History from Southwest Virginia

Benjamin Jenkins

A monthly podcast series that looks into Southwest Virginia from the first pioneers up through the 21st Century. Every episode discusses about the different individuals, places, and events that changed this backcountry's history, which includes some of Americas greatest people and events in US history. Email (to share or comment on episodes): benthehistorian1@gmail.com

  1. 12/25/2025 ·  Bonus

    2025 Wrap Up

    2025 Year was crazy …. A good kind of crazy. So much has happened despite the lack of podcast episodes. See (or rather listen) more about this year. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 and Happy New Year 🎆🎊 P.S. I forgot to include that I’ve been writing articles for the LINC Letter, Eastern Montgomery County’s online newsletter. You can find online and subscribe to the newsletter (it’s free!) LINC Letter: https://us18.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=982ce8cbfc7c76ffc79c678be&id=f086ff3e6b

    2025 Wrap Up

  2. 11/24/2025

    VMI-VPI Thanksgiving Day Football Game (5th anniversary edition)

    5 years ago, a freelance public historian decided to make a local history podcast regarding his home region of SWVA and published his first episode just days before Thanksgiving about a once holiday tradition that anyone barely knew about… till now. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of History from Southwest Virginia, we revisit that first episode that started it all (posted exactly 5 years ago today). With more interesting facts and new researching content, there is a more in-depth story behind this genuine piece of history long forgotten. Enjoy and thanks to my listeners for helping me to reach this achievement! Photo credit: The Vinton Messenger, 2020 Table of contents: 0:00 - Intro 4:10 - History of VPI & VMI 10:09 - The First Years (1894-95) 14:42 - Comes to Roanoke, 1896 16:41 - Early to Mid 20th century 19:31 - College Tradition origins 29:13 - The Final Years (1960s - 1984) 32:15 - Legacy of the VPI-VMI rivalry 33:07 - End credits

    VMI-VPI Thanksgiving Day Football Game (5th anniversary edition)

  3. 02/11/2025

    Fincastle Resolutions S8E1

    On January 20th, 1775, 15 prominent figures from all over SWVA met in a small settlement called Lead Mines - the county seat of Fincastle - to establish what some called a document that was the roots of the Declaration of Independence that would be written over a year later. Written in response to the recent events of the American Revolution, including Lord Dunmore’s dissolve of the VA House of Burgesses, these men eventually saw that a peace with the mother country was not going to be possible and that they were “resolutely determined never to surrender…to any power upon earth, but at the expense of (their) lives.” Both their constitutional liberties and their religious rights that is. The Fincastle Resolutions was a powerful statement that sparked revolution in all of SWVA, both in Fincastle and Botetourt Counties at the time. Looking at it deeper, its unique structure and text made it a historical landmark that was nearly forgotten till now. To begin the VA250 celebrations, let’s look into the details and history of this magnificent piece of history. *Sorry that this was posted late but now is better than never, right? ;-) Link for the VA250: https://va250.org

  4. 12/24/2024 ·  Bonus

    2024 Wrap up

    Just a quick update regarding the current status of this podcast and to share some really excited things about this year and what is to come in 2025. 😁 Merry Christmas to everyone 🎅🏻🎄🎁 and a Happy New Year 🎊🎆

  5. 12/11/2024

    Unbelievably true stories of Southwest Virginia

    The valleys carries stories of old and new(ish) and some which seem to be fairy tale or folk lore actually took place. Anywhere from odd to just down right strange, these events were lost in the pages… until now. I will be discussing about a few of the hundreds maybe thousands of stories and/or mysteries. These in this session (to me at least) are considered to be some of the greatest ever told. Also, sorry about any noise in the background as my new puppy was playing around during my recording session. 😅

  6. 06/24/2024

    D-Day 80th Anniversary: SWVA Edition

    This special commemorative episode talks about D-Day and how it changed WWII but at the cost of so many lives. Its success turned the war in the Allies' favor and was the beginning of liberating Europe from Nazism. Among those their on the beaches, hundreds if not more Southwestern Virginians were present. Whether storming the beaches or dropping in behind enemy lines, they helped to liberate Europe from Nazism. This episode discusses four separate stories: 2 infantry units and 2 individuals, all from SWVA. Sorry it has been awhile since the last posting and that this is late, but kick back and enjoy this Special recording! Save this podcast to your playlist and hit notifications if you haven't!

    D-Day 80th Anniversary: SWVA Edition

  7. 05/15/2024

    William Wood: The Boy Cadet at New Market

    May 15th, 2024 marks the 160th anniversary of the Battle of New Market. A tradition that still continues to this day in the form of Freshmen charging across the field and sometimes a reenactment. 257 Cadets were present at this small, yet pivotal battle that gave the Confederacy one last victory in the Valley. Of them was William Morrison Wood, born in Gate City and was raised in the southern way. Proud to have served his state, he was recognized in 1939 as the last living VMI cadet that was at New Market. Let's learn a bit about William and of the events that lead up to, was, and after the Battle of New Market. **I know that I'd mentioned that there was audio in the episode, but there is none. Sorry

  8. 03/19/2024

    N&W 2156: The Workhorse of the Railway

    This 24-minute birthday special episode talks about one of the finest, Roanoke-built steam locomotives to traverse the rails of Southwest Virginia. A sole survivor of the Y5/Y6 mallet locomotives, N&W Y6a 2156 is one of the N&W's "Big Three" alongside the A-Class 1218 and J-Class 611. 2156 was built to pull the heaviest coal drags and freight trains through the Appalachians, with the largest tractive effort recorded in the history of USA Steam Locomotives. Today marks 82 years ago it rolled out of the Roanoke Locomotive Shops. (82nd birthday) *Sorry if there is any miss steps in the recording, this is the first time using the brand-new Riverside platform to make this episode. I couldn't be able to edit the recording at this time. Will work on it next go around.

    N&W 2156: The Workhorse of the Railway
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About

A monthly podcast series that looks into Southwest Virginia from the first pioneers up through the 21st Century. Every episode discusses about the different individuals, places, and events that changed this backcountry's history, which includes some of Americas greatest people and events in US history. Email (to share or comment on episodes): benthehistorian1@gmail.com

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