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Match Made in the Mountains
WISDOM: Continued from previous page severe of taskmasters (or at least those with any practical sense) recognized the occasional need for relaxation.
In that regard, probably everyone who reads these works will be familiar with the likes of “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” “Stop and smell the roses,” or “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.” And of course the Biblical directive that one day out of seven be devoted to rest has long been a cornerstone of religion in the High Country no matter what one’s faith or denomination.
For my part, I particularly enjoyed my paternal grandfather’s thoughts on recreational activity as a needed counterpoise to work. Demanding manual work was a consistent hallmark of his 80-plus years, but he leavened labor with a great love for simple pleasures such as hunting and fishing, telling of tales while seated in his rocking chair throne, whittling on some child’s toy, or the quiet satisfaction of seeing a blade of his perfectly sharpened Case knife slice away a perfect curl of wood. He also had a real knack for turning arduous effort into an adventure—spotting the first stinging packsaddle in a field of corn, watching a cricket seem almost paralyzed while sitting atop a hoe’s blade—or even giving a bit of energy to a hated task such as cleaning droppings out of the chicken house by talking about a fine, ice-cold slice of watermelon lying ahead as a reward. One incentivized maxim I recall from him was “Catfish, catfish give my worm a jerk, but before we catch catfish we need to do some work.”
That basic reality, the need to do some work and do it promptly and well, has long resided at the heart of the traditional High Country outlook on life. Old-timers would argue, with considerable merit, that “things ain’t what they once were.” Some might reckon that change to constitute progress. Maybe—and maybe not. But assuredly those of us with roots running deep in the mountain soil didn’t get where we are through lack of effort, or as I often hear it described, being “trifling,” “purt nigh useless,” or “flat-out sorry.” We know where we are going because we have been, over generations, traveling a hard-rock road where work was a cardinal rule of life.
Jim Casada’s latest book, a companion volume to his multi-award winning A Smoky Mountain Boyhood, is Fishing for Chickens: A Smokies Food Memoir. To order copies of either volume visit his website, www. jimcasadaoutdoors.com.
A Match Made in the Mountains:
By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a passionate Presbyterian minister saw needs in Banner Elk, and he sought to meet those needs with opportunities and resources for local children. One of the lasting achievements of Reverend Edgar Tufts began as a school in his home in 1900. Eventually, both a girls’ boarding school and boys’ school developed, and then merged, evolving into what is today Lees-McRae College. In 1914, Tufts also established the Grandfather Home for Children, an orphanage to care for children without families, providing them with a safe home as well as an education and skills on a working farm. Over time, the Grandfather Home evolved as well, providing care for neglected and abused children and eventually merging with the Presbyterian Children’s Home of Barium Springs to become the Children’s Hope Alliance (CHA).
Now, an agreement between two historic organizations transfers the Children’s Hope Alliance property to Lees-McRae College, uniting two of Reverend Tuft’s greatest legacies and securing future opportunities for both.
On March 23, 2022, the move was announced at a surprise convocation at LeesMcRae, but the dreams and plans that led to the property purchase have been in the works for years. Dr. Lee King, president of Lees-McRae, describes a “light” dialogue that had been taking place for over three years, as the college was planning to renovate two of its historic dorms, exploring the possibility of leasing space from the CHA for student housing while the Tennessee and Virginia residence halls were offline. With the pandemic and the new CHA care model that serves children in their own homes, rather than in a residential facility, the beautiful Grandfather Home site presented an ideal opportunity. When inquiries were made about whether it might actually be possible for the college to purchase the entire property, the conversation “quickly picked up steam. Everyone was eager,” President King states, expressing his appreciation for the wonderful leadership shown by CHA President and Chief Executive Officer Celeste Dominguez and her board, “fantastic partners” in the process of crafting an opportunity that serves both the college and the CHA. “I can’t overemphasize the great partnership with CHA,” Dr. King says. “The college is well served, and the purchase allows the CHA to use those resources to serve many more children and families in crisis.”
