Hc mag dec 2013

Volume 9 • Issue 3 December 2013

Merry Christmas

Chetola Ryan Costin New Old Boone

December 2013

High Country Magazine

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DI A N N E DAVA N T Davantw & ASS O C I AT E S EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN SINCE 1979

B A N N E R E L K , N O RT H C A R O L I N A 828.898.9887 P O RT S A I N T L U C I E , F L O R I DA 772.344.3190 W W W. DAVA N T- I N T E R I O R S . C O M B

High Country Magazine

December 2013

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High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

December 2013

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C O N T E N T S Charm in a 18 Southern Mountain Paradise Along with endless trails, an interesting 150-year long history, natural beauty and fantastical views, Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock’s spectacular Festival of Lights rings in the holiday season for many families with holiday meals, carriage rides, Santa Claus and endless southern hospitality.

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Hayes Holiday Scholarship 32 The Concert Turns Twenty The annual Hayes School of Music Holiday Scholarship Concert celebrates twenty years of ringing in the holidays in the High Country with the very first performance in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.

Legacy at Beech 40 Family Mountain Resort

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A tale of a young General Manager who returned to the mountain to carry on a treasured family legacy and continue a tradition of honest hard work and dedication to make Beech Mountain Resort the best year-round facility it can be.

Old Appalachian 58 The Theatre Revived Following a colorful history, a local nonprofit relives the history and works to preserve the 75-year-old Appalachian theatre in the heart of downtown Boone and bring it back to the glory days of when it first opened its doors in 1938.

Centuries-Long Story of a 64 The 75-Year-Old Boone Icon For many, the post office in downtown Boone is something to be passed and admired while walking down King Street. Who knew that such an unassuming structure could have such a long and colorful history?

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on the cover CURTIS PAGE Curtis Page, a local dentist, has recently taken up the new hobby of painting. Page provided us with the image on the cover of a cardinal, perched on a branch of holly.

His mentors Holly Soukup, and Sally Nooney have both helped him to improve his technique over the past two years.

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ABOUT US

The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012, the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www.

HCPress.com. Our new “webpaper” is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts. Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance.

Our offices are located in downtown Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.

Tidings of m Comforters & Joy! TM

© 2004-2013 DEWOOLFSON DOWN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

READER SERVICES

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828-264-2262.

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of our magazines are available from our office for $5 per issue.

Some issues are already sold out and are no longer available.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography and page reprints are available for purchase. For sizing, prices and usage terms, please call our office.

Some photos may not be available and some restrictions may apply.

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Writers and photographers may send queries and samples to the editor at hcmag@highcountrypress.com.

Manufacturers and merchants of European-inspired down comforters, adjustable down pillows and support featherbeds in the High Country.

Luxury linens for the bed, bath, and table from France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and around the world.

High Country Press/Magazine P.O. Box 152 130 North Depot Street Boone, NC 28607 www.hcpress.com info@highcountrypress.com 828-264-2262

C

Contact us at:

s 30 year g n i rat le eb

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natural. comfortable. home. www.dewoolfson

down.com &

Linens.com

www.dewoolfson

9452 NC Hwy. 105 S. :: between Boone & Banner Elk 800.833.3696 December 2013

High Country Magazine

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FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Graphic Designer Jacob Voigt Contributing Writers Jesse Wood Madison Fisler Ken Ketchie

Megan Northcote Allison West Megan Hall

Jesse Wood, Ken Ketchie, Madison Fisler and Debbie Carter

Happy Holidays from High Country Press

H

appy Holidays to our readers from your friends here at High Country Press. With me in the image above are art director Debbie Carter, news editor Jesse Wood and entertainment editor Madison V. Fisler as another hectic year in the publishing business winds down. In your hands right now is a copy of our December magazine – our last publication for 2013. We also just received our Winter Visitor Guide from the printer, too. In all, we’ve produced seven outstanding magazine issues, three seasonal editions of our very successful Visitor Guide and our online-daily webpaper at HCPress.com.

I always find it quite remarkable that the four of us are able to come together and bring our publications to you. Although we’ve had help from numerous freelance writers, photographers and graphic artists, it’s been – for the most part – those in the image above responsible for producing the magazine, visitor guide and website. And believe me, this includes hundreds of thousands of words and many photos, pages and labor hours - not to mention the stress of deadlines.

So from me, a big thank you to the staff of High Country Press – and to all you who have contributed stories, pictures and graphics. And, of course, none of this would be possible without the support from our advertisers and readers who we really cannot appreciate and thank enough.

2013 has been a good year for us. Last month we settled into our new office at about the same time we had a record-breaking monthly readership of 160,000 visitors viewing more than 300,000 pages in the month of November. HCPress. com is now part of the online routine for thousands of readers, who drop by the website once, twice or maybe three times a day to check out what is happening in and around the High Country. As HCPress.com continues to evolve and grow, our classic magazine and visitor guide are as popular as ever.

And for me, it’s been a real pleasure coming to work everyday knowing that I’ll have my three co-workers ready to pitch in wherever needed. So thank you Jesse, Debbie and Madison for sometimes pulling off what seems impossible and giving your all everyday.

So here's to wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season, and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

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High Country Magazine

December 2013

Mark Kenna Contributing Photographers Katie Warren Lonnie Webster Finance Manager Amanda Giles High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina

www.HCPress.com HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262 Follow our magazine online where each issue is presented in a flip-through format. Check it out at:

HighCountryMagazine.com Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents of this magazine without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Issues are FREE throughout the High Country. © 2012 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.

WE SUPPORT

SHOP LOCAL

December 2013

High Country Magazine

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Calendarof Events Calendar # 1

DECEMBER 2013

1

Ashe County Farmers’ Holiday Market, West Jefferson, www.ashefarmersmarket.com

1

Holiday Open House, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, (828) 295-9099

3

A Christmas Carol by Theatre IV, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts , ASU, (800) 841-2787

6

First Friday Art Crawl, Downtown Boone Galleries & Studios, 828-262-3017

6-7

Christmas Gallery Crawl, Downtown West Jefferson,

(336) 846-2787

7

christmas

7

Downtown Boone Christmas Parade, Boone, 828-2624532

7

Third Annual Holiday Tour of Homes, Lenoir, 828-754-

6263

7

Mountain Home Music Presents An Appalachian Christmas, Grace Lutheran Church, Boone, (828) 964-

3392 7-8 13

The Nutcracker, Heritage Hall Theatre, Mountain City, Tenn., 423-727-7444

13-15

Ensemble Stage presents: “Christmas in Blowing Rock 5” Variety Show, Blowing Rock School Auditorium,

828-414-1844 13-15

Sugarfest, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

14

Christmas in the Mountains, Heritage Hall Theatre,

Mountain City, Tenn., 423-727-7444

14

Santa Visits Beech Mountain, The 4 Seasons at Beech, 828-387-9283

14-24

Santa at Sugar, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

21

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus, Buckeye Recreation Center,

Beech Mountain, 828-387-3003

26-37

USSA Holiday Giant Slalom Competition, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

8

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High Country Magazine

December 2013

Beech Mountain’s Hayride and Bonfire , Beech Mountain, 828-387-9283

31

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, Appalachian Ski Mtn, Boone, 828-295-7828

31

Rockin’ New Years Eve Bash, Buckeye Recreation Center, Beech Mountain, 828-387-3003

31

New Year’s Celebration, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-

898-4521

App Ski Mtn Anniversary Weekend Celebration, Boone, 828-295-7828

Boone Christmas Parade, December 7

Christmas in the Park, Banner Elk, www.bannerelk.org/

JANUARY 2014 4-5

Crescent Ski Council Competition, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

11

Winter Fest Rail Jam, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-

2011 11-12

Winterfest on Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

22

Exhibit Opening: Skiing in the High Country, Blowing

Rock Art and History Museum, 828- 295-9099 23-26

Blowing Rock Winterfest, Blowing Rock, 828-295-4636

25- 26

2014 – USSA Slalom and Giant Slalom Competition, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

31

North River Dance Chicago, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, ASU, 828-262-4046

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

SugarFest at Sugar Mountain Sugarfest at Sugar Mountain resort is every winter-lover’s dream. From Dec. 13-15, join Sugar Mountain to meet Olympic medalists, enjoy equipment demos, live music, fireworks, and of course, the SugarFEAST with a soup safari, barbecue and a hot chocolate bar. This event is spectacular for the whole family to enjoy together.

DECEMBER 13-15

Blowing Rock Winterfest

Join the village of Blowing Rock as they celebrate the fun side of winter at the 16th annual Blowing Rock Winterfest Jan. 23-26.

There is something for everyone at this event from a wine auction, to a chili cookoff the Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake and tons of kids activities. Don’t miss out on this annual High Country tradition.

JANUARY 23-26

December 2013

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mountain

echoes

The Blaze in the Linville Gorge

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bout 48 hours after the ‘Table Rock Fire’ in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area began to spread like a virus, outdoor-adventure photographer Lynn Willis stationed himself on the western rim of the remote and rugged gorge.

The fire was first reported on the Tuesday morning after Veterans Day to Avery County Ranger Joe Shoupe. By the time the U.S. Forest Service first released information on the fire, the fire covered 15 acres, and within four days, the fire expanded to more than 2,000 acres with less than 50 percent containment.

On that chilly Wednesday night with the Rock Jock Trail as his vantage point, Willis described a “mind-blowing” experience that lasted for hours. Trees crashed to the ground and rock cliffs tumbled into the gorge. “The winds were constantly changing directions every which way,” Willis said, “making the smoke do some amazing formations.”

Just days before the fire occurred, the N.C. Forest Service increased its fire readiness plan due to the dry and windy conditions and the many downed leaves on the forest floor.

The fire would eventually burn about 2,600 acres and took more than 200 firefighters from across the South to contain the beast.

Bulldozers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and two

12 10

helicopters were among the mechanized equipment used in the firefight, and because of the extreme terrain of the gorge, firefighters fought fire with fire.

“It’s very dangerous to put firefighters down in that country. It’s like a chimney. That fire could come roaring up out of there and trap and kill them,” Walker said, adding that personnel situated at secure points along the ridges and roads. Once, the fire even jumped the southern flank of one containment line during the peak of the blaze.

