Captain Arthur C. “Bill” Johnson (1927-2016) piloted international ships through the Chesapeake waters. He easily named the lighthouses he passed regularly along the Potomac River. Johnson spoke with great respect for the pilots of the passenger steamers with whom he exchanged light and whistle signals passing in narrow stretches of water. He outlined the terminology of steamships and spoke with high regard for the statuesque passenger boats around which local economies were based.

Charles Brock, born in Lobelia, Pocahontas County, worked as a wildlife manager with the Department of Natural Resources, focusing on game management and habitat improvement. Arlene Brock, originally from Huttonsville, is part of a large family of nine girls and six boys. The couple raised a family of seven sons and seven daughters, and their lives have been marked by extensive travel and experiences in various locations, including New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. 

Charles J. "Chuck" Harney (1922-2004). At the time of the interview he had been retired to Lancaster County fifteen years. He said he had videotaped over 150 interviews with local people on boats, in homes and shops, in fields and marshes throughout the region.

Charles R. Winstead, Age 88 (1915-2008). Captain Winstead spent most of his working life aboard a menhaden (type of fish) fishing boat. A powerful and articulate seaman, Winstead elucidates the inner workings of a steam-powered fishing vessel, including singing an example of the chanteys he led as a crew member to draw in the nets. Winstead, the first African-American in the region to acquire a pilot and captain’s license, rode passenger steamboats on several occasions during his younger days.

Chuck Crabtree was born in 1952, in Buchanan County, where he was also raised. His family, originally from West Virginia, moved to Grundy in the late 1920s, following the coal mining industry. His grandfather was one of the first contractors for Harman Mining Corporation in Harman, Virginia, where he mined coal using ponies to pull the coal out of the mountains. Crabtree's family lived in a small camp, in houses owned by the Harman Mining Corporation, known as company houses.

Clarence Benjamin "Buck" Rowe (1921-2005). Interviewed by Carrie & Michael Kline with Dianne Jordan for the Steamboat Era Museum; 11/3/03. At the time of the interview Mr. Rowe was keeping a store at Bena in the Guinea community of lower Gloucester County. The store was established by his father in 1920, at the height of the steamboat era. His vivid memories brought to life details of nearby wharves where he went twice weekly as a young boy with a wagon and team to pick up deliveries for the store. 

On December 17, 1985, Michael Kline interviewed Cleta and Norman Long for the Tucker County, West Virginia Flood Audio Recordings project. Cleta and Norman Long are long-time residents of Tucker County. In this interview, the Longs recount the night of the flood, detailing the rapid rise of the waters and the ensuing chaos. They describe the frantic efforts to save their belongings and ensure the safety of their family. Norman recalls the sound of the rushing water and the surreal sight of their property being submerged.

subject: Flood control--Virginia; Flood damage prevention—Virginia; Buchanan County (Va.)--History; Grundy (Va.)--Social life and customs; Levisa Fork Basin (Ky. and Va.); Big Sandy River Valley (Ky. and Va.); United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

On February 26, 1986, Michael Kline interviewed Steven Craig Wilfong for the Tucker County, West Virginia Flood Audio Recordings project. Steven Craig Wilfong, born and raised in Tucker County, is a lifelong resident who worked in various industries before becoming an automobile parts store owner in 1982. In the interview, Wilfong discusses his family background, including being the youngest of seven children, and his employment history, which includes work in the Parsons Tannery, the automotive industry, and insurance sales.

On February 19, 1986, Michael Kline interviewed Danny Hebb for the Tucker County, West Virginia Flood Audio Recordings project. Danny Hebb, an employee at the West Virginia Power Plant in Mount Storm, shared his experiences during the devastating flood that impacted Tucker County. Hebb comes from a family with deep roots in the area, with his great-grandfather originally working in the coal mines before settling in the region. Hebb had been employed at the power plant for over two years at the time of the interview and had previously worked in construction.