Donnie, I’m a 31 year old Millennial and I adore your videos. You’ve become like a grandparent to me watching all your stories and history here on CZcams. Everyday on my lunch break at work I sit down with my lunch pop in my headphones and disappear into a time from long ago. I sometimes wish so badly I could turn back the clock and live in the mountains with all that rich history and story telling. For the younger generation I am apart of, there’s a lot of us out here who are so tired of modern living because something is missing. Life my have been harder in the old mountains but it was simple, you loved one another, and there was Faith in the community. I hope you continue to make these videos for as long as you can. I’m highly blessed to watch your videos every day. Take care.
Young man, I can see that you’re a blessing! You have a heart to honor those who have gone on before us, and God wants us to do just that. Hold on to your faith, in good times and bad. We may be heading for some tough times ahead, but Jesus can give us His strength to endure!
Folks I've had the pleasure of living a small part of what he says I remember smelling the coal from the stoves when the snow was flying and the smell of a big o brown cat head biscuit in the oven every morning and was a better time in life I'm only 57 years of age but I still remember the day mamaw and papaw got their first in house commode I was tickled by the way it flushed
Adam, I feel the same, {Despite being much older than you!} I think the past was better in many ways. Or perhaps it's ''Distance that lends enchantment to the view''.
I cherish my 95 year old grandmother and she’s still kick-in’ it. Her and my Pappy taught me canning and gardenin’. They talked about the ol’ timers all the time. Childhood memories were wonderful!
Appalachian country folks are some of the smartest, intelligent, wise and prudent people in the world. I'm richer because of my people there!!! Proud of my roots. Well done brother Donny! ❤ Also more resourceful and determined!
I try when I see them to learn as much as I can from them. They love to talk about the past! Miss my Nanny Cobble, great grandmother, greatest cook ever! Miss them biscuits!!
@@donnielaws7020 Your welcome friend. My people been here a long, long time. They had grit and a love of family like none other. We’ve gotten away from what’s good in life! My Nanny Cobble was the glue and when she passed everyone drifted apart. I’ve tried to get us all together but everyone’s too busy now.
I’m 66 and disabled, I’m from Bell County Ky. I can remember sitting on the porch with my papaw listening to the old cereal westerns on his old radio. We all lived in an old coal camp after the mines were all played out. The older I get the more I miss those old times. They may have been harder, but they were a lot sweeter.
When my grandma lost all her savings she had with her bank in Virginia she never trusted them again. When she passed.. God rest her beautiful soul… we found cash stashed in over 20 locations around her property. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
What a great video Donnie!! I'm 76 and I never realized how tough our grandparents had it. I just remember the 50s and we didn't have it so bad. It's good for people to learn about the past. It hopefully makes them appreciate their lives, and parents more!
My mother use to tell me about her sister and brother-in-law, how they survived the depression. They lived in York, PA. They were River Brethren (my aunt always wore a white cap, like the Mennonites, and covered with a black cap when she left the house) with 12 children. My uncle had a butcher shop, foreseeing the depression, he sold it and purchased a farm. Mom said once a year a rich woman in York would buy all the kids a pair of shoes for the winter. Thank you for your story today. As they say, it was just what the doctor ordered. I had to have my dog put to sleep yesterday. She was my best and only friend. She went everywhere with me. It has been a sad day. I keep turning around to see her and she isn’t there. 😢 Thank you for sending this much needed video. You always have perfect timing. God bless you.
@@janetdavid2619 Donnie's videos are medicine for the soul. So sorry for your loss. It's never an easy thing, but we get through it one day at a time. She'll always be with you in your heart.
@@janetdavid2619 Hugs to you, dear one. I’ll pray that you find a true friend, and that you find peace and joy in your life, despite any circumstances. ❤
No….you were the luckiest of the lucky : born AFTER the Depression….too late for WWII & Korea; only Vietnam (and only for the few)…. You WERE the cultural revolution.….You were, and have been ever since, “The” culture (and you were-and are-able to “cash out” @ 65, and collect full SS & Medicare)…. Generations that have followed yours will certainly have a much tougher time, financially (and I have a strong suspicion that the future international situation will be far worse than anything you have had to experience)…. Of course, we do not “choose” our time on earth (we can only give thanks for our good fortune-or pray for the strength to face what is to come)…. Peace be with you.
Some of the best lessons in life I learned from my grandparents. We were raised on a Centennial Farm (Est. 1894). As I look at life now, it scares me more than I can say. Life wasn't always a walk in the park, but we learned early that taking care of the family was the most important thing - no matter what may lie ahead, we would always have each other. Thank you for another glimpse of the past - and I hope that we never let the history of our past fade away into the night. We need to keep this candle lit for the generations to come. 💖💖💖
I grew up in Texas with a neighbor lady who was born in 1901. Her stories are very similar to the stories you tell. I learned to cook from her. She had an old wood burning stove and made everything from scratch. Raised their food on their farm. I really loved her and miss sitting on her kitchen porch shelling peas etc.
People really don't realize how tough things were in the early days of the 1900s. My mom told me that many times, her family would have gone hungry if it hadn't been for fish in the creeks. There simply wasn't anything else. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Donnie.❤️
I'm white but I can remember picking cotton in the summer time if we worked hard an picked 100 lbs. of cotton we made $1.00 . We used wood to heat with and too cook with . When we cut wood we used a cross cut saw and a ax . When we warshed clothes I can remember having to pump water to fill up a # 2 wash tub in the winter time I have seen my mother hang up clothes on the clothes line and they would freeze its hard to think what her hands felt like .I can't remember my mother complaining about it being hard on her .
My wife’s grandfather was born in the 20’s and he told me lots of story’s about they would have starved if not for the occasional ground hog and he said that the grease after a meal was cooked would be dinner the next night and I said man that’s not much of a meal he said to me you felt blessed to just have even a mouth full to eat it broke my heart to think about kids back then and as a man how hard that had to be on you will to provide for your family but just couldn’t strong people back then
It crosses my mind frequently these days, what you said about grandparents. When we're young we don't pay much attention to the stories and wisdom they had of former days and lessons learned. Sure like to hear those stories now though. Thank you, Donnie.
My folks growd up in the depression,it's been a family tradition in our homes of cooking one pot meals eat for lunch and supper Sundays was big meals fried chicken biscuits gravy mashed taters field peas apple or peach pie that was the all day meal (faith and prayer)☺
Thank you, Donnie, for a wonderful walk back through history. I really love listening! My mother's side of the family lived just like you did but in southern Tennessee. My father was from American Samoa in the South Pacific. My mother died a year ago. All her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are taking her ashes back to Hawaii to be buried with my father. Even though my mother was from Arkansas, she lived in Hawaii for over 40 years. Hawaii was her home and where she raised her children.
I miss my grandparents. My grandma was born in 1909 and lived to 104 and 5 days old. God rest their souls. I love listening to your stories and perspective Mr Donnie. God bless you.
@@YeshuaKingMessiah it is! And Grandpa lived to be 102. They never smoked, never drank alcohol and only took an aspirin if they were in a lot of pain. Only by God's grace and mercy, He allowed them to be able to meet some of their great grandchildren. 🥰🙏🏻🙌🏻
Donnie my friend, I can never watch one of your videos and not feel better. For that I'm eternally grateful. We got indoor plumbing about 2 years before I was born. I just called my older brother and confirmed it. We had a phone that was a party line. We kids ran the hills and knew everyone. A lot of the older folks still had outhouses so we used them too. My grandfather had dabbled in moonshine then went to work for the L&N railroad. He retired from there. My great-grandfather on the other side was the blacksmith of the area. I figure you've heard of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and Jamboree. My grandfather sold that land to John Lair who built it. The surrounding property is still in the family. Thanks again my friend.
Donnie, I so greatly appreciate your videos, and most of all your historical storytelling. My 5x great grandpa is Daniel Boone. My mama's people came from Appalachia in Tennessee and North Carolina. My mama was born in Lynch, Kentucky in 1923 when her daddy (O.L. McIntosh) was a machinist for the US Steel coal mine there. Everything in my bones longs to be closer to those mountains -- some say it is the magnetic frequencies and the serpentine in those beautiful mountains. My Granny Grace taught me canning, cross stitch embroidery, sewing, cooking fatback and cornbread. She had her own braided rugs she had made from old suits and clothes. I have my great-grandma's double wedding ring quilt. I learned some gardening from Grandpa Mac, he built a barn on his Somerset, Kentucky property and even in the early 1970's had a side of salt pork hanging in the barn. Something about my heritage makes these hills and the old roads so precious to me. I suspect that my great Grandma McIntosh was part Cherokee too - jet black hair and those beautiful high Cherokee cheekbones -- my Grandpa Mac looked like a Cherokee warrior. Thank you for showing Highway 25E in your other videos -- my mama told stories of riding over the gap to visit my grandpa's brother, Uncle Bern in Burnsville, NC. This was how my Aunt Virginia died from pneumonia having traveled in the unheated 1920's car on a visit to Uncle Bern, such a long trip from Lynch, Kentucky. My middle name was from Virginia, my mama's precious little 8-yr old sister. Penicillin came out only a few years later. When I visited my grandparents at their Somerset home, I was always shocked and a little bored on the first day or so. Then, I started helping Granny Grace or Grandpa, started reading old Readers' Digest magazines and rocking in the rocking chair, and played with my cousins (all imaginary/pretend games) outside or in the cool basement. I would love to meet you Donnie -- you sound like home to my ear! God bless you and thank you again, sir!