Two weeks after it all began, Southern Area Type 2 Team contained 90 percent of the fire and returned command of the blaze to the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. Although the vacant Outward Bound Camp was threated at one point, no structure damages or major injuries were reported throughout. While officials warned that hotspots could flare up until significant rain arrives, trails and roads reopened – just in time for rifle deer season.

–By Jesse Wood Lynn Willis is a freelance photographer specializing in outdoor adventure sports and landscapes of the Southern Appalachians. For more info, visit www.LynnWillis.com.

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Battle of the Book at Watauga High School

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n early November, an author who has sold more than 60 million copies of her 20 novels penned a letter to officials of Watauga County Schools and members of the Watauga County Board of Education.

Along with the letter, Isabel Allende mailed a copy of “The House of the Spirits,” her novel that has become the latest hot topic inside our local education system because of a parent challenge.

Two weeks prior to Allende’s letter, Chastity Lesesne, a parent concerned with the novel that follows a family through the Chilean Revolution and includes graphic scenes of torture and rape, expressed her objections and challenged the use of the book in a sophomore honors English class at Watauga High School.

To say the least, this book has sparked a debate about censorship, the maturity of high school students and much more. It even became politicized whenever all three GOP members of the Watauga

County Board of Commissioners spoke at length about the book, describing it as “despicable” and “filth” at a work session to discuss long-term budget issues.

Allende said one parent was circulating fragments of the novel that were “taken out of context” amongst other parents who probably hadn’t read the book. She said she was more likely to expect this issue to come up in Cuba or North Korea and by religious fundamentalist groups like the Taliban.

“I did not expect it in our democracy,” Allende said.

Following Lesesne’s complaint, a media/ technology advisory committee at the high school reviewed Lesesne’s concerns and unanimously deemed the book acceptable for curriculum. She then appealed, and a new committee featuring Supt. David Fonseca was formed. As of press time the latter committee is still reviewing the second challenge. If that doesn’t succeed, Lesesne can appeal a third and final time before the school board.

–By Jesse Wood

The Old Mountain Jug to Rest in Boone

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f nothing else, we came home with the jug – the coveted Old Mountain Jug. Western Carolina (2-10) strolled into The Rock on a dreary, chilly Saturday afternoon sporting a record worse than the Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-8). The matchup was the last game of the season for both teams and the final game in the Southern Conference for the FBS-bound Mountaineers.

App State ended the season in resounding fashion, walloping the Catamounts 48-27, to ensure that the Old Mountain Jug remains in Boone for the ninth-consecutive year and at least the foreseeable future as no rematch is 14 12

scheduled because the Mountaineers become a revenue-sharing member of the Sun Belt Conference next summer.

By winning its last two games, which happened to be the only time this season the team won back-to-back games, the Mountaineers avoided its lowest win total in history.

Despite the disappointing record in head coach Scott Satterfield’s first year at the helm, the loss of its best wide receiver due to discipline issues and injuries at the quarterback position, the team finished strong, “stayed hungry” and fought through adversity until the very end.

Along the way, senior Andrew Peacock became Appalachian State’s all-time leader in receptions by breaking the 202-reception record held by current NFL wideout Brian Quick, who was drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Rams in 2012.

This year, freshman running back Marcus Cox had a breakout season that will be talked

H HI Gi g H hC O 20132013 CU o Nu TnRtYr M y AMGaAgZaI N z Ei n e December December

about for seasons to come in App Nation.

For his 215-rushing yard, four-touchdown performance against Western Carolina, Cox won the Southern Conference freshman of the week award for a SoCon-record sixth time.

He ended up setting all-time ASU freshman records for rushing yards (1,250), total touchdowns (21) and total yards from scrimmage (1,809) on the season. He also tied the school’s freshman record for rushing touchdowns (21).

Another bright spot on offense was the grooming of sophomore-quarterback Kameron Bryant. He started eight of the 12 games, completing more than 70 percent of his passes for 2,713 yards with 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

This much-needed experience as the team leader in the pocket will prove invaluable for Bryant and the Mountaineers as it enters the Sun Belt Conference next year.

–By Jesse Wood

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LiLuInteriors.com • 828.719.5700 December 2013

High Country Magazine

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mountain

echoes

Stay Informed With Cyber Ink: HCPress.com

I

n November, HCPress.com experienced its highest-traffic month with more than 160,000 visitors viewing more than 300,000 pages in the month following Halloween. Since inception in March 2012, more than 1.85 million visitors have viewed more than 4 million pages on our new website.

Lately, stories on the ‘Table Rock Fire’ in the Linville Gorge and a book controversy at the Watauga High School went viral on the Internet recently, but the High Country Press website continues to evolve, offering the most content and daily coverage of news, events and information in the High Country, something that continues to reel in new readers while maintaining a high-rate of return visitors.

While the easy-to-use, scrolling front page, which High Country Press adopted before many of the major media outlets changed its online presence, still exists, we wanted to let readers in on some additions to our website – or as we call it around the office: our “webpaper.”

HCPress.com now offers a weekly newslet-

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ter that is compiled on Monday morning and features the most-read news stories of the previous week and other stories that perhaps didn’t garner as much attention. The newsletter also includes business stories and upcoming events. It’s a quick read, a “Cliff notes” of sorts, for people to catch up on what’s happening in and around town, and, of course, links follow the primer for those who want more details. It’s easy to sign up. Just click to HCPress.com and enter your email address to subscribe.

Something else that is new is our coupons’ widget. It’s an online version of the coupon insert that exists in newspapers, which are disappearing like fireflies at the end of summer.

Simply scroll down the front page and look to the left for a button that says “Grocery Store Coupons.” While thousands of coupons exist for items in grocery stores, the widget also features thousands of online codes for big discounts at many other different stores.

All of this is to say that our platform is constantly evolving to bring our growing

H HI Gi g H hC O CU oN u TnRtYr M y AMGaAgZaI N z iEn e December December 20132013

readership a more thorough experience, while the purpose remains steady: to inform residents and visitors to the High Country on what is happening, as soon as it happens – whether it’s a meeting between two governmental bodies, a new local business opening across the way or the pending snowstorm.

Check us out at HCPress.com and thanks for reading.

By Jesse Wood

THE VILLAGE OF SUGAR MOUNTAIN PRESENTS:

DEMO THE NEWEST & COOLEST

Try out the latest ski and snowboard equipment from Salomon, Volkl, Nordica, Burton, Head, Never Summer, K2, Atomic, Dynastar, Rossignol, Ride and Line – just about every manufacturer displayed in store showrooms! 9am till 3:30pm, Saturday and Sunday.

ADULT PRESEASON SKI CLINIC

1994 Olympic Gold and Silver medalist, Diann Roffe, returns as this year’s celebrity coach.

8:30am, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AFTER SKI PARTY & FIREWORKS

Food, drinks and dancing to live bluegrass music by Boss Hawg. 4pm till 7pm, Saturday.

Fireworks presented by the Village of Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority. 5:45pm, Saturday.

OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST PAUL WYLIE Watch 1992 Olympic Silver medalist Paul Wylie dazzle us with his amazing skating talent.

Followed by an on-ice clinic. 7pm Friday.

OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS MEET & GREET

Olympic medalists Diann Roffe and Paul Wylie show their medals and sign autographs. 7:30pm, Friday.

SUGARFEAST

Hot Chocolate and Whipped Cream Bar: 6pm, Friday. Soup Safari: 11am, Saturday.

BBQ and Sweet Tea: 5pm, Saturday. Lots of food and drink to fill you up and enjoy!

FANTASTIC LODGING SPECIALS

Up to 30% off lodging at participating lodging agencies. www.SeeSugar.com

DECEMBER 13TH-15TH, 2013

A WEEKEND OF WINTER FUN AT SUGAR MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT 1-800-SUGARMT or www.skisugar.com/sugarfest December 2013

Village of

The

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

High Country Magazine

15

The curtain rises on another day

in historic Abingdon.

How will you spend iT? share a candlelit

dinner for two. enjoy live music and

fine locAl wine.

Rekindle the romance

At A cozy b&b.

16

High Country Magazine

888.489.4144 路 visitabingdonvirginia.com

December 2013

Sugar Mountain Resort

1009 Sugar Mountain Drive • Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 www.skisugar.com December 2013

High Country Magazine

17

Paradise A in the Mountains

From original owner Lot Estes, whose grist mill and ice house drew the community to his mid-19th century property, to self-made millionaire Luther J. Snyder, who hosted lavish 20th Century parties, the resort has entertained guests and embraced the community for generations.

Story by Megan Northcote

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long a dining room wall in Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola Resort, painted in artist Bob Timberlake’s unmistakable penmanship, is one of the acclaimed North Carolina designer’s favorite Bible verses. About a half dozen quotes, all personally chosen by and elegantly scrawled on various walls by Timberlake, are sprinkled throughout the restaurant. But this verse, in particular, speaks strongly to the Southern charm and hospitality that has shaped Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock for generations.

That feeling of grace and generosity is evident in Bob Timberlake’s customized weathervane, which spins at the apex of The Bob Timberlake Inn and features a metal cast of the artist’s signature quill pen. It’s in the work of Timberlake, whose realistic paintings and rustic yet elegant home furnishings grace every room in the inn and restaurant, evoking a nostalgic feeling of yesteryear. It’s in the soft glow of the holiday lights trimming Timberlake’s and Chetola Lodge and in the comforting warmth of the crackling fire pit on the outdoor dining patio overlooking Chetola Lake. It’s in that very sevenacre body of water, home to a family of swans and stocked with mountain stream trout that have attracted fishermen for decades. And it’s in the countless miles of trails that wind behind this 87-acre resort, connecting visitors to the property once owned by the legendary Moses Cone and now protected by the Blue Ridge Parkway. These well-preserved and oft-hiked carriage trails are a legacy to the area’s natural beauty and one that links past and present, just like Chetola.

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December 2013

A mountain retreat with a rich and storied history, Chetola Resort has served as a gathering place for families to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and countless other special occasions for the last 160 years. A place where memories are made and hearts are filled.

