My Home Town - Welch, West Virginia

[XrayThunder]

I was born in Welch back in 1957, but was never raised there. I have my Grand-parents and a Uncle buried in Rotherfield not far from Welch. My parents would drive about a hour to Welch to shop as I was growing up. The town has seem to changed allot since I was there last. By your video it looks allot cleaner and allot of businesses as came in. Good work on both your music and the photography and video. Hope to make a drive back soon to Welch to visit again..

[cathead77]

@XrayThunder Thank you very much for watching.

[FiltTration]

Your music is fantastic, I'd love to be able to purchase these tunes! Any chance you have them available anywhere? Also, thank you for the great view into Welch!

[cathead77]

@FiltTration Thank you so very much. We recorded the songs here at home and have never made them available to purchase. My friend, Barry Clevenger, wrote the first song and plays the banjo on this recording. I wrote the second song and played all the music on it. Thank you again.

[jkfan2005]

My father came from Hinton, on the C&O Railway, roughly equivalent to Welch, on the N&W. A little sad to report that when I visited Hinton, a shop was selling t-shirts lettered "Hinton West Virginia -- A Railroad Town" but with the image of an N&W steam engine!

[bassthumper77]

@jkfan2005 Some folks just don't do their homework. Thanks for watching.

[TWDeflect]

the glass castle ;)

[bassthumper77]

@TWDeflect Thanks for watching...

[iamprocrastination]

The book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls brought me here.

[cathead77]

@iamprocrastination Hopefully, it added a little insight to your reading experience :-)

[RandyMc72]

Need a plaque or memorial for Sid Hatfield !!

[cathead77]

@RandyMc72 It would be cool.

[nikaruu222]

not from welch straight up outta jersey don't mind my talk happen cuz the book I'm readin but I read the glass castle the 2nd endin part took place here nice to take a look n see wat the actual place looks lik though it took place in lik the 70's-80's so much has probably changed but it nice to c welch thanx for the video and the pictures are amazing

[cathead77]

@nikaruu222 Thank you much.

[portalfan132]

Nice pics. I live up on Berwind Lane

[cathead77]

@portalfan132 Thanks for watching :-)

[calliopegirl1976]

My grandpa came from there.

[cathead77]

@calliopegirl1976 Thanks for watching.

[bedlam8]

Very well done!

[cathead77]

@bedlam8 Thank you.....

[kraut51]

Great video!!!!!!! Thanks for posting.

[cathead77]

@kraut51 Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[CDHaines]

I really enjoyed this video. I lived up in the center house on Franklin Street between 1975-78 and attended Welch Elementary. My father was the office manager for the Appalachian Power Company dowtown (now a bank building) and last year on a trip home to Logan where I came from and returned to after living in Welch, I stopped and visited with Arval Wyatt in the Flat Iron Drug Store who lived right across the street from us. Some of the best memories of my life are from those years in Welch.

[cathead77]

@CDHaines Very glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

[littlebitty555]

There's my hometown!

[spiralman1974]

Thats where my grandaddy was born and raised. Aint been there in about 3 years , I miss it.....as for northfork too

[cathead77]

@spiralman1974 Thanks for watching....

[ishootwithcameras]

I haven't seen you since I was kid, but I'm Jake Tyson's son and I go by that name now as well. I just wanted to say thanks for adding in a shot of Tyson Towers and the music sounds as good as ever.

[cathead77]

@ishootwithcameras Thanks so very much.

[MrWetlook1995]

I suppose it's not to hard to find Ed Shepard with his 76 cap. Reason I discovered the story about this town and this video. The article appears on the UK paper Mail Online today.

End of an era as census shows one in four of America's counties are slowly dying off.

Thanks for the video!

[cathead77]

@MrWetlook1995 Thanks for watching. I saw that article on Yahoo. Ironic that I have Ed in his cap in this video. I have some great photos of Ed he let me take. Also, the farthest person to the right in the mural on the wall is a likeness of Ed.

[aidamarie72]

Great photos. Lovely town. Hope to visit one day.

[cathead77]

@aidamarie72 Thank you.......

