Swell Mountain Memories

Bonnie Sue Bennett Pishner documents life in the West Virginia hills from oral family histories, photographs, newspaper articles, hospital documents and personal diaries from her extended family and friends. Swell Mountain Memories is a valuable resource for not only family, but everyone interested in early life in West Virginia. As the author writes… “What a vast difference a hundred years, even fifty years, make in the way we live our daily lives, our routine, the conveniences we have, the schools we attend, the jobs we have, the entertainment we indulge in, the way births and deaths are dealt with, the explosion of technology, as well as every other aspect of our lives. I do not want this information to be lost for my descendants and hope it will be used in a positive manner, promoting our appreciation for our ancestors as well as our appreciation for the easier life we have, compared to our ancestors’ way of life.”

About the Author

Bonnie Sue Bennett Pishner has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Concord University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from West Virginia University. She has been employed by the West Virginia Department of Human Services for forty years. Although retired from DHHR, she is currently working as a contracted trainer, traveling around West Virginia, training entry level social workers for DHHR. Bonnie grew up with one brother and one sister, roaming and exploring the mountains with cousins and friends. Although country life was hard work, the mountains offered opportunities for many outdoor experiences that shaped and molded the character of those who had the privilege of living there. The mother of two sons and two grandchildren, Bonnie resides in Beckley, WV.