From original owner Lot Estes, whose grist mill and ice house drew the community to his mid19th century property, to self-made millionaire Luther J. Snyder, who hosted lavish 20th Century parties, the resort has entertained guests and embraced the community for generations. And current owner Kent Tarbutton, who purchased the resort in 1997, still promotes and maintains that same sense of mountain tranquility and warm hospitality, an authentic quality that attracts thousands of guests each year.

In fact, in the dining room where he painted his favorite Bible verse, Timberlake, now in his 70s, is frequently found circulating from table to table, socializing with the guests and entertaining strangers as if they were guests in his own home.

And while each season at Chetola possesses its own charm, there’s nothing quite like wintertime at Chetola. Simply put, they’re magical. From Thanksgiving weekend festivities, to Christmas dinner buffets, or January’s Winterfest Polar Plunge, no time of the year draws more families, couples and skiers to Chetola than the holiday season.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland Horses’ hooves strike the pavement, silver bells on the

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harness jingling with each step. As the horsedrawn carriage rounds Chetola Lake, each passenger, old and young alike, looks wide-eyed at the glow of more than 25,000 Christmas lights reflecting in the water. Everyone’s eyes are first drawn to the oversized reindeer in the middle of the lake. In one animated swoop, guests watch as the illuminated figure casts his rod into the water and reels in a flashing fish. As the carriage ride continues, shimmering ice skaters, a nativity scene and a four-car toy train come into view.

Standing sentinel just outside of the restaurant’s entrance are two animatronic drummer boys, this year’s newest additions to the twinkling menagerie, who greet guests enjoying complimentary hot chocolate and housemade cookies.

This is Chetola’s Festival of Lights display, an annual event that officially begins at dusk the Friday after Thanksgiving. The lights remain up through the last weekend in January, which marks the town’s annual Winterfest celebration in downtown Blowing Rock. Incidentally, the Festival of Lights is so popular that it spurred a change to the town ordinance, which originally stipulated all holiday lights must come down by Jan. 2.

For the Caugh family from Calabash, NC, the event is one of several holiday festivities that have enticed them to spend Thanksgiving weekend at the resort for the past two years. Ann Caugh and her husband enjoy bringing their children, Connor, 9, and Parker, 4, to partake in the holiday fun.

First and foremost, the holiday festivities are primarily for the children, said resort owner Tarbutton. “We’re in a different generation where the nuclear family is not nuclear anymore, we’re cosmic, [connected by our phones and computers],” he said. “Because of that, this place has become a central place for families to come and join together.”

In what has quickly become a family tradition, the Caughs relish the enchantment provided by the Thanksgiving weekend festivities: horse and carriage rides, visits with Santa, and the annual Thanksgiving dinner buffet that always sells out. “We are honored that people choose to spend their day of thanks with us at Chetola,” said Marcia Greene, Chetola’s Director of Marketing. More than 500 guests pack two rooms filled with row after row of Southern holiday favorites -- assorted cheeses and fruit, salads, deviled eggs, fresh baked breads, mounds of seafood like Alaskan king crab legs, jumbo shrimp, smoked mussels, oyster salads, and smoked and grilled trout and salmon, a carving station of prime rib and roast turkey with dressing and cranberry sauce. And that’s just the first room. Another holds savory sides and two tables of homemade desserts. “If you want it and we don’t have it, it doesn’t exist,” said Res20

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December 2013

Longtime emcee and Polar Plunge Ringmaster Tracy Brown with Polar Plunger, 2014 emcee and WBTV News anchor John Carter.

No WinterFest would be complete without the kick off event, WinterFeast at Timberlake’s Restaurant. This year marks the 16th year.

The Symphony by Chetola Lake is an exquisitely unique event that visitors and residents alike look forward to each summer in July.

Driving around a snow-covered Chetola Lake is a beautiful and romantic retreat for many couples that visit Chetola. This snow-covered route is a favorite for newlyweds as a beautiful path to wedding bliss. taurant Manager Clarence Stroud. True, laughs Ann. “We decided we’d never do just turkey for Thanksgiving again.”

Another delight for the youngest members of the Caugh family takes place in the Kid’s Camp room, where children crowd around tables to adorn sweet treats for the annual cookie decorating event. Cookies of all shapes, from stars to Christmas trees, are piled high with sprinkles, gumdrops, icing and an assortment of other sweet, finishing touches. Then, the children parade downstairs, cookies in hand, for a chance to sit on Santa’s lap, many of whom offer their cookie as a personal gift to Old Saint Nick. But this just isn’t any Santa.

“He is the real Santa, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Stroud said. “His Santa costumes are incredibly beautiful. This is a college-educated Santa that has been to Santa school.”

Yes, Wayne Lanning of Lexington not only looks and sounds exactly like Santa – with a full white beard, big, round belly and deep, jolly “ho, ho, ho” – he even received an all-expense paid trip from Bob Timberlake to attend the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Mich., where he graduated in October 2000.

It’s family-friendly detailed experiences like these during Thanksgiving weekend that keep the Caugh family coming back.

“This is really a beautiful resort and you can’t find that just anywhere,” Ann said. “The staff is so friendly and helpful. Everything is just top notch. It’s a good experience every time we go.”

Tarbutton said the staff works hard to create that magical experience for all families each season. “Everyone’s looking to have that family memory made,” he said. “It’s really a magical winter wonderland.”

December 2013

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

From Homestead to Hotspot By today’s standards it was mere pocket change – five cents per acre – with which Lot Estes purchased the original 100 acres in 1846 to build his mountain retreat. At the time, only a horse stable and way station for freight, passengers and mail stood on the property. After the Civil War, Estes built himself a four-room family home, which he later expanded to become the first boarding house in town. To serve the community, he also constructed an ice house where 100 pounds of ice from the lake could be sold for 10 cents. By the time Estes turned the property over in 1892 to Alabama native William Stringfellow, Estes had already begun to transform the tranquil acres into a hub of community activity.

Stringfellow, who was suffering from tuberculosis, had been urged by his wife to purchase the estate, believing that cooler mountain weather would improve his health. The couple named the resort Chetola, Cherokee for “haven of rest,” and converted it back to a private, winter home. Despite his failing health, Stringfellow expanded the property, building on top of the way station; in fact, some of the beams used in the loft can still be seen inside the attic of the Timberlake Inn, Tarbutton said. The

December 2013

Stringfellows frequently hosted private parties at the estate, inviting neighbors such as the Cones and Broyhills, as well as civic groups, like the first area Boy Scout troop.

Yet it was the well-heeled J. Luther Snyder, his wife and six children who were renowned for throwing lavish parties that attracted community socialites.

Snyder moved into his summer home in 1926. Beginning as a one-horse wagon Coca-Cola merchant peddling on the streets of Charlotte, Snyder quickly became known as the “Coca-Cola King of the Carolinas,” owning 10 bottling plants in the Southeast. “He was a millionaire during the Great Depression,” Tarbutton marveled. Snyder built summer homes for all of his children, and like the Vanderbilts of Biltmore Estate, a two-lane bowling alley and an indoor pool to boot. Today, the wooden structure encasing the bowling alley on the northern side of the property primarily serves as a storage shed to house the Festival of Lights display in the off-season.

Snyder died at age 83 in 1957 and although the estate remained in his family until 1972, the lively, community atmosphere was never quite the same.

Between the 1960s and 1990s, business developers recognized the opportunity to capitalize on the property’s raw, natural beauty through a series of

projects that could potentially generate a flood of tourists and pump money into the local economy. But the business ventures weren’t as successful as envisioned; however, an interval ownership venture in the 1970s later morphed into the first Chetola condominiums. A popular accommodation on the property today, the condominiums total 229, 100 of which are rental units ranging in size from one to four bedrooms.

And that brings us to today, thanks to long-time hotelier Kent Tarbutton and his mother, Rachael Renar, who in 1997 purchased the resort. From the outset Tarbutton’s vision was always to return the resort to that nostalgic “social village” that thrived in Snyder’s era, a time when family and friends could enjoy home-cooked meals, quaint accommodations with tasteful Appalachia décor, and an abundance of restorative, outdoor recreation amidst a brilliant mountain backdrop.

Honoring the Past - ‘Inn’ style In the fall of 2004, when Tarbutton began undertaking the project of restoring the Manor House Estate, the property’s preeminent building, he had

Bob Timberlake, Kent Tarbutton and Childress Winemaker Mark Friszolowski attend Chetola Winemaker’s Dinner. an epiphany. While meeting with the resort’s then corporate sales manager Margaret Holder, now the resort’s general manager, he began to describe the images that came to mind when he thought about what the resort must have looked like around the turn of the 20th Century.

“I feel like I’m Stringfellow,” Tarbutton recalls saying. “I’m sitting here in a big, overstuffed yellow chair, smoking a pipe and there’s a fire roaring, there’s a dog at my feet. I just got back from hunting. I’m probably wearing an ascot and a jacket from that time period.” It was

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that quaint, pastoral scene that Tarbutton wished to evoke through the furnishings and décor for his new inn. Yet, the problem, he admitted, was that he was “no designer, by any stretch of the imagination.”

Fortunately, after hearing his vision for the inn, Holder immediately recognized that those images perfectly mirrored Bob Timberlake’s style. And so began the project of transforming the Manor House Estate into the Bob Timberlake Inn, with every furnishing, accessory and painting purchased from the artist’s own line. Each of the eight rooms in the Inn are luxuriously decorated to reflect Chetola’s golden age between the 1920s and 1940s and are named for either one of the resort’s former owners or one of the early pioneers of Blowing Rock. A plaque hangs on the wall of each bedroom, relaying the story behind each individual.

Timberlake’s furniture line is described on his website as “casual historical designs enhanced by a reverence for history, simplicity, versatility, and beauty. The perfect complement to today’s way of living.” This Arts and Crafts style, popular during the early 20th century, is intended to reflect an upscale resort that would attract wealthy businessmen

Top Left: The Stringfellow Family enjoys an outing on Chetola Lake in the early 1900s. Chetola has a long and varied history, with the Stringfellow family owning it until 1919 and the Snyder family taking ownership in 1926. Through the years, Chetola stood as beautiful and regal as ever.

