Coalfield.com

"Melungeon event set for July

By ROBERT BAIRD, Staff WriterMay 05, 2005

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Individuals interested in Melungeon heritage and history should mark their calendars now for a July event to be held in Frankfort, Ky.
The event sponsor is Wise-based Melungeon Heritage Association, which also hosts Melungeon gatherings called 'Unions' that are held every two years.

The firm date for this summer's event is Saturday, July 30, according to MHA President Wayne Winkler. Activities might be held on Friday, July 29, too, but that's still tentative. More details about the July event will be available soon, Winkler said Tuesday.

A Melungeon descendent, Winkler is station director of the WETS-FM public radio station in Johnson City, Tenn., and author of 'Walking Toward the Sunset: The Melungeons of Appalachia.
Organizers hope to make this a free event if possible, according to the Melungeon Heritage Association's Internet site, www.melungeon.org.

Scheduled speakers include Winkler, Elizabeth Hirschmann, Manuel Mira, Phyllis Morefield and James Nickens. More will be announced later, the Web site says. On Saturday, July 30, presentations will be made in the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza Conference Center in Frankfort.

This Holiday Inn - online at www.holidayinnfrankfort.com - has special room rates available for the July gathering. Use this Web link to get hotel information, but make a reservation by telephone to get a special discount."

For Furthering reading about the Melungeons:


Walking toward the Sunset: The Melungeons of Appalachia