[MACHINIMA4]

@aidamarie72 Its really fun when you have like a fourwheeler or something

[LHerzburn]

I loved being in those mountains! I flew to Welch from San Francisco in August, 1976 with my grandparents to visit two relatives....I came back for the first time last weekend!. I was allured by the scenery. The freeway is key! My dad's firm does int'l property acquisitions and consulting and I called him and demanded he come here from San Fran dec 28-30 to apprise potential for 16n/welch/future corridor of freeway/Pineville/Mullins. Most people do not know your town exists...so unfortunate!!

[cathead77]

@LHerzburn Thank you so much for the comments. That freeway has been a fantasy highway for years. Maybe some day it will happen, but it will be after I am gone. I would have liked to have seen it. Thank you for your kind words.

[DAVIDISAKSON]

Very nice and great music. Sad that we no longer live in communities but rather we each live holed up in our individual houses as what was once our towns and cities fall apart from neglect.

[cathead77]

@DAVIDISAKSON Very true in so many places.

[DaveNHJ]

I read that everyone under 40 in Welch is either dead of OC overdose or killing themselves with it now.

No respect for their lives or town. Both gross

[cathead77]

@DaveNHJ Sheesh......you hear anything these days don't ya?

[Dude0096]

redneckville..3rd world america..

[cathead77]

@Dude0096 Have you been here?

[spellingtonkawa]

you guys dont even know what hill-billy paradise is, those buildings are too nice and your too far north haha

[Alvinroxz]

@spellingtonkawa touche, i live in nyc but my entire family lives in west virgina

[dsdouch]

it would go good with screamo lol

[cathead77]

@dsdouch What does that mean?.......screamo?

[Alvinroxz]

@cathead77

you wouldn't know because you live in hillbilly paradise ;]

[cathead77]

@Alvinroxz You don't know what a "hillbilly paradise" is.....tsk, tsk.

[imameeble]

@cathead77 hahahahahahahahaa it's music that's not gay

[freedomwv]

I have not been there in years. I was born and raised in Welch, West Virginia. I miss the place sometimes.

[bassthumper77]

@freedomwv Thanks for watching.

[freedomwv]

@bassthumper77 You know, it is just nice to see something about West Virginia presented in a positive light. A lot of the vids on youtube about WV are either jokes or bashing the state.

[bassthumper77]

@freedomwv I totally agree.

[timskywalker]

I Just Got Back From A Church Mission Trip To Welch, We Stayed At Seager Hall St. Luke's Episcopal Church For The Highland Education Project St. Luke's Is at 1:13 of the video

[cathead77]

@timskywalker I hope it was a pleasurable trip.

[timskywalker]

@cathead77 It Was An Amazing Trip! My 7th year of doing the Highland Education Project, My Church's 20th year of doing the Highland Education Project. We Worked On A House Near Premier demolishing a porch, and building a deck.

[cathead77]

@timskywalker Thank you for all you do and may God bless you richly. I live in Premier.

[ANTIDALLARD]

Where abouts did the Walls family live ?

[cathead77]

@ANTIDALLARD The Walls family that I knew lived on Riverside Drive.

[oldtaiji]

Hi Cathead; Was just up in Bluefield for a seminar,, drove down to Gary and Welch, to have a look see. It was nice to see the old place again,, The house I lived in was still there although remodled quite a bit,, but I recognized the Holler,, we used to call it Yaller Holler, but it was changed to Talman Villiage,, and now its just Talman Villiage Road. The Church I went to in Gary was still exactly the same,, I recognized many of the houses,, in Gary,, but many were gone.

[cathead77]

@oldtaiji That's cool.

[oldtaiji]

I lived half way between Welch and Gary,,, for a couple of years,,, long, long time ago, but some of these pictures I recognize,,(I think)... hope to get back this year to see it again,,Ill take pics if i do.

[cathead77]

@oldtaiji Come on back!

[frubertgrokkingley]

My wife and I, both Brits, drove through McDowell County, and stopped in Welch for a couple of hours. It was sad to see a town, (city?), surrounded by such beautiful countryside, but which was so run-down. Hard times. But what really got me was just how very pleasant the people were ... they had never, of course, see us before, but from a great many as we walked about the streets there was a smile, friendly nod, and a 'Good Morning' ... Welch still has some spirit, and some pride.

David

[cathead77]

@frubertgrokkingley David, I am glad you had a positive experience with the people. Hope you come back.

[kathy19561]

thanks for sharing i use to live in welch and moved away years ago. you have did a great job. thanks for sharing.

[cathead77]

@kathy19561 Thank you for watching.

[Vredh]

We're doing some coal exploration for Justice Coal around Northfork. We're water well drillers, but I took my 40hr. mine safetly class in Pineville last November and for that entire week, I enjoyed driving through Welch in the mornings and evenings.

[cathead77]

@Vredh Thanks for watching.

[NiteBlogger]

Very nicely done. ;)

[cathead77]

@NiteBlogger Thank you!

[tuxedo441]

Very nice pictures! I went to Wheeling, WVa back in the early 80s, and I thought it was very beautiful. This is the most beautiful state I've been in. Thanks for posting.

[kenny67able]

I love these pictures and the music really puts the icing on the cake. My mother in law is from welch and she took my wife and me back there a couple years ago. I could tell it was sad for her. It made me really think about how this country was built by the coalminers and just what you cannot get from reading a history book. We want to come back soon. My mother in law was like a duck in the water getting around. I loved the mountains. Thanks for posting these beautiful pictures.

[cathead77]

Thanks for the comments, Kenny! I hope you can come back.

[jonathanakajjtn]

check out my music im from welch and rember my cousins nick and chris warren

[im4gtn]

I grew up on the streets of Welch...so many memories. The second song almost made me cry. Beautiful~~thanks so much for sharing this :)

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching.

[gameover1156]

I'ts missing the crackheads at the post office and the city police beating up on kids. If you could add this to your video i think it would be complete.

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching.

[vbostick73]

Man its been about 18 years since I've been back home. Thank you for putting these up.

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching!

[Jinchengfan]

Hi Allan. I recall you had some photos on here from the old dirt road that passed the Ieager Memorial Cemetary in Roderfield. I lived directly below the cemetary, so I knew the road quite well....but I can't find the photos now. Do you still have them, and where can I find them? Man....home sure doesn't look like it did 20 yeas ago when I was still there...God bless you and yours, (and all of McDowell County) in this new year.

[cathead77]

I did a little searching and the pictures you are talking about are in the Sweet Appalachia video. Check it out and I figure you'll see them. Thanks.

[Jinchengfan]

Thanks Alan. Found them. I'd be willing to pay you to go around Roderfield, Big Sandy, Hensley (up the holler, too) and Premier and take pictures for me...just so I could see what's changed and what hasn't. You wouldn't have to post them...just send to me and I'd pay whatever you want.

[jeff560]

You really did an excellent job with this video! Thanks....

[manderdragon]

thats awesome never thought it could look so good was born and raised there. thanks

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching.

[ApolloSleeps]

You too. These videos are great, and the music too. I'll tell him I saw you on youtube.

[cathead77]

Thanks. That'll be great!

[cineie]

i too born there i am sommebody rememder home i am so glad too see welch where i born raise in roderfield until i wa 12 thank you

[ApolloSleeps]

That would be correct. I'm his daughter.

[cathead77]

The Tripmakers!! Good hearing from you.

[ApolloSleeps]

I felt a little homesick and decided to watch this, then I noticed your screen name. I'm pretty sure my dad was in a band with you when he was younger... Either The Tripmakers or Fugitve...I can't quite remember. I don't want to mention his name on the internet, but he was the drummer. :)

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching. Is your dad's initials RJ?

[ray1939]

left welch in 1953 havn't been back nice to see pictures of how welch looks now and beautiful pictures of old high school wish i could travel back but not likely i can!

i still have my memories of the old days!

Thanks Cat head!

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching, Ray!

[MerryGoRnd]

My husband and I visited Welch for the first time in the evening after the October Sky Festival in Coalwood Oct 3, 2009. The buildings and hills and houses are amazing! I could have spent two full days just taking pics and videos there! THANK YOU FOR POSTING SUCH A FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF PICTURES OF WELCH for others, like me, to enjoy! EXCELLENT PICTURES.

