Spring Peepers Celebration

with the emergence of the Big Run peepers.

For many years, until his death in November 2012, John London had recorded the early peeps of the tiny frogs in the center of his beloved hometown. His ceremonial recording of the moment to announce spring was not widely known, not until 1993, anyway, when London’s particular way of weaving a story caught the attention of a reporter for an area newspaper. That printed story eventually went nationwide over the wires of The Associated Press.

London began keeping a record of the first “peeps” of the year in March 1972. In Big Run, as with many small towns, residents’ lives were interwoven with nature and weather by the experiences of hunting, fishing and trapping.

By the end of March or early April, those who awaited the sounds and sights of the Big Run “peeper” will have made their report, and the story from the swamp in central Big Run will have been recorded. The most celebrated legend of Big Run will have had its day in the spring sun.

By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine