Stories are the Roots that Ground Us
LIVE RECORDING at The Taproom - Local Roots: an Abingdon Oral History Program
Picture this: A warm, inviting taproom filled with the crisp aroma of hard cider. The hum of conversation. The clink of glasses. And at the center of it all, a voice sharing a story that’s been passed down for generations—a memory of Abingdon’s past that feels as alive as the first sip of a fresh-pressed draft. Welcome to Local Roots, a new oral history series at Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s Taproom that’s part history lesson, part community gathering, and 100% Appalachian soul.
For fans of NPR’s “StoryCorps”, this one’s for you. Local Roots is a 90-minute oral history program designed to weave together the vibrant tapestry of Abingdon, VA, and the surrounding Appalachian region. Led by Tom McMullan—co-founder of Tumbling Creek Cider and orchard manager—this event will be recorded live and be archived at Emory & Henry University’s own WEHC radio.
Joyce Hayter Ferratt will be talking about the March 4, 1944 tornado that damaged her childhood home and destroyed the local Abingdon Academy.
At each event, an area local will share their personal memories of historic moments, big or small, that shaped this corner of the world.
Think of it as storytelling hour… but with cider.
Each month, a guest speaker—a longtime resident, a newcomer with fresh eyes, or someone whose family has deep Appalachian ties—will share a firsthand account of Abingdon’s history. Did their grandparents work the railroads? Were they there when the Barter Theatre staged its first show? Did they witness the changing tides of farming, music, or community traditions? These aren’t textbook tales. They’re *living memories*, shared over glasses of small-batch cider made from apples grown right here in these hills.
Your Story Belongs Here
In a world that’s always rushing forward, “Local Roots” asks us to pause and listen. “So much of Appalachia’s history lives in oral tradition,” says Mark Finney, co-owner of TC3. “If we don’t share these stories, they fade. But here, they become part of something bigger—a way to honor where we’ve been, and maybe even shape where we’re going.”
It’s also about bridging divides. Whether you’re a fifth-generation farmer, a recent transplant working remotely, or a college student discovering Abingdon’s charm, this event says: Your story belongs here.
Join the Circle
Our first event will be Sunday, April 13h from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at The Taproom.
This even is free and open to the public.
Joyce Ferratt of Abingdon will tell some of her memories of the 1944 tornado that hit downtown and heavily damaged her childhood home and Abingdon Academy up on the hill (an event that hit the New York Times). Her memories will come from her 6-year old perspective of that event. She will also read a letter her mother wrote to her grandmother describing the damages to the home.
