Today is Thursday and boy do I have a treat for you.
I met Wendy Meyers about 2 years ago. Our paths crossed because of a mutual friend, Don Casada. Since meeting, our friendship has been strengthened by our shared interest in the history of western North Carolina.
For the last few years Wendy and Don have been working on a project to document the old home places in the Swain County portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Recently Wendy has decided to share some of the wonderful stories of history on a new blog she launched titled Reflections of Olde Swain. To sum up the blog’s purpose in Wendy’s own words:
“For every homesite and every tombstone has something to tell us of the lives they stand in memory of.
My goal, through this blog, and the book I am writing, is to resurrect them.”
The treat I have for you today-is for you to jump over to Wendy’s new blog, Reflections of Olde Swain, and read A Forney Creek Love Story. I know you’ll enjoy the story of the 69 year marriage as much as I did! And while you’re there-sign up for Wendy’s free email subscription if you’re interested in her future posts. (you can find the subscription box on the top right side of the page)
Tipper
Sounds like a big job documenting all those homesteads and tombstones, even of just one county, but a worthwhile one for sure, because it’s sad when all are gone, and there’s no one left to remember and learn from the times – the good ones/the bad ones, the easy ones/the hard ones, what worked/what didn’t so we know how to do things in the future without a big waste of time.
God bless.
RB
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A huge thank you to all who have commented. I hope you will all continue to visit the blog – there will be posts once weekly. Many, many more great stories to come!
Wendy Meyers
Just came from Wendy’s blog. Likeminds, Tipper! :)) A beautiful and interesting story.
Thank you for introducing me to more of Appalachia!
A wonderful weekend to you and your family.
Petra :))
Thanks for the stories. If you haven’t seen this, thought you’d like to…
http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20130809-the-wild-woodlands-of-the-great-smoky-mountains
Thanks for the treat Tipper! So glad Wendy and Don have chosen to carry out this important project.
Thank you Tipper for helping to keep the history and culture of Western NC alive. Good luck Wendy on your new blog. I hope you expand your research to include the rich history of all of Swain County.
Thanks to you and Wendy and all the other bloggers who carefully search out and share the stories of not only bygone time but also present day. Together the stories are the piecework of the Great American Quilt.
Tipper,
You are right, that is a nice treat!
Wendy, I enjoyed your writings of
our neighbors and friends of the
Swain County region. Last fall I
was fortunate to hear you and Don
at the Bryson Library. I was
impressed! Good luck with your new
Blog…Ken
It is through your site that I am learning so much about Applacchia and its customs and old history. I will click on over to Wendy’s site and I just know I am about to learn more. Wow!
Thanks for sharing. đŸ™‚
Thank you so much for this, Tipper. If people enjoy my blog even half as much as they enjoy yours, I’ll be happy.
Thank you, Tipper. I enjoyed Wendy’s post, even though it brought tears to my eyes. Those were hard times to live in. It is wonderful that Wendy and Don are researching the people of this area.
Kudos to Wendy for keeping the memories of these hardy mountain folks alive. These people along with others were members of the second “Trail of Tears” involving Swain County citizens with the Cherokee being the first. In both instances we see a destruction of communities and a life-style for the alleged good to the US. Sadly the promises made by the government to this second group of removed citizens was not fulfilled and now the alternate settlement with Swain County isn’t being honored. Seventy years after the first agreement Swain County is still trying to get the United States to live up to their contracted obligations.
I’m headed over, thanks for sharing