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Records the reminiscences of Charles Estes, who owned a sawmill and several other businesses near Piney River, in Rappahannock County, Virgina, in the 1920s and 30s. Describes the everyday lives of the mountain people who lived around Piney River, popular community gatherings such as hog and beef butchering and apple butter boiling parties, as well as courting, wedding and funeral rituals. Includes references to the gardens and livestock raised by the mountain people, their methods of food preservation and popular holiday traditions. Discusses the various means available for earning money, such as bark peeling, barrel stave making, apple picking and moonshining. Includes anecdotes regarding Virginia governor Harry Byrd and local entrepreneur George Pollock, owner of Skyland resort. A woman identified only as Mrs. Estes provides an extensive description of many common herbal remedies employed by the mountain people, as well as additional commentary throughout.

Mr. Cave leads a walking and driving tour of the area around the Cave family homestead in Dark Hollow, Virginia, where he was raised prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park in 1934. The tour includes a stop at the Cave family cemetery, where Mr. Cave identifies the grave sites of his extended family, going back to the Civil War, and explains the genealogy of the various family members interred there. Includes references to Civil War era ancestors, moonshiners, bark peeling, copper mining, ginseng and chestnut harvesting, and other natural features of Dark Hollow.

Records an interview with Frank Willberger, whose family ran an undertaking business in Augusta County in the early part of the 20th century. Describes the practice of undertaking in those years, and the special conditions encountered when working with local mountain families, whose homes were often located in remote and marginally accessible areas.

Records the reminiscences of Mary Early, (née Leonard), who lived in New Hope, not far from the Black Rock Springs Hotel, in Black Rock Gap, Virginia. The Black Rock Springs Hotel was a popular tourist destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, both for its scenic views and for the natural mineral springs for which it was named. Mrs. Early recounts her memories of the grounds and buildings and the popularity of the site in the years following the hotel's destruction by fire in 1909. Includes references to people associated with the hotel and springs, as well as many of the families and local people who lived near the hotel in its heyday. The site where the hotel stood was incorporated into Shenandoah National Park in the 1930s. Joining Mrs. Early in the interview is her son-in-law, George Coyner.

Records the reminiscences of Rufus and Hazel Cline, (née Garber), who lived in New Hope, not far from the Black Rock Springs Hotel, in Black Rock Gap, Virginia. The Black Rock Springs Hotel was a popular tourist destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, both for its scenic views and for the natural mineral springs for which it was named. Mr. and Mrs. Cline recount their memories of the grounds and buildings and the popularity of the site in the years following the hotel's destruction by fire in 1909. Includes references to people associated with the hotel and springs, as well as many of the families and local people who lived near the hotel in its heyday. The site where the hotel stood was incorporated into Shenandoah National Park in the 1930s.

Records the reminiscences of Vallie Cave, (née Thomas), and her brother, Floyd Thomas, who were born and raised near Bootens Gap, Virginia, prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park in 1934. Describes home and family life, daily chores, schooling, holidays and community events. Among the topics discussed are the growing, harvesting and preserving of food, soap making, raising livestock and wild game hunting. Includes references to trapping, moonshining, courtship, the chestnut tree blight, Camp Hoover and meetings with President Hoover. This collection includes two copies of the typed transcript, which note that the transcript is unfinished, with approximately another 15 minutes of taped interview remaining. Also included is a handwritten transcript containing minor notes omitted from the typed copies.