The acquisition of the property, much of it adjacent to Lees-McRae’s campus, presents tremendous new opportunities for Lees-McRae students. The beautiful campus, which holds the distinction of having the highest elevation of any college campus east of the Mississippi River, is already well-known for its unique mountain environment and focus, expressed in its motto: “In the Mountains. Of the Mountains. For the Mountains.” With distinctive academic programs like Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wilderness Medicine and Rescue, and Outdoor Recreation Management, LeesMcRae already offers its students educational prospects closely tied to the area.
Now, with the addition of the CHA
Statue of Edgar Tufts
property, nearly five hundred acres will be added to the college’s grounds, including buildings, forested land, and Wildcat Lake. While the historic buildings will retain their distinct appearances, the property is already undergoing technology upgrades and other renovations to be ready to accommodate students this fall. In just a few months, “The South Campus” will provide opportunities for 137 students to enjoy learning communities that bring together groups of 12 to 24 based on shared majors, interests, or activities like athletics. In addition, these students will benefit from on-site dining and recreation facilities. Blaine Hansen, Lees-McRae Vice President for Planning and Community Relations, stresses that these “living-learning communities are leaning into who we are as an institution... doubling down on who we are.”
All Lees-McRae students will gain from the added property, with access to recreational sites like rock outcroppings for the climbing team, extended hiking trails, and Wildcat Lake. Experiential learning opportunities will also abound. Dr. King stresses there will be a positive impact “across many different spectrums….The additional space will make a significant impact on academic programs,” while benefitting every area from residence life to recreation.
President King is excited about the physical property that will give the college space it needs for centuries to come, but he is also delighted that Lees-McRae’s “conservation and stewardship mindset” will protect the irreplaceable asset of this historic property while “reuniting the land resources Edgar Tufts put together, honoring his legacy and commitment to the community.”
The community of Banner Elk and beyond will truly benefit from this new development. Dr. King immediately began receiving “heartwarming messages from the community” upon news of the property transfer. Resources like the popular Wildcat Lake beach and pavilions will continue to be open to the public under the college’s stewardship so that community members can enjoy this beloved swimming spot just as they have for generations. New community experiences, like a planned concert series and other events using the outside stage, are being developed since the property will be easily accessible to visitors, while traditional events will continue. The popular community-wide Easter sunrise service will continue, drawing worshippers to “Resurrection Hill” from various area congregations.
In addition, Lees-McRae is committed to protecting the shared legacy of both the college and the children’s home. Dr. King notes that the stewardship obligation that comes with this property is one the college takes seriously and has taken on freely, as Lees-McRae can protect the property and honor its history as no other entity could. The college is committed to maintain a museum presence, to preserve the historic structure of the buildings, and to honor donors.
Of course, this major acquisition and the necessary renovations represent a serious investment that could not be undertaken without much-appreciated and continued partnerships and philanthropic support. Blaine Hansen observes that one staff member has noted that gifts to LeesMcRae now serve both the college and the Children’s Hope Alliance; the revenue from the sale will allow the CHA to vastly extend its services to meet the needs of many more children where they are, while the property and its resources will benefit students, staff, and the community far into the future. The college’s Legacy Campaign allows donors to help reunite Reverend Tufts’s legacy while laying the groundwork for a new legacy.
There will be numerous opportunities for the community to support and learn more about the exciting developments at the site. For the first time in three years, the college will be hosting its popular community picnic later this year, and multiple events are being scheduled to help spread the word about changes, improvements, and opportunities. Reverend Edgar Tufts left this earth in 1923, so, in many ways, it’s only fitting that now, almost a hundred years later, two of his visions are merging. He might not have been able to imagine the twenty-first century, but he always sought to give back to the mountains and their people. Now some of that mountain land will continue to serve generations to come, honoring the legacy of the past while inviting the promise of the future.
To learn more about Lees-McRae College, on-going developments, and upcoming events, go to www.lmc.edu. To learn more about Children’s Hope Alliance, go to childrenshopealliance.org.
