Oral history of Ernest Hofer, 1 of 4

Identifier:

4224.ErnestHofer.AudioInt.001.4.30.16

Title:

Oral history of Ernest Hofer, 1 of 4

Date:

2016-04-30

Creator:

Hofer, Ernest

Contributor:

Hilliard, Emily

Description:

Ernest Hofer, born in Helvetia in 1950, is from a family with deep roots in Helvetia. His grandfather was the first baby boy born in the community in the 1870s. Aside from serving in Vietnam for two years, Hofer has lived in Helvetia his entire life. Hofer recently retired from working in the mines, and has worked at the Pickens [Helvetias neighboring town] Ramp Supper for forty-two years, and the Helvetia Ramp Supper for twenty-five. He is treasurer of the Helvetia Community Hall Association and is a member of the Pickens Volunteer Fire Department. He retired from working in the mines earlier this year.People aren't going to tell you where the ramp patch isthat's a well-kept secret and I'm not tellin' you where mine's at! And a lot of the property has been closed to ramp-digging due to the lumber companies, leasing the property. Which...has hurt the ramp suppers a lot. So, you just can't dig 'em. This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted with foodways practitioners in Helvetia, West Virginia, as part of the Helvetia Foodways Oral History Project in partnership with the Southern Foodways Alliance. Learn more: https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/helvetia-west-virginia/

Subject:

Cooking, Swiss, Wine and wine making--United States, 4-H clubs, Veterans, Food habits, Helvetia (W. Va.), foodways, Coal mines and mining, Wild leek

Rights:

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Location:

Helvetia (W. Va.)

Format:

audio/wav

Language:

English

Source:

A&M 4224, West Virginia Folklife Program Collection