What a lovely tour of your hometown Melody. Thank you Shane, Melody and Melodys beautiful Mom!

I can't believe I just spent an hour in Honaker but I really enjoyed the heartfelt history and video. The mountain at 6:55 which you said "looks like a pyramid", followed by "was once an Indian trail" made me think of the Monacan Indian Nation which at one time controlled quite a bit of Virginia's Blue Ridge and western Piedmont area and were known as mound-builders, sometimes modifying preexisting hills to suit their purposes (which seem to have included religious ceremonies and burials). The modern day Monacan Nation is headquartered in Madison Heights, VA. I really liked this format of local folks explaining their home towns, especially those familiar with the history and people. Again, Thank You!!!

There is no question that you Melody are the daughter. You and your mom look so much alike! Great video! Thanks for sharing!

Melody, I really love this video. My cousin from Ohio came to Honaker this weekend and we made much of the same tour, so I'm sending this on to her. Loved seeing Jewel with you too.

What a beautiful and heartwarming walk down memory lane! I live in Missouri now, but grew up in the Honaker area and graduated from Honaker High School in 1969. Like you, Melody, I was a cheerleader for HHS, but so many years earlier. Seeing the football field again and all of the places I hung out at as a teenager has been absolutely wonderful! Also, as a child I visited the house you grew up in, when Rev. Kyle Hubbard lived there. My daddy was a Free Will Baptist minister, too, and Brother Kyle was one of his dearest friends, so we saw them often. How exciting it was to see it again and to realize you grew up in that house. I found your channel several months ago, and I’m so glad I did. Thank you so so much Melody and Shane for all that you’re doing and for giving me the trip back home that I haven’t had in far too many years! I’m a history lover, too, and this is a really special calling that the two of you are engaged in. Thank you again and again!!! Mary Anna

I can see where Melody gets that pretty clear skin! She looks like her mom 🥰. Shane is too funny picking at Melody's "divaness" 😁

The specialness of this place to be felt as Melody and her mom share the stories of their hometown, Honaker. I enjoyed the old photographs and the museum as well. This has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. Blessings to you.

A really great video thanks for sharing. Melody and her mom have a lot of pride in their hometown. Melody got tears in her eyes when talking about her home place. That is sweet. Sadly most people can never go home again. But you can. Treasure that always. You guys should include your family member in your videos more often. Melody's mom is a very nice-looking lady. also. Thumbs up to your videos. Stay well & safe guys.

Thank ya,ll for sharing Miss Melody's home town and her mama is pretty just like Miss Melody. I hope that was ok to say that. love ya'll

It's really enjoyable to hear Melody's mother's comments, as you're riding along, in the video.

Never get tired of your interesting presentations. Thanks!

What a lovely video. One of my favorites. It s treat to get a glimpse of Melody's hometown and her upbringing. Your Mom is a Sweetheart. Thank you Shane and Melody!!!!

OMG! Loved this! I teared up so many times as Melody & her sweet mom shared memories! Loved the old photos y'all inserted. I always have loved looking at old pictures. This was an awesome video & it was especially nice getting to meet Melody's mom. Family & home is everything! Hugs & blessings from VA! 🏡

New to your channel and just finished the tour of your home town! I am born, raised, and still living in Chicago, but love learning about new (to me) little communities and it's history! I got all teary when you were at your family home. Recently sold my family home of 58 years. Bittersweet memories, for sure! ♥️

Absolutely love this video nice seeing your mom thank y’all for sharing.

Always loved the small va towns in my travels through them all,be proud of where your from it’s an Appalachian thing

I am so glad to watch another one of your wonderful videos Melody and Shane. A few weeks ago somehow a hacker got into my computer and it took 11 days to have the damage repaired. I felt naked without my computer. You can certainly be very proud of your hometown Melody. Beautiful school campus. It is very easy to tell that the beautiful lady is Melody's mother. Absolutely a sweet reunion Melody. Thank you for such a sweet, sweet video.

Thank you for showing us your home town, looks like a nice town to grow up in, it was nice to meet your Mother

Great video. Neat little town. Thanks for taking us along.

I’ve been watching you guys for ages and I’ve had no clue you were from my hometown! I love to watch your videos around Appalachia, no wonder they reminded me so much of home so much 😂😂 Keep up the amazing work!

You guys just show that awesome people grow up from awesome children with awesome parents in awesome places. Thanks for a great video.