[cathead77]

Thank you for watching. I am so glad you enjoyed Welch. I hope you felt welcome.

[MerryGoRnd]

It was late and the daylight fading fast. Everything was closed but we did stop at McDonald's to eat and they were friendly there :) We will go back another time. Meanwhile, I will post a few of my Welch pics and let you know when they go up. Not as fantastic as yours, but I do love all the houses on the steep hills around the town! :) very "severe" landscaping!! very beautiful.

[cathead77]

I look forward to seeing them. Thanks.

[zaneismyname]

i live in welch and have my whole life and have nevr seen a happy day here its full of crackheads and pill heads ....more people stand down town for crack then for socialism .i cant wait to leave the schools here are awful

[cathead77]

Then I hope you find that happy place where none of this happens.

[MerryGoRnd]

Guess what?---Welcome to Today's America! Try to find a town without that. It's a "disease" that has infected AND affected all of us in one way or another. But since you feel it's especially bad, then you should definitely relocate and see if the grass is indeed "greener on the other side".

[ssteele1]

The future of southern West Virginia is not beyond the ability of those that live there to determine. If you don't like the way things are then stay and work to change them. I am from New York but live in Morgantown, WV. What I've learned about southern West Virginia is indeed heartbreaking. But it is not hopeless. I believe a better future is within reach. The question is, will the people reach for it? (Great music, by the way.)

[MerryGoRnd]

Hi...you sent this comment to MY screen name when i think you meant to send it to the person whose video this is....so you might want to comment again but to HIM this time!

[cathead77]

Pedro's is not here any more, and Pedro himself has passed on.

[lfasold]

Nice job Alan. I love the music.

Lula (helmandollar) Fasold

[cathead77]

Thanks a bushel, Lula! It was nice to hear from you. I remember you from school.

[tammybron]

Showalter Micropower, may have found a home.

[zwan94]

Rosewood and Spruce, you can't beat those woods on an acoustic guitar.

[zwan94]

I want to move to West Virgina. Don't know where in WV yet. I just need a change of scenery. My family thinks it's a bad idea.

[cathead77]

Depends on where in WV you want to move. In southern WV where I live the economy is really ragged with little opportunity. I have lived here since I was born and can't imagine ever living anywhere else. I love my home place and its people. I am all about Appalachia. I am Appalachia.

[zwan94]

Well, I'm 28 and from Louisiana. So I'm no stranger to a depressed economy. Plus, the heat and all the blacks is really wearing me out. There's no opportunity here either. This may sound silly but I've never ever been in the mountains and I think it would be therapeutic for me to be around them. I don't like big wide open spaces of nothingness. -Seems to depress me. I was thinking of moving to Morgantown. That way if I decide to go to college, it will be close by. Your thoughts?

[cathead77]

Morgantown is well north of where I am, and I don't know a whole lot about it. I know that WVU is a fine school and I'd say the economy is better there than it is here......much better. I reckon I would have withdrawal symptoms if you were to take me out of the mountains for very long. I wish you well with whatever you decide.

[TOXICxxDYLAN]

i Live There :D

[ontv09]

This brings back alot of memeries im from jenkin jones wv

[cathead77]

Hope it was good memories! Thanks for watching.

[FOREVERHILLBILLY1]

Alan, I love this. It almost made me cry I got so homesick. I love the music. Congrats on a great video. Diane Turner Clemins

[cathead77]

Thank you, Diane. Great hearing from you. I am glad you enjoyed the clip.

[wiccy77]

Thanks for posting these pics...my grandmother lived in Welch in the last years of her life, first in the Towers and then in a small apartment near them...I am related to a local pharmacist...if he's still working, he's used to be one...at the little pharmacy near MUrphy's...it's been many years since I was there, but it was sure nice to see that the little town is still there!

[cathead77]

Probably the pharmacy was the Flat Iron. There are a couple of pictures of the Flat Iron in the video. Thanks for watching.

[LesChats27]

Thank you for a wonderful look at Welch. My husband's hometown always seems to be portrayed for the negative images (I'm thinking of the 20/20 segment on Jannette Walls).

