(SNP102) Ray A. Nicholson interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, transcribed by Sharon G. Marston

Authors

Ray A. Nicholson

Files

Interviewee

Nicholson, Ray A.

Identifier

SNP102

Format

1 audio file (running time: 1:12:49)

Interview Number

SNP-102

Location of Interview

Mr. Nicholson's home in Madison County, Virginia

Date of Interview

8-14-1979

Description

Records an interview with Ray Nicholson, who lived in Nicholson Hollow and on Old Rag Mountain, within the future boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies, fishing. Discusses the limited economic opportunities available to the mountain people, such as the chestnut harvests, bark peeling, stone masonry and moon-shining. Includes references to local entrepreneur, George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort. Includes numerous references to Mr. Nicholson's relatives, on both the Nicholson and Fincham sides of his family.

Rights

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Personal Names

Nicholson, Ray A., (Nelson Murphy) 1913-1980, Interviews; Pollock, George Freeman, 1869-1949 -- Anecdotes

Family Names

Nicholson family; Fincham family

Subjects

Mountain people -- Blue Ridge Mountains -- Social life and customs; Mountain life -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) – History; Mountain people -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park -- Social life and customs; Rural poor – Virginia; Country life -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Traditional medicine -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.); Distilling, Illicit -- Virginia – History; Bark peeling – Virginia; Food habits -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Holidays -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) – History; Fishing -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park; Land use -- Government policy -- United States.

Place Names

Madison County (Va.) – History; Nicholson Hollow (Va.) – History; Old Rag Mountain (Va.) – History; Skyland (Va.) – History; Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Manners and customs; Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History, Local.

Interviewer

Smith, Dorothy Noble, 1915-1999

Transcriber

Marston, Sharon G.

Collection Title

Shenandoah National Park oral history collection

Collection Number

SdArch SNP

Recommended Citation

Ray A. Nicholson interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, August 14, 1979, SdArch SNP-102, Shenandoah National Park Oral History Collection, 1964-1999, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

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