Author Archives: kathrynhayeslangley

The Birchfield Cottage stood across the tumbling mountain branch a safe haven. At the end of the trail Reached by crossing the branch On the rough and narrow footbridge. Grandfather Jay crossed the bridge On an icy winter day Sat the steaming pot of stew At the little cabin door For the weak and hungryContinue reading “The Birchfield Cottage”

Fall of hope and optimism Filled with a vision of a bright future The poor mountain boy Dressed in the best he had He had worked hard all year Bought a ticket to Philadelphia Make big money in that Northern town More than he ever had . Drinking with some local thugs They robbed andContinue reading “The Saddest Funeral”

John Miller walked alone Through the winter cold The blizzard came down hard and fast Threatened to make this walk John’s last . Lantern light flickered In a cottage window by the mountain road John pounded in fright upon the little door Old Major Lunceford harkened in fright or anger Behind the rickety door PulledContinue reading “Major Lunceford”

Foxfire Eyes Dad was walking through the woods one night and saw two big eyes staring at him.  He took his pistol and shot six times into the eyes, but they continued to stare at him without even blinking. This buffaloed him and he high-tailed it away from there, but the next day he wentContinue reading “Dad’s Ghost Stories”

The Trail to Magic Land Times were good in the mountains of home.  But part of being good was having nothing to compare it to. Twenty-five cents an hour was good when it bought two hotdogs, fully-loaded, and a drink to boot.  And all the guys I worked with made the same twenty-five cents anContinue reading “Highway 23”

Jay Grandfather He was an uncommon man, in and uncommon time, and an uncommon place. He was a carpenter: I remember when he built the pigpen, the chicken house, and his work shops.  The workshops served to house his collection of woodworking tools and provided a place to create his various woodworking projects. He wasContinue reading “Jay Hayes”

An Uncommon Woman What a woman! What a cook! What a worker! What a feeling comes over me when I think about her and the life she had there on May’s Ridge and the Grapevine Ridge She didn’t seem to know that life could be easier She loved her brothers, especially the older ones- JohnnyContinue reading “Mary Elizabeth Miller Hayes”

It was a cold, brisk day on the flanks of Mays Ridge.  John, Jim, and Mary were home alone and the boys were entertaining themselves by sliding down a tall hay mow.  Their parents were off visiting a sick relative. Mary, six years old at the time, was finishing her cleaning chores in the kitchenContinue reading “A Fat Hen”

This is an actual event that happened when Dad was in his late teens/early 20s. Everyone has a close call with danger once in a while.  Sometimes it is close enough to require evasive action.  On those occasions when I have had to take action I have experienced what I see as a black veil.Continue reading “Brushing the Black Veil”

I am a Southern Appalachian Mountain Man from the hills of East Tennessee.  East, of course, is capitalized. I would like to develop my introduction by telling you something about the people of my origins. The Mountain People are noted for certain strong personality characteristics, which include: resourcefulness, problem solving, a lust for freedom, andContinue reading “MAP OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN MAN”