AUGUST 2026
PINEMTN.ORG
A Name Borrowed From Our Own Archive We didn't have to look far for a name for this e-news. The Pine Cone was the school's original student newsletter, first printed in 1929, written, edited, and set on the school's own printing press by Pine Mountain students themselves. Over the decades that followed, The Pine Cone carried campus news, alumni updates, and community happenings out to friends of the school, much as this e-news does today. In 1941, students added a literary supplement called Conifer for their best fiction, prose, and poetry, and issues of The Pine Cone continued, on and off, well beyond the boarding school years. Reviving the name for this newsletter is our way of keeping that student-run tradition of storytelling alive, and of reminding ourselves that sharing news from the mountain has always been part of who we are. You can browse the original issues in the Pine Cone Index, part of the Pine Mountain Settlement School's digital archive.
Welcome to our First Issue It's a real pleasure to bring The Pine Cone to your inbox. Since 1913, this nearly 800-acre campus in the heart of Central Appalachia has been a hub for environmental education, cultural preservation, sustainable agriculture, and art, and it's been carrying news out to friends of the school in one form or another for almost as long. Reviving that tradition felt like the right way to keep you close to what's happening here, month to month, season to season. In this first issue, you'll find two heartfelt stories from our community, a look at the newly completed restoration of Old Log, and a full slate of fall gatherings we'd love to see you at. None of it happens without the people who keep showing up for this place, whether that's walking our trails, attending a workshop, or simply opening an email like this one. Thank you for being part of the Pine Mountain community. We're glad to have you along. With Gratitude,
Madison Courtney Director of Outreach
Upcoming Events
SEPT 3 4:30-7:30
PASS IT ON- NATURAL DYES WORKSHOP
SEPT 8-10 ALL DAY
HOME SCHOOL RETREAT
SEPT 14-18 ALL DAY
HERITAGE IN HAND A TRADITIONAL ARTS WEEK
SEPT 26 2:00-9:30
THE GLOAMING
WWW.PINEMTN.ORG/GROUP-EVENTS
Taylor’s PMSS Story For Taylor Shackelford Messer, choosing a wedding venue meant choosing a place that reflected her Appalachian roots. She and her husband Dylan, both raised in these mountains, were drawn to Pine Mountain's stone-and-timber chapel, tucked into the hillside and built to feel like it rises naturally from the land. Their families made the winding drive to celebrate there, and Taylor writes that the mountains will always call them back home.
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August 2026
Being raised in Appalachia, you don’t realize how different the traditions and culture are until you leave and experience the rest of the world for yourself. It is only then, you become very aware of how others view it, because those opinions are often placed upon you. But for me that only showed that Appalachia is something that is ingrained into who you are and that only deepened my love and appreciation for home.
“The older I have gotten, the more I realized that Appalachia isn’t something to leave behind, It’s something you always carry with you.”
I have grown to cherish the mountains, traditions, values, and people who shaped me into who I am today. The older I have gotten, the more I realized that Appalachia isn’t something to leave behind, It’s something you always carry with you. It’s in the way we love our families, care for our neighbors, hold tight to our faith, and take pride in where we come from. It gave me my lasting sense of identity and belonging. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that one of the most important things in life is home. Both my husband, Dylan and I are from this place, we were raised in these mountains. During the wedding planning process we knew it was important to us that we had somewhere that reflected who we are and where we come from. For us there was no better place than Pine Mountain Settlement School. Nestled in the heart of the mountains we love, Pine Mountain embodies everything Appalachia means to us. We wanted our wedding to be surrounded by the history, culture, beauty, and spirit of this place. The generations of stories, sense of community, resilience, and traditions felt like the perfect foundation on which to begin our marriage. 07
The chapel was one of the things that drew us to Pine Mountain from the very beginning. Tucked away in the mountains and built from native stone and timber, it feels as though it rises naturally from the landscape around it. We knew asking our family and friends to travel the winding mountain roads would take a little extra effort, but we also knew that once they arrived, they would understand why. There is something special about stepping through those doors and into a place filled with such beauty, history, craftsmanship, and faith. As the sunlight streamed through the tall windows and settled on the stone walls, the chapel felt both grand and humble at the same time a true reflection of the mountains themselves. Watching our loved ones gather there reminded us that some places are worth the journey, and we hope they left with a deeper appreciation for the beauty and spirit of Appalachia. To many, it’s a historic school. To us, it’s a place that honors where we’ve come from and reflects the values we hope to carry into our future together. When you are raised from these beautiful roots, you know that these mountains will always call you back home. Pine Mountain will always hold a special place in our hearts. Long after the wedding day has passed, we hope to return with our children, and one day even our grandchildren, to walk these grounds, share its stories, and show them a place that will always be a special part of us. A place that has helped write our story. A place that is forever entwined into our hearts.