WOW that's so much amazing history. Thanks so much for sharing your memories and story. WOW Daniel Boone. He's my favorite frontiersmen. Awesome. God bless you.
At my Mom's funeral some years ago, it was announced she was a direct descendent of Daniel Boone. From what I can piece together the bloodlines came through the Martins and Greenes. Her Dad was a Smith. I like these videos too. Grandma and Grandpa Smith taught me the old ways. 🙏😊
Donnie, even the sound of your voice with your deep southern country boy accent makes me feel comfortable and nostalgic. I'm 61 years old and I remember everything that you speak about just like you say how you remember the things of our youth's in Appalachia, Southeastern USA, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia areas. Love your channel Donnie, may God bless you and your family 👪 ❤
I am old enough to remember wood sheds and out houses and wood stoves. We lived in the Shenandoah Valley about 2 miles from the town of Shenandoah. Also lived in McGageysville. I remember grandaddy would butcher 2 or 3 hogs in the fall and Uncle Raymond would butcher a cow or so so everybody had meat for the winter. We always had canned vegetables and fruit from the garden. We ate good. But the thing I remember most about fall butchering is the outdoor fire pit after slaughtering the hogs and granny would render lard and make chittlins in a big old cast iron pot. Nothing like em. We didn't have much money, but we were rich in a lot of ways. A lot better off then than we are now. God bless you for keeping our history going.
What is the MOST REDICULIOUS is when The working man was having it Rough the WORTHLESS EXCUSES FOR HUMANS in Washington DC was still sucking up their Tax Money that they DID NOT DESERVE!!!!!
I was raised by two of the greatest generation. My pawpaw was in the (3CCC)THE CCC'S HE WENT IN THE ARMY AND SERVED THROUGH WAR WAR ll..They were born in 1921 and 1924 .They were in there middle 50's when they got me at 3yrs old and raised me in all they knowed.Most people my age can't resonate with them. They instilled there wisdom and hard work ,canning, planting a garden and harvesting. They built there houses from the ground up.Most people have know idea ..the taught me how to hunt and fish.we worked before the sun com up and didn't come home until the sun went down .I miss them so much. What I would give to spend one more day with them. Thank you so very much.
Brother Donnie you are so so correct about these things. I had a neighbor the other day call me complaining and worried about where our world is heading. I told him he is only worried because his conveniences and entertainment may be cut to a bare minimum. He is in his late 40's early 50's so I told him to asks his mama & daddy what hard times were like during his granpa's days.People today is beyond spoiled , they seem to feel they are owed an easy life by society. The Lord needs to come back and claim his world back, all of us are just here for rent, it'll soon end, if not soon maybe even this year.
I miss my grandparents and father so much. I learned so much from them and my mother, but there was so much more that they knew that didn't get passed on. And like you said, there's so many questions I didn't even know enough to ask until they were gone. God bless you, Brother Donnie, for making these videos and trying to keep as much of the old ways alive. Like it or not, we're gonna need to know those old skills again.
Donnie your thanking us for watching, and I thank for putting these stories on video. Brings back memories from my Grandparents stories. You have stories and material to make a Documentary or great book. Have a blessed day.
I'm 57 and I grew up with 2 wood stoves in my house. We had electric but we had to cook on the kitchen wood stove and we had a electric hot plate for the summer. We had a toilet hooked up no shower no running water in the kitchen as well. I was 16 before I had a reg stive to cook on. I always say my generation really isn't my generation. I'm from way back really. I appreciate everything ! I am greatful for that.bibwasndirt poor and filthy lol not now tho. Btw our kitchen wood stove looked like the one in this video. Ours was a light blue color
Watching this makes me thankful for what I got! They had one bad problem after another! But, they never gave up. They were truly the greatest generation!
In the early 1970s I`d listen to AM radio in my mom`s car all night in Summer in rural Louisiana because it was my only connection with what was going on across America in distant cities. It was like internet to me and the only way to get local news stories that weren`t on the 3 channels on TV. There was no other way to do it. AM radio is still very important for that reason. I`m 35 miles west of Natchez, Mississippi in east central Louisiana but I can listen to Dallas, Tx 820 WBAP AM 300 MILES AWAY during the day with my CCrane EP PRO or using a homemade antenna (see below). AM radio is VERY important for news after hurricanes when nothing else works for this reason. Few know though. Strange! I used to carry an AM radio on camping and especially fishing trips in Summer because if you left it on you could hear the lightning static of approaching storms long before you started hearing thunder even if you couldn`t pick up a station to get weather reports. I eventually learned to build long-range AM radio antennas to be able to hear more stations during the day. In the 1990s when I lived on the Sabine River I strung out 300-400 feet of wire over the tall bushes and lower tree limbs going north and about another 300-400 feet going south, then made a 100 turn coil of 24 AWG enamel coated magnet wire on a paper towel tube. I connected each end of this coil to one of the wires. When I placed this near my portable AM radio during the day I could hear over 50 stations instead of only 2 or 3. I could hear Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Memphis and even Oklahoma City at noon in Louisiana.
To all the greatest generation who did their best to do for themselves and their families, may you rest in peace, you are not forgotten. And for the brave Men and Women who fought for our country in foreign wars, I salute you!
If I was telling that story we'd sound like we lived the same and have the same memories. Boy I sure do miss my family. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. People think they have it hard nowadays..they live like royalty in comparison and just like celebrities they're a victim and whine over the least little thing. I really appreciate that video Donnie..it touches my heart strings. Thank you 😊
The overlooked generation in between, the greatest and the boomers was the small group of the war babies, the babies that were raised by extended families because the men and older brothers and cousins were off to war. Shortages of everything, much bartering for what was needed, if you could find it. An even smaller group of these war babies were those that were overseas with parents involved in the military occupational forces in bombed out countries in both Europe and the orient. Walk a mile in anothers shoes to appreciate the history of civilization. We got this, folks, bring it!!!
Please never quit telling the tales of Appalachian Mountain Folks. I wish more people alive today were like the old school Appalachian folks. I am only 20 years ago but I got nothing but respect for my elders
Well done Donnie, yet another fascinating look back into the past "real lives"of the Appalachian people 🤝 one of my favourite films is " The Grapes of Wrath" which gave a true portrayed of everything that you just presented. However knowing that it is your own 'Neck of the woods' history and that your Grandparents and extended family lived through it all, just makes it that much more interesting. thank You and God Bless you 🙏🏻
Howdy Donnie- I’ve listened to lots of stories from my parents about those times. My Daddy would have been 98 years old today. He was of the Greatest Generation. Thank you sharing this. I’m guessing you and I are about the same age and we’re blessed to have been raised by these hard working people. Take care and God’s blessings to y’all
Thank you Donnie this gives me hope as a young American that we can get through hard times when it comes with God's help the land and helping our fellow citizens and man kind.
Such a sweet video and archival photos Donnie......Love that 1950 Ford in there as well.... . they are the greatest generation...they endured so much..and could make just about anything from nothing...we were blessed to have the time we did with them....the hunting and fishing ....the holidays and gatherings....and listening to their stories ...they taught and showed us how to live....I miss them so...... God Bless you and yours Brother , and Thank you for the video.
This is such a great history video of what it was truly like back in those days. So many could learn what families did before electric, indoor plumbing, no cars, etc. Donnie thank you so very much for all the work you do GOD BLESS YOU
As always I enjoy watching your videos about the history. I wish there were something like the CCC that the younger people could be a part of today. Maybe they’d learn something
My grandfather carried one of those old tool boxes, open style rectangular with just a carry handle. Didn't hold a lot of tools, but he could fix anything with them. He lived until he was 98, and he did the crossword and the word jumble in the newspaper everyday until he passed. My grandmother cooked from scratch and she canned everything. She was a fantastic cook! My great aunt (grandfather's sister) lived until she was 99 and made the best homemade apple sauce. She was born in 1904. My great uncle was born in 1903, was German and had a sharpening shop. He taught me how to sharpen anything by hand. He and my great aunt had travelled to every state (except Hawaii) and every Canadian province together BY CAR by the time I was born in 1968. They were married over 69 years when he passed. All of them were very loving and the wisest people I have ever known. I miss them every day. I would give ten years of my life for just ten more minutes with them.