Above: The spectacular Chetola Estate, as it stood in 1897.

William Stringfellow and his family, who together Luther Snyder and family, who owned Chetola from owned Chetola from 1892-1919.

1926-1972.

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December 2013

from the flatlands trying to escape the summer heat. Likewise, most of the realist Timberlake paintings lining the walls depict simple, serene mountain living – from an old homestead with a setting sun or Timberlake’s good friend Charles Kuralt wading in a crystal clear mountain stream. One of the biggest inspirations behind Timberlake’s work is his love of hunting and fishing. “If I was to synopsize Bob, I’d have to say I think he’s God and country and grandkids and hunting and fishing and talent,” Tarbutton said.

Seasoned with Success It was an otherwise uneventful day in August 2011 as Tarbutton and Stroud were inside the resort’s then Manor House Restaurant, taste-testing the chef’s newest hot wings, when they smelled smoke. At first dismissing it as the aroma drifting from the Steak on the Lake grill, the men continued eating.

Bob Timberlake at Chetola taking some time to enjoy the grounds, with reel and wine in hand.

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High Country Magazine

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The Man Behind The Big, Red Suit W hen Wayne Lanning’s granddaughter, Haley Ray, was 4 years old, she saw Santa at a Christmas function and announced “Pawpaw is Santa.” All he needed to do was grow out his white beard. So Lanning, who already had a big round belly and whose jet black hair had long since turned white, did just that – he grew out his beard. Sure enough, his resemblance to Santa proved uncanny.

To this day, Lanning’s youngest granddaughter tells him, “I can’t go anywhere without everyone thinking you’re Santa Claus.”

“One day, I hope to write a book about how I became Santa called ‘Through Haley’s Eyes’,” Lanning said.

Donning his red suit every holiday season, Lanning has been booked solid, making boys and girls Christmases a little brighter as he travels to parades, churches and other festive functions.

“I have to turn a lot of requests down,” Lanning said.

For the last 21 years, playing Santa has come naturally to Lanning, and he even has the certificate to prove it. In 2000, Lanning, who works as the warehouse manager at The Bob Timberlake Gallery in Lexington, received a special gift from Timberlake: an all-expense paid trip to attend the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Mich. Heralded as the oldest, continuously running Santa School in the world since 1937, each year the nonprofit gathers more than 100 aspiring Santas for three days of 40-hour, intensive Saint Nick training taught by other experienced Kris Kringles. Students graduate with a diploma and a wealth of knowledge including everything from the history of St. Nicholas, reindeer trivia, Christmas songs and stories, tips for dressing like Santa, and even Santa sign language.

The experience culminates with a trip to Bronner’s, the self-proclaimed world’s largest Christmas store. It was there that the dean of the Santa school observed Lanning interacting with a group of disabled children and was amazed by what he saw. As Lanning tells it, despite the 26

High Country Magazine

children’s challenges, he managed to get them all to quiet down, sit in a circle and listen attentively as he told stories of his reindeer and favorite holiday traditions.

“At the end of the week, the dean told me, out of all of the Santas, you’re the best,” he remembers. For Lanning, hearing the stories from those less fortunate children and making a difference in their lives is what it’s all about.

Some of the responses he’s received from children when he asks what they want for Christmas have been simply heartbreaking, he says. Some kids want their parents to get back together. One little boy just wanted his brother who had been diagnosed with cancer to get

December 2013

Wayne Lanning

well. Each year, Lanning visits Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston Salem where he’s had the privilege of brightening children’s holidays who are suffering from terminal illnesses. The one experience he’ll never forget, Lanning said, was the time he prayed with one boy who had cancer and didn’t have much longer to live.

When he left his room, Lanning was stopped by the boy’s father, who hugged him profusely and told Lanning “This has been the best Christmas we’ve ever had.”

For the last 10 years, Timberlake has invited Lanning to Chetola Resort to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Lanning suits up. First come the long johns, then the black pants, and finally the red velvet cloak and shiny black boots. Then he and occasionally his wife, Jeanie, dressed as Mrs. Clause, stand beside the Christmas tree in the restaurant’s main lobby, as the children line up to sit on his lap and tell him their Christmas wishes.

Throughout the day, the couple will mingle with the guests, passing out candy canes to the kids and taking photos. Lanning said he’ll never forget the first time he was Santa in the downtown Blowing Rock parade. As the tradition goes, he climbed into the fire truck bucket and held on as the ladder was raised, affording Santa an excellent view as he waved to his cheering fans. But as the crowd dispersed and the fire truck left, people began to wonder ‘where was Santa?’

“The fire truck sped away on call, but they never let me get off,” Lanning laughs. “They tell me they’re going to have to watch me this year.”

But the humorous mishaps make the experience all the more fun and Lanning doesn’t have any plans of Chetola’s Santa retiring anytime soon. “I hope to be Santa at Chetola as long as I live,” Lanning said. “I love it there, it’s a wonderful place. I don’t regret getting up to go to work in the morning.”

Kent Tarbutton Yet as the smoke smell prevailed, they dashed outside, scouting the property for the source of the flames to no avail. Then they saw it: the outside wall of the restaurant engulfed in 25 feet of flames. After the fire department was quickly dispatched and promptly extinguished the flames, Tarbutton and Stroud’s stomachs got the best of them. They went back inside for the wings.

While the fire damage, which was limited to a kitchen service area and part of the kitchen’s roof and walls, was surprisingly contained, it was just enough to inspire Tarbutton to rebuild the restaurant. For one year the kitchen staff shared cooking facilities with Meadowbrook Inn, just around the corner in Blowing Rock. “The thing I’m most proud of is that we didn’t lay off any kitchen staff and we didn’t lose a single booked event,” Stroud said. A large number of events, including many high-profile dining functions, such as Timberlake’s 75th birthday celebration, were held on the grounds of the Inn and largely went off without a hitch, Greene remembers. In the meantime, the redesign of the resort’s restaurant was underway, resulting in some surprising historical discoveries, as the Manor House Restaurant, which occupied the main level of the original 1846 Estate House, was excavated. For example, a turn-of-the-century fireplace was left exposed, revealing a perfectly intact log likely left behind by Stringfellow. A fireplace mantel, upon which the log now rests, was handcrafted by Tarbutton’s late stepfather, Stan Renar, who sculpted it from the wood used in the original estate home.

Timberlake’s Restaurant officially opened its doors in July 2012 and now serves breakfast and dinner year round.

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Taking The Plunge I

never in my life thought I would jump through the ice, but I did it,” said Joan Hearn, who has been jumping with her husband Dick since the first Winterfest Polar Plunge nearly 16 years ago.

This year at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, the Hearns, now in their 70s, will once again line up with other jumpers from across the country and make a splash into Chetola Lake. Enduring frigid temperatures is all in the name of several local charities benefited by this fundraiser. This year’s charities are Western Youth Network and the Watauga County Humane Society.

Jumpers dress in their most creative (and oftentimes, outlandish) costumes, vying for a chance to take home the “Golden Plunger” award for best costume.

For the past 10 years, the Hearns have proudly taken home the award, and each year, they wear a different costume -- from a sailor and a mermaid to a mouse and block of cheese, all of which are handmade by Joan. “You might say we’re addicted,” Dick laughs.

The couple isn’t the only pair of fanatics who show up each year. Jumpers come dressed as Elvis to Marilyn Monroe, or a Florida denizen clad only in a bikini.

Some jump individually, some in pairs and some find (mental) strength in numbers.

Others jump in celebration of a life milestone, like the teacher from a Mecklenburg County high school whose class sponsored her jump after she beat cancer.

“There’s definitely been more out-of-towners jumping than locals,” said Tracy Brown, Director of the Blowing Rock Transportation Development Authority, who has been jumping since the first plunge. Brown has served as the event emcee for the past 10 years, but this year will pass the proverbial baton to John Carter, morning anchor for WBTV3 News in Charlotte. Depending on the weather, Brown’s seen as many as 100 and as few as 30 jumpers turn out for the event while being watched by as many as 2,000 spectators.

The last few years Brown has dressed as a ringmaster, wearing red tails and a black top hat. “It’s almost like a circus anyway,” he jokes. “I’m a ringmaster in a circus of polar plungers.”

And there have certainly been circus-worthy performances, such as participants losing part of their costume after jumping. “Their friends and family have to get real close to the ladder when they’re coming out of the lake so the spectators don’t get more than they paid for,” Brown laughs.

Despite the thick fog, the first annual event drew a huge crowd of spectators and a handful of brave plungers, including Tarbutton, Brown, the town mayor and the fire marshall, all of whom carried a toilet plunger. Over the years, Tarbutton has dressed as everything from Uncle Sam to the Chiquita banana lady. Not to be outdone, Brown has also rocked outrageous costumes, including a cowboy, mountain man, pirate and even a pimp.

But no matter his attire, Brown has always been the last to jump, holding the record for having made the plunge more times – 14 to be exact - than any other participant. And he’ll be the first to tell you that it’s cold, usually just above freezing. It’s not uncommon for organizers to spend the day prior to the event chiseling out a block of ice six inches thick so participants can jump.

“This is definitely a cold event, and not something you just wake up and decide to do,” Brown said. “All rational thinking goes out the window when you jump and your instincts start to kick in. If you could walk on water, you’d do it. You’re just trying to get out.”

For this reason, fire department personnel in protective suits remain in the water throughout the event in case of an emergency and to escort each jumper out as quickly as possible. After the plunge, participants are given the choice to sit by the propane heaters bundled in blankets or to go inside Chetola’s spa or hot tub to warm up while sipping on complimentary hot cider and enjoy freshly made cookies.

“We’ve never had a problem or emergency yet,” Brown said. “We make sure everyone understands the risks and signs a waiver before they jump.”

After all, it’s all in the name of fun.

“Don’t stay inside and hide from the cold,” Brown said. “I think everyone should try it at least once.”

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Dick and Joan Hearn

Popular accommodations on the property are the condominiums which total 229, 100 of which are rental units ranging in size from one to four bedrooms.

