He was 85. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born on July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., the oldest of eight children. The assembly proves to be an event that saved the entire town at the expense of the actresses own life. HAMNER: Falcon Crest may seem a startling change of pace from The Waltons, but in many ways the Giobertti family of Falcon Crest were The Waltons of today. Jane Martin was born between 1954 and 2016, and when did Earl Hamner's wife pass away? Writer: The Waltons. The memory of waiting for his father to complete this walk on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1933 would later inspire Hamner Jr. to write The Homecoming: A Christmas Special; the TV-movie which resulted in CBS commissioning the TV-series The Waltons. In 1943, in the middle of his sophomore year, Earl Hamner was drafted into the U.S. Army. I have selected them from the CBS Playhouse, a pilot script, an adaptation, one childrens show, and Jess-Belle from The Twilight Zone. I am from a people who lived and died with the land and along with an appreciation of country life I somehow gained a prejudice against city life. 1. Can you still visit Waltons Mountain? Do you feel it important to convey that sense of right and wrong in the construction of your stories? Can spouse of Blue Card holder work in Germany? Earl Hamner Jr. is born in Nelson County. TA: Of the eight scripts written by you for The Twilight Zone, which ones were your favorites? A respect for nature and a love of animals seems to be a running theme in all of your work. The Hamner Theater The Waltons, Museum of Broadcast Communications Waltons Mountain Museum, Encyclopedia Virginia946 Grady Ave. Ste. Did Earl Hamner Write A Book About The Waltons? - FAQS Clear TA: And a star is born! And centered on the power and intrigues of the families involved in the wine producing . The character was played by David W. Harper. Hamner also created the series Falcon Crest, which ran from 1981 to 1990. Although the family was quite poor, Hamner describes it as having been a happy, close-knit group. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? Armed with those two film credits I no longer had to fight producers to convince them that I was a film writer. One of the iconic episodes of The Waltons sees the family's house burn down. After graduating from Schuyler High School, he received a scholarship from University of Richmond. When Hamner was a sophomore, he was drafted into the army because of World War II. 1993) Georgiana Bischoff ( m. 1994). That element was something he would draw on repeatedly over the next 50 years, first in books like The Homecoming and Fifty Roads To Town and later in television's The Walton's. Who did Earl Hamner Jr marry? - TipsFolder.com Boatwright University was inspired by Richmond College The fictional alma mater of John-Boy Walton was based on Richmond College, which became the University of Richmond. He was born on July 10, 1923 and his birthplace is Virginia. He left in 1943 to join the army. His publisher's secretary gives him enough money to return home and advises him to start a new book. Was the Walton House a real house or a set? Paperback. Jun-1962. Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. Saturday, February 11, 2023 When credibility matters. 41. James Hamner, 67, the youngest son in a family immortalized by "The Waltons" on television and the model for the character Jim-Bob Walton, died April 1 at his home in Charlottesville. How many children did Earl Hamner Jr have? LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, The Waltons, has died. Hawkes was the sister of Earl Hamner Jr., the creator of "The Waltons" who based the show's characters on his family and experiences growing up in rural Virginia during the Depression. The two had met during a college script-writing competition. Earl Hamner Jr. was the model for John Boy. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? The couple has raised two children. As well, the Godseys Mercantile gift shop carries many excellent souvenirs, books and videos related to The Waltons TV Show. Did the real Jim Bob Walton ever get married? 'Waltons' creator Earl Hamner shares Hollywood insights While the television series took place on a fictional "Walton's Mountain," in Virginia, and the book on "Spencer's Mountain" in Wyoming, both are actually based on Hamner's hometown of Schuyler, VA. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that the Walton's Mountain Museum is located right here in Schuyler, VA. We've also had to make some modern conveniences the Waltons only had one bathroom, Johnson said, noting each room in the bed-and-breakfast will have a bathroom. Would I like to write them up like little plays? I thanked Buck and told him I would write them up like little films, which I did. A number of your Twilight Zone characters possess traits far different than the surface image they initially project. Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean camera lens? His wife, Brenda, lives in the Richmond, Virginia area. Earl Hamner Jr., creator of 'Waltons' TV show, dies at 92 The Baldwin sisters were loosely based on a mother-daughter duo that was well-known in Hamner's family because they had a love of alcohol. Hamner changed the relationship, gave them sweet personalities and made them a bit loftier and more elegant than their down-home, real-life counterparts. Much loved creator of The Waltons, Earl Hamner Jr., has died aged 92. Did this occur during any of your other television work? He took it very seriously and did a really terrific ceremony, Walmsley said. During Hamner Jr.s childhood, the family (except for his father) attended Schuyler Baptist Church. I did eight of those original episodes." (Now published under the title "Twilight Zone Scripts of Earl Hamner.") It also has to do with life and death options and those are always interesting to play with, and it also offers the ultimate twist ending to a story when the character learns that he is dead! That said, for Seasons 8 and 9, Richard was replaced by actor Robert Wightman. It is a childrens picture book story with illustrations by Kevin Burke. Eventually, September 30, 1955 premiered in 1977, but between his motorcycle accident and that premiere date, Thomas bore the pain and continued appearing on The Waltons. James Hamner, 67, the youngest son in a family immortalized by "The Waltons" on television and the model for the character Jim-Bob Walton, died April 1 at his home in Charlottesville. Welcome to the boyhood home of Earl Hamner, Jr., creator of the popular 1970's television series The Waltons and the house that served as a model for the show. I remember they had to take our nightshirts and get fire retardant.. Good night, John-Boy. Good night, Earl Hamner Jr. He wrote and contributed a total of eight episodes to the show in the ensuing months while also working on his second novel titled Spencer's Mountain (1961). Official website for EARL HAMNER Question about Earl's family. | The Waltons Forum - ProBoards Where did Earl Hamners mother and father come from? When we were producing The Homecoming, a special that was the forerunner of the series, we auditioned just about every professional narrator in town. Neighbors who became the fictional Baldwin sisters concocted moonshine that became "the recipe.". Other examples of teleplays by Hamner are Highway (1954), Heidi (1968), Appalachian Autumn(1969), Aesops Fables(1971), Where the Lilies Bloom(1974), and The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story(1983). It aired for two seasons in 1974-1975. We invite you to learn more about Indians in Virginia in our Encyclopedia Virginia. TA: While on the subject of The Hunt, it should be stated that writer George Clayton Johnson considers that episode to be one of the best of the entire series. The Walton Hamner House This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Until the 1900s, the Hamners were tobacco farmers near James River, Virginia, when they moved to Schuyler, located on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To navigate, press the arrow keys. I was grateful to Rod and to Producer Buck Houghton for accepting such an unlikely story for The Twilight Zone. He then wrote another major television series, Falcon Crest (19811990). The answer is yes. Yet, I have lived most of my life in cities and have visited and loved many of the great cities of the world. What Did Doris Hamner Do On The Waltons? - FAQS Clear HAMNER: I became the narrator in an odd way. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. Mini Bio (1) He was also the Creator and Executive Producer for the show "FALCON CREST'' 1981 thru 1988. "Looking back," he once said, "I realize that if I made any unique contribution to the series, it was to introduce the American folklore element into it.". TA: The plot of The Hunt is woven around the basic premise of a main character going about his business while completely oblivious to the fact that he is dead. Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, 'The . For generations, the Spencers lived on the mountain that still bears their name in the Blue Hills o. Hamner is survived by Jane, by their two children, Scott and Caroline, by a brother, Paul, and by two sisters, Audrey and Nancy. The Twilight Zone episodes Hamner did finish included several of the best the classic TV series aired. It is with great sorrow that we share the news of Earl Hamner's passing at age 92. Why did Michael Learned leave The Waltons the second time? Along with writing, he also provided voice-over narration at the beginning and ending of each episode. Earl Hamner Jr. - Biography - IMDb Ronnie Claire Edwards (February 9, 1933 June 14, 2016) was an American actress, best known for playing Corabeth Walton Godsey on the TV series The Waltons. (Video) Walton's Christmas. 1943 - Earl Hamner Jr. leaves the University of Richmond to join the Army. And the first one I wrote, The Hunt, has some elements that I am still proud of, most notably the summation, A man will walk into Hell with both eyes open, but even the Devil cant fool a dog. It struck a certain folkish note in the manner of early American humorists I have always admired. [Boris Yaro | Los Angeles Times via TNS], The Florida Orchestras CEO is leaving in May, St. Pete womans dream home turns into a nightmare after she finds code violation, Why Florida Gators Anthony Richardson is the most intriguing player in the NFL draft, Daytona Beach woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Cuban ambassadors dinner in Tampa sparks protest, scorn, 48 Cuban migrants arrive at Florida Keys in 2 boats, Rise of IndyCar, motorsports on display at Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Democrats hit Casper, he hits Carlson, in Tampa City Council race. He had emphysema and heart ailments. Was The Twilight Zone a proving ground for characters that you later developed for The Waltons? One of the iconic episodes of The Waltons sees the family's house burn down. While the interiors were filmed on Stage 26 of the former Burbank studios, the house exterior was filmed on the jungle set. Another, Ring-a-Ding Girl, tells the story of a young Hollywood movie star who returns to her hometown hours before her death and tricks family and friends into staying away from the site where her plane will crash. Earl Hamner Jr had five uncles on his paternal side: Lawrence Clifton (1892-1959) Lewis Tyler (1895-1972) William Benjamin (1897-1965) Charles Edward (1902-1962) Clay Randolph (1906-1957) None died in either WW1 or WW2. Goodnight, John Boy: A Celebration of an American Family and the Values That Have Sustained Us Through Good Times and Bad. The Oakland Raiders won the game and Hamner won a Writers Guild award for his script. 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903 (434) 924-3296. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. . However Cumberland House, which published The Avocado Drive Zoo, is publishing five of my scripts which I consider classics. My first impression of Rod was of a young man in a hurry. Instead, Thomas broke his ankle in two places and the movie filming was delayed by more than a year. Drive through the meandering country roads south of Charlottesville, east of the Blue Ridge Parkway and youll come to the sleepy town of Schuyler, Virginia. 4 Why did they replace John Boy on The Waltons? A Facebook post by Hamner's son, Scott, stated his father died surrounded by family at Cedars Sinai Hospital while John Denver's Rocky Mountain High was playing. From the left: Brothers Bill (Ben), Paul (Ben), cousin Janet, sisters Nancy (Elizabeth), Marian (Mary Ellen), brother James (Jim Bob), sister Audrey (Erin). Tropicana Field took over a Black St. Pete community. 11. It is risky to make such a promise and I suspect I pulled it off because I was very much at home in the milieu, knew the very special way the people talked and how they might behave in the situations they faced. He served in France after the invasion of Normandy. Earl Hamner Jr. started working in the army in 1943 in his sophomore year at the University of Richmond during World War II. Did the Hamner family really own a mountain? Hamner broke into television writing on The Twilight Zone and CBS Playhouse. HAMNER: Yes. Hamners father worked in a soapstone mill until it closed in the 1930s, after which he was hired at the DuPont chemical plant in Waynesboro. In front of the house is the original shed that Earl would use at times to write in to get some peace from other members of his family. Did the real Jim Bob Walton ever get married? Hamner Sr., who had worked in Schuylers soapstone mining industry ever since the birth of Hamner Jr., lost his job when the Great Depression resulted in a complete stop of these mining operations. He died in Los Angeles in 2016. How much did the actors on The Waltons get paid? Who are the members of the Hamner family? His name, however, is rarely associated with The Twilight Zone. He was also the Creator and Executive Producer for the show "FALCON CREST'' 1981 thru 1988. Instead of moving the family from Schuyler, Hamner Sr. lived in a boarding house in Waynesboro during the week and travelled back to his family for the weekends. Did any of The Waltons date each other? 