Historic Webster is a newsletter of the Webster Historical Society, Inc., created at the Society’s founding in 1974. The publication helped to serve the Society's mission of collecting and preserving the history of Webster, North Carolina. Webster, established in 1851, was the original county seat for Jackson County.

• Contributor
  • Webster Historical Society (Webster, N.C.)
• Format
  • Newsletters
  • Periodicals
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1981
  • Date digitized: 2017-01
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15" x 11"
  • Pages: 4 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Webster (N.C.) -- History -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • Historic Webster
• Identifier
  • HistoricWebster1981_Vol07_No04
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library

newsletter of the Webster Historical Society, Inc. VOLUME VII, NUMBER 4 WEBSTER, NORTH CAROLINA WINTER, 1981 National Leaders Come From Jackson County From The Asheville Citizen, J anua ry I, 1932 Cullowhee, Dec. 31. (Special)-Jackson county has contributed some of Western North Carolina ·s most distinguished native sons. These sons have gone out into several sections of the nation and are now blessing their fellow men in several fields of work. The Rev. Dr. Fred Brown, for many years pastor of the First Baptist church, Knoxville, Tenn., and at present president of the Southern Baptist convention, was born at Glenville, in the heart of Jackson county's famous cabbage country. Dr. Brown is the son of Horace A. and Laura Woodard Brown and is descended from fine old mountain stock. Both his grandparents were pioneer Baptist preachers. Dr. Brown received his early education in a semi-private school conducted at Tuckaseegee, near here, by A. M. Dawson, a graduate of Western Reserve University. His later education was received at Mars Hill college, Wake Forest college, the Southern Baptist Theological seminary, and other institutions of higher learning. Dr. John Brinkley, of Milford, Kan., twice candidate for the governorship of the Sunflower State, was born and reared near East La Porte, Jackson county. A movement is now under way to change the name of his adopted home town in Kansas from Milford to Brinkley in his honor. Others have gone out from Jackson county to make distinguished names for themselves. They include Wood Middleton, president of Draughton's Business college, Winston-Salem. Holmes Bryson, form er head of the Ashe ville Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Ed Bryson, mayor of Liberty, S. C., and Felix E. Alley, or Waynesville, prominent lawyer and Democratic orator. Sara Whitesides Norton, the mother of Felix Alley, was the first white child born within a radius of 40 miles of Cashiers Valley, in Jackson county's beautiful Sapphire country. Many of the natives of the county who still live within its borders are known far and wide for their distinguished public services. Mrs. E. L. McKee, of Sylva, is North Carolina 's first woman state senator and is former president of the North Carolina United Daughters of the Confederacy, former president of the State Federation of Women's clubs, and former head of the Southeastern Council of Federated Women 's clubs. Mrs. McKee was a delegate this year to the national Democratic convention. Judge Walter E. Moore, of Sylva, a member of the North Carolina superior court bench and former grand master of North Carolina Masons, is not a native of Jackson county, but has lived here for many years. Other distinguished adopted sons are Col. Charles J . Harris, of Dillsboro, president of the Jackson County bank, owner of extensive mining interests, and former candidate for governor of North Carolina on the Republican ticket; Robert Lee Madison, of Cullowhee, founder of Western Carolina Teachers college here; and Dr. H. T. Hunter. for ten years president of Western Carolina Teachers college and prominent leader in the Western North Carolina Live-a t-Home movement. W. E. Bird, dean of Western Carolina Teachers college, and E. H. Stillwell, head of the history department and author of a history of Western North Carolina, are both natives of Jackson county. Dean Bird \'as born at Qualls and Professor Stillwell was born near Webster, the old county seat. FRED BROWN JOHN BRINKLEY WOOD MIDDLETON HOLMES BRYSON ED BRYSON FELIX ALLEY MRS. E. L. McKEE WALTER MOORE HARRIS MADISON H. T. HUNTER W. E. BIRD E . II. STILLWELL Photogra ph s from Rachel Brown Phillips, The Asheville-Citizen­Times, Woodrow Mid­d le ton , Marshall R . Bryson, Hannah Moore, We bster Histori ca l Society, C. J. Harris Community Hospita l, and the Special Collec· tions of Hunter Library . Western Carolin a University. Page 2, HISTORIC WEBSTER, Winter, 1981 Buchanan Loop Opens New Vistas Spring. summer , and fall th r loo)l is lined with the wildflowr•·s of Western North Carolina . The sort and rolling mountains of the Blue Ridge surround th e village and provide a constantly chan ging and inS)liring panorama to the Webster residents . Barns. old and no longer used. stand in meadows Fill­ed with b.