Three dining rooms offer diners lakefront views, and rich history combines with signature Timberlake décor to create a hunting/lodge motif, the walls adorned with angling and hunting equipment, deer hides, vintage ski equipment, black and white photos of Chetola’s early years, and Timberlake’s landscape paintings. Tucked away at the back of the restuarant, a semiprivate, wine-cellar themed dining room pays tribute to Tarbutton’s roots in Slovenia, where his family owns vineyards and throws festive celebrations each fall in honor of the wine harvest. And in the winter months, guests may enjoy lakefront views while snuggled around the open fire pit on the outdoor two-level patio.

As if the chic yet rustic dining atmosphere isn’t enticing enough, the Timberlake-inspired, Southern cuisine certainly is. When the restaurant reopened, Timberlake was intimately involved in helping the chef create a new menu that pinpointed the type of cuisine and atmosphere Timberlake and Chetola strive to represent – world-class food with Southern charm. “Bob loves these Southernthemed dishes, like Coca-Cola pork loin with a pimento cheese topping” Stroud said. “You’re not going to get much more Southern than that.”

The menu changes seasonally to reflect fresh fruits and vegetables, and loDecember 2013

High Country Magazine

29

Timberlake’s Restaurant and Bob Timberlake Inn, modeled after noted North Carolina artist and designer Bob Timberlake, is known for exceptional artistry and delicious offerings.

cally sourced meats.

The pork loin is tied with the campfire trout as the two most popular dishes served at the restaurant, Stroud said. Trout always remains on the menu, as it reflects Timberlake’s passion for fishing in North Carolina streams as well as Chef Jason Phipps’ boyhood memories of cooking campfire trout wrapped in tinfoil. Guests who fish in Chetola Lake, which is stocked twice a year with nearly 2,000 pounds of trout and bass from local streams, are invited to take their catch to the restaurant’s kitchen, where the staff will prepare and cook it for dinner.

“I enjoy seeing people who aren’t used to Southern-style food,” Stroud said. “To them, it’s a novelty until they take the first bite. You’d be surprised at how many people have never had grits before, and they fall in love with them.”

To the right of the foyer dining room is Headwaters Pub, outfitted in rich wood and offering a wide variety of wines, domestic and imported beer and cocktails, as well as casual pub fare. More recently, the pub began serving Blowing Rock Ale and beers from Boone breweries. The Pub also serves signature wine made at Childress Vineyards, which also provides the restaurant’s house wines. And in typical hospitable style, one of Timberlake’s favorite things to do when he visits Chetola, Stroud said, is socialize with the dinner guests and sign people’s menus and wine bottles.

Fun for the Ages

Timberlake’s patio dining is a spectacular way to enjoy elegant waterfront dining on Chetola Lake.

Headwaters pub features fine wines, cocktails, and full dinner menu with unique historical photography lining the walls.

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December 2013

“There’s something mystical about coming around that lake every day and seeing the swans out and the kids playing and fishing,” Tarbutton said. “But people don’t come to a property like this for itself…there has to be a lot to do. And this place is full [activities all year long].”

But that brings us back to a certain time of year, one that teems with a longing to reconnect with the sights, sounds and experiences of yesteryear. One that finds you on a horse-drawn carriage surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights or dining in a room once likely filled with lavishly dressed guests dancing a reel. Chetola is where that yearning for the past meets the authenticity of the present. Southern hospitality has thrived for more than 160 years in this mountain paradise, and like Timberlake’s enduring artwork, will continue to welcome families for generations to come. 

Photography provided by Chetola Resort

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HAYES SCHOOL OF MUSiC

20th Anniversary

2Holiday Scholarshipy Concertw= STORY By Allison West // PhotogrAphy by KAtie WArren

H

owever you choose to prepare for the holidays, chances are there is a ritual involved to help celebrate the occasion. Maybe it’s the rabid daily relocation of that ridiculous adorable elf on the shelf. Maybe it’s shoving a giant turkey leg and a goblet full of gravy down your gullet while watching grown men pound the stuffing out of each other over a leather orb. Or perhaps it’s joining a mob of crazed shoppers racing at breakneck speed to scoop up the last pair of crushed velvet plaid pants that match absolutely nothing in their collective closet (but they were 75% off!). And, 32

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December 2013

of course, there are the definitive (and certainly more tranquil) seasonal icons such as Charlie Brown and the Grinch, or the Mouse King and Ebenezer Scrooge who, once viewed on either TV or the stage, allow you to say, Okay, now it’s Christmas. In our particular community, that seal of approval comes courtesy of the Holiday Scholarship Concert, an Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music event celebrating its 20th anniversary on Dec. 6 at 7:30pm in the newly renovated Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of ASU.

The Hayes School of Music Holiday Scholarship Concert has been signaling the beginning of the holiday season in the High Country for 20 years, as shown in these pictures from years past.

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Because Christmas music is mostly vocal, there is a greater preponderance of choirs than instrumentalists. Audiences will enjoy many holiday songs sung by choirs like this one from a past performance, shown here in Farthing Auditorium.

“One thousand people come to this and this is what they do every year. If I don’t do anything else while I’m here, if that’s what I’m able to contribute, then that’s fine with me.”

3

Dr. Stephen Hopkins, Hayes School of Music’s Director of Choral Activities

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December 2013

Choirs practice together to ensure harmony, and separately to perfect individual voices to add to the groups with Dr. Hopkins.

An audience-pleasing grab bag of both sacred and secular tunes (from “The 12 Days of Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” to “Feliz Navidad” and “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah), the concert, says Dr. Stephen Hopkins, the Hayes School of Music’s Director of Choral Activities, has increasingly become a seasonal pre-requisite for area families.

“Time and again at the end of the concert, you’ll hear, ‘Now Christmas can begin,’” reflects Hopkins, who has coordinated and directed each concert since its inception in December 1993. “One thousand people come to this and this is what they do every year. If I don’t do anything else while I’m here, if that’s what I’m able to contribute, then that’s fine with me.”

And while it doesn’t hurt that the concert is remarkably affordable, particularly for a live performance — at a price of merely $10 per person (and children younger than 6 are free), a family of four can attend the live concert for the equivalent or even less than a trip to the movie (theatre popcorn is a financial game changer) — ticket price is not the primary reason why concertgoers routinely flock to the event.

Moreover, it’s the down-to-a-science combination of quality, consistency and crowd-pleasing arrangements that bounce from standards (“Deck the Hall” from Handel’s Messiah) to satire (“God Rest Ye Merry Mensch,” a klezmer-teeming take on the buoyant classic) that pulls audiences back like a candy-covered magnet. “Of course the performers change from year to year,” remarks Hopkins of the ever matriculating lineup, “and because Christmas music is mostly vocal, December 2013

High Country Magazine

35

Holiday Scholarship Concert Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, ASU, Boone.

December 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, free for children 6 and younger Purchase tickets at Schaefer Center Box Office or by calling 800-841-2787

2013 Performers Blazing Bassoons Brass Choir Brass Quintet Chamber Singers Flute Ensemble Gospel Choir Steely Pan Steel Band Symphony Orchestra Treble Choir Trombone Choir Trumpet Choir University Singers

“Most everything we do is acoustic. It's not amplified. The sound will literally envelop the audience.”

3

there is a greater preponderance of choirs than instrumentalists. But the format has pretty much stayed the same since day one.”

For example, every concert opens with the University Singers and the Brass Choir’s introduction of “Personent hodie,” a procession in Latin, and is capped off by the Symphony Orchestra’s rousing rendition of “Sleigh Ride”. “If we don’t play ‘Sleigh Ride’, I get hate mail,” laughs Hopkins of the reason Leroy Anderson’s popular piece always receives final billing. And no fewer than a dozen School of Music groups (as well as the occasional faculty soloist) take the stage … and any nook and cranny available: front of curtain, pit, bal36

High Country Magazine

December 2013

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cony, you name it. "Every inch of space in the Schaefer Center is liberally used," says Hopkins, "so that we can get lots of different groups performing. And it’s bang, bang, bang, there’s no time wasted. You don’t have to wait as people walk on and off stage. There’s another performance immediately ready to go.”

Of course the transition from the old Farthing Auditorium to the renovated state-of-the-art Schaefer Center presents a unique but not unwelcome set of challenges. For instance, the removal of the steps from the audience to the stage will require Hopkins to re-choreograph the entrance and the upgrade from two aisles to four, he says, “will take us a little extra time to get used to.” But because each group has independently rehearsed their respective pieces, “extra time” is surprisingly just a matter of taking one additional night to rehearse traffic patterns and the new acoustics. It’s the enhancement of the latter, he says, that makes this year’s concert equally anticipated by both the director and the performers. “Most everything we do is acoustic,” says Hopkins, who has also served as the director of ASU’s acclaimed Cannon Music Camp since 2001. “It’s not amplified. Except for soloists and the piano, there will not be any microphones. The sound will literally envelop the audience. It’s a completely

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“Time and again at the end of the concert, you’ll hear, ‘Now Christmas can begin.’”

3

different acoustic landscape.”

And while the audience is the aural beneficiary of this annual event, let’s not forget that there are even larger more benevolent forces at work here. All monies raised each year go toward scholarships for students in the Hayes School of Music. Hopkins says when incoming freshmen audition for the school of music, they could also be auditioning for a scholarship. But the funds aren’t strictly limited to freshmen. “Sometimes the money goes to returning students,” explains Hopkins. “Sometimes students bloom when they are here and some remaining money is given to them.

But it’s always based on merit and it’s always by audition.”

While the concert’s first five years drew a respectable $1,200 to $1,500 per concert for the scholarship program, organizers in 1998 recognized the missed potential and made changes that increased the proceeds tenfold. By raising the ticket price and initiating a sponsorship program that solicited businesses and individuals as sponsors, each concert since then has accrued an average of $10,000, bringing the cumulative total over the last 19 years to an impressive $135,000. Such accomplishment, in addition to the attractiveness of the blanketing acoustics, demonstrates that there is always room for growth, the potential to raise more funds to distribute to deserving students.