I feel the same way about all my grandparents, especially my paternal "Nanny". She was devout, always had a cheerful but no-nonsense attitude, always busy with housework, cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting and canning. I stayed over her house for almost a month to recover from a hospitalization when I was nine. I enjoyed learning "hands-on" what she taught me about gardening, embroidery and kindness to animals. She had three little dogs, an aging cat, and a zebra finch, and I helped her take care of them. She enrolled me as a member of her favorite charity, "Friends of Animals". I loved listening to Nanny tell stories while we sat on her porch eating ice cream in the summer evenings. She passed away when I was 20. Here I am, 67 years old, and I still miss her!
My grandfather was born less than a year from when “Devil” Anse Hatfield passed away on January1, 1922. He easily could have known people directly involved in the feud. He is over 100, still driving and has gotten to hold my grandchild! He was in the war. He also never had electricity until he got home from the war. It’s amazing how connected we are to the in the past if we are willing to do there research like you have.
Hello Sir,, another awesome video,,I love your storyline ❤️ Wow I just realized, my grandfather " whom I love dearly" was only 21 yrs old ,when the stock market crashed,,and only 27,,when my mother was born,,wow!! God Rest Their Souls!! Thx 4 another awesome video,,you're amazing & have taught me so much,,I've always been intrigued by The Appalachian ppl,,idk why bc I'm of American Indian & Pennsylvania Dutch decent ,, w hich is a lil unusual ,,so I'm told,,but it just goes to show how ppl got together,even back then,,lol ❤️ have a blessed day
We need to pass on their stories to the younger generations and explain to them how important it is to keep the memories of these people alive. Appalachia is the most beautiful place in the world we must cherish it and protect it at all costs ✝️🇺🇸 God bless
I love videos like this. My grandpa Weaver and Grandpa Cole both from Blue Ridge Georgia. They told me so many stories and I also grew up like this. I chopped wood,worked in the garden. My family had pigs,chickens, cows and we grew up living hard. I had 6 brothers and I was the only girl.
I said something to my mother about it being hard during the depression. She said, "Really wasn't hard on us kids. It was tough on our parents. They were the ones that really had to scratch and feed us and get us what we really needed it." My father's parents were in Oklahoma and right in the heart of the dust bowl. Lost a farm and a general store. Moved to New Mexico and became sharecroppers. Did well later in life.
I was blessed to be raised by my Grandmother and there isn't a day that goes by I don't think of something she taught me. As a kid you don't understand how much you can learn from these wonderful people and how special they are. When you start getting older you start realizing how much they meant to you and how much you miss them.. Thank you for this wonderful video Mr. Laws. God bless you.
All the things you talked about on this program I remember my Dad and Mom telling me the same thing! I miss my parents and my older relatives so much, just listening to their stories about their lives! My Dad was in the CCC and had to send money home! He learned welding on the weekend while he was there by a old welder ! He talked about all the things he did and learned at CCC ! Later on He served in the Army in Europe during some of the worst battles! These definitely were tough people to survive the depression and to fight a world war! I miss those people 😢
Donnie, I'm 51 now and was so blessed to hear stories like this from my granny. I use to help her in the garden and we were the early risers of a big family in the same house. Our joy was to get up go to the garden and return with fresh picked veggies and then grab the leftover biscuits from the nite before! Other than the many fishing trips with paw paw, that was some of the most that I ever felt loved.. and ps. Granny told the best story's about her life. I would catch myself not eating just hanging to her every word! Your videos take me back to a better time! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Some absolutely beautiful old photographs of resilience, the people and the places that poignantly tell the stories and makes you wonder about the faces and what their lives were like
I am proud to be a hillbilly straight out of the Appalachian Mountains my Daddy came from a family of 19 children and Mama came from a family of 14 and there were 7 of us. Lord how my heart longs for the days of being with my Granny and Paw or my Mamaw ad Pa Paw
Another great one Mr. Donnie! Watching your video reminds me a lot of my childhood, and we may have to go back to some of that, country people can survive..
Hi Donnie - I agree with you - great generations for sure! The stories my grandparents and mom and dad told me. I wish I had paid more attention when they were alive. Being a normal kid unfortunately I didn’t until I got older but I do remember some of them. I used to kid my dad about straightening out bent nails, saving old screws, and saving any old wood no matter how small it was. He would cut leather dog leashes if they broke, save the pieces, and make new ones. He would say “if you lived through the depression like I did you wouldn’t just toss good things out. I remember when there was no new ones to buy and if there was we couldn’t afford to buy them.” I also remember my mom sweating and canning all Summer and Fall for food for the winter. She would patch our clothes - my dad’s hunting clothes and rubber boots were more patches than original fabric. All these were due to the depression and the fear of not having things at our finger tips like we do today. Thanks for the great video and the memories.
Hey I'm only 46 and I have 2 broken collars hangin here, I am gonna use the pieces. My kids tell me I'm cheap, but I see it as "saving" money. Great story. I fear the tough times will be here again within 20yrs or so. I can't believe the epidemic of homelessness in our cities! They can't all be drug addicts at this point. 💗
Floyd, VA. All my people were from there. Thank you for the tribute. I can still see the apple tree out the kitchen window while Grammy made me biscuits and red-eye gravy for breakfast. Up the road our neighbor had horses and big bold red fields of poppies bright against the green along those curvy lonesome roads. A great generation all of them.
Thank you for sharing your stories. My auntie lived to be 102 and had a sound mind, shared so much knowledge. I remember visiting my grandparents in Arkansas on the farm, memories come flooding back, wood stove, tobacco hanging in the barn, cotton picking, butchering and canning, quilting, bucket dropping down in the well, out house, bathing in a horse trof outside with sheet hung between the trees, washing clothes with an old wringer washer, getting fingers pinched , making butter and ice cream, kinfolk coming over on sundays to share a meal, so many memories...
Oh how I love your videos, keeping history alive in this throw away society. I hear friends of my grandchildren, teens saying that they’re worth more than $15 an hour. They have no clue what hard work is and that it was done because that’s what family and neighbors did because it was the right thing to do
I love these true stories. I miss my grandparents and parents, all the older folks who've passed on. My daughters and the younger folks have no idea what they've missed.
Oh how this brought back memories!!! My family on my dad's side lived in the mountains if Tennessee. My great grandma Rachel lived in a 3 room little shanty with an old wood cook stove for heat and cooking. She cut her own firewood up til she left this earth at 90 yo. My grandmaw Mel could plant a dead stick and the thing would sprout. She had a green thumb and could cook and make biscuits like nobody else. She and my great grandma made quilts and crocheted and made so many wonderful things. They were what I called tough mountain women. I sure wish I could sit down with them now and learn from them.
Hi Donnie. This was excellent, just perfect! A real nice tribute and homage to the hard working and hard living folks of the mountain. You have a very good knack for telling a story and teaching history at the same time. It’s no wonder your channel is successful. I’ve been watching your current videos as you put them out, and I’m also watching your archived videos. Thank you for the entertainment you provide and I wish you all the best going forward. Big fan from the state of Wisconsin here.
My grandpa worked for the CCC Camps. I remember a few of the stories he used to tell. He wanted to go back & revisit before he passed away. I (think,I was very young) it was 1982 we finally took a trip around there. My great,great grandma taught her daughter & all grandaughters how to quilt. I stll have all the quilts my mamaw made me & my kids. Wouldnt trade them for anything. I was the tomboy in my family and i wanted to do all the 'cool' stuff. Feed the cows,weed the garden,feed tha chickens,.... My dad would bail hay in summer for all the uncles & cousins. After all the cutting it down.... Let it dry... THEN the fun begins!! Picking up ALL the hay bails & load them on the truck/tractor.... THEN... Go back to barn & unload ALL the hay!! 😅 I really do miss those times. Thanks again for the WONDERFUL video. Ive gotten behind last few months..... But im catching up. 🙏💜
Wonderful video. You took me back. Me and my husband heat with wood and coal. We started teaching our kids to hunt and weapons at the age of 3. Now they are grown and they know how to garden, cann, hunt, etc. most of all, Jesus. I did everything I could to prepare them for life, death, and the here after. This young generation better take notice. I sure miss my Granny.
I'm a baby boomer too Donnie. My parents and grand parents were part of the greatest generation and I remember them talking about much of what you have mentioned in this video.
I always appreciated the older generations they taught us a lot my grandparents and my parents are all gone now younger generations need to appreciate their grandparents and parents while they still can
Thanks Donnie, this brought back alot of memories❤️ My grandpa used mules to pull a plow, then his son got a tractor then last year uncle’s son got a tractor with an enclosed, air conditioned driver’s cabin that will be passed down to his son & grandson still workin’ the same farm. I’m 72 yrs old & live n a city now, u should see my neighbor’s faces when I tell about squirrel pot pie!
