Two For One Pilgrimage
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86890)
United States
July 15, 2020 8:29pm CST
Most people who know me know that I love country music and weather.
Today, as part of my really long detour to the Smokies, I went to a tiny town in southern Virginia where I could pay homage to both.
A couple of years ago I did a countdown of songs inspired by real events. One of the songs I used was a 1930 Carter Family song (if you’re interested, or even if you aren’t, 
my father was born in 1930) called “The Cyclone of Rye Cove.”
I don’t know what caused me to think about it when I crossed the Kentucky/Virginia border, but I got to thinking how close or far I was from Rye Cove. As it turns out, not very, so I detoured off the detour to pay a visit.
On May 2, 1929, a tornado went through Scott County, Virginia, taking aim directly at a schoolhouse. Seventeen townspeople, including 13 children, died in the tornado.
In front of the Rye Cove Intermediate School (formerly Rye Cove Memorial School) there is a well with a school bell erected in tribute. On the side of the well is a plaque listing the names of the 13 children who died that day.
The May 2, 1929 Rye Cove disaster remains, to this day, the worst tornado fatality event in Virginia’s recorded history.
The 1930 Carter Family song that told about the Rye Cove tragedy:
my father was born in 1930) called “The Cyclone of Rye Cove.”
I don’t know what caused me to think about it when I crossed the Kentucky/Virginia border, but I got to thinking how close or far I was from Rye Cove. As it turns out, not very, so I detoured off the detour to pay a visit.
On May 2, 1929, a tornado went through Scott County, Virginia, taking aim directly at a schoolhouse. Seventeen townspeople, including 13 children, died in the tornado.
In front of the Rye Cove Intermediate School (formerly Rye Cove Memorial School) there is a well with a school bell erected in tribute. On the side of the well is a plaque listing the names of the 13 children who died that day.
The May 2, 1929 Rye Cove disaster remains, to this day, the worst tornado fatality event in Virginia’s recorded history.
The 1930 Carter Family song that told about the Rye Cove tragedy:
7 people like this
5 responses
@FourWalls (86890)
• United States
16 Jul 20
The plaque indicates, based on last names, that a couple of families lost more than one child that day. 
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136008)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Jul 20
Thats a good road trip. Detour when you want
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
16 Jul 20
Those are the kind of road trips I love, just stop and do whenever.
1 person likes this
