 interviews with the Craftspeople of Arthurdale, followed by an update on Arthurdale by Carl Feather. Arthurdale celebrates their 90th Anniversary this year. Our second then-and-now features a reprint of a 2013 article by Nancy Merical regarding the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair which celebrated the sixty-third year of their festival over the July fourth Weekend. In the same vein as our then-and-now articles, contributing author Alan Byer has written a great piece focusing on the making of the movie Matewan, and the West Virginians involved with the film, and includes an update on where their lives took them after the film.
Kyle Lovern shares the West Virginian Roots of pro baseball player Stan Musial. Gary West shares the recollections of Stan Beafore and the Fairmont Little League of 1951 and the Fairmont Pony League of 1953—both teams made it to the Little League World Series.
June 6th, 2024 marked the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy during WWII. We feature three articles in this issue as acknowledgement of that anniversary. Edwin Daryl Michael shares his memories of WWII as a young boy in Shinnston; Donald Lambert shares the history of the 40-8 Boxcar located in Welch, McDowell County; and Sharon Sprouse Bramhall shares the story of Second Lt. Paul Barton, a Clarksburg native and hero in more ways than one.
Also in this issue: contributing author Rod O’ Donnell shares the story of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, which was originally destined to be located in Putnam County; West Virginia Author Kathleen Jacobs shares her thoughts on WV Literature; and Carl Feather wraps it all up with another WV Backroads, this time featuring Davis glass artist Scott Meyer.
To subscribe to the magazine, or order your own copy you can reach out to our office at 304-558-0220 (M-F, 9-5) or visit our website at wvculture.org under the publications tab.

06/20/2024

GOLDENSEAL is all set up and ready for the Folk Fest! If you are in and around Glenville this weekend stop by and see us!

05/22/2024

GOLDENSEAL will have a booth at The Vandalia Gathering this coming Memorial Day weekend. Come out and visit us and enjoy some good food, music, and artists while you're at it!

The Vandalia Gathering returns again this year for its 47th celebration Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2024. Be sure to join us for old-time music, traditional dancing, the Liars Contest, arts and crafts, food and more! Full schedule available here:
wvculture.org/vandalia-gathering-3/

05/03/2024

From our Winter, 1979 issue. "Homecoming" by Yvonne Snyder Farley. Photos by Doug Chadwick. GOLDENSEAL is sharing this article in recognition of the recent listing of the New Salem Baptist Church as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

05/03/2024

05/03/2024

Congratulations to the congregation and community supporters of the New Salem Baptist Church in Tams! The building has recently been listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" — an annual program that raises awareness about the threats facing some of the nation’s greatest treasures. New Salem Baptist Church and the community of Tams were the subjects of an early GOLDENSEAL article (Volume 5, number 4) by Yvonne Snyder Farley, photographed by Doug Chadwick.

04/28/2024

If you're able, come out and join us at the Culture Center today April 28th at 2pm for the opening of an exhibit celebrating 50 years of GOLDENSEAL Magazine!

Goldenseal celebrates 50 years! Join us as we open a new exhibit honoring 50 years of Goldenseal Magazine, the magazine of West Virginia Traditional Life. The exhibit opens at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The event will include a reception and is free and open to the public. The Culture Center doors will open at 1 p.m.

Produced by the WVDACH, GOLDENSEAL takes its stories from the recollections of West Virginians living throughout the state. Oral history fieldwork and documentary photography result in four issues per year with articles on subjects such as labor history, folklore, music, farming, religion, traditional crafts, food, and politics. https://bit.ly/3xQspSO

04/26/2024

Goldenseal celebrates 50 years! Join us as we open a new exhibit honoring 50 years of Goldenseal Magazine, the magazine of West Virginia Traditional Life. The exhibit opens at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The event will include a reception and is free and open to the public. The Culture Center doors will open at 1 p.m.

