from Caryl Carpenter, posted July 2023 Stoney Fork, Tennessee is an isolated area in the southwest corner of Campbell County. Stoney Fork is approachable from three ways, all over unpaved gravel roads. The road from the North comes in from Norma in Scott County, and at one point crosses a stream that, with any …
The Legacy of the Stoney Fork (Tenn.) Health Clinic Read More »
John Gaventa elaborates on initial findings from the 1971 land ownership study and what transpired in response. With documented evidence of inequitable corporate control over land and natural resources (due in large part to unfair property taxation practices and the absence of proper mineral rights assessment), local citizens sought legal action. These included (but were …
Findings of the 1971 land ownership study and subsequent legal action Read More »
John Gaventa delineates the context and probing question behind his earliest research into land ownership in Appalachia, as proposed in collaboration with Bill Dow: why are some of the wealthiest, natural resource-rich counties in East Tennessee also the poorest (in terms of overall living conditions and with regard to funding for public services, such as …
Context behind and origin of the 1971 land ownership study Read More »
Howard Elliot III, grandson of Howard and Elsie Elliot from St. Charles, Va., elaborates on how steady population decline in southwest Virginia has created barriers to his work relocating rail lines. He names Bonnie Blue as a good example of why justification for the expense of construction projects like these is increasingly difficult to secure. …
Population decline and water runoff in southwest Virginia: Bonnie Blue Read More »
Howard Elliot III, grandson of Howard and Elsie Elliot from St. Charles, Va., discusses the coal mining legacy of southwest Virginia, namely in and around Big Stone Gap coalfield. He touches on various logistics of the work 50 years ago and explains the role his father (Fay’s husband) played as an engineer with the rail …
Kate Bradley frames the initiative to organize a local health council and community clinic as a direct response to the Petros health fair’s preliminary identification of needs. She details early fundraising efforts, including Pat Kalmans’ key role in securing grant money, and outlines the clinic’s legal incorporation, naming John Kennedy and John Williams not only …
On the Bradley’s motivation to organize a community clinic in Petros, Tenn. Read More »
Art Van Zee reflects on the rich coal mining culture of St. Charles, Va. and surrounding communities. He describes its positive impact on the connectedness of extended family units and overall sense of camaraderie among neighbors. In doing so, Art highlights the ongoing cultural shift away from this reality–citing the destruction of families as one …
John Kennedy describes Bill Dow’s motivation to coordinate an investigative review of potential corruption in East Tennessee economic development districts, explaining that said corruption could reinforce power systems–namely, the allocation of state and federal funding to health and other community development organizations, which would be to the detriment of coal miner’s rights and representation. For …
On the investigation of East Tennessee Development Districts Read More »
John Kennedy shares about his introduction to the SHC while finishing up his degree at Vanderbilt Law School (1971), recollects others who were involved in the Coalition’s early law school projects, and delineates his role researching the East Tennessee Development District. For more information on John Kennedy’s involvement with the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) …
On John Kennedy’s involvement with the Coalition and its early law school projects Read More »
Stuart, Reginald. “Higher Appalachia Taxes Asked.” New York Times, June 22, 1974. Read article online.