Of course, growth comes with its own set of demands — increased time commitments on both student performers (who also need to, you know, study for exams) and faculty. And while Hopkins envisions a day when he can combine the mass choirs and the orchestra for a stunning finale, at this moment he’s pleased with the current program design, as happily fulfilled as the audience he reaches each year.

“My yearly Christmas present,” he says, “is the smiles of the people when they leave. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the people leave there really happy.” And the other tenth? Hopkins chuckles, “The other tenth are Grinches.” 

Mr. Chung directs the performers of the orchestra in rehearsals as the deadline draws ever closer.

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Ryan Costin at the Helm For

Beech Mountain Resort

By Megan Hall

I

n today’s world we hear far too often tales of business leaders becoming detached from their companies and customers. But for those of us who have made the trek up Beech Mountain, we know of a different tale; a tale of a young General Manager who returned to the mountain to carry on a treasured family legacy and hold tight the idea of customers as an extension of that family.

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Since taking the reins in 2008, Ryan Costin has been busy making Beech Mountain Resort a destination for locals and tourists alike by renewing the resort’s focus on customer service, improving their snowmaking capabilities and rebranding the resort to encompass activities in all four seasons.

Even with an established customer base, tackling that many tasks at once may seem a

Since taking the reins in 2008, Ryan Costin has been busy making Beech Mountain Resort a destination for locals and tourists alike by renewing the resort’s focus on customer service, improving their snowmaking capabilities and rebranding the resort to encompass activities in all four seasons.

Photo by Kristian Jackson Out grooming the slopes on Beech Mountain with Ryan Costin at the wheel of his 400 Park Pisten Bully.

bit daunting, but it would suffice to say that ski resort management is in Ryan’s blood. The Charlotte native represents the third generation of the Costin family to be part of Beech Mountain Resort. His father, John, is the President, and his late grandfather, Ray, purchased the operation in 1985.

“I think [Ryan] deserves a great deal of praise for what he has done for the resort,” said

Shawn Williams, Ryan’s older sister. “Working in a family business can be so hard because we know how much this means to our dad. Carrying on what my grandfather loved about the resort is a high standard that we set for ourselves.”

However, it’s not all about heredity; Ryan learned a thing or two during his college years at Western State College of Colorado where December 2013

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he studied ski resort management. He also picked up a few tricks post-academia when he traveled to New Zealand and South America where he worked at resorts and spent a lot of time hitting the slopes.

Little did he know how valuable those experiences would be in 2008 when his father asked him to take over as General Manager.

“I felt like the company was in a very unique position [in 2008],” said Costin. “[Myself and the staff] focused all our attention on creating a place that we would like to spend time. We feel like there has been tremendous progress.”

Ryan’s father, John Costin, said, “What Ryan sees at the resort consumes his focus. He is determined to make a superior product. I’m so impressed with his thinking and how he analyzes data and thinks about the future of the resort while maintaining a high-quality day-to-day operation.”

In the winter alone, the resort offers 16 trails, seven lifts, four restaurants, two sport shops, and a full rental facility, among other things. And all this can be found at a peak elevation of 5,506 feet, lending itself to sweeping views of the

Ryan Costin

Ryan Costin and his siblings Ryan above with his brother Jack, his Dad, and his daughter Harper. Pictured to the right, with his siblings, from left to right: Shawn Williams, Kelly Costin, Jack, Ryan and Casey Costin. And Ryan below at one year old and racing as a teen.

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Helicopter View of Beech Mountain Beech Mountain Resort offers 16 trails, seven lifts, over 95 skier acres with four restaurants, two sport shops, and a full rental facility, and plenty more. And all this can be found at a peak elevation of 5,506 feet, lending itself to sweeping views of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Photo by

Amy Morrison

majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.

“All the North Carolina ski resorts complement each other,” said Costin. “It is not uncommon for people to visit all three local mountains [Sugar, Beech and Appalachian], but we all have our own niches. At Beech, we take pride in our snow making equipment, variation of terrain and expansive village of shops. We continue to hear customers comment on our reinvestment in the resort.”

John Costin added, “Ryan no longer thinks about the resort’s competition.

He just stays focused on our product. He has many of the same philosophies I did when I was the General Manager back in the 80s. He is on a first-name basis with the customers and gets to know them as individuals not just as customers, and he pays close attention to every detail of the resort, no matter how small.”

A Focus on Snow Making Snow making in progress on the top of Beech. “We’ve made a lot of strategic changes to our snow making operation. Snow making is our competitive advantage and we’re really proud of the product we’re creating for our customers. We receive a lot of compliments from long-time customers about the quality of the snow. ”

Slow and Steady Progress Winter sports are the bread and butter of Beech Mountain so having impeccable snowmaking capabilities is a must. Even with an average annual snowfall of 80 inches, Beech, along with every regional 44

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December 2013

Talia Freeman

Photo by

Kristian Jackson

quality of the snow. ” ski resort, often struggles to maintain a solid base of snow Gil Adams, director of due to a constant fluctuation skier services, added, “Ryan’s in temperatures. With that in philosophy is to not open the mind, one of the first changes slopes until we have a quality to the resort was to improve product. We always strive to the snow making equipment, open by Thanksgiving weekincluding 12 new snow guns end, but we won’t open unless just this year, which will cut we’re completely confident the snowmaking time by 50 in our product. However, the percent. The resort even uses addition of new snow makthe same caliber snow gun ing equipment makes that an that is also being used at the easier task. It used to take us upcoming Winter Olympics in 48-72 hours to create a good Russia. base, and now we can do it in Photo by Kristian Jackson less than 24 hours.”

“We’ve made a lot of strateIn addition to snow makgic changes to our snow mak- "It used to take us 48-72 hours to create a good ing operation,” said Talia Free- base, and now we can do it in less than 24 hours.” ing equipment, Beech has also renewed its focus on customer man, director of marketing and sales. “Snow making is our competitive advantage and we’re re- service even in regard to small details such as requiring all ski ally proud of the product we’re creating for our customers. We lift operators to wear matching uniforms.

“We appreciate all of our customers,” said Costin, “so we receive a lot of compliments from long-time customers about the

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strive to give them the true winter experience. The little details make a big impact.”

Costin stays very involved to ensure customers receive a quality product on a day-to-day basis, no matter what.

“Ryan hits the slopes just about every day,” said Adams, who has worked for the resort since the 1980s. “He wants to experience the conditions our customers are experiencing. He wants to make sure the employees have everything they need.

He is even often seen picking up trash on the grounds; that’s not something you see many General Managers doing. He considers the resort his home and is embarrassed if it isn’t top-quality.”

Williams added, “The grooming of the mountain is also crucial to [Ryan] and because of that he helps groom the product in conjunction with the other groomers.

We joke at meetings throughout the winter that we don't want him too well-rested because that means there isn't enough snow on the ground!”

In addition to a high-speed quad lift, which offers panoramic vistas, the resort also offers two terrain parks.

“Terrain parks are a huge part of the industry,” said Costin, “and we chose to embrace that and make a large capital investment to get our amenities on par with the rest of the country. The parks have been very well-received by our customers.”

However, the resort isn’t just for worldclass skiers and snowboarders. North Carolina has a growing population of first-time skiers and Beech Mountain is at the ready.

“We kick started our efforts in 2012 and by January 2013, we had expanded our beginning ski school by one hundred percent,” said Freeman. “We are avid participants in Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, which is in January. We offer great package deals and are seeing great retention from those who participate in our ski and snowboard schools.”

An ode to their efforts, in 2013, Beech Mountain Resort was honored by the National Ski Area Association with the “Best Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month Campaign” marketing award.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding schools, Beech Mountain Resort has also been very involved with the adaptive ski program for individuals with disabilities. Each year, the resort hosts a four-day Adaptive Learn to Ski and Race Clinic sponsored by Disabled Sports USA and the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. Instructors travel to Beech Mountain from 46

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Photos by

Amy Morrison

introducing 5,506

I

n addition to skiing Eastern America’s highest slopes, visitors to Beech Mountain Resort can now enjoy the highest ski bar in the East. This winter will mark the debut of “5,506"″ – a glass roundhouse named for Beech Mountain’s elevation in feet above sea level. The facility was built by Umbrella Bars USA of Vermont and will offer food and beverage service in heated comfort surrounded by glass panels. “5,506″ sits on a new observation deck which will be ideal for enjoying the view.

“The cool thing is that it provides a break for skiers and snowboarders to rest at the top of the mountain and get a completely different perspective on skiing in North Carolina than what has been offered in the past,” said Ryan Costin, the resort’s general manager.

The new facility allows patrons to take off their equipment and enjoy food and drinks inside the bar or at outside tables. It includes restrooms, which should be a big hit.

“This concept is not uncommon in the industry, but hasn’t been pursued much in North Carolina and the Southeast,” Costin said. “It’s generated a buzz.

Everybody wanted to know what was going on at the top of the mountain.”

the best adaptive ski programs in the country, and students, mostly from the Southeast, come from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and surrounding areas.

“Change does not happen overnight, but we’re very happy with our progress,” said Costin. “We continue to work hard, set goals for the resort and take pride in our victories. We are focused on providing fresh, updated products for our customers.”

Freeman added, “It’s very rewarding to work at the resort. All the employees are headed toward the same goals while also making sure we have a fun work environment.”

Using All Four Seasons Many locals, and perhaps tourists, have traditionally viewed Beech Mountain primarily as a ski resort, but the folks on the mountain have set out to change that perception.

“We are a four-season resort,” said Freeman, “and having Ryan’s leadership helped us brand ourselves that way. Ryan has a great, young perspective and an aggressive plan for the resort. We were always known as Ski Beech, but now being known as Beech Mountain Resort allows us many more opportunities to take advantage of our great location and seasonal weather.”

In addition to their snowy offerings, Beech Mountain Resort now boasts an 18-hole disc golf course and expansive mountain bike trails.

Opened in the summer of 2013, the disc golf course features Innova Discatcher Pro Targets, framed Disconcepts launch pad rubber tee pads and custom tee signs. The course even requires one to three chair lift rides for spectacular views and a welcome break.

