(SNP065) E.L. Huffman interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, transcribed by Sharon G. Marston

Authors

Edgar L. Huffman

Files

Interviewee

Huffman, Edgar L.

Identifier

SNP065

Format

1 audio file (running time: 1:14:21)

Interview Number

SNP-65

Date of Interview

2-23-1979

Description

Records an interview with E.L. Huffman, who grew up near Big Foltz Run, outside of Shenandoah, Virginia, prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park. Describes his impressions of the mountain people who lived nearby, their habits, customs and beliefs. Discusses the various economic opportunities available to the mountain people, such as the tan bark industry, ginseng harvest and moonshine. Of particular interest to Mr. Huffman is the Chestnut Blight that destroyed nearly all of the American Chestnut trees in the 1920s and his efforts to rebuild the chestnut population.

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

Huffman, Edgar L., 1909-1983, Interviews

Family Names

Hoffman 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; Agriculture -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Food habits -- Appalachian Region, Southern; American chestnut; Chestnut blight; Ginseng; Distilling, Illicit -- Virginia – History; Bark peeling -- Virginia -- Page County – History; Holidays -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) – History; Traditional medicine -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.); Land use -- Government policy – Virginia.

Place Names

Blue Ridge Mountains -- Economic conditions; Big Foltz Run (Va.) – History; Page County (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

Edgar L. Huffman interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, February 23, 1979, SdArch SNP-65, Shenandoah National Park Oral History Collection, 1964-1999, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

Streaming Media