2023 Seminaristamanuelaranda. HAMNER: Since I was rarely on camera I did not achieve the same degree of fame for my narration on The Waltons as Rod did on The Twilight Zone. She was proud of her land, valued the continuity of it and I suspect would have gone to any lengths to protect it. Earl Hamner Jr., who created the popular television series The Waltons, has died at . https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/earl-hamner-jr--53413.php. Show creator: Earl Hamner Jr., shown in September 2012 in Los Angeles, died on Thursday aged 92. From the left: Brothers Bill (Ben), Paul (Ben), cousin Janet, sisters Nancy (Elizabeth), Marian (Mary Ellen), brother James (Jim Bob), sister Audrey (Erin) . TA: Thats certainly good news and something to look forward to. Rural areas, such as the Waltons' house, various dirt roads, Ike Godsey's store and Drucilla's Pond were shot on the Jungle set. Hamner, whose own family included two children, is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Scott; and daughter, Caroline. HAMNER: Yes, that first assignment on Rods show came at an important period in my life. HAMNER: Quite honestly I have never consciously set out to convey a message in a single piece of writing. Soon, he quit his job and moved to New York where he was hired by the NBC network as a radio writer. Jess-Belle is a witch, but she is also possessed by love. PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS OR WE MIGHT BE CLOSED. In 1940, he graduated from Schuyler High School and received a scholarship at the University of Richmond. Youll hear of Rod Serling, certainly, and the names Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont are sure to pop up simultaneously. Earl Hamner once said,"There were eight of us. In his four-hour Archive interview, Earl Hamner, Jr. (1923-2016) talks briefly about his earliest writing credits, for shows such as Today, Wide, Wide World and The United States Steel Hour. Castro said he learned about Hamner's death from the writer's daughter, Caroline. Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow fills that gap. His wife, Brenda, lives in the Richmond, Virginia area. Our hours are 10:00 am - 3:30 pm daily. I had never written film! He was 69. I recently spoke with Mr. Hamner about writing, Rod Serling and life in The Twilight Zone. I think this particular theme is used over and over because it gives writers an opportunity to play the ultimate what if game. Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you. Bills three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. In The Waltons, at least I was dealing with people of strong religious and moral convictions and it was only natural that they would solve their problems according to those beliefs. When the character was reintroduced, hes missing in action. Earl Hamner's narration of Walton's Mountain and Walton's Christmas. He was the oldest of eight children not seven as in "The . The success of this movie caused CBS to commission a TV series revolving around the same characters, and this resulted in the immensely popular tv-series The Waltons, which ran on CBS for nine seasons and also spawned several TV-movie sequels. A 5.5 mile walking and biking trail RAILS-TO-TRAILS: ESMONT-ALBERENE QUARRY LINE TRAIL from the town of Esmont to the Alberene Soapstone Quarry is available to be explored just east of Schuyler. Who did John Boy Walton marry in real life? In Jess-Belle I had written in a cougar. They tied the knot in real life in nuptials officiated by Walton dad Ralph Waite, a minister in real life. Prices subject to change. Hamner published nearly a dozen books and wrote hundreds of TV scripts. HAMNER: I believe the genesis of this story came from reading about a child who had been killed by a hit-and-run driver. TA: Many Twilight Zone episodes can be described as morality plays entertainment with a message in the tradition of classic story telling. In fact, it was likely due to their relationship that, months later, The Waltons cast Allen to play John-Boy's romantic interest in "The Love Story," an episode that aired late in the first season. Earl Hamner, Jr. Obituary (March 24, 2016) - INSP TV | TV Shows and Movies "He was a great Southern gentleman, a great friend, a great father," Castro said. TA: Speaking of narrations, the commentary for The Waltons was voiced off-screen. It happens more often than not in England where the series is still very popular even today. He went on to create another successful and long-lived television series in Falcon Crest, which ran on CBS for eight seasons. Good night, John-Boy. There are livestock specialists around LA who train and rent large animals to TV shows. HAMNER: I think there is an easy explanation. He took it very seriously and did a really terrific ceremony, Walmsley said. He currently lives in California with his wife, Jane. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 - March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series The Waltons and Falcon Crest. The inn features five bedrooms and five bathrooms. In 1971, The Homecoming was broadcast by CBS as a Christmas special. Earl Henry Hamner, Sr. (1899 - 1969) - Genealogy The matriarch of the family, played by Jane Wyman, was proud of her family and while she often was underhanded in doing so she did everything she could to nurture the rituals, history and customs of her family. The eldest of eight red-haired children in a poor, Baptist family, Earl Henry Hamner Jr. was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Va., a mining and milling village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge . He was 92. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter. Did the Baldwin sisters know the recipe was alcohol? The last one aired in 1997. Did the Baldwin sisters know the recipe was alcohol? 22. Come, visit the real home of its creator, author Earl Hamner Jr., the real John-Boy Walton. Discuss Their Books, The Waltons, Museum of Broadcast Communications. His name, however, is rarely associated with The Twilight Zone. Among them were The Hunt, in which a recently deceased backwoodsman is saved by his beloved hunting dog from accidentally wandering into Hell. Did the real Jim Bob Walton ever get married? My father, Earl Hamner, passed away today at 12:20 PM Pacific time. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. Joe Conley, who played general store proprietor Ike Godsey on the beloved CBS family drama The Waltons, has died, his co-star Mary Beth McDonough reported Monday on her Facebook page. He was 92. Examples include Jess-Belle, a timeless tale of love and witchcraft, You Drive, a possessed automobile story that easily predates Steven Kings Christine, and the pre-X-Files alien abduction classic Stopover in a Quiet Town.. The prime time television soap opera Falcon Crest, which aired on CBS in 1981-1990. Can spouse of Blue Card holder work in Germany? Earl Hamner Jr. died on March 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 92. . A few doors down, the model for Ike Godsey ran a real-life country store. Besides his most famous television work, Hamner was the author of the novel You Cant Get There From Here (1965), about a boys daylong search for his father in Manhattan, as well as the screenplay for a teen vacation film starring Troy Donahue and Stefanie Powers, Palm Springs Weekend (1963). Rod and I were both students at the same time and it was not until I moved to Hollywood in 1962 that we were to see each other again. 15. Lassie: A Christmas Story(1997). HAMNER: Its true, some of my characters seem to have contradictory character traits. Where was the Waltons outdoor scenes filmed? In the early 1960s, he contributed eight episodes to The Twilight Zone. Certainly his battles on the network and sponsor fronts were taking a toll on him and his participation in the series waned. Hamner died at 92 on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The bus did not go all the way to the Hamner house, so the father would always walk six miles from the bus stop. Costars Allen and Thomas developed their deep romance during filming. As a novelist, he was best known for Spencer's Mountain, which was inspired by his own childhood and formed the basis for both the film of the same . Born in Schuyler, Virginia, as the oldest son of a soapstone mill worker, he had a tough childhood. Earl Hamner Jr dies surrounded by family aged 92 after battle with The Waltons Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm. In the Depression-era, wood was the exterior of the Hamner house and the home depicted on The Waltons., -- the real-life John-Boy -- grew up in an unassuming, tin-roofed house crowded with siblings. Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean camera lens? Discover Earls enduring legacy through replicas from The Waltons Hollywood set and antiques from the Hamner and Giannini homes. It wasn't until a high school field trip to the World's Fair in New York City in 1939, Hamner once said, that he actually learned how to use a phone. Were any major changes or revisions made to your scripts? The Walton family also had electricity and indoor plumbing, including a modern bathroom a luxury my mother didn't have until she was much older. Cougars are indigenous to the area I was writing about and I thought it would have been easy to find such a trained animal. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that Hamner wrote his share of gems for the series. Earl Hamner Jr., creator of 'The Waltons,' dies at 92 Do you have any theories on this? Running for nine seasons, the show became an icon of 1970s television and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. Hamner was born on July 10, 1923, in Nelson County. What does a man first notice about a woman? In 1970, Earl wrote a television special based on his novel, The Homecoming. Ever active during this period, Earl wrote and produced the television series Apples Way, Thorpe, Boone, The Young Pioneers, The Long Hot Summer and Morning Star-Evening Star. John Walton Jr. James Robert "Jim-Bob" Walton (born June 13, 1924) is the youngest Walton boy, and the 6th child of Olivia Walton and John Walton. The Hamner home, headed by Earl Hamner, Sr. and Doris Giannini Hamner, sheltered eight thoroughbred siblings who were instilled with determination, tempered with gentility and a love of family. "The battle front was a few miles away and the sounds of gunfire were incessant. The success of that special lead to the production of The Waltons, which ran for eight seasons on CBS and for another year on NBC. Does plastic window insulation really work? After the Nazi invasion of Normandy, Hamner served in France. Do you feel that the final season of The Twilight Zone lacked a bit of Serlings creative stamp. Earl Hamner Jr. - Wikipedia Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Humanities. Earl Hamner Jr. 4.11 avg rating 214 ratings published 2002. All Rights Reserved. In Ring-A-Ding Girl, a seemingly selfish and self absorbed film star plans a hometown gathering that appears to be little more than an ego boost. They included A Walton Wedding, A Walton Easter and A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. Is Earl Hamner Jr . Earl Hamner Jr., the homespun novelist from the backwoods of Virginia who drew upon his upbringing to create the beloved CBS family drama The Waltons, died Thursday. He was initially trained to defuse landmines, but was then transferred to the Quartermaster Corps since he knew how to type. All Rights Reserved. - Tours to the Salar de Uyuni Bolivia. Earl Hamner Jr., the Virginia-born writer who created not only TV's folksy, Depression-era family drama "The Waltons" but the California wine country prime-time soap opera "Falcon Crest . I also became that dreaded thing a soft writer! Most of those writers frequently mentioned as having contributed to The Twilight Zone remained in the field of fantasy fiction and kept their identity as Twilight Zone writers while I shed that category for another kind of writing. 13. There were no rules so the medium had to be invented as we went along. LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, The Waltons, has died. Earl Hamner Jr. was one of the wealthiest Hollywood producers, with an approximate net worth of $1 million. Bill's three children are Harold, Hope and Gail. Where was the Waltons outdoor scenes filmed? Hamner is the creator of the well-known U.S. prime time television soap opera Falcon Crest, which aired for nine seasons on CBS in 1981-1990. She deserved more respect. In 1972 it was adapted for television as The Waltons, each episode of which famously ended with family members wishing one another goodnight. James Hamner, the youngest brother died on April 1, 2004. Earl Hamner Jr., Creator of 'The Waltons,' Dies at 92 He was 92. Amazon.com: Earl Hamner Jr: Books In 1970, he wrote or co-wrote four episodes for the sitcom Nanny and the Professor. Most of the exterior scenes were shot in Burbank on the backlot known as the Warner Bros. Ranch. LOS ANGELES Earl Hamner Jr., the versatile and prolific writer who drew upon his Depression-era upbringing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to create one of television's most beloved family shows, The Waltons, has died. 40. Who ran the general store on The Waltons? Soon after, Hamner and his family moved to Los Angeles. Come to think of it that would make a good episode! The show was set in the Napa Valley of California. As John, Grandpa and John-Boy make repairs, the family must send the younger children to friends and neighbors. TA: In The Bewitchin Pool, country living is depicted as tranquil and idyllic whereas city life is hectic, unrewarding and destructive to the family unit. TA: It was made in the mid-eighties. Hamners second novel, Spencers Mountain, eventually led to The Waltons. 9. Schuyler was a company town based on soapstone mining for the New Alberene Stone company, and when the Great Depression came the economy of Schuyler was hit very hard.