Another great video, Donnie. Life was harder back then, but it wasn't nearly as complicated either. Folks knew they didn't need as many "toys" to be happy.
Thank you Donnie for the memories! I was raised exactly as you described.. Born in 1958 ..And lived in the West Virginia mountains.. I wouldn't change a thing! Thanks again Sir for the pure and very real way it was.. God Bless Brotherman
You are a great story teller and I love your videos! Im 56 and had family in NC many years ago. We live in Florida now but I remember some of the things you talk about. My granny lived to 105, God rest her soul, she has been gone 6yrs. But she planted and worked her garden at 92. She was a midwife in her early years and believed in natural plant remedies, she still practiced the Appalachian traditions/indian until she was able. I carry on her remedies any time I can. God Bless
another great video. i'm surprised you didn't mention share cropping. i'm gen x and my mom and her family lived and worked on other peoples land since they didn't have their own. even the youngest would help pick cotton. during the depression it was common for a stranger to come across them picking and just start picking too in exchange for a meal then go on his way.
What he says about learning from the old people is true. I could've learned so much from my grandmother if I had grown my teen years around her. I miss her so much.
Logging killed. My granddad when my dad was 14. They had cut a poplar tree the day before and the men got a cross cut saw hung in the tree trunk he was trying to help them get it unhung a limb fell from another tree hit him behind the ear he died right there in my dad's arms.that was in graceville Florida about 1924.
I'd love to get my hands on some old feed sacks or floursacks,,I like to sew & I'd love to make me some kitchen curtains out of burlap or something similar 🤔 my mother told me she use to wear pinafore dresses made from floursacks,,I've been intrigued ever since,,this is 1 of my favorite videos,,sry I commented twice,,I got excited lol
hey juanita, if you have any corn mills around you or places that turn corn byproducts into fuel or whatnot you might be able to contact them and get some of those kind of sacks or bags for free. im not sure but might be worth a phone call to try or places like grocery stores or potatoe factories or something. they prolly just throw them in trash. 🌞👍
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO. I BROUGHT BACK MY CHILDHOOD. I WAS BORNE IN 1950. I CAN REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHERs BIG STOVE IN THE KITCHEN, HER MAKING SOAP IN THE BASEMENT WASHING CLOTHES BY HAND. MY GRAND PA MAKING MOONSHINE IN THE BASEMENT...I DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS BACK THEN. I KNOW WHEN THE KILLED A CHICKEN AND PLUCKED IT, I HATED THE SMRLL OF THOSE WET FEATHERS, BUT WE HAD BIG FEATHER TICKS ON OUR BEDS TO KEEP US WARM . I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS, I LIVE IN N. E. OHIO, WE HAVE HILLS, FARM LAND, LOTS OF WOODS. WHEN I WATCH YOUR VIDEOS FROM LONG AGO, IT WARMS MY HEART THINKING ABOUT HOW NICE IT WAS TO GROW UP IN A SMALL TOWN, CLOSE TO MY GRAND PARENTS, COUSINS AUNTS AND UNCLES. GOD BLESS YOU FOR MAKING MY DAY.
I loved my Grandfather on my Dad's side and when I had a NDE he was waiting for me with open arms at the end of that long black tunnel. Thing is the good Lord gave me the choice to go back and so I did. Until then Grandpa I hope your still waiting.❤🙏🏼
Donnie, I remember asking my grandmother about the Depression in 9th grade US history. She said " We were tobacco farmers who raised our own food. We really didn't notice much difference." I never forgot that. She lived to be 102 before passing in 2017. Love your videos!
Absolutely wonderful video. I am impressed with the number of Millennials who have written favorable comments on this video, it is encouraging to know that their generation values the hard work and sacrifices of our parents grandparents and beyond. Our history is important and must be remembered. My father in law loved to share his experiences of working in the CCC. I value so much of the stories he shared about the camp life and sending money home to the family. Even in all of that he managed to save back enough to by himself a .22 cal rifle to shoot jack rabbits and when he came home he was even able to buy a Model T. He was stationed at Delta Utah, half way across the country from his home town He was young and his older brothers picked at him saying he would not stay away from home, so it was his request to be shipped out west so he would not try to run away and come back home, he was very proud of his service in the CCC. He even had an adopted brother who came into his family because the boys parents were not able to take care of him due to the depressionYou are doing a great job in helping us keep these great memories alive. Keep Up the great work.
The highest grade any of my grandparents completed was 7th grade. High school was down town and none of them had transportation to get the 10 miles to go. I say that because I want you to know that no college professor ever had the life skills and smarts in general that my grandparents had. They could read and write enough to get along but they had common sense and skills that would sustain through the hardest of times. I thank God for all they taught me and the gentle AND tough love and lessons they gave. Their stories were the best whether true or scary stories. Honestly, the scary stories were likely true too because they were based on local legend and experiences. (Yes, I believe in spirits and ghosts!) Anyway, so glad to have your channel to remind me of all the good things we had even though we thought sometimes we didn’t have much.
I canned over 2,000 quarts and pints each year to feed my family and we were fed well. I still have canning from the late 1990's and its just fine. Canning is good so long as it is sealed. I even canned cake😃. We butchered too. I am alone now and don't need any where so much food and I am 100% disabled from when I was in the Army. I also spin fibers and weave clothing. 😁. I still love my wringer washer very much. Really enjoyable to wash my laundry with 😃 We are Plain People, we raise our children just this way. Home school or to our one and two room private church school. My youngins (6 son 1 daug in 7 years) learned how to wash dishes as soon as they pushed a chair up to the sink. They could wash cups and plates. They were each given a patty pan and bread dough to knead and put in their own pan to bake. They learned by 4&5 years how to begin to work and i taught them work is their friend. They are all grown now and not a lazy one! They also learned about Jesus.
Donnie, I’m a 31 year old Millennial and I adore your videos. You’ve become like a grandparent to me watching all your stories and history here on CZcams. Everyday on my lunch break at work I sit down with my lunch pop in my headphones and disappear into a time from long ago. I sometimes wish so badly I could turn back the clock and live in the mountains with all that rich history and story telling.
For the younger generation I am apart of, there’s a lot of us out here who are so tired of modern living because something is missing. Life my have been harder in the old mountains but it was simple, you loved one another, and there was Faith in the community.
I hope you continue to make these videos for as long as you can. I’m highly blessed to watch your videos every day.
Take care.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
Young man, I can see that you’re a blessing! You have a heart to honor those who have gone on before us, and God wants us to do just that. Hold on to your faith, in good times and bad. We may be heading for some tough times ahead, but Jesus can give us His strength to endure!
I’m 25 years old and I completely agree. We sure are missing out on simpler, richer times. God bless you Donnie.
Folks I've had the pleasure of living a small part of what he says I remember smelling the coal from the stoves when the snow was flying and the smell of a big o brown cat head biscuit in the oven every morning and was a better time in life I'm only 57 years of age but I still remember the day mamaw and papaw got their first in house commode I was tickled by the way it flushed
Adam, I feel the same, {Despite being much older than you!} I think the past was better in many ways.
Or perhaps it's ''Distance that lends enchantment to the view''.
I cherish my 95 year old grandmother and she’s still kick-in’ it. Her and my Pappy taught me canning and gardenin’. They talked about the ol’ timers all the time. Childhood memories were wonderful!
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
Beautiful you are blessed as well as I. You cannot put a price tag on that. God bless.
You are so blessed. All of my grandparents/great grandparents were all gone by the time I was 15.😢
🙏🏻Blessed
How blessed you are ! ❤
Appalachian country folks are some of the smartest, intelligent, wise and prudent people in the world. I'm richer because of my people there!!! Proud of my roots. Well done brother Donny! ❤
Also more resourceful and determined!
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Thank you friend.
I try when I see them to learn as much as I can from them. They love to talk about the past! Miss my Nanny Cobble, great grandmother, greatest cook ever! Miss them biscuits!!
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Ohh, how I miss granny's biscuits!!
@@donnielaws7020 Your welcome friend. My people been here a long, long time. They had grit and a love of family like none other. We’ve gotten away from what’s good in life! My Nanny Cobble was the glue and when she passed everyone drifted apart. I’ve tried to get us all together but everyone’s too busy now.
I’m 66 and disabled, I’m from Bell County Ky. I can remember sitting on the porch with my papaw listening to the old cereal westerns on his old radio. We all lived in an old coal camp after the mines were all played out. The older I get the more I miss those old times. They may have been harder, but they were a lot sweeter.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
When my grandma lost all her savings she had with her bank in Virginia she never trusted them again. When she passed.. God rest her beautiful soul… we found cash stashed in over 20 locations around her property. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Smart lady
What a great video Donnie!! I'm 76 and I never realized how tough our grandparents had it. I just remember the 50s and we didn't have it so bad. It's good for people to learn about the past. It hopefully makes them appreciate their lives, and parents more!