Produced by the WVDACH, GOLDENSEAL takes its stories from the recollections of West Virginians living throughout the state. Oral history fieldwork and documentary photography result in four issues per year with articles on subjects such as labor history, folklore, music, farming, religion, traditional crafts, food, and politics. https://bit.ly/3xQspSO

04/23/2024

GOLDENSEAL has been working behind the scenes on a couple of exciting things to help celebrate our 50th year! Check out the information below to learn more about our exhibit with the West Virginia State Museum, and the launch of our new Goldenseal Podcast. The exhibit will open Sunday, April 28th at 2 p.m.

GOLDENSEAL: 50 Years of West Virginia Traditional Life

The West Virginia State Museum and GOLDENSEAL Magazine have worked together to create a showcase of photos and artifacts related to GOLDENSEAL magazine subjects and our museum collections. Like GOLDENSEAL, the exhibit aims to showcase the people and stories of West Virginia.

The culture and community of the Mountain State, as covered by GOLDENSEAL magazine over the last fifty years, are highlighted in the exhibition through sections related to the history of the magazine, music, rural life, industry, and artists and craftsmanship. The photography of Steve Payne, Rick Lee, Michael Keller, Tyler Evert, and Steve Brightwell who were state photographers that contributed regularly to the magazine, is used throughout the exhibit.

This exhibition will open on Sunday, April 28th at 2 p.m. with a public reception at the Culture Center in Charleston.

We have also created a podcast to showcase the content of GOLDENSEAL, follow the link to give it a listen. Let us know what you think! https://youtu.be/Gf59qtpYiHs

04/19/2024

Our Spring 2024 issue features a cover story (photo by Steve Brightwell) from John Preston of Greenbrier County, reflecting on his time spent finishing a cello started by the late Harold Hayslett of South Charleston. This issue also begins the celebration of GOLDENSEAL’s 50th year. To mark that occasion, we will be featuring a few then-and-now style pieces in each issue this year. In our Spring issue you will find three such article pairings regarding ginseng, the Mortgage Lifter tomato, and WV quilt traditions: a Fall 1992 article from James Beecher Hinkle, ginseng philosopher, followed by an interview with Chuck Crews, a Greenbrier County resident and certifiable mountain man who spends his free time trapping and foraging; a Summer 1994 article by John L. Marra interviewing Bob Estler followed by a present day visit with the family regarding the legacy of the Mortgage Lifter; and lastly a winter 1990 article from Janice D. Lantz concerning Mountain State Quilt Heritage followed by an article from contributing author Edwina Pendarvis about the Piecemakers quilting group of Huntington.
Also in this issue is our regular column from State Folklorist Jennie Williams “Showcasing the Folklife Apprenticeship Program”; an article by Janet Mundell and the late Bill Carpenter sharing their experiences visiting our state's court houses; an article by Myra Alley Kingsbury sharing the story of her Grandmother, Grace Walker Campbell—known to her loved ones as Mawzy; a brief interview with Grow This WV; a conversation about seed saving with Dr. Lewis Jett of WVU Extension; a look back at the 2023 Vandalia Gathering; stories from our 2023 Liar’s Contest first place winners; and the award winners of the 2023 West Virginia Quilts and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition. As usual the issue is wrapped up with another West Virginia Back Roads from Carl Feather regarding the Sunset Ellis Restaurant in Shinnston.
You can visit our website to subscribe online at wvculture.org under the publications tab, or give us a call Monday through Friday 9-5 at 304-558-0220 to subscribe or order your copy.

