Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Bobbie Crisp

  • wcu_picturing-5431.jpg
  • This 1941 image taken at the Carolina Wood Turning Company annual picnic of Barbara "Bobbie" Crisp (1932-2001), daughter of photographer Robert Crisp and Amanda Simonds, who owned a photography shop in Bryson City and is likely how the Searns and Crisp families knew each other, is part of the Stearns-Grueninger Collection. Irving Kip Stearns (1895-1942) was president of Carolina Wood Turning Company from 1928 until his death in 1942. Stearns’ grandfather, Jeremiah Shank, started the company in 1903 as Bryson City Pump Works and it grew to be a thriving industry for the community. In 1911, Stearns was in the first graduating class of Bryson City High School. He had one son, Joseph Pease Stearns (1917-1948). In 1935, I. K. married Betty Grueninger (1896-1971).