Thank you friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.
My mother use to tell me about her sister and brother-in-law, how they survived the depression. They lived in York, PA. They were River Brethren (my aunt always wore a white cap, like the Mennonites, and covered with a black cap when she left the house) with 12 children. My uncle had a butcher shop, foreseeing the depression, he sold it and purchased a farm. Mom said once a year a rich woman in York would buy all the kids a pair of shoes for the winter.
Thank you for your story today. As they say, it was just what the doctor ordered. I had to have my dog put to sleep yesterday. She was my best and only friend. She went everywhere with me. It has been a sad day. I keep turning around to see her and she isn’t there. 😢 Thank you for sending this much needed video. You always have perfect timing. God bless you.
@@janetdavid2619 Donnie's videos are medicine for the soul. So sorry for your loss. It's never an easy thing, but we get through it one day at a time. She'll always be with you in your heart.
@@janetdavid2619 Hugs to you, dear one. I’ll pray that you find a true friend, and that you find peace and joy in your life, despite any circumstances. ❤
No….you were the luckiest of the lucky : born AFTER the Depression….too late for WWII & Korea; only Vietnam (and only for the few)…. You WERE the cultural revolution.….You were, and have been ever since, “The” culture (and you were-and are-able to “cash out” @ 65, and collect full SS & Medicare)….
Generations that have followed yours will certainly have a much tougher time, financially (and I have a strong suspicion that the future international situation will be far worse than anything you have had to experience)…. Of course, we do not “choose” our time on earth (we can only give thanks for our good fortune-or pray for the strength to face what is to come)…. Peace be with you.
Yes, I wish I could go back and talk to my grandparents, but by the time I had the insight to ask, they've already been long gone. What a shame.
I do understand that my friend. God bless you.
Some of the best lessons in life I learned from my grandparents. We were raised on a Centennial Farm (Est. 1894). As I look at life now, it scares me more than I can say. Life wasn't always a walk in the park, but we learned early that taking care of the family was the most important thing - no matter what may lie ahead, we would always have each other. Thank you for another glimpse of the past - and I hope that we never let the history of our past fade away into the night. We need to keep this candle lit for the generations to come. 💖💖💖
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. God bless you.
I grew up in Texas with a neighbor lady who was born in 1901. Her stories are very similar to the stories you tell. I learned to cook from her. She had an old wood burning stove and made everything from scratch. Raised their food on their farm. I really loved her and miss sitting on her kitchen porch shelling peas etc.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.
Oh, that brings back memories of stringing and breaking beans as a child helping the family. 😊
People really don't realize how tough things were in the early days of the 1900s. My mom told me that many times, her family would have gone hungry if it hadn't been for fish in the creeks. There simply wasn't anything else. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Donnie.❤️
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your welcome my friend.
My mother said her fondest memories of her dad was hoeing sweet potatoes with him after school.
I'm white but I can remember picking cotton in the summer time if we worked hard an picked 100 lbs. of cotton we made $1.00 . We used wood to heat with and too cook with . When we cut wood we used a cross cut saw and a ax . When we warshed clothes I can remember having to pump water to fill up a # 2 wash tub in the winter time I have seen my mother hang up clothes on the clothes line and they would freeze its hard to think what her hands felt like .I can't remember my mother complaining about it being hard on her .
My wife’s grandfather was born in the 20’s and he told me lots of story’s about they would have starved if not for the occasional ground hog and he said that the grease after a meal was cooked would be dinner the next night and I said man that’s not much of a meal he said to me you felt blessed to just have even a mouth full to eat it broke my heart to think about kids back then and as a man how hard that had to be on you will to provide for your family but just couldn’t strong people back then
It crosses my mind frequently these days, what you said about grandparents. When we're young we don't pay much attention to the stories and wisdom they had of former days and lessons learned. Sure like to hear those stories now though. Thank you, Donnie.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome.
I really do miss hearing my grandpa telling stories like this. You help fill that void when you share these stories. Thanks
Thank you friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.
My folks growd up in the depression,it's been a family tradition in our homes of cooking one pot meals eat for lunch and supper Sundays was big meals fried chicken biscuits gravy mashed taters field peas apple or peach pie that was the all day meal (faith and prayer)☺
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.
Thank you, Donnie, for a wonderful walk back through history. I really love listening! My mother's side of the family lived just like you did but in southern Tennessee. My father was from American Samoa in the South Pacific. My mother died a year ago. All her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are taking her ashes back to Hawaii to be buried with my father. Even though my mother was from Arkansas, she lived in Hawaii for over 40 years. Hawaii was her home and where she raised her children.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. God bless you.
Beautiful story and it's so nice they are spreading her ashes in Hawaii.
I miss my grandparents. My grandma was born in 1909 and lived to 104 and 5 days old. God rest their souls. I love listening to your stories and perspective Mr Donnie. God bless you.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Wow that’s incredible
@@YeshuaKingMessiah it is! And Grandpa lived to be 102. They never smoked, never drank alcohol and only took an aspirin if they were in a lot of pain. Only by God's grace and mercy, He allowed them to be able to meet some of their great grandchildren. 🥰🙏🏻🙌🏻
Donnie my friend, I can never watch one of your videos and not feel better. For that I'm eternally grateful. We got indoor plumbing about 2 years before I was born. I just called my older brother and confirmed it. We had a phone that was a party line. We kids ran the hills and knew everyone. A lot of the older folks still had outhouses so we used them too. My grandfather had dabbled in moonshine then went to work for the L&N railroad. He retired from there. My great-grandfather on the other side was the blacksmith of the area. I figure you've heard of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and Jamboree. My grandfather sold that land to John Lair who built it. The surrounding property is still in the family. Thanks again my friend.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories and story with us. God bless you.
Donnie, I so greatly appreciate your videos, and most of all your historical storytelling. My 5x great grandpa is Daniel Boone. My mama's people came from Appalachia in Tennessee and North Carolina. My mama was born in Lynch, Kentucky in 1923 when her daddy (O.L. McIntosh) was a machinist for the US Steel coal mine there. Everything in my bones longs to be closer to those mountains -- some say it is the magnetic frequencies and the serpentine in those beautiful mountains. My Granny Grace taught me canning, cross stitch embroidery, sewing, cooking fatback and cornbread. She had her own braided rugs she had made from old suits and clothes. I have my great-grandma's double wedding ring quilt. I learned some gardening from Grandpa Mac, he built a barn on his Somerset, Kentucky property and even in the early 1970's had a side of salt pork hanging in the barn. Something about my heritage makes these hills and the old roads so precious to me. I suspect that my great Grandma McIntosh was part Cherokee too - jet black hair and those beautiful high Cherokee cheekbones -- my Grandpa Mac looked like a Cherokee warrior.
Thank you for showing Highway 25E in your other videos -- my mama told stories of riding over the gap to visit my grandpa's brother, Uncle Bern in Burnsville, NC. This was how my Aunt Virginia died from pneumonia having traveled in the unheated 1920's car on a visit to Uncle Bern, such a long trip from Lynch, Kentucky. My middle name was from Virginia, my mama's precious little 8-yr old sister. Penicillin came out only a few years later. When I visited my grandparents at their Somerset home, I was always shocked and a little bored on the first day or so. Then, I started helping Granny Grace or Grandpa, started reading old Readers' Digest magazines and rocking in the rocking chair, and played with my cousins (all imaginary/pretend games) outside or in the cool basement.
I would love to meet you Donnie -- you sound like home to my ear! God bless you and thank you again, sir!
WOW that's so much amazing history. Thanks so much for sharing your memories and story. WOW Daniel Boone. He's my favorite frontiersmen. Awesome. God bless you.
At my Mom's funeral some years ago, it was announced she was a direct descendent of Daniel Boone. From what I can piece together the bloodlines came through the Martins and Greenes. Her Dad was a Smith. I like these videos too. Grandma and Grandpa Smith taught me the old ways. 🙏😊
Donnie, even the sound of your voice with your deep southern country boy accent makes me feel comfortable and nostalgic. I'm 61 years old and I remember everything that you speak about just like you say how you remember the things of our youth's in Appalachia, Southeastern USA, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia areas. Love your channel Donnie, may God bless you and your family 👪 ❤
Awesome my friend. Thank you. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Me too my Dad n my sister 2 brothers from Albany ky
@@donnielaws7020 I love yr channel awesomeness
I am old enough to remember wood sheds and out houses and wood stoves. We lived in the Shenandoah Valley about 2 miles from the town of Shenandoah. Also lived in McGageysville. I remember grandaddy would butcher 2 or 3 hogs in the fall and Uncle Raymond would butcher a cow or so so everybody had meat for the winter. We always had canned vegetables and fruit from the garden. We ate good. But the thing I remember most about fall butchering is the outdoor fire pit after slaughtering the hogs and granny would render lard and make chittlins in a big old cast iron pot. Nothing like em. We didn't have much money, but we were rich in a lot of ways. A lot better off then than we are now. God bless you for keeping our history going.
