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“Signs, Cures, & Witchery” provides a fascinating glimpse of some little-known Appalachian beliefs and practices among descendants of early German pioneers. This hour-long documentary traces Germanic belief systems from Europe to West Virginia, from the fifteenth century to present-day practitioners. “Signs, Cures, & Witchery” opens a window into our ancient past, revealing the courage and resourcefulness of people whose survival depended on their ability to “read signs,” cure their own ills, and find explanations for life’s mysteries. Local community practices in West Virginia such as witch doctoring, “belsnickling,” “shanghai,” and folk healing are connected to their medieval counterparts in woodcuts and other works of art. In tracing immigration to remote mountain communities, we learn how expressions of folk art and occult belief survive. This work specifically examines aspects of Appalachian oral tradition and folklore that draw from German culture. This informative, entertaining film is an invaluable aid to all who have interest in religion, psychology, folklore, metaphysical, regional, gender, and ethnic studies.
An Augusta Heritage Recording
Researched, produced, and edited by Gerald Milnes.
Photography by Gerald Milnes, Jay Kelly, Jimmy Triplett, & Bob Campbell.
Narrated by Judy Williams.
Mr. Milnes,
I’ve enjoyed your book, and now the recording. I live a few miles from the Johnnie Arvin’s farm, and am a descendent of Ben Moats, mentioned in your work. I was struck by the photograph(s) that you used in your documentary project. Do you have a copy of a photography of Ben that you could share with me?
Thanks,
Bruce Moats
Bruce,
I don’t have a copy of the photo, and I can’t remember exactly where I took a shot of it. I’m sure it would have been from one of my older subjects, now all deceased. And to be truthful, and my recollection is a bit foggy—probably from 2004-5, it was thought to be Ben Moats by whoever had it, and not a 100% identification. I wish I could be of better help, but I made many films before and after and many details run together.
I’m glad you liked both works. Nothing was more satisfying to me than working with the many old folks in those projects.
I just remembered something of interest. Robert Simmons took me to the spot where Ben Moat’s father was buried—as per his story about Ben taking food to the grave—or was it someone taking food to Ben’s grave?. I remember it was up the hill a ways from Robert’s old farmhouse and it was completely grown over—probably was just a fieldstone.
Thanks for your interest.
Do you have any original recordings for these interviews? I would be interested in viewing each of these interviews in a much longer format, minus the effects that add to the production value, simply what all these people had to say at the time of.
Thank you for this, it was an amazing look of a very little know part of our history, I find this work to be of high cultural value.