Loved seeing you both again and taking a wander with you! Most of my people lived in the New Garden area in ithe 1700-1800s so I was particularly happy to see the mountains and the lay of the land once again. I've got a lot of ancestors laid to rest there in those little family cemeteries up on the mountain. I haven't been home since 2019 so I was feeling kind of lonely until I watched this! Thanks, guys!

Absolutely a magnificent video!!! I also grew up I a wonderful small town in Huntington valley, Pennsylvania before moving to the big city of Philadelphia PA . I still love going back to Huntington valley as my Daughter lives close bye. My Parents have passed but many many amazing memories still linger. Thank you for all your amazing videos.

That hill when you come into town is Ebby’s knob (climbed it a few times)

My parents grew up in Honaker. My maternal grandparents lived in the big white Victorian house right next to that big old abandoned building on Fairmount. After my mom graduated highschool (1946), she worked a few years in that building that was then a dry cleaners. As a kid, when we would visit, I was always both intrigued and scared of that building. I would venture in, determined to go upstairs... but I always chickened out because I was sure there would be a witch or a ghost upstairs... Haha. My grandparents also owned a big tobacco farm on Big A mountain. My paternal grandmother lived on Thompson Creek. My parents moved to Virginia Beach area when they got married. I haven't been back there since I was 18.. I was too much of a city girl. Enjoyed your "tour". Thanks for posting.

I just love yours videos! You guys were so lucky to grow up in such a natural homespun area. Thank you sharing such an important part of your lives and the history of Virginia.

Tk u for sharing ur hometown & childhood memories w/ us! Ur hometown is beautiful!

HHS is now teaching Appalachian history as an elective I think it is great add. This was a great video

When talking about her home made me cry about my home I grew up in that I never wanted to leave.

Lol got tickled when you was talking about the mountains nickname. I've heard the same thing about pilot knob in pilot mountain nc. Love watching all the videos.

This is just awesome! I lived just on the other side of the mountain behind the goal post. Used to sneak into so many games and the pool at 3 in the morning with the Woodward’s, Stanley and Bailey’s. The holler was home.

HOLY COW!! Do you look exactly like your Momma!! How wonderful for you. You are both beautiful and Truly Blessed 💕🙏🙏

What a nice town Loved it 😊

Charming stories.

Really enjoyed this. Honaker is such a nice town.

The building on Fairmont was the original HONAKER high school. A new building was built where the high school gymnasium is. It housed both high school and elementary . In 1952 the existing high school was built and it remained an elementary until the new one was built in 1964. It remained there for a few years more being used just for the gym. It was later torn down and the new gym built.

Loved you home town and your mom and your old home :) Lovely scenery too, love the rolling hills

I am Karla Herndon’s sister and thank you so much for the kind words and thoughts. Growing up in Honaker was the best time of my life. My family has many ties there and my Daddy at 83 still lives down Lewis Creek. My brother lives on Romans Ridge and I moved to Saltville after I got married but I’m there every Sunday to have dinner with my entire family where 59:07 my children still live there with my 3 grandchildren. My brother Rusty and his family and grandson are there as well…A FULL HOUSE! A wonderful life as we continue to get together as my Mom is there with us in spirit and memories when she passed away from cancer in 2020. Thanks for the great walk down memory lane ❤ Plus I’m ordering a couple shirts haha!

Why am I not surprised. You were a cheerleader! You have such a lovely upbeat manner. Thank you for inviting us in to see your hometown. Btw, you haven’t aged a year. Must be the water 😂

Thanks Melody! Shane you done good.

Hi! I've been subscribed to your page for just a short while. I am 65 and I did so because I hoped to reminisce and learn about where my mother's family is from. Lo and behold you've posted a name I recognize!! While I am a Gibson of Scot-Irish descent and quite possibly Melungeon....my mother grew up in a 'coal camp' and my grandfather, Starling Ledford Gibson (Maudie Rhea) worked in the coal mines.... my research shows that Martin Honaker and his wife, Lydia (Musick) Honaker were my 4th great grandparents, and his father from Zurich, Hans Jacob Honaker (*Honeeker *Honegger)..and his second wife, Maria Goetz were my 5th great grandparents!! *small world* :) Thank you so much for sharing your hometown and giving the historical information! If you aren't aware, something to add to your history....when Hans came to America, his first wife and son died shipboard and when he arrived, in order to pay his 'passage', he HAD to work as an indentured servant until the debt was paid and then he worked as a gunsmith. I'm sure you can find additional information about his famous signed long rifle being used during the American Revolution. The last I saw, only a handful remain. Also, one of the links below tell where and how to find the gravesite in the area if you're interested. I wonder if there are any home sites still attributed to the Honaker family? Again, thank you so much....I'll continue watching!! www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/jas-honaker-signed-flintlock-kentucky-long-rifle--329-c-3024385986 www.findagrave.com/memorial/20118637/hans-jacob-honaker

Wonderful, wonderful video. Thank you for sharing your hometown, and growing up in the mountains; small town USA.

