Photos From Wise County, Virginia

Last week I was all over Virginia - Gate City, Wise, Norton, Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, St. Paul, Hansonville, Abingdon, Emory, Meadowview, Marion, Wytheville, Pulaski, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Christiansburg, Salem, Roanoke, Floyd, and Pearisburg. I was doing all sorts of things to get ready for my wife to start her PhD at Virginia Tech and for me to start teaching in Wise this fall, not to mention visit Emory & Henry to celebrate its 172nd year since establishment (go blue and gold), get in some camping, and of course fulfill my ongoing love of downtown architectures. Well, I took my camera to get pictures for Sarah (who has never been to Wise) but, right on par with my standard memory, I forgot the charger, limiting my total photo count. That said, I got a couple of decent (note decent is not equal to awesome) shots in Norton, Big Stone Gap, Wise, and Coeburn before the camera's battery went to be with its maker, so I thought I'd share. Enjoy.

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

This is a little post on a little play in a little town in Southwest Virginia. It's actually a good-sized production, with a big status--the official Outdoor Drama for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The theatrical treat I'm referring to is "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in Big Stone Gap, VA.

The Post newspaper in Big Stone Gap puts it nicely, it is "John Fox Jr.’s enduring love story of the dashing mining engineer, Jack Hale, and the demure and lovely mountain lass, June Tolliver." No, this one has never featured Henry Fonda or Fred MacMurray; that's the 1936 movie by the same name. But the same story and author, and with local talent to boot.

"The Trail" begins its 44th season this evening in Big Stone Gap. If you've never seen it...well then...shame on you! Some nice evening this summer, get over to Big Stone and enjoy theater under the stars.

And if you're not already reaching for your keys, here are a few links to whet your appetite:

Official Site of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Official Drama Program, courtesy the Coalfield Progress

Resource Guide by Judy Teaford, Mountain State University

GoTriCities.com Article

And some links on John Fox, Jr.

John Fox, Jr. Museum

Bio from the Kentucky DAR

Support Big Stone Gap

Big Stone Gap, Va(courtesy Wise County Historical Society)

Production decisions are currently being made for the filming of the movie Big Stone Gap, based on the novel by Adriana Trigiani. Big Stone Gap is a great read, as is her entire series, and it really captures the small town essence of Appalachia (the region, not to be confused with the neighboring town of the same name).

One would think that a story about a quaint town in Southwest Virginia would logically lend to the movie being filmed in that very location. "Big Stone", or "The Gap", as we natives of Wise County refer to it, is truly a special town and would make a great backdrop to any film, but especially this one. But there's a good chance this movie depicting small town life in Appalachia in the 1970's and 80's will be shot in South Carolina.

Trigiani will be directing the film and, if she had her way, would be making it in Big Stone in a heartbeat. The film's Los Angeles producers are looking for greener (read $$) pastures, thus the consideration of South Carolina, which is currently offering financial incentives to expand the state as a filmmaking location. So far, it is not clear if Virginia will ante up to South Carolina's incentives.

Not only would the decision to film in Big Stone Gap make the best sense, it also has economic ramifications. The town has been anticipating the economic benefits of the movie being shot on location, as well as the tourist draw. Tourism has been highly promoted by key decision makers as a future economy for the region, and what better chance to reinforce that vision than by filming this homegrown Appalachian story?

Luckily, a final decision has not been made. There's a strong grassroots effort to still bring the film to it namesake location. The website Film Big Stone Gap in the Gap, is spearheading the effort to have the film shot where it should be; in Appalachia, in Southwest Virginia, in Wise County, in Big Stone Gap!

Give them a visit and lend your support to this great Appalachian town.