-iars th a t de light th e sum me •· ben.y picker. By AnneS. and John W. McFadden, Jr. Kate, George, Frank, Roy­the neighbors of the Webster loop, and the loop itself, have been an integral part of our lives for the past nine years. When it was narrower and ditt carpeted we pushed little Anmarie around it in her stroller. It was a time of evening marvel. We saw and . tasted wild fruits-blackber­ries, blueberries, crabapples, plums, and s.trawberries. Bird varieties abounded and wild flowers entertained us with ever changing and vibrant colors. About five years ago the road was widened and paved and the activities on it in­creased. Websterites took to it Webster Promenade in numbers and joyously em­braced its potential. Joggers, strollers, fast walkers, bike and horseback riders , and skate hoarders siezed the opportunities the newly paved road provided. The wider cut opened a lar­ger panorama of natural beauty. In the summer we pass through the morning mist grateful for its coolness. Flowery shows are extrava· gent and tasty wild fruits tempt us to gather them. The box turtles, snakes, cattle, horses, cats, and dogs observe our passing. Oftentimes, as many as eight dogs will join our jog ; glad to see each other, rolling and playing all the while like kids playing tag. The fall brings cooler, cris­per more invirgorating air; a peaceful stillness, and a burst of color carpeting to cover the hills. Sunsets are spectacular. Wooly worms cross the road in determined numbers and the dogs still happily greet us. In winter the loop has the sparkle and color of crystal coldness. It offers a time for solitude and escape from over heated houses. The dog escort is smaller, the flowers are resting and the birds are quiet. It's time for the winter star of the show, the skyline, to captivate us . Spring knows we are ready for her, and the loop, like nature, bursts once again into activity. Leaves shyly begin to cover bare trees. The pave· ment and air mellow. Sea­sonal friends return, newcom· ers build, and gardens are planted. Woodpeckers, hum­mingbirds, and bluebirds join the crows, jays and redbirds. Little Ryan calls from his The Don llens ley home in Kin~ ·s Mounta in shadow. one of many new houses along Bucha na n Loop. has •·eplaced the Nathan Coward house. play, " Hi, where are you going?",and neighbors ex· change smiles, waves, and breathless greetings as they pass. The centerstone in the loop's glitterin g_ .ring is the cemetery on the knoll. Throughout all the Seasons it reminds us of the ·natural order of life. This well kept hillside cradles resi­dents from ahtiquity to those newly missed. We like to think they are watching the loop's promenade from their special place. The loop is a wonderous slice of life. A turn around it refreshes one both ))hysica lly and emotionally and gives nourishment to the roots of his life. Anne and .John McFadden . as a vid We bs tt> •· joggers. know th(' loop intim a t e ly . \ \ WEB CEME ! KING'S MOUNTAII\.l OL.O ~\J C.H.ANAN: HOvS!l FAANK. Buc.I-\/INAN 'S GARDEN HISTORIC WEBSTER, Winter. 1981, Pa ge:~ Dirt roads and drives go off the loop in a ll directions and ofrer the wa lker new pa ths to explore . Along the village ma in street a re houses new and old . showing hi stor y and change. The McKee l-louse. now owned by Lona McKee and R. L. ll askett . r eflects the Webster of the nineteenth century. Near the top of the loop is the Webs ter Cemetery where r est many town citi zens. leader s of loca l. st ate. and na tiona l events. Ml11 Lucy .. . without a doubt, no generation of Webster's young people "escaped" the opportu:lity to break in their knees on her hardwood floors! None of us was immune to being approached by Miss Lucy with the proposition to help clean her beautiful large two-story house. It's important to understand this was not just any ordinary cleaning job; it was an education in housekeeping as there was ·a defiDlte way to clean everything, especially her hardwood floors. These· floors had to be mopped across the woodgrain-to minimize pulling up splinters. Naturally, hovering close by on all the various jobs was Miss Lucy herself, seeing that we did a meticulous job in every respect ; if we didn't, we didn't lack for proper instruction for improvement. But then, what better way for us to get an inside look into the dozen or so rooms of the big historical