I just love your channel. I enjoy seeing and learning about all these awesome towns and the culture . So many beautiful places. Great job guys .

I really enjoyed this video of Honaker! Thank you.

Lovely tour of your town Melody …💯🙏 I think I’d still run through the screen door..lol I’m terrified of snakes. 😅 Thank you for telling the stories & memories,I really appreciate and enjoyed it.

Thank you for memory lane. I went to 7th grade before my family moved. I don't know if your mom remembers the Dye kids!!! My maidan name was Shirley Dye.

Liked the stamped metal ceiling in the ice cream parlor, historic restoration is my profession , love the old buildings with the included history.

Second time watching this. Better than the first. Thanks Miss Melody and Shane.

Past by the 460 turn off to Honaker yesterday going from Prestonsburg, Ky. to my home in Galax, va

As I googled Honaker history I came across your video. I appreciated the tour of the town for many reasons. My name is Joshua Honaker and ironically my brother Shawn and I plan to visit the town next Spring to get a better sense of our roots. We are part of the descendants who came to south central Ky in the late 1700s. Isaac Honaker was our grandfather who settled in Butler County where our lineage has been for 200 plus years. I enjoyed hearing the history, seeing the old photos, and seeing the video tour of the present town. Thank you for the dedication to archive these stories and memories.

I always got Honaker, Haysi, and Hurley confused back in the day going to school at SVCC 😃.... Thanks for the videos

My hometown as well and the honaker elementary school is actually in swords creek, VA where I live. And I may be biased but our field is the most beautiful field in all of southwest VA

Hi Melody, I'm way down here in Orlando, FL but wanted to tell you just how much I enjoyed watching this. I have a long connection to Honaker indirectly through my grandfather. I was born in Richlands in 1948 but my grandfather was born in Honaker in 1895. His name was Carl E. Thompson, the second from the youngest child of Ransey Thompson. He was the youngest son of Jacob Thompson and all from Honaker. Carl got a job with N&W RR in the early 1920's and moved to Richlands where he met my grandmother and where my father was born in 1923. When Carl retired in 1954 we all moved to florida. On a 1983 trip to visite cousins in Richlands, we took a side trip to Honaker and found the old Thompson cemetary back along a creek and on top of a hill by an old farm house. Your video brought back memories of that trip and the feeling of home that I had while there. I do hope to return again some day. God bless you and your family.

Great vid….my Dad grew up in Honaker and actually. He lived at the bottom of the Mountain you were talking about leaving the elementary school across from the funeral home. I climbed it many time visiting my grandfather before he sold the property back in th 80’s. That mountain was called Ebby’s Knob. My Grandfather raised Cattle and hogs and i believe grew some tobacco. He also owned Honaker Insurance Company. He’s buried at the cemetery across from his property.

Thanks for showing

Made me cry hon. It's ok, just an old man that kind of misses the old days too.

I love this video! I sent it to my dad who is also a honaker high School alumni. I would think about 1964 1965. My maiden name is actually Lockhart and I still have family who live in honaker. It was awesome to learn the history of it. My grandpa's sister Mary married an Ivan honaker. And my mother grew up in richlands and graduated in 1968. We moved to richlands last year when my husband retired from the military because this area was always home to me. My father was in the Air Force for 29 years and he lives on the other side of the state now in Yorktown. So I grew up in many different places and I even lived in Germany during Middle School. But tazewell and Russell county have always been home. Thank you so much for your videos. I love learning the history of where my family is from and where my heart has always been

Gosh, I thought it was CLEMSON you were cheering for with that orange tiger paw!! ( worked there nearly 20 yrs.) What a great show you guys did!! I get very melancholy when I drive around with you two. It's a good feeling. A feeling like I'm missing home or something!