Thanks my friend for sharing your memories with us. God bless you.
Thank you for your testimony, I'm in North Georgia, and a baby boomers too, so many great memories!!!
What is the MOST REDICULIOUS is when The working man was having it Rough the WORTHLESS EXCUSES FOR HUMANS in Washington DC was still sucking up their Tax Money that they DID NOT DESERVE!!!!!
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Hello Mr. Donnie,look forward to your videos
Thank you friend.
I was raised by two of the greatest generation. My pawpaw was in the (3CCC)THE CCC'S HE WENT IN THE ARMY AND SERVED THROUGH WAR WAR ll..They were born in 1921 and 1924 .They were in there middle 50's when they got me at 3yrs old and raised me in all they knowed.Most people my age can't resonate with them. They instilled there wisdom and hard work ,canning, planting a garden and harvesting. They built there houses from the ground up.Most people have know idea ..the taught me how to hunt and fish.we worked before the sun com up and didn't come home until the sun went down .I miss them so much. What I would give to spend one more day with them. Thank you so very much.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Brother Donnie you are so so correct about these things. I had a neighbor the other day call me complaining and worried about where our world is heading. I told him he is only worried because his conveniences and entertainment may be cut to a bare minimum. He is in his late 40's early 50's so I told him to asks his mama & daddy what hard times were like during his granpa's days.People today is beyond spoiled , they seem to feel they are owed an easy life by society. The Lord needs to come back and claim his world back, all of us are just here for rent, it'll soon end, if not soon maybe even this year.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Part of the problem is this gentleman isn’t aware of what life used to be
I miss my grandparents and father so much. I learned so much from them and my mother, but there was so much more that they knew that didn't get passed on. And like you said, there's so many questions I didn't even know enough to ask until they were gone.
God bless you, Brother Donnie, for making these videos and trying to keep as much of the old ways alive.
Like it or not, we're gonna need to know those old skills again.
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
Hard life but they were hardy people, thanks for telling their story
So true my friend. Your very welcome.
Donnie your thanking us for watching, and I thank for putting these stories on video.
Brings back memories from my Grandparents stories.
You have stories and material to make a Documentary or great book.
Have a blessed day.
Awesome my friend. Thank you so much for sharing this. God bless you.
I'm 57 and I grew up with 2 wood stoves in my house. We had electric but we had to cook on the kitchen wood stove and we had a electric hot plate for the summer. We had a toilet hooked up no shower no running water in the kitchen as well. I was 16 before I had a reg stive to cook on. I always say my generation really isn't my generation. I'm from way back really. I appreciate everything ! I am greatful for that.bibwasndirt poor and filthy lol not now tho. Btw our kitchen wood stove looked like the one in this video. Ours was a light blue color
No food stamps my dad worked real hard I never remembers my father never ever taking a day from work. I was youngest of 8 kids .
Thanks for sharing your memories with us my friend. God bless you.
Watching this makes me thankful for what I got! They had one bad problem after another! But, they never gave up. They were truly the greatest generation!
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
In the early 1970s I`d listen to AM radio in my mom`s car all night in Summer in rural Louisiana because it was my only connection with what was going on across America in distant cities. It was like internet to me and the only way to get local news stories that weren`t on the 3 channels on TV. There was no other way to do it. AM radio is still very important for that reason. I`m 35 miles west of Natchez, Mississippi in east central Louisiana but I can listen to Dallas, Tx 820 WBAP AM 300 MILES AWAY during the day with my CCrane EP PRO or using a homemade antenna (see below). AM radio is VERY important for news after hurricanes when nothing else works for this reason. Few know though. Strange!
I used to carry an AM radio on camping and especially fishing trips in Summer because if you left it on you could hear the lightning static of approaching storms long before you started hearing thunder even if you couldn`t pick up a station to get weather reports. I eventually learned to build long-range AM radio antennas to be able to hear more stations during the day.
In the 1990s when I lived on the Sabine River I strung out 300-400 feet of wire over the tall bushes and lower tree limbs going north and about another 300-400 feet going south, then made a 100 turn coil of 24 AWG enamel coated magnet wire on a paper towel tube. I connected each end of this coil to one of the wires. When I placed this near my portable AM radio during the day I could hear over 50 stations instead of only 2 or 3. I could hear Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Memphis and even Oklahoma City at noon in Louisiana.
WOW Thanks so much for sharing your memories and story with us. That was awesome. God bless you friend.
All at the same time?
@@sheilacape4794 Just tune the radio to their frequency. Dallas is 820, San Antonio is 1200, New Orleans is 870, etc.
To all the greatest generation who did their best to do for themselves and their families, may you rest in peace, you are not forgotten. And for the brave Men and Women who fought for our country in foreign wars, I salute you!
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
Love these as I live here in Gatlinburg TN Smoky Mountains Park 🏞️ ..Great job
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
If I was telling that story we'd sound like we lived the same and have the same memories. Boy I sure do miss my family. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. People think they have it hard nowadays..they live like royalty in comparison and just like celebrities they're a victim and whine over the least little thing. I really appreciate that video Donnie..it touches my heart strings. Thank you 😊
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome. God bless you.
The overlooked generation in between, the greatest and the boomers was the small group of the war babies, the babies that were raised by extended families because the men and older brothers and cousins were off to war. Shortages of everything, much bartering for what was needed, if you could find it. An even smaller group of these war babies were those that were overseas with parents involved in the military occupational forces in bombed out countries in both Europe and the orient. Walk a mile in anothers shoes to appreciate the history of civilization. We got this, folks, bring it!!!
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
Please never quit telling the tales of Appalachian Mountain Folks. I wish more people alive today were like the old school Appalachian folks. I am only 20 years ago but I got nothing but respect for my elders
Thank you friend. God bless you.
Well done Donnie, yet another fascinating look back into the past "real lives"of the Appalachian people 🤝 one of my favourite films is " The Grapes of Wrath" which gave a true portrayed of everything that you just presented. However knowing that it is your own 'Neck of the woods' history and that your Grandparents and extended family lived through it all, just makes it that much more interesting. thank You and God Bless you 🙏🏻
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
Howdy Donnie- I’ve listened to lots of stories from my parents about those times. My Daddy would have been 98 years old today. He was of the Greatest Generation. Thank you sharing this. I’m guessing you and I are about the same age and we’re blessed to have been raised by these hard working people. Take care and God’s blessings to y’all
Hello friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Thank you Donnie this gives me hope as a young American that we can get through hard times when it comes with God's help the land and helping our fellow citizens and man kind.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome.
I'm so proud of my Appalachian heritage and blood line. Thanks so much for your videos.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
Asked grand dad one day how his family survived the depression,he replied they were so poor they couldn't tell a difference.self reliance saved them
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Such a sweet video and archival photos Donnie......Love that 1950 Ford in there as well.... . they are the greatest generation...they endured so much..and could make just about anything from nothing...we were blessed to have the time we did with them....the hunting and fishing ....the holidays and gatherings....and listening to their stories ...they taught and showed us how to live....I miss them so......
God Bless you and yours Brother , and Thank you for the video.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Yes I do agree they were the greatest generation. The soldiers in WW1, WW2, Korean, etc are why we had a chance of being what we are today
Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
This is such a great history video of what it was truly like back in those days. So many could learn what families did before electric, indoor plumbing, no cars, etc. Donnie thank you so very much for all the work you do GOD BLESS YOU
Thank you friend. Your most very welcome. God bless you.
DL is a gift for telling us
@@MaineUSA I totally agree with you
As always I enjoy watching your videos about the history. I wish there were something like the CCC that the younger people could be a part of today. Maybe they’d learn something
Thanks for sharing this my friend. Thank you.
My grandfather carried one of those old tool boxes, open style rectangular with just a carry handle. Didn't hold a lot of tools, but he could fix anything with them. He lived until he was 98, and he did the crossword and the word jumble in the newspaper everyday until he passed. My grandmother cooked from scratch and she canned everything. She was a fantastic cook! My great aunt (grandfather's sister) lived until she was 99 and made the best homemade apple sauce. She was born in 1904. My great uncle was born in 1903, was German and had a sharpening shop. He taught me how to sharpen anything by hand. He and my great aunt had travelled to every state (except Hawaii) and every Canadian province together BY CAR by the time I was born in 1968. They were married over 69 years when he passed. All of them were very loving and the wisest people I have ever known. I miss them every day. I would give ten years of my life for just ten more minutes with them.
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories. God bless you.