[cathead77]

Thanks for looking. I love my home town.

[stilesmarsha]

Alan, this was awesome. this may sound funny but one of my favorite pics was the one of the parking meter, it was very artistic! :) i love that we have a similar style to our photography, think that it's neat. The music was beautiful too as always!

[cathead77]

Thanks, Marsha. I wish I could spend a day with you and "steal" some knowledge from you about photography. Seems like all I do anymore now is play music and walk around taking pictures. Thanks for the encouragement. It meant a lot coming from you.

[n2pickn]

I like the parking meter too! :) The night shots of the town are awesome! Alan, not only are you a talented songwriter and musician, but you are a wonderful photographer too. It's great to see the town that you write about in your songs.

[bluegrasser031]

When I was growing up, walking downtown was a treat for us. So alive it was. Now my downtown has been transformed in to a mall like setting with beautiful fountains, an amphitheater, and an ice skating rink. It is nice but it will never take the place of the old downtown and the very friendly folks there.

[cathead77]

Thanks, Gary. Our town is all but dead, but I will always love Welch, WV!

[mmiano1]

Thanks for the great shots of a great little town. Although the town is struggling today I chose to remember the Good old Days and know that many towns lack the heart of 1950-60's Welch.

[cathead77]

.....and thank you for watching.

[MrMacDowell]

I will post a real good video of MacDowell County Soon....

[cathead77]

I will look forward to seeing it. I will subscribe to your channel so I can be sure and not miss it. Thanks in advance for making a good video of McDowell County.

[MrMacDowell]

All the videos of McDowell County are of the samething...Over and Over and Over...

Boring!!!!!!

[cathead77]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I was gonna go to Mercer County and shoot some fresh looking pictures and video, but I got to thinking.....I'd probably have to name it "His Home Town.....Bluefield, West Virginia". Or I could Call it "Her Home Town......Princeton, West Virginia". Since I was so set on calling it "My Home Town.....Welch, West Virginia" I was pretty well limited to pictures of....well....Welch, West Virginia. I suppose it's too bad it bored you, but it was worth my effort for 62booper.

[57silverhawk]

In spite of the hard times, your artist's eye shows your love and respect for this town. Beautiful and moving.

[cathead77]

Thanks a bushel!! I truly love my home town.

[62booper]

Thanks so much for taking me down memory lane. I lived for rhe first nine years of my life in Welch and to me it is still home. Welch was in its heyday then.I was able to go back last fall..Yes it has changed but I remembered so much and so many happy memories..YES you can go home again..I will treasure this video..many thanks

[cathead77]

Thank you so much. I am very happy you enjoyed. That's the main reason I posted it.

[HominyKisses]

Beautifully created video. You have a wonderful, artisitic eye, and have shown so much beauty in a town that honestly, at first glance one would not think of as beautiful. But it is beautiful and so are the people of the area. I love your music as well!

[cathead77]

Thank you for such encouraging words.

[stacywv]

Two of my favorite instrumentals! Great video.

[cathead77]

Thanks, Stacy.

[chriswallswvu]

nice cathead.....What I have come to realize is that people who love pics and vids do what other people have thought about doing, but never do....Cool stuff. I don't think people realize the rich history of Welch and McDowell County in general. Thanks for posting.

[cathead77]

Thanks for watching, Chris. I certainly love McDowell County and love taking pictures of her.

[Gunnarsguns]

very good vid cathead. I like the music and the pics.What will be of all these old coal towns in 50 years.....memories and dust

[cathead77]

You are about right. Welch is close to that now, but I love her dearly. Maybe the prison that will open soon will help sustain her. Thanks for watching.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

That's some GREAT Bass playing ... especally at the end of that First Song.

You're gettin GOOD with that Camera too.

Welch Looks like a Nice Place to Live or to Run Away From. People do one or the other in those type of Communities.

It's either where you live or where you say your from.

Thank you for sharing,

David

[cathead77]

Thanks, David. I did the bass track on a Palatino upright I sold about a year ago. Many people have run away from Welch.....at least 60% of them since I was in school. But I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.