home on the corner which housed only one little white headed lady? And, after all-the pay was good: a cookie (or two-GOOD HOMEMADE ONES)-and a glas8 of Kool-aid. In those days. that was not bad; at lea st we didn 't compla in . If we did a good job, we might even be rehired at a later date, usua ll .v the next summer for as I was growing up, Miss Lucy generally was only in Webster during the summers. She spent the rest of the year at the Crossnore School working daily with young people from all over the country, and out of the . country as well. Sometimes· Miss Lucy brought one of the Crossnore students with her to Webster in the summer. I remember in particular a German girl named Marion Ufinger, with whom I became good friends. She was a very large girl and since I was large for my age too, I concluded I must be of German " stock" as well. "Miss Lucy's back," was a familiar comment among the Webster folks in the spring as she returned to open and air her house for summer living .. Soon a lawnmower could be heard getting the yard in shape and the familiar vase of Queen Ann's lace would appear on the front porch. Miss Lucy loved flowers and would quickly be seen in her yard giving her flowers and shrubs loving attention. For years, she had a beautiful mixture of tame and wild flowers across the road from her house by the road up the hill to Ha lls ' . Her peonies and roses wer e always healthy and lovely as well. Many of the flowers are still there for neighbors to enjoy and remember Miss Lucy by. One of Webster's loviest southern ladies, Miss Lucy had absolutely beautiful white hair which was always soft and clean and neatly styled on top of her head. Generally dressed in a clean pressed cotton dress, she spent the summer working in her yard, walking up and down the street chatting with her neigh­bors, and visiting both the Methodist and Baptist churches; by the time she became a familiar sight in the village, she was gone again for the winter. Even though Miss Lucy never married or had children of her own, upon reflection, I realize that young people really played a major part in her life. At Crossnore or in Webster, she seemed to relate to youngsters. I can recall my sister, Joyce, telling how as she was growing up, Miss Lucy was their scout leader. She tOOk them on camping, swimming, and hiking excursions and appar­ently enjoyed working with them. As I was growing up, she 'was older, and I'm not so sure my generation was such a joy to her! I recall once Nell (Enslh Bryson) and I were lucky enough to persuade her to let us play in the little "house" attached to her garage. We had a ball that morning because the place was like a real kitchen, with cooking utensils, flour , and everything. Well, neediess to say, when Miss Lucy checked on us only to find both us and the whole room snow white with flour from the cake we we re in the process or ba king. She wasn 't very happy! For some reason, she never did let up play there again; we just had to be content trying to P"!!P through the window to see the room that for one day had allowed us to be "ladies of the house." To me, the Grove and "Big Lot" are synonymous with Miss Lucy. She was the proprietor of both, and each of them offered very special childhood environments for us youngsters. The Grove was a wonderland all its own : cool, private, and intrigu­ing. We could play in the tall deep pines, and sit on the cool green moss, with our childish imaginations taking care of the rest, un­beknown to anyone, and no one (not even Miss Lucy) seemed to object. Now, the Big Lot was another matter. It was a perfect place (in fact, the only place other than the school playground) for Webster youth to gather and play hall. Our chances of using the Big Lot undisturbed for our ball games obviously were much better when Miss Lucy was away! Being a partic.ular yard lady, she didn't exactly appreciate her nice green grass being s tomped out by dozens of active running and sliding feet. Miss Lucy doesn't return to Webster anymore now, even in the summers, and I'm sure her familiar presence is missed by the rema ining neighbors who knew her so we ll. The beautiful old house is still there, tall and distinguished from recent renova­tion by its new owner, but the present generation of young folks will miss the opportunity to wander through the house with imaginations of yesteryear and to scrub the hardwood floors with a little white headed lady as their overseer. Too bad, for while they might have been a little awed by Miss Lucy, they would have liked and admired her as alt other generations of Webster youth did. Page 4, HISTORIC WEBSTER, Winter, 1981 Making the Mountains of North Carolina Home Webster Becomes Home By Arnold R. Denker! It