The Possum Man Photo Gallery by Karen Stuebing at pbase.com

The Possum Man

Everybody around here knows the Possum man. He's been a fixture for about 20 years, selling his nuts along the roadside in the fall. He came to town from the hills and stayed, bringing the unique culture of that area with him.

Meet the Possum Man. His nickname is derived from his lifestyle. He traps a lot of his own meat: raccoons, possums, groundhogs. It's a skill that comes in handy when you have little income. He always dresses in overalls and rubber boots. No car, no phone, no cable.

Quiet and soft spoken, he keeps to himself in the house he bought on the main road into town. He doesn't say much. If you didn't know him you'd think he was a little slow. But he's very alert and canny.

We're only used to seeing folk like him in some holler or on a rutted unimproved road or when they come into town for supplies. But the Possum Man chose to join us still living as if he had never left the mountain he grew up on

Seeing him is like looking into the past when the first settlers arrived and carved out their homesteads. He is a piece of history and sadly, part of a vanishing breed as civilization creeps deeper and deeper into the mountains.

The cell phone towers go up, the chain restaurants are always crowded along the interstate but the Possum man still gets up of a morning and checks his traps.

Enjoying the Summer Day	The Product	Selling Blackberries	Making a Few Extra Bucks
The House	Down the Steps	Around the Corner	Through the Front Door
In the Kitchen	Going out Shopping	I Like Coke	Spring Trap
Baited Traps	Leg Hold Traps	Off to Check the Traps	First Attempt to Kill It
Getting Ready to Bash Its Head	Sharpening the Knife	Getting It Ready to Cook	Eating Grapes
A Time for Every Season under Heaven	Waiting For the Ambulance	Congestive Heart Failure	August - Checking the Chinquapins
Found Them	Getting to Work	Shelling Them	The Finished Product
And When I Die	Looking for Ramps

comment

1moremile		12-May-2016 11:12
Probably my favorite gallery on pbase. I've viewed these photos a few times. The man here reminds me of my grandpa in Kentucky. V.

Brenda		01-Jun-2013 19:33
How wonderful that you were able to get to know this man. Beautiful gallery and insight into his life.

Walter Otto Koenig		12-Nov-2012 16:52
Very strong work Karen from beginning to end. This gives the viewer much to think about. "V"

Carl H. Johnson		16-Aug-2012 01:13
This is such a touching gallery!!!~V~

Beth Walden		31-Oct-2011 04:23
My mother's family is from the Appalachian Mountains. I grew up with my family living like this. I didn't know that most of the United States didn't! I am loving your pictures and stories of these people. My mom passed away three years ago. Reading and looking at your pictures makes me feel a bit closer to my mom. Thanks!

Guest		13-Jul-2011 18:38
I love this gallery, it brings memories of a "possum man" that came into my life for just a short time. His name was Louie, he was 89 years old. He was a rancher but became unable to keep his cows in his later few years. We had our cows on his ranch for a time and when we came to check on them we always stopped in to visit him and his sister Marg who lived on the ranch in her own house. Sometimes I would make the drive by myself a couple times a week when my husband was working. People would say that Louie was a tough and hard man. We found him to be staight forward and fair, and we had the privilege of knowing a side of him that most people probably didn't see. His eyes would light up when he saw us. We learned a lot from him and his life, and he captured our hearts. In the time span of less than a year that we knew him, he lost a brother and his sister, a couple months after that he died with a shovel in his hand doing what he loved, working on his ranch. What a privilege it is to have a person like Possum Man come into your life. I would have liked to have a photo journal like this one that you have. Thanks for sharing.

Andreas Hamnes		05-Oct-2010 15:40
Interesting story, great photos, thanks for sharing!

Ashley Hockenberry		14-Mar-2010 22:59
Superb work, Karen - reminds me of home- a simpler life - waste not want not - enjoy each day as it comes - don't live beyond your means - be self sufficient - hunt, fish, farm... "Mountaineers are always free" Ashley WV

larry crum		02-Mar-2010 01:11
I am in kentucky,we have an organization known as the possum brothers and sisters of america.we stay active in the community,simply hanging around to make a difference.love this story

Roe..		01-Jan-2010 16:07
needed to return to one of my favorites..I'll never forget this gallery.. Happy New Year..Karen

Guest		04-Oct-2009 14:55
How is the old man doing today? Any updates to this story of a special man of a time gone by?

Fay Stout		13-Jul-2009 01:12
Karen... This is a very moving gallery in so many ways. It was indeed like going back to another era. It was also very upsetting because I cannot condone cruelty to animals. All of this speaks to aging, poverty, and need for health care in this affluent country of ours, and the desire to maintain independence for as long as possible. He obviously was well aware of his fragile condition by leaving the note for others to find. Evidently this was posted in 2005... is there an update to this story?

cits_4_pets		09-Apr-2009 23:54
This is a wonderful documentary gallery!!!! Great explanations and images, many which are quite moving. The phone number image very moving. Great job, well organized gallery. V

Lisette		13-Jun-2008 18:24
Wow, I was blown away by these pictures. Very well done!

dond		09-Oct-2007 23:18
Karen, When I was young and lived in Bluefield WV we would often stop by the side of the highway to buy chinquapins. They were always offered in a glass jar. This was the only way I knew to buy them as they were never for sale at any store I knew of. By looking at this wonderful gallery, I finally know how chinquapins grow. This gallery, with it's wonderful theme is superb. Thank you, Don

Ann Cleeves		20-May-2007 23:47
What a unique & interesting gallery...a real insight into this character's life. Well done!