46:00 Minute Mark, the former flower shop used to be Gary's Pizza owned by Helen and BF Wilson before they had the "Mama Mia" building built. Gary's Pizza, One God, One Country, One Good Place To Eat! haha

Love it you guys are the best 👌

I am proud to be from Honaker!!! I have not lived there in years. I took swimming lessons at Ball’s Pool and taught swimming lessons at the Honaker Pool, the first year it was open. Went to Honaker Elementary School Then to HHS and was in the band. I spent many hours on that football field too. My brother worked at “The Pig” I spent lots of time at “The Tiger Tilt” I loved David’s and The Shamrock & cruised through town all the time. Mama Mia’s is so delicious! My dad was special friends with Mr & Mrs Allbert he would drive them to their home in Florida for the winter then he would fly back into Bristol. I loved my time in Honaker schools. Coach Harding was one of the greatest. I credit him for saving my husband from going down the wrong path. My dad passed away super unexpectedly when I was only 16. My teachers & coaches were incredible to me. My maiden name is Honaker. My dad is from Thompson’s Creek and I am a descendant of Martin Honaker. I won the first essay contest of the first Redbud Festival My essay contained much the same information as in your history. We 100% pronounce it the same as you. I got married in the Finney Baptist Church by Steven Music. My bother got married at the First Baptist Church. We ate at Gary’s Pizza. What a beautiful video. The love you show is so special, good video!

I grew up in honaker.. my dad and his best friend owns honaker tire shop it has been there for years...

I visited russell county va on US-19 and VA-71 it’s beautiful landscape

Great video guys. I’m a lifelong UVA fan and never knew that one of our finest, Heath Miller, was from Honaker. Good stuff!

I grew up on Lewis Creek Honaker was my Home My Grandparents owned Gary"s Pizza . What now is Mama Mia I miss it so very much you all went by the old pizza place also where all started I worked at both of them Thanks for a great video !!

Another great video Melody. Especially showing us around ya hometown for sure. Thanks again from Virginia also 👍

Its no wonder your so sweet and honest Melody growing up in this beautiful and historic town. Your mother is so special as well. Loved the old buildings and the stories about them. Me, being a big Cleveland Browns fan, I so remember Heath Miller killing the Brownies at tight end. Hey, speaking of football Melody, answer this please. Hokies, or the Cavaliers?

I am sitting here in San Clemente California this morning watching this amazing video about home. I could not wait to get out of Honaker when I was young. Now I look for any excuse to come home. Funny how life changes your perspective . My first show with a live band was a Fourth of July celebration at modern Chevrolet back in 1985 or 1986 with my band Kross. Then years later while playing a Redbud festival I met the love of my life Angel there by chance and years later she and I would bring our group Caiged Angel back to town together. My work took me out of that little small town but I will always love the town and people who make it up. I must admit that I had a flood of memories near the end of the video. Loved seeing Diane and the museum. I lived above in an apartment when I was younger. That’s when I met Diane and Jerry. They changed my life. Also I was in class with Carla and remember the day she passed. Very sad day. She was always so cheerful and sweet. Thanks for mentioning the park. Thanks so, so much for doing this video.

You all did a great job representing Honaker!

It’s so beautiful there, wow😍

Awww I love that Jewel was in this video with Melody! I adore that sweet woman, she sure raised a wonderful daughter. I know this was, indeed, a sentimental video for Melody. Tiger pride runs deep. And I am so glad y’all addressed the pronunciation of HO-Nay-ker. I actually know someone that was born and raised there who also shares the town’s name as his surname. We worked for the same agency and he refused to answer to the name HO-Nay-ker- he said it was “an old German named pronounced Hahn-uh-ker” and he literally forced everyone to pronounce his name that way😂. I guess he thought once he moved away he could rewrite his family history - who knows - but maybe he was really a descendent of Hans John) Jacob Honegger. But no one else in his family pronounces their name that way. And it was SPELLED Honaker not Honegger. (*Shane - the John Jacob Jingelheimer Schmidt song cracked me up!.) The Slaughter Building had a lot of history that I didn’t know as well. The Tiger Stop (where Lester’s was) was the “cruising turn” as Jewel and Melody said according to all the stories I have heard…and David’s Grocery was always the best place to eat fried chicken livers LOL. Jewel and I graduated from HS the same year but I am not from Honaker. I was a Dept of Defense brat and moved all over the world. This was a really sweet video you guys! I loved that you mentioned Coach Harding - he was as much a legend here in Castlewood as he was in Honaker. His grandsons are good friends of my own boys. 🧡🖤🐅 Thanks for another wonderful view of our beautiful Russell Co communities! Lots of legends and lore here in VA, too!!

Great video guys. My father's family is from Fries. Your videos make me want to come back to the area. Living in France now so Im a long way from home.