“We were really pleased with the first season of disc golf,” said Adams.

“Our customers really seemed to enjoy it, and now that we have a year of experience under our belt we plan to make some tweaks and changes to the course for next summer to make it even better.”

Though mountain biking is not a new concept for the resort, they’ve really started to show their expertise in the past few years.

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DISCOVER OUR POSITIVE ALTITUDE!

Play tennis, hike, shop, tube, zipline or just relax while enjoying some of the best views around! From nature lovers to adrenaline junkies, there is so much to do and see in the area, and staying in Seven Devils makes everything easily accessible from our great central location. You will find an array of lodging choices... whether you stay for a weekend, a season or a lifetime!

Town of Seven Devils For Zip Line: 828/963-6561

For Information on the Town of Seven Devils: 828/963-5343 • www.SevenDevils.net Ad Sponsored by the Seven Devils Tourism Development Authority 48

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December 2013

Talia Freeman

M

uch of Beech Mountain Resort's success can be attributed to the efforts of Talia Freeman, director of marketing and sales. Talia graduated from Lees-McRae College in 2006 and joined the Beech Mountain family in 2008. Under her leadership, the resort was honored with the “Best Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month Campaign” marketing award by the National Ski Area Association. When she's not on the mountain, she is also very involved in the High Country. She works closely with the Beech Mountain Tourism Development Authority and serves as a coach for Girls on the Run as well as a member of the local chapter's board of directors.

“We’ve been lucky to host events such as USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals and USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships,” said Freeman. “We spent a lot of time this summer working on our trails and really expanding our entire system. We hope to keep growing and potentially offer lessons and other amenities in the future.”

Costin added, “The local community and visitors have taken to our trails more quickly than we anticipated and we couldn’t be happier. We’re now open to new demographics in the summer, which we hope will expand our winter demographic as well. We want our customers to enjoy the resort in every season.”

To meet the growing need for bike rentals, the resort forged a partnership with Boone-based Magic Cycles. The company now offers a full rental shop on Beech

“It’s very rewarding to work at the resort.

All the employees are headed toward the same goals while also making sure we have a fun work environment.”

January 10-12, 2014: WinterFest

Talia Freeman Mountain complete with bikes, helmets and even body armor.

In an August 2013 interview with Beech Mountain Resort, Michael Boone, owner of Magic Cycles, said, "We've been anxious for somebody to open a bike park at one of the ski slopes and Beech Mountain really made the commitment to outfit their lift and build trails. We've seen the need for that for quite some time."

Trails and disc golf weren’t the only things on the resort’s mind this summer. They were also concocting a unique way to showcase their elevation. The final product, known as 5,506, was named in honor of the peak elevation and is the highest ski bar in the east.

Built by Umbrella Bars USA, 5,506 offers food and beverage service as well as a relaxing observation deck with a panoramic vista.

“The opening of 5506' is another testament to [Ryan’s] vision for the resort’s longevity,” said Williams. “He doesn't consider this just a job; this is what our family built and he just continues to see great things happening here. I am so proud of the direction he has taken the resort. He wants the customer experience to improve every year.

He wants to ensure that your hard-earned money will be spent on a product you’ll love and want to visit again!”

John Costin added, “Ryan was always a very competitive child and athlete, and not much has changed. If he wants something badly enough, he finds a way to make it happen.

He wants this resort to be the best and he is making it a reality. I’m very proud of my son.”

Costin may be known as a man of few words, but the impact of his efforts can be seen in every aspect of the resort and those around him can’t say enough about his excellent work. Costin reminds all of us that family tradition, hard work and dedication are still alive and thriving on Beech Mountain.

Enjoy a full slate of events that will please snow lovers and music lovers with everpopular Cardboard Box Derby, the WinterFest Rail Jam, live music and much more.

February 22, 2014: Banked Slalom

Banked Slalom Races - An awesome day of competition for skiers and snowboaders of all abilities sponsored in part by Edge of World Outfitters of Banner Elk. February 21-22, 80's Retro Weekend

Relive the "new wave" era while enjoying 80s bands, old school DJs, a retro apparel contest and 80s-themed promotions. Wear your most awesome 80s ski gear.

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Shop Local fo�

CHRISTMAS READ ALL ABOUT LOCAL SHOPPING HERE

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THE ART CELLAR

BANNER ELK. 'Tis the season…for art! The Art Cellar Gallery & Frame Shop is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the High Country.

From fine art to folk art, from metalwork to glass, from pottery to paintings, The Art Cellar has that unique, treasured gift perfect for special occasions, Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter Solstice for the art lover and the artist within.

Established in 1993, The Art Cellar began as the lifelong vision of Pamela McKay, who focuses on showcasing the artwork of those indigenous to the mountains of Western North Carolina, which have had an impact on so many in the arts.

Whether it is fresh from the painter’s easel, potter’s wheel, sculpture studio or workbench, The Art Cellar has grand sculptures, ceramic serving pieces and the perfect coffee cup, glass bowls, ornaments, small paintings and much more – including gift certificates for art or framing. The Art Cellar is located at 920 Shawneehaw Avenue on N.C. 184.  828898-5175. www.artcellaronline.com. See ad on page 53

CARLTON GALLERY

BANNER ELK. One of the most established fine art galleries in North Carolina, Carlton Gallery features a spirited collection of artwork in a casually elegant atmosphere.

Celebrating nearly 30 years of business in the High Country, owner Toni Carlton selects creations from traditional to contemporary and features a wide variety of fine art and upscale handmade crafts by over 200 local, regional and national artisans.

From extraordinary blown glass and exceptional pottery to designer jewelry and original paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, we offer an array of exceptional gift ideas for visitors and collectors, alike.

Workshops are conducted by gallery artists in oils, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, expressive and intuitive arts and mixed media collage. These workshops include traditional and abstract landscapes, still life, figurative and visionary. The Carlton Gallery is located at 10360 on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Community.  828-963-4288. www.carltonartgallery.com. See ad on page 51

CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 31Years

Winter Group & Small Works Exhibition November 29 – April 30

A Gallery Filled with Exquisite Gifts PAINTINGS • CLAY • GLASS • FIBER • WOOD • SCULPTURE • JEWELRY 10 Miles South of Boone on Hwy. 105 – Grandfather Mtn. Community Call or check our website for workshop dates

828-963-4288

Open Tuesday – Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-5, Closed Mondays

www.carltongallery.com • carltongallery@carltongallery.com

The Country Gourmet

FOSCOE. Owner Betsy Murrelle has been serving sophisticated customers from around the world since 1974. The Country Gourmet is a gourmet kitchen and home accessory shop that abounds in style, selection and service.

Located in Foscoe, The Country Gourmet has what ever you need to set a beautiful table with an endless variety of linens, table cloths, December 2013

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runners, place mats and napkins of every size and color.

With dozens of name brand selections, The Country Gourmet carries a large selection of the finest ceramic tableware handcrafted in Italy, classic glassware, pewter and casual flatware, Italian and casual dinnerware, cutlery, cookware, kitchenware and a variety of collectible accessories for the home that will always make the perfect gift. Whether it’s a casual or an elegant occasion, The Country Gourmet has the goods to set a beautiful table, impress guests and eat and cook in style.

And, owner Betsy Murrelle says, “If we don’t have what you are looking for in stock, we will find it for you!” The Country Gourmet is located 10543-5 on N.C. 105.  828963-5269. www.thecountrygourmet.com. See ad on page 54

DEWOOLFSON

FOSCOE. When you spend one-third of your life sleeping, a quality down pillow, comforter and/or feathered bed is one of the best investments for a rejuvenating, restful sleep.

DeWoolfson is a High Country business, born and bred. Although DeWoolfson imports a variety of fabrics and goose down fills from Eastern Europe, the business’s office, store and factory are located in Foscoe, supplying European-influenced down products and fine linens to the world’s most comfortable sleepers.

With a seamstress always on duty, custom comforters and the other products are made to order and shipped within 24 to 48 hours all over the High Country, nation and world.

DeWoolfson also stocks one of the largest selections of luxury European linens found anywhere – from France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and other locales. These include well-known names such as Abyss and Habidecor, Matouk, Sferra, Yves Delorme and many more. Good night and sleep tight.  800-833-3696. www.dewoolfsondown.com and www.dewoolfsonlinens.com. See ad on page 5

DOE RIDGE POTTERY

BOONE. The reasonably-priced pottery is stunning, the form and color exceptional.

Bob Meier fell in love with pottery in 1973 after taking a ceramics course on a whim to fill his class schedule at ASU. In 1988, he initially established his studio out of his home on Doe Ridge Road, and since then, Doe Ridge Pottery has moved to a few different locations in Boone.

Today, the workshop/gallery is located in downtown Boone and hundreds of beautiful pieces decorate the gallery, which is home 52

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to 14 other talented artists - from functional pieces that are safe for food, drink, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers to home decor such as lamps and vases. Also, several specialty items exist, such as handmade sinks and the unusual vegetable steamer.

A trip to the gallery sometimes feels like a field trip. The studio is visible from the gallery, and if you walk in at the right time, you may see potters in action, throwing clay on the wheel, entranced in that “Zen-like state.”

“I enjoy the process of making things in series where you’re making the same thing over and over again,” Meier said. “You can almost let your mind wander and it’s like a mantra. You get into a zone or Zen-like state.

It’s a nice place to be because you get into this rhythm of work that creates a calming, metaphysical zone.” Doe Ridge Pottery is located at 585 West King Street below The Bead Box.  828-264-1127. www.doeridgepottery. homestead.com. See ad on page 56

G A L L E R Y

&

F R A M E M A K E R S

Give the Gift of Art Painting Sculpture Glass Regional Pottery Museum Quality Framing

FOOTSLOGGERS

BOONE. The definition of a footslogger is someone who walks, trudges or marches, and Footsloggers has the footwear and accompanying gear for any trek, such as a month-long backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail or a snowy day-hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

But the outdoor-retail shop offers much more than comfortable shoes for any terrain.

From novices to experts, Footsloggers is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and its stocked gear is unparalleled.