🇺🇸💯 Yes Sir! We Appalachian Folks are a unique Breed of People💯🇺🇸
I feel the same way about all my grandparents, especially my paternal "Nanny". She was devout, always had a cheerful but no-nonsense attitude, always busy with housework, cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting and canning. I stayed over her house for almost a month to recover from a hospitalization when I was nine. I enjoyed learning "hands-on" what she taught me about gardening, embroidery and kindness to animals. She had three little dogs, an aging cat, and a zebra finch, and I helped her take care of them. She enrolled me as a member of her favorite charity, "Friends of Animals". I loved listening to Nanny tell stories while we sat on her porch eating ice cream in the summer evenings. She passed away when I was 20. Here I am, 67 years old, and I still miss her!
So sorry for your loss my friend. I know how you feel. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless my friend.
Love these videos! ❤️👍🏻
Thank you friend.
My grandfather was born less than a year from when “Devil” Anse Hatfield passed away on January1, 1922. He easily could have known people directly involved in the feud. He is over 100, still driving and has gotten to hold my grandchild! He was in the war. He also never had electricity until he got home from the war.
It’s amazing how connected we are to the in the past if we are willing to do there research like you have.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Hello Sir,, another awesome video,,I love your storyline ❤️ Wow I just realized, my grandfather " whom I love dearly" was only 21 yrs old ,when the stock market crashed,,and only 27,,when my mother was born,,wow!! God Rest Their Souls!! Thx 4 another awesome video,,you're amazing & have taught me so much,,I've always been intrigued by The Appalachian ppl,,idk why bc I'm of American Indian & Pennsylvania Dutch decent ,, w hich is a lil unusual ,,so I'm told,,but it just goes to show how ppl got together,even back then,,lol ❤️ have a blessed day
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
We need to pass on their stories to the younger generations and explain to them how important it is to keep the memories of these people alive. Appalachia is the most beautiful place in the world we must cherish it and protect it at all costs ✝️🇺🇸 God bless
Amen my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.
I wouldn’t live anywhere else
Good Afternoon Mr Donnie!😊❤️
Hello my friend. Your very welcome.
I love videos like this. My grandpa Weaver and Grandpa Cole both from Blue Ridge Georgia. They told me so many stories and I also grew up like this. I chopped wood,worked in the garden. My family had pigs,chickens, cows and we grew up living hard. I had 6 brothers and I was the only girl.
Thank you friend for sharing your memories with us. God bless you.
I said something to my mother about it being hard during the depression. She said, "Really wasn't hard on us kids. It was tough on our parents. They were the ones that really had to scratch and feed us and get us what we really needed it."
My father's parents were in Oklahoma and right in the heart of the dust bowl. Lost a farm and a general store. Moved to New Mexico and became sharecroppers. Did well later in life.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Them was hard times. God bless you.
I was blessed to be raised by my Grandmother and there isn't a day that goes by I don't think of something she taught me. As a kid you don't understand how much you can learn from these wonderful people and how special they are. When you start getting older you start realizing how much they meant to you and how much you miss them.. Thank you for this wonderful video Mr. Laws. God bless you.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
I feel lazy now 😃! Amazing people! Thank you for sharing this, Donnie! God bless! ❤
Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.
All the things you talked about on this program I remember my Dad and Mom telling me the same thing! I miss my parents and my older relatives so much, just listening to their stories about their lives! My Dad was in the CCC and had to send money home! He learned welding on the weekend while he was there by a old welder ! He talked about all the things he did and learned at CCC ! Later on He served in the Army in Europe during some of the worst battles! These definitely were tough people to survive the depression and to fight a world war! I miss those people 😢
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
What a wonderful video! Thank you. I like to hear about back in the day stories. There is nothing like them.
Thank you friend. Your very welcome.
Donnie, I'm 51 now and was so blessed to hear stories like this from my granny. I use to help her in the garden and we were the early risers of a big family in the same house. Our joy was to get up go to the garden and return with fresh picked veggies and then grab the leftover biscuits from the nite before! Other than the many fishing trips with paw paw, that was some of the most that I ever felt loved.. and ps. Granny told the best story's about her life. I would catch myself not eating just hanging to her every word! Your videos take me back to a better time! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories. God bless you. Your very welcome.
What a wonderful video Donnie, it brought back so many memories, I grew up in a family of 10. Dad worked in the mines and was paid $ 1.00 a day
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. It was a hard life for them. God bless you.
Some absolutely beautiful old photographs of resilience, the people and the places that poignantly tell the stories and makes you wonder about the faces and what their lives were like
Thank you friend for sharing this. Our history.
@@donnielaws7020 thank you for telling the stories 💜
I am proud to be a hillbilly straight out of the Appalachian Mountains my Daddy came from a family of 19 children and Mama came from a family of 14 and there were 7 of us. Lord how my heart longs for the days of being with my Granny and Paw or my Mamaw ad Pa Paw
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.
Great video Donnie! The youth of today do not have a clue. The knowledge that has been lost over the years. Thank you for sharing this...
So true my friend. Thank you. Your very welcome.
Another great one Mr. Donnie! Watching your video reminds me a lot of my childhood, and we may have to go back to some of that, country people can survive..
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
👍👍👍
Hi Donnie - I agree with you - great generations for sure! The stories my grandparents and mom and dad told me. I wish I had paid more attention when they were alive. Being a normal kid unfortunately I didn’t until I got older but I do remember some of them. I used to kid my dad about straightening out bent nails, saving old screws, and saving any old wood no matter how small it was. He would cut leather dog leashes if they broke, save the pieces, and make new ones. He would say “if you lived through the depression like I did you wouldn’t just toss good things out. I remember when there was no new ones to buy and if there was we couldn’t afford to buy them.” I also remember my mom sweating and canning all Summer and Fall for food for the winter. She would patch our clothes - my dad’s hunting clothes and rubber boots were more patches than original fabric. All these were due to the depression and the fear of not having things at our finger tips like we do today. Thanks for the great video and the memories.
Awesome story my friend. They lived hard. God bless you. Your very welcome my friend.
Hey I'm only 46 and I have 2 broken collars hangin here, I am gonna use the pieces. My kids tell me I'm cheap, but I see it as "saving" money. Great story. I fear the tough times will be here again within 20yrs or so. I can't believe the epidemic of homelessness in our cities! They can't all be drug addicts at this point. 💗
@@StarDreamMemories 👍🏼
Floyd, VA. All my people were from there. Thank you for the tribute. I can still see the apple tree out the kitchen window while Grammy made me biscuits and red-eye gravy for breakfast. Up the road our neighbor had horses and big bold red fields of poppies bright against the green along those curvy lonesome roads. A great generation all of them.
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Thank you for sharing your stories. My auntie lived to be 102 and had a sound mind, shared so much knowledge. I remember visiting my grandparents in Arkansas on the farm, memories come flooding back, wood stove, tobacco hanging in the barn, cotton picking, butchering and canning, quilting, bucket dropping down in the well, out house, bathing in a horse trof outside with sheet hung between the trees, washing clothes with an old wringer washer, getting fingers pinched , making butter and ice cream, kinfolk coming over on sundays to share a meal, so many memories...
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Your very welcome. God bless you.
Oh how I love your videos, keeping history alive in this throw away society. I hear friends of my grandchildren, teens saying that they’re worth more than $15 an hour. They have no clue what hard work is and that it was done because that’s what family and neighbors did because it was the right thing to do
Well said my sister. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you Sir 😊👋 .. we have become soft 😊
Your very welcome my friend.
I love these true stories. I miss my grandparents and parents, all the older folks who've passed on. My daughters and the younger folks have no idea what they've missed.
Thank you friend. I understand. God bless you.
Oh how this brought back memories!!! My family on my dad's side lived in the mountains if Tennessee. My great grandma Rachel lived in a 3 room little shanty with an old wood cook stove for heat and cooking. She cut her own firewood up til she left this earth at 90 yo. My grandmaw Mel could plant a dead stick and the thing would sprout. She had a green thumb and could cook and make biscuits like nobody else. She and my great grandma made quilts and crocheted and made so many wonderful things. They were what I called tough mountain women. I sure wish I could sit down with them now and learn from them.
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories. God bless you.
This will be your best one just stared watching if you start telling todays younger people a lot of them will tell you to be quiet
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
God bless you
Donnie Laws for bringing us 2nd best of U tube. Gods 1st. See u next time.🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Amen my friend. Thank you. God bless you.
Hi Donnie. This was excellent, just perfect! A real nice tribute and homage to the hard working and hard living folks of the mountain. You have a very good knack for telling a story and teaching history at the same time. It’s no wonder your channel is successful. I’ve been watching your current videos as you put them out, and I’m also watching your archived videos. Thank you for the entertainment you provide and I wish you all the best going forward. Big fan from the state of Wisconsin here.
Thank you friend. Thanks so much for saying this. Your very welcome. God bless you.