Looks like a great place to grow up to me ! I grew up in small town also that has swelled to a big city now near Seattle. I miss the calmness and comfort i had as a kid and we knew so many people and merchants by name. I remained friends with several of my elementary schools staff as an adult. I was fortunate enough to be able to go inside my childhood home years ago. I stopped by one day with old pictures of when we lived there and told our story , she let me right in saying ignore the mess and have a look around. It was different in some places but i still it still felt like i was home again. We lived right by the train tracks so the house shook when they passed but its still a comforting sound. I now live 1 mile from it ! Thanks so much for sharing and stirring up some fond memories for me. Ask the owners if you can see your childhood home. I bet they would say yes :)

Wow, this was an enjoyable walk down memory lane. Love the old black and white photos. Very well done.

Wonderful video as always. Truly enjoy the road trips with you guys but this one felt extra special being so dear to melody

I was born and raised in honaker...my parents also was born in honaker ..there used be a dairy queen thats where I met my husband fir the first time

What a great video! Thank you for sharing your memories with us! God Bless!

Heard my daddy tell lots of stories about pulling Finney hill when he worked on the N&W. Used to go pick up my buddy Badeye compton up on the tunnel... miss the hills

Loved it!

"Pop": The one thing I learned back in 2009, was that folks from southern VA, and southern WV call soda, "pop", and a shopping cart is a "buggy".

Another place to visit is West Jefferson,NC they have a neat downtown and Ashe Co. cheese where across the road they process it. The largest growers of Frazier Christmas trees.

Thank you both for the memories!

I would visit my grandmother house every summer from Chicago I would walk to tiger shop as a kid earlier 90s love the video

Thank ya kindly for y’all to just give us glimpse in to your life. vary nice.

There is nothing in this world like being under the lights on Friday night in a small town!

Seriously… This makes me want to move there!

The old building on Fairmont was a school, dry cleaners, bowling alley, and later used car lot! There are records and pictures of this building when it was a school at the museum in town. Fairmont was known for all the teachers residing there in the 60s & '70s approximately 12 or more academic teachers resided all over this community! It was one of the nicest neighborhoods of Honaker at that time. It was also known to be the best sleigh riding road in the winter as kids all over town would gather around at the top and ride down Fairmont Ave. I resided there for 30 years and graduated from Honaker in 1974 and was a firefighter for several years with your Uncle Rodney till I moved to Lebanon. Great video, great town!

Melody!!!! What a beautiful town😂!!!! I would have loved to have grown up there-so much to explore!!!

Hi. I was watching from Sweden. I have a good friend living here. I really enjoyed your video. Thx 👍🙋‍♀️🌿

I was delivering to Modern Chevrolet and stopped to get some coffee at that store across from the mountain with the flag and took a picture of it because I liked it so much. I heard a saying once, If you say appa-laysha, someone will likely throw an apple atcha. I really enjoyed this video and the stories, I've been waiting for this one, now I can show the guys at work who always tell me I'm saying Honaker wrong...lol.. Do you know any history on the old big red brick home that sits way up on the hill near where Rudbud rd intersects with 19 in Rosedale? I love that house so much I pulled it up on google maps to so my wife. Oh my Gosh, that pizza looks good, I might have to make an unscheduled stop at Mamma Mia's one day 😁😁😁

I love your hometown. Thank you so much for sharing yaw do a wonderful job.

Hans Jacob Honaker was my 5th Great Grandfather. We have always pronounced it Hon-ah-ker. Hon like in "Honda". A like "ahead" Ker like "Kernal" Thanks for posting this!

This was so much fun. My late sister in law was from a small Ohio town. She was a cheerleader too. And almost every year she dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween. "There's no place like home... There's no place like home..." 😀 Thanks so much taking us along on a trip back to Honaker.

11:25 that BP garage used to be a Tastee freeze

Wonderful, heartfelt video 👍👍👍

Loved the tour of your hometown Melody.

Loved how you changed your voice Melody when telling tunnel memories , made me laugh thinking of your Mum turning headlights off to tease you

Finally a long video of lovely town and all the driving scenery. This had to be your idea Melody as Shane would probably just drove around the same block few times and end video.

Ok, so I'm old and went to Valley Pike Elementary, and me and my brother were just talking about how delicious the homemade rolls were. That was the best bread I've ever had in my life

Enjoyed this ! Very beautiful area ! That's an awesome high school! The football field and stadium is very nice ! I remember Heath Miller , a great football player . Thanks for showing the house that built melody...when I saw the football field I said to myself " self , i bet melody was a cheerleader " yup...thanks for the tour and history lesson about your home town melody and meeting your mom ! God bless y'all....🙏❤