Young Harris College
We have beautiful college campuses in Appalachia. You’d think our beautiful campuses are top secret-I mean you hear people talking about the plight of public education in Appalachia all the time-but when it comes to top notch beautiful colleges-not so much. (Many of our public schools are top notch too…but that’s a story for another day.)
Over the weekend I had the good fortune of walking around one of those beautiful college campuses. While there, I toured a newly opened state of the art student center. As I walked around in awe with the giant windows streaming in stunning sunlight viewing the various meeting rooms set up for students to use, I met two blind pig readers.
I sorta felt like I was in a movie. As I walked past the couple one of them said “Blind Pig & the Acorn.” I stuttered a few times before I finally got out “What you read my blog?” They were super nice. Turns out they’re fans of Pap and Paul’s version of the song Until Then.
So I’ve shared 2 secrets with you: Appalachia has beautiful college campuses and if you ever meet me in passing-the secret code is Blind Pig & the Acorn.
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
Young Harris was one of my landmarks when I drove to Grandfather Home to visit my son who worked there. For folks who don’t know of it, Grandfather Home is a residential treatment center for children who have been abused. They do wonderful work and are just down the road from the Young Harris campus.
That IS a beautiful school, and that’s a tough secret code too.
Not sure if I’ll remember.
LOL
God bless.
RB
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George-Thank you for the comment! The song is there its number 56-you can scroll down the playlist to find it. Or you can watch the video of Until Then on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGXLqPAP7fs
Until Then
View on http://www.youtube.com
Preview by Yahoo
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
At the mention of Pap & Paul’s version of Until Then, I went straight to the playlist but, alas, it wasn’t there.
Yes, we have seen that college many times but have never visited it. We have an acquaintance who works there and he just enjoys the school so much. That’s a nice bit of sharing!
Although I love all of the Blind Pig Gang’s music, my favorite is also Until Then. In fact, I’ve requested that if my brothers have a memorial service for me when I pass, this is the song that I want sung. Love it!
The college I attended as an undergraduate, King College (now University) in Bristol, TN lies in a lovely part of Appalachia. Rolling hills with the heart of campus, an oval, situated on a knoll. Lots of memories from those days, one of which involved a visit from one on the finest voices ever to sing the sweet song of the hill people, Jesse Stuart. Anyone who hasn’t read some of his writing has a treat awaiting them.
Jim Casada
Tipper,
Every day I look forward to reading the Blind Pig and the Acorn. It’s the Best thing out there and I love Paul and Pap’s singing harmony. I was fortunate to be at the old Courthouse in Blairsville when Paul poured out his heart singing “Until Then.”
That sure is a nice view of
Young Harris…Ken
Beautiful campus you have there! I’m sure Chitter and Chatter are enjoying being there surrounded by all the beauty. Thanks for the secret code tip, hope we get to use it very soon. We can’t wait to meet you and the rest of the BP Gang!
I live near Rutherford College. It also has a secret. There is no college. Only the town that once surrounded it remains. The last building of the former college was torn down in 2007 to allow for expansion of a hospital which now does not provide inpatient care.
Like Young Harris, Rutherford College was founded by a circuit riding Methodist Minister. Started in 1850 as Owl Hollow School. It was taken over in 1853 by R L Abernathy and renamed Rutherford Academy. It was forced to close during the Civil War but reopened in 1868 as Rutherford Seminary. The town around it was incorporated as Excelsior. The school continued to operate until 1933 when the Great Depression forced the Methodist Church to combine it with Weaver College in Buncombe County and Brevard Institute to become Brevard College. The Town was dissolved in 1933 but reincorporated in 1977.
Most parents can’t say that their children started their education at college. Both of mine did. Rutherford College (Elementary School.)
My niece graduated from Warren Wilson College, outside of Asheville, some years back. I was fortunate to get to attend her graduation and thought the college and surrounding area very beautiful. Unfortunately, that was my only trip to North Carolina.
Tipper,
I love secrets…revealed! I think you are keeping more secrets?
Beautiful picture of part of the campus!
Thanks Tipper,
PS…Yes, “Until Then” is one of our favorites also!
I’m going to take that back. My aunt was there in the thirties. I’m going to have to visit. I’ve never been there.
I agree the colleges are beautiful here in Appalachia. The Eckstein Norton Institute was one of the most beautiful. It opened it’s doors in 1890 as one of the first all black schools in Kentucky. It was located across the lane on my farm. The building was still standing until a few years ago, while the springhouse still has some of the structure left to be preserved.
If the couple you met has sound on their computer they would have to be Paul and Pa fans!
My aunt, Ovice Whitlock Smith, went to college there on a basketball scholarship in the forties.
Ohio University’s campus is another beautiful one.
The setting in WNC is a natural for college campuses, with abundant and large deciduous trees everywhere and mountain backdrops. Last year, we visited another campus that we had heard of, but never seen. It was Appalachian State University in Boone. Beautiful setting and interesting architecture. Western Carolina University is another beautiful place. I am sure that there are many others. We have tiny little Brevard College, which is also beautiful.
Tipper, I was absolutely in awe of Young Harris as we walked the campus Saturday. It is a far cry from the campus where I went to college! There seems to be ‘more’ of everything….more study areas, more food in the cafeteria, more sporting areas, more dormitory spaces, more manicured lawns, more cars, more curriculum offerings….more of everything!
I was thrilled also when I heard the secret code.
Hey Tipper: If you think that secret campus is beautiful here in the fall, you just wait til Springtime – when those TEN THOUSAND TULIPS ARE IN BLOOM. You will have to wear your shades to just view them from a distance! Jim and I stopped by last Spring and were amazed that somebody planted so many bulbs. I do well to plant a dozen and then the deer take them out!
Eva Nell
Jo-thank you for the comment! Meant to title the photo but forgot : ) I went back and added it. Hope you have a great day!
Tipper
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and
Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
You didn’t tell which college campus so I guess it is still a secret. But that is OK because we like to keep things quiet and uncrowded.