My grandpa worked for the CCC Camps. I remember a few of the stories he used to tell. He wanted to go back & revisit before he passed away. I (think,I was very young) it was 1982 we finally took a trip around there. My great,great grandma taught her daughter & all grandaughters how to quilt. I stll have all the quilts my mamaw made me & my kids. Wouldnt trade them for anything. I was the tomboy in my family and i wanted to do all the 'cool' stuff. Feed the cows,weed the garden,feed tha chickens,....
My dad would bail hay in summer for all the uncles & cousins. After all the cutting it down....
Let it dry...
THEN the fun begins!!
Picking up ALL the hay bails & load them on the truck/tractor....
THEN...
Go back to barn & unload ALL the hay!! 😅
I really do miss those times.
Thanks again for the WONDERFUL video. Ive gotten behind last few months.....
But im catching up. 🙏💜
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend and your memories. God bless you.
Wonderful video. You took me back. Me and my husband heat with wood and coal. We started teaching our kids to hunt and weapons at the age of 3. Now they are grown and they know how to garden, cann, hunt, etc. most of all, Jesus.
I did everything I could to prepare them for life, death, and the here after. This young generation better take notice.
I sure miss my Granny.
That's awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
Amen🙏
Another good video sir. Thankyou.
Thank you friend. Your very welcome.
I'm a baby boomer too Donnie. My parents and grand parents were part of the greatest generation and I remember them talking about much of what you have mentioned in this video.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
I always appreciated the older generations they taught us a lot my grandparents and my parents are all gone now younger generations need to appreciate their grandparents and parents while they still can
That's for sure my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Donnie, this brought back alot of memories❤️ My grandpa used mules to pull a plow, then his son got a tractor then last year uncle’s son got a tractor with an enclosed, air conditioned driver’s cabin that will be passed down to his son & grandson still workin’ the same farm. I’m 72 yrs old & live n a city now, u should see my neighbor’s faces when I tell about squirrel pot pie!
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.
Another great video, Donnie. Life was harder back then, but it wasn't nearly as complicated either. Folks knew they didn't need as many "toys" to be happy.
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Thank you Donnie for the memories! I was raised exactly as you described.. Born in 1958 ..And lived in the West Virginia mountains.. I wouldn't change a thing! Thanks again Sir for the pure and very real way it was.. God Bless Brotherman
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you. Your very welcome.
You are a great story teller and I love your videos! Im 56 and had family in NC many years ago. We live in Florida now but I remember some of the things you talk about. My granny lived to 105, God rest her soul, she has been gone 6yrs. But she planted and worked her garden at 92. She was a midwife in her early years and believed in natural plant remedies, she still practiced the Appalachian traditions/indian until she was able. I carry on her remedies any time I can. God Bless
That's awesome my friend. God bless you. Thanks so much for sharing your story and memories with us. Thank you. Again God bless you my friend.
People today couldn't survive the old ways .
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
another great video. i'm surprised you didn't mention share cropping. i'm gen x and my mom and her family lived and worked on other peoples land since they didn't have their own. even the youngest would help pick cotton. during the depression it was common for a stranger to come across them picking and just start picking too in exchange for a meal then go on his way.
Awesome my friend. I plan to do a video on that. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
@@donnielaws7020 i look forward to seeing it . Gob bless you too.
Beautiful photographs. Once again, Mr. Donnie, you make me miss people I never even knew. What a strong generation!
Thank you friend.
What he says about learning from the old people is true. I could've learned so much from my grandmother if I had grown my teen years around her. I miss her so much.
Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Logging killed. My granddad when my dad was 14. They had cut a poplar tree the day before and the men got a cross cut saw hung in the tree trunk he was trying to help them get it unhung a limb fell from another tree hit him behind the ear he died right there in my dad's arms.that was in graceville Florida about 1924.
So sorry to hear that my friend. God bless you.
I'm sorry gezzzz
I'd love to get my hands on some old feed sacks or floursacks,,I like to sew & I'd love to make me some kitchen curtains out of burlap or something similar 🤔 my mother told me she use to wear pinafore dresses made from floursacks,,I've been intrigued ever since,,this is 1 of my favorite videos,,sry I commented twice,,I got excited lol
Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
hey juanita, if you have any corn mills around you or places that turn corn byproducts into fuel or whatnot you might be able to contact them and get some of those kind of sacks or bags for free. im not sure but might be worth a phone call to try or places like grocery stores or potatoe factories or something. they prolly just throw them in trash. 🌞👍
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO. I BROUGHT BACK MY CHILDHOOD. I WAS BORNE IN 1950. I CAN REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHERs BIG STOVE IN THE KITCHEN, HER MAKING SOAP IN THE BASEMENT WASHING CLOTHES BY HAND. MY GRAND PA MAKING MOONSHINE IN THE BASEMENT...I DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS BACK THEN. I KNOW WHEN THE KILLED A CHICKEN AND PLUCKED IT, I HATED THE SMRLL OF THOSE WET FEATHERS, BUT WE HAD BIG FEATHER TICKS ON OUR BEDS TO KEEP US WARM . I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS, I LIVE IN N. E. OHIO, WE HAVE HILLS, FARM LAND, LOTS OF WOODS. WHEN I WATCH YOUR VIDEOS FROM LONG AGO, IT WARMS MY HEART THINKING ABOUT HOW NICE IT WAS TO GROW UP IN A SMALL TOWN, CLOSE TO MY GRAND PARENTS, COUSINS AUNTS AND UNCLES. GOD BLESS YOU FOR MAKING MY DAY.
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories with us. God bless you.
I loved my Grandfather on my Dad's side and when I had a NDE he was waiting for me with open arms at the end of that long black tunnel. Thing is the good Lord gave me the choice to go back and so I did. Until then Grandpa I hope your still waiting.❤🙏🏼
Awesome my friend. God bless you.
In 2008 i saw a Lunar rainbow in the fog about 4:30 a.m.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
I'll have Google that meaning
Remember battery operation radios remember kerosene lamps remember outside toilet oh lived it all
Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.
Donnie, I remember asking my grandmother about the Depression in 9th grade US history. She said " We were tobacco farmers who raised our own food. We really didn't notice much difference." I never forgot that. She lived to be 102 before passing in 2017. Love your videos!
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
I wish I could of grew up back when times was hard but on the same token much easier. And especially in beautiful Tennessee! How times have changed.
Amen my friend. Me to. Thanks for sharing.
Party lines on gheir phones .
Yes there was my friend. Thanks for sharing.
I remembered party lines in my town started out we only had to dial 4 didgets to make a call in a rotary dial
Absolutely wonderful video. I am impressed with the number of Millennials who have written favorable comments on this video, it is encouraging to know that their generation values the hard work and sacrifices of our parents grandparents and beyond. Our history is important and must be remembered. My father in law loved to share his experiences of working in the CCC. I value so much of the stories he shared about the camp life and sending money home to the family. Even in all of that he managed to save back enough to by himself a .22 cal rifle to shoot jack rabbits and when he came home he was even able to buy a Model T. He was stationed at Delta Utah, half way across the country from his home town He was young and his older brothers picked at him saying he would not stay away from home, so it was his request to be shipped out west so he would not try to run away and come back home, he was very proud of his service in the CCC. He even had an adopted brother who came into his family because the boys parents were not able to take care of him due to the depressionYou are doing a great job in helping us keep these great memories alive. Keep Up the great work.
The highest grade any of my grandparents completed was 7th grade. High school was down town and none of them had transportation to get the 10 miles to go. I say that because I want you to know that no college professor ever had the life skills and smarts in general that my grandparents had. They could read and write enough to get along but they had common sense and skills that would sustain through the hardest of times. I thank God for all they taught me and the gentle AND tough love and lessons they gave. Their stories were the best whether true or scary stories. Honestly, the scary stories were likely true too because they were based on local legend and experiences. (Yes, I believe in spirits and ghosts!) Anyway, so glad to have your channel to remind me of all the good things we had even though we thought sometimes we didn’t have much.
WOW Thanks for sharing your story and memories with us my friend. God bless you.
I canned over 2,000 quarts and pints each year to feed my family and we were fed well. I still have canning from the late 1990's and its just fine. Canning is good so long as it is sealed. I even canned cake😃. We butchered too. I am alone now and don't need any where so much food and I am 100% disabled from when I was in the Army. I also spin fibers and weave clothing. 😁. I still love my wringer washer very much. Really enjoyable to wash my laundry with 😃
We are Plain People, we raise our children just this way. Home school or to our one and two room private church school. My youngins (6 son 1 daug in 7 years) learned how to wash dishes as soon as they pushed a chair up to the sink. They could wash cups and plates. They were each given a patty pan and bread dough to knead and put in their own pan to bake. They learned by 4&5 years how to begin to work and i taught them work is their friend. They are all grown now and not a lazy one! They also learned about Jesus.
That's awesome my friend. God bless you. Thanks so much for sharing this.