01/11/2024

The Winter 2023 issue of GOLDENSEAL features sculptors Bill and Ai Qiu Hopen. Bill, a West Virginian by choice since the mid-70s, worked as an artist in residence in Clarksburg from 1979-81. His first commissioned sculpture was “Mother with Children,” a marble carving for the international Mother’s Day shrine in Grafton, Taylor County. Folks may have noticed some of his work when walking the grounds at the Capitol Complex. He and his wife Ai Qiu, a renowned sculptor in her own right, reside in Sutton where their studios are located. The story of BIll an Ai Qiu is one of inspiration and talent, and a fine example of how welcoming the small towns of West Virginia can be.
In this issue, our State Folklorist Jennie Williams shares about her experience this past summer at the Augusta Heritage Center where she managed their social media and attended classes. Jeff DeBellis has written an informative article about the adaptive skiing program in Canaan Valley. This is a life changing program that enables adults and children alike a chance to experience the freedom and thrill of winter sports on their own, when they may not have been able to otherwise. Dr. C.R. Thomas shared an amusing story of his “Father’s Annual Wrestling Match.” Dr. Thomas passed away this past September, as you will read of in Mike Snyders GOLDENSEAL Goodbye dedicated to Dr. Thomas. Carolyn M. Carlton tells the history of her family’s 100 year old barn, still standing in Preston County. Rosemary Balister shares a poem and a painting—her memories of a Pocahontas County Barn. Contributing author Ben Copenhaver shares his recollections of his “Most Satisfying Hunt,”—his grandson’s first. Mike Snyder shares his memories and a poem that he wrote in honor of Noil Carr, a “Mountaineer Moonshiner,” and friend of his. Longtime subscribers may remember the name Noil Carr from the March 1974 issue of Hearth and Fair Where Mr. Snyder first shared his “Profile of a Mountaineer,” regarding the life of Noil.
Also found in this winter issue: an educator’s hard-won classroom wisdom; one Harrison County football team's “Perfect” year; A Mountain State tragedy and ballad; the story of the DiTrapano Family; Pageant Days; Jean Hazel fondly recalls her grandfather P.L. Moore; a visit to Heasley Maple Farm in Preston County; WV Book Round up; and The Monongahela National Forest U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Lastly, Carl Feather wraps up another issue with a West Virginia Backroads featuring the West Virginia Tin Man—Wheeling artist Robert Villamagna. (Cover photo by Steve Brightwell.)

09/27/2023

The fall 2023 issue of GOLDENSEAL features a nice selection of fall leaning articles. The cover story from Alan Byer features the newly restored Durbin Route on the Cass Scenic Railroad with cover photo by Walter Scriptunas. Alan also shares his memories of the Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad in this issue. State Folklorist Jennie Williams writes on the Fiber Arts Apprenticeship taking place between lifelong friends Barbara Weaner and Enrica McMillon as part of the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Raymond Alvarez does a great job summing up West Virginia’s first civil right case. Photographer Dale Kinnison recounts his experiences at the West Virginia Rail Heritage Weekend and shares some photos taken there. Dr. C.R. Thomas recounts youthful shenanigans in “The Bever Boys Brewery” and David McCormick shares the history of the Brewing and Bottling works of Harper’s Ferry. Freelance writer and photographer Jennifer Broadstreet Hess shares her experience on the Tygart Flyer, a diesel powered locomotive out of Elkins, on a trip to WV with her daughter.
Author Danny Kuhn debates the truthfulness of alleged Civil war veteran Edward Kelly. Charles Sheets shares memories from his father’s time as an Oldsmobile dealer in Pocahontas County. In this issue Folktales for Fall has made a comeback with two slightly spooky stories from contributors Joe McHugh and Anneliese Blevins. West Virginia’s efforts to restore the American chestnut are discussed by Carl E. Feather and Jeff Kochenderfer in two separate articles. The American chestnut played an influential role in early Appalachian’s self-sufficientcy and the loss of the trees—once found in all 55 counties–was detrimental to their way of life. Myra Alley Kingsburg shares the story of how her grandmother implemented a hot lunch program in 1950s Fayette County Schools. Candy Thompson recounts her experience at the Macomber Community Church’s annual apple butter festival, and Carl Feather wraps up the issue with another WV Backroads featuring a Preston County family farm’s transition to preserving and sharing heirloom apple varieties.