all began while reading an advertisement in our local Florida newspaper describing a vacation lodge in the moun­tains of Western North Caro­lina. The lodge was owned by Mr. Ward of Wards' Cabins located on the Tuckasegee River near Dillsboro. A telephone call to Mr. Ward secrued the lodge for the first week of August 1970 and we could now show our five grandchildren, who had never been outside Florida, and who had never seen a hill, much less a mountain, the Great Smoky Mountains! The five grandchildren, three boys and two girls, at that time ranging in ages from seven to fifteen years, were greatly excited and their minds were filled with thoughts and dreams of ex­pectation, as their parents gave their consents for the trip and all proceeded to make preparations for the motor trip to the far away state of North Carolina. The trip was estimated as about eight hundred miles, and would involve two days of travel time. Our daughter, Jane joined the party at Atlanta and soon we entered the Great Smoky Mountain State. A beautiful sign at the border, just beyond Clayton, · Georgia, bids us "Welcome" . . and from there a detailed hand drawn map by Mr. Ward directed us to our lodge. Then followed a busy week of sight seeing, picnicing, wa­ding the Tuckasegee, trying out Sliding Rock, exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and Water Rock Knob, and hiking. This then was our intro­duction to North Carolina and having fallen in love with our surroundings, we returned the following year for the entire month of August, and again the third and the fourth year. We decided that we should spend the entire summer in North Carolina and we pur­chased a lot and built our home across the street from the old elementary school. Thus was our second home established in the quiet and picturesque setting of historic Webster, Jackson County. Since this time we have acquired some acreage near­by, where we are presently growing several thousand pine trees, some of which are no~ five years old, and which we shall market this fall for land­scaping purposes and for Christmas trees. Our garden plot is also flourishing and helps to keep our freezer and our pantry filled with all sorts of vege­tables, both fresh and canned; we also have strawberries, grapes and blackberries which we convert into jams and jellies for our sweet teeth. We have but one peach tree and last year it was loaded with the most delicious large Maxine and Arnold Denkert show their daughter J ane Fohl <center ) of Gaither sburg. Mar yland, the beapty of their new homeland . fruit that we were able to supply the entire neighbor­hood. Besides a house and garden plot on our lot, we have two other houses-actually they are small apartments, consis­ting of twelve compartments each. And who do you think occupies them? Why- Purple Martins, of course! They keep us entertained from March until August each year, as well as keep our yard and garden free of flys, mosquitos, and other flying insects. Now this August 198 1 is the eleventh anniversary of our first visit to this s ta te. We love our home and We bst er and the many friendly, neighborly, and helpful people. We shall forgo naming them for fear of overlooking someone, and be­sides the list would be too long for this column. Suffice to say, we love them all and wish all much joy, health, prosperity and happiness. In conclusion, may we add the words of a church choir anthem: "Purge, from our hearts all bitter thoughts of hatred. Clense, Thou our minds from every stain of sin. That we may live ·in bro­therly affection, worthy to have Thy Spirit dwell within." Webster Historical Society officers for 1981-1982 are: MOdred Cowan, President Box 186 Webster, NC 28788 Dale Coward, Vice President Norton Road Cashiers. NC 28717 Mary Morris, Secretary Box 3 Webster, NC 28788 Jim Simpson, Treasurer Box 126 Webster, NC 28788 Kate Rhinehart, Membership Court House Square Webster, NC 28788 Joe P . RhiDehart, Editor 1325 13th Street, NW No. 60Z Washington, DC 20005 The officers would be glad to hear from the society mem­bers and the editor of Historic Webster would be pleased to receive manuscripts, photo­graphs, and story suggestions for future editions of the newspaper. When correspOn­ding with the society, it would be helpful if members would identify themselves with their relationship to Webster. ~/'. HISTORIC~ WEB8TE:R Winter . 1981 Editor: ••• , }.. .. , ., ..• , 'I "' · ... We bs ter. North Ca rolina 28788 Joe P . Rhinehart Co n~ributor s: J anice Monteith Blanton . Arnold Denkert. J en· ny Hunter. Anne McFadden. J ohn McFadden. J r .. Florencf' S. Rhinehart Published qua rterly by the Webster Historical Society and printed by the Herald Publishing Company, Sylva, North Carolina.