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“To us, it’s a place that honors where we’ve come from and reflects the values we hope to carry into our future together.”
August 2026
Old Log Renovations
Old Log has stood near the entrance to our campus since 1914, and this year it received some wellearned care.
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Old Log is one of the very first buildings raised at Pine Mountain. Its timbers weren't even new when the school built it: the logs had already been hand-hewn nearly a century earlier for the cabin of the property's original settler, and rather than let that history go to waste, the school's founders reused them, hewing just a few new logs to complete the little house. With its wide porch, stone chimney, and low-ceilinged rooms, it has carried the feel of pioneer-era Appalachia through more than a hundred years of Pine Mountain's story.
ISSUE No.03
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August 2026
We're glad to share that the restoration is now complete. Our crew went down to the bones of the structure and built back up, all while keeping the cabin's original character intact. The work included: New pine nickel gap sheathing, inside and out, with new wall insulation A steel I-beam support system beneath the structure Crawlspace encapsulation with dehumidifiers, plus an in-ground strip drain behind the building to direct water away from the foundation New subfloors, with a waterproof floating floor in the bathroom and vanity room Original hardwood flooring uncovered beneath old linoleum in the kitchen Log walls exposed again by removing later paneling A full bathroom tear-out and remodel, including a tiled walk-in shower and a double-bowl vanity Complete replacement of all fresh water and waste water lines Extensive electrical renovations, with new LED lighting run through faux beams that hide the wiring New kitchen counters Stop by and see it for yourself next time you're on campus. If you'd like to support projects like this one, gifts can be made at pinemtn.org/donate.
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Lucy’s PMSS Story Another voice from our growing collection of community stories — a look at how Pine Mountain continues to shape the lives of the people who pass through it, from weddings to workshops to childhood memories on the grounds.
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August 2026
Since I was a little girl, I always looked forward to trips to Pine Mountain Settlement School. Whether it was attending a community church service, performing with Higher Ground, or bringing out-of-town family to experience one of the most beautiful places in Eastern Kentucky, I always left grateful that I had gone.
“But the whispers of the mountains were calling me back home.”
Years later, I had moved away from home and met the love of my life. As I found myself deep in wedding planning, thoughts of the mountains kept finding their way back to me. I knew then that I wanted to get married in the place that had brought me so much joy throughout my childhood. My fiancé had never been there. Most of my friends had never been there. Many of our guests had never experienced Eastern Kentucky at all. But the whispers of the mountains were calling me back home. We had a lot of people we wanted to celebrate with. At many places, it felt like there was room for the event, but not room for the community we wanted to gather. What we loved about Pine Mountain Settlement School was that we were not simply renting a venue. We were welcoming our loved ones into our own piece of the mountains for an entire weekend. We reserved the chapel, cabins, and dorms so our family and friends could stay together throughout the celebration. We gathered around bonfires the nights before and after the wedding, sharing stories and laughter under the stars. Bluegrass music echoed through the chapel as my husband and I stood before the Lord and committed our lives to one another, surrounded by the people we love most. 07
Community has always been at the center of our lives, and Pine Mountain Settlement School made it possible for us to honor that in a meaningful way. It was a perfect October day, and the mountains put on a show for our guests as they experienced Eastern Kentucky for the first time. There was no cell service, and the winding roads required a little patience, but in many ways, that was part of the gift. Everyone unplugged, slowed down, and focused on what truly mattered: faith, family, friendship, and the joy of being together. Our wedding weekend was everything we hoped it would be, and Pine Mountain Settlement School will forever hold an even more special place in our hearts because of it!
“Everyone unplugged, slowed down, and focused on what truly mattered: faith, family, friendship, and the joy of being together.” 08
August 2026
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