To purchase a copy of the fall issue or to subscribe to GOLDENSEAL call us at 304-558-0220 or check the web store: https://epay.wvsto.com/Shopping%20Carts/HistoryCult/Goldenseal--C3.aspx

06/27/2023

The summer 2023 Issue of GOLDENSEAL is dedicated to the memory of WV musician, instructor, and 2019 Vandalia Award Winner Dwight Diller (cover photo by Steve Brightwell). Several friends and students of Dwight's share tributes in this issue detailing their fond memories and lessons imparted to them by Dwight.

State Folklorists Jenny Williams shares an interview with “Appalachian Soul Man” Aristotle Jones. Merle T. Cole details the success of the Raleigh County Historical Marker Program. Samantha Stephens shares a moving piece “The House of Campbell”, detailing her realizations, and discoveries researching her great grandfather, who owned and operated the first Black funeral home in Charleston. Paul Salstrom recalls his days homesteading in Lincoln County during the ‘70s. Some of our state blacksmiths are recalled in articles by Michael Evans Snyder and Nancy S. Hoffman. Barnes Bowman’s Store of Hardy County is fondly recalled in a poem by Ethel Hamburger. Peter M. Wallace shares his memories of working with legendary editor Jim Comstock—who he deems the “Quintessential WV Hillbilly.” Historian Julian Norman has written a great look back at Star City (Monongalia County). Chris Chanlett writes about the history of the Greenbrier River—“What it Survived and How it Thrived”.

Readers will want to visit the DuBois on Main, a museum organized to share stories of the All-Black school in Mt. Hope (Fayette County) after reading Lisa Shrewberry’s interview with Jean Evansmore. History Hero Anna L. Campbell shares her memories of her 90 years in Nicholas county. Freelance writer Helen E. McKinney writes about the Laurel River Club B&B, a farm and B&B in Jenningston (Tucker County). Edwina Pendarvis has written a great piece about our Heroine of West Virginia Literature—Phyllis Wilson Moore.

Also in this issue are a number of Goldenseal Goodbyes remembering great West Virginians and contributors to GOLDENSEAL over the years. Carl Feather rounds out the issue with another WV Back Roads, this time featuring Shorty Anderson Auto Service Inc., in Morgantown, as well as a feature on another Shorty Anderson– this one, a baseball player from Bluefield (Raleigh County).

This issue is available for purchase in our online store. You can also check with your local retailers to see if they carry it. Order directly from our office by calling 304-558-0220, ext. 134. The issue costs $5.95 + $1.00 shipping, or you can order a subscription: 1 year/4 issues ($20), 2 years/8 issues ($36), or 3 years/12 issues ($50).

06/16/2023

If you're out and about this weekend, head to Gilmer County for the West Virginia State Folk Festival - Goldenseal will be here all weekend, stop and say hello!

06/07/2023

In recognition (and anticipation) of the West Virginia State Folk Festival next week -- here is a copy of an article from Volume One, Issue Three of GOLDENSEAL in 1975! "The Folk Festival at Glenville" by Dick Kimmel.

We are looking forward to it! June 15-18. See you there, bring your dancing shoes!

06/06/2023

Super sneak early teaser excerpt. MORE 2 COME!!!

02/20/2023

View Dwight Hamilton Diller's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/15/2023

Saddened to hear of the passing of one of our great tradition bearers, Dwight Diller. You can read more about Dwight's life in the Winter of 2014 article written by Allen Johnson. We will be sharing some photos of Dwight from the Goldenseal Archives.

06/29/2022

Remembering Hershel "Woody" Williams (1923-2022)--the last of the Medal of Honor recipients from World War II--who passed away this morning at age 98. Photo by Will Price.

Medal of Honor recipient touched many lives.

06/16/2022

A few more West Virginia State Folk Festival photos from the Goldenseal files. This year's festival starts tonight and runs through Sunday morning.