TimF		09-Jul-2006 03:34
No doubt about it -- you are the Poet Laureat of Appalachian photography! Wonderful gallery. - Tim (former Mercer Countian)

Bud		31-May-2006 18:54
Karen: Somehow you have managed to capture a dying breed of man, it is such a shame that we are slowly losing the unique people and cultures of the past. He is the kind of person I would love to have my kids meet and learn from. I am sure he is a treasure house full of wisdom. Thanks for sharing

Buz Kiefer		30-May-2006 00:26
Wonderful work here Karen. Remarkable old fellow and you presented him with dignity and without becoming maudlin. Darn well done. Vote.

Florida guest		07-Apr-2006 05:04
I googled "chinquapins" and what a lovely story in pictures I found. We grew up picking wild chinquapins in Florida woods on our land. We still have the same virgin wooded land but there are no more chinquapins here. Never knew they were plentiful enough for someone to sell. I wonder how The Possum Man is today.

Chris		05-Apr-2006 04:00
Voted. The whole gallery and story is captivating. Well done. -Chris

Tarq		25-Dec-2005 06:50
Does the Possum Man have a real name? We have a Possum Man in my town, too, but he calls himself 'The Possum-Man' and lives in a tree with a possum. I think he's a bit loony, but he's a nice guy. I don't think he has a real name.

Lara S		19-Sep-2005 17:09
what an amazing gallery. what an amazing story.

Guest		17-Sep-2005 22:06
I'm so glad he's doing ok! Tell him hello from London!

Coleen Perilloux Landry		17-Sep-2005 12:38
This is a lovely gallery of The Possum Man and his spirit.

Roe..		14-Sep-2005 01:33
I've missed Possum Man..it's good to see him again..he looks well..

Pic Chick		11-Sep-2005 04:58
What an amazing journal you have dedicated to this man's life. I was spellbound - Bravo for doing such a fabulous, tasteful job. Teaches us not to be so judgemental - everyone has a mission in life...

Larry Ahern		10-Sep-2005 03:06
I too have been deeply moved by this gallery ... Thanks Karen.

Ramona Wiles		08-Sep-2005 23:58
It was so good to see your photo stories of this fella. As soon as I saw this page, I had a sense this was in Appalachia and probably WV. My family goes back more than four generations in Tucker County, WV and I have been exposed to this lifestyle all my life. To see someone live like this in a more mainstream society is a testament to this culture's strengh. (You can take the person out of the hills but you can't take the hills out of the person). This population is very much in tune with the land and what it can provide for them. And let me tell you, I would have spent just as much time and effort looking for the ramps as he did... they are a traditional spring tonic in my family. It is also rare for a photographer spend as much time as you have to get to know your subject. You have presented a very good picture story of this man's life that treats him with respect. Thank you for your sensitivity. Ramona Wiles

Toni Moore		07-Sep-2005 21:44
What a marvelous gallery this is Karen...Thankyou for sharing this wonderful man with us...Toni

joanteno		04-Sep-2005 10:27
A very moving and wonderful gallery.

Teresa		24-Aug-2005 15:30
This is some of your best work. I am from NE Alabama and the man and his life style isn't so uncommon around here. Very heart touching. Keep up the great work.

Guest		15-Aug-2005 10:36
I usually flip fast through galleries. I couldn't here. This man reminds me of my grandpa in Tennessee. Thanks. You are awesome. You deserve some kind of award.

Guest		13-Jul-2005 21:53
Hello Karen what this gallery may not have in "Beautiful" photographs is more than compensated by the soul and humanity it conveys to the viewer . It transport you to the reality of the subject with no preconvictions , judgements or expectations . Congratulations on your very excellent work ! Jose

Guest		06-Jul-2005 00:09
Isn't he a character?! Very nice captures of him and his life, Karen.

Jude Marion		03-Jul-2005 15:00
This is a wonderful gallery, Karen. You've captured a fossilized lifestyle that is so foreign to many of us ... and such a wonder to see. Thanks for capturing and sharing this with us. Your images and words are so enlightening.

Cliff		25-Jun-2005 22:53
Totally enjoyed this gallery Karen. Thanks.

Ray :)		12-May-2005 22:53
Karen, thanks for giving someone from the 'old country' an insight into a way of life that is so detached from the mainstream images. It must have been fascinating meeting him. Voting.

Guest		05-Mar-2005 15:23
I'm thinking this morning as I view this gallery, what an excellent photo-journalist you are.

Guest		12-Feb-2005 12:13
a simple life but not a simple man..the respect you have for this man shows in your images..Karen thanks for sharing..

Herb		31-Jan-2005 16:41
Very interesting story, well done.

Bryan Murahashi		30-Jan-2005 17:10
Very nice photo essay. Always enjoy you showing in pictures life in small town America.

Costi Jacky		30-Jan-2005 15:36
Very interesting story and very good pictures with it.

katwilkens		30-Jan-2005 13:59
Interesting photo essay.

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