Do you want to climb the most rugged cliffs or boulders that exist? Do you want to slip away from the rat race and “get lost” in the backcountry? Do you want to kayak the tumultuous waters of the region or explore nearby waterfalls?

Aside from the four-season attire and highquality climbing, paddling and backpacking gear, perhaps the most intriguing items are the accessories, which are ever changing and would make perfect stocking-stuffers this holiday season.

Local maps, hydration packs, waterproof matches, knives, multi-function watches, tent-repair kits, head lamps, compasses, power bars, mini camp stoves, signal mirrors, ponchos, bear bells with a magnetic silencer, and many more provisions are available at Footsloggers to make any outdoor trek a successful one. Footsloggers is located in downtown Boone and Blowing Rock.  828-295-4453 (Blowing Rock) 828-262-5111 (Boone). www.footsloggers.com. See ad on page 54

Grandfather Vineyard and Winery

BANNER ELK. As boulders corral the nearby

Open MOnday – Saturday 10:00aM – 5:00pM 920 Shawneehaw ave., hwy. 184 • Banner elk, nC 828-898-5175 • www.artCellaronline.Com

Put a twinkle in her eye with a gift from...

... YES, Charlie and Joy are back

697 West King Street | Boone, NC 28607 828-264-6559 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm December 2013

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rushing waters of the Watauga, the Grandfather Vineyard and Winery sits on a terraced mountain side, nestled at the base of Grandfather Mountain. What once started as a hobby for the Tatum Family evolved into the first producing winery in Watauga County.

It’s a treat just to overlook the scenic vineyard, however stepping into the wine-tasting room and sipping the award-winning wines is just icing on the cake. The white, red, rose and ice wines are unique – and that is not only attributed to the skill of Dylan Tatum, the winemaker with a viticulture and enology degree, but also to the weather of the High Country. The warm breezes during the day and cool, crisp nights help develop the flavors and balance the wine.

Also at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery, you will find a wonderful array of wine-themed accessories and gift items –including gift certificates, so don’t forget: wine makes a great gift at Christmas time.

Shipping is available to North Carolina and Florida. The vineyard is located in Banner Elk on Vineyard Lane.  828-963-2400. www. grandfathervineyard.com. See ad on page 55

MAST GENERAL STORE

BOONE & VALLE CRUCIS. Imagine downtown

eral Store. It’s almost inconceivable. The store is a tour de force. Whether snow is on the ground or the leaves are green, yellow red or orange, more visitors pack into the Mast General Store locations in the High Country than they do The Rock during an ASU football game.

The stores are packed with the highestof-quality goods that range from rugged apparel and gourmet kitchenware to oldfashioned toys and women’s fashions that it is also inconceivable to leave the store empty handed. Oh, and don’t forget about the Candy Barrel.

During the holiday season, prices are slashed to accommodate next year’s inventory, so if you are looking for a special gift for a special somebody (even if that person is you!), be sure to stop in on your next visit to the High Country. It’s an experience guaranteed to be pleasing.

Not only has Mast General Store revived the downtowns that it inhabits, but the Mast General Store Family has been good stewards of the High Country and good neighbors to the so many that call the High Country home. Two locations exist on N.C. 194 in Valle Crucis.  828-963-6511. www.mastgeneralstore.com. See ad on page 7

Boone or Valle Crucis without a Mast Gen-

Monkees

BLOWING ROCK. Monkee’s of Blowing Rock is a ladies store beyond your “girlie” imagination, known to carry the finest lines in shoes, clothing and accessories. You can be assured, if you find it at Monkee’s, it’s the most “in” thing. At Monkee’s you will experience boutique shopping as it is meant to be – fun and personal. Their associates have an incredible eye for style and are dedicated to delivering world-class customer service.

Beautifully renovated in January 2013, the locally owned boutique is all about helping ladies walk out feeling beautiful and looking their best. So come by Monkee's in Blowing Rock to enjoy a truly personalized shopping experience in one of the High Country's most beautiful shopping districts.

You're sure to find that unique piece for your wardrobe or that perfect gift for someone special.  828-295-0708. www.monkessofblowing rock.com. See ad on page 57

old World galleries

BOONE. Beginning with a few hundred dollars and a dream a few decades ago in Blowing Rock, Charlie and Joy Travis of Old World Galleries quickly established themselves as the go-to experts for clients in the High Country for estate jewelry, custom pieces and repair and appraisal. After tak-

SHARING IN YOUR ADVENTURES SINCE 1971

untain Life, Sunshine o e Mo r Sn h t ow joy n !

E

www.footsloggers.com

Footsloggers in Downtown Boone Corner of Depot & Howard, (828) 262-5111

Footsloggers in Downtown Blowing Rock 921 Main Street, (828) 295-4453

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ing a decade off from the retail side of things, the Travis' have finally returned to the High Country to help keep up their established relationships and forge new friendships as well at their new location in downtown Boone.

Come find out what has made Charlie and Joy Travis synonymous with quality, service and satisfaction and visit Old World Galleries in Boone for all of your jewelry needs. Their new showroom and friendly service will ensure you find exactly what you're looking for, from a family heirloom estate piece to a beautiful gift for that someone special on your list.  828-264-6559. www.oldworldgalleries.com. See our ad on page 53

S M TS! E IT GIF G IN DAY Z A LI M A HO R FO

SHANNON’S

BOONE. For almost 28 years, Shannon’s Curtain, Bed and Bath has supplied customers in the High Country with indoor decorative and practical merchandise that fits their specific needs.

“I opened in 1985” said owner Shannon Russing, “because there was no home furnishing store in Boone and we needed something.”

A full-line linen store, Shannon’s offers window treatments, bedding, sheets, table linens, bath accessories, shower curtains and an array of other accessories.

“We’re your complete decorating source” Russing said. “We try hard to keep our prices affordable, and we try to give people a real good value for their money.”

The store’s best-selling item is its handmade quilts, Russing said, explaining that quilts fit in with the “lodge look” that is so popular in the area and can compliment nearly any décor.

Russing attributes the store’s success to hard work and getting to know her customers on a personal level.

Shannon’s is located at 1950 Blowing Rock Road in Boone.  828-264-8321. www.shannonscbb. com. See ad on page 52

Giv for e Loc Ho al W lida in y G es ifts

THE SHOPPES AT FARMER’S HARDWARE

“Our terraced mountain vineyard

BOONE. Some places in downtown Boone are iconic and provide a link to the past. Think Boone Drug, Appalachian Twin Theater and Farmer’s Hardware. All three, which have been quintessential to downtown for decades, have had to adapt to the changes and pressures of technology and big-box stores.

Farmer’s Hardware, which originally opened in 1924 as a hardware retailer, closed its doors in 2004, changed its business model and reopened the next summer as an eclectic emporium called The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware.

In 1924, Clyde Greene opened Farmer’s Hardware at the current Boone Bagelry location. Soon, Farmer’s moved to the corner of Depot and King streets, where it stands, albeit in a different form, today. It’s still a local, fam-

and winery nestled at the base of Grandfather Mountain is the first producing winery in Watauga County, NC. Warm breezes during the day and cool crisp nights help develop the flavors and balance Located on Vineyard Lane in Foscoe Tasting Room Open Thursday thru Saturday Noon till 6:00pm & Sundays 1:00 to 5:00pm (828) 963-2400 • www.grandfathervineyard.com

of our wines. We think you’ll find our wines unique. Enjoy and share with friends!”

Steve Tatum, Owner

Sally and Steve Tatum Are Proud To Welcome You To The First Winery In Watauga County December 2013

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55

ily business, though, with Greene’s descendents running the show and providing a 21stcentury vision for Farmer’s.

The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware has more than 100 shops and features a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, handbags, totes, footwear, apparel, baby gifts, handcrafts, framed art, home décor, furniture, toys, stringed instruments, kitchenware, birdfeeders and much more.  828-264-8801. www.shoppesatfarmers.com. See ad on page 52

THE STONE JEWELERS

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BOONE. The Stone Jewelers has a breathtaking collection of fine jewelry studded with green amethyst, pearl, Madagascar ruby, blue sapphire, azure, Tahitian pearl, gold, diamonds and other precious metals and gems.

Established in 1965, The Stone Jewelers is the premier jewelry store in the High Country, striving to offer the very best in service, quality and value. Whether you or your loved ones needs consist of a simple repair or the creation of a complex masterpiece, The Stone Jewelers can service all your jewelry needs.

The store’s showcase features pendants, necklaces, rings, bridal jewelry, earrings, bracelets and more among a number of collections that include Benchmark, Colorel | SG, Mireya, Nancy B, Master IJO Jewelry, Citizen Eco-Drive, Overnight, Rego and Citizen Signature.

From the birth of a child and a father walking his daughter down the aisle to a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Ronnie Wilson, owner of The Stone Jewelers, and his staff are honored to be apart of so many milestones in their customers’ lives. The Stone Jewelers is located at 240 Shadowline Drive in Boone.  828-2642000. www.thestonejewelers.com. See ad on page 11

Tatum Galleries

Wild Bird & Gift Store Not Just a Bird shop ...

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Hats, Gloves, Socks, Sleds ... and fudge!

441 Shawneehaw Ave. • Banner Elk, NC 828-898-5008 • www.wingnitnc.com 56

High Country Magazine

BANNER ELK. A fresh, new vision for your office or home– that’s what Sally and Steve Tatum have, for decades, offered the High Country with their “Home Décor Center,” known as Tatum Galleries in Banner Elk. Since it opened nearly 30 years ago, the showroom has expanded to 6,000 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, floor, wall and window treatment and a huge collection of lamps, artwork, decorative accessories and other unique furnishings.

With a seasoned interior design team, the staff offers years of experience and a variety of styles and choices that can accommodate all design needs and budgets – not to mention great service! The vast collection that Tatum Galleries offers will accentuate your

December 2013

home with timeless furnishings. Whether you need a little direction or a complete revamping, Tatum Galleries can help. Let their beautifully decorated showroom spark your imagination and introduce you to the possibilities that await you inside your home.

Tatum Galleries is located at 5320 N.C. 105 in Banner Elk.  828-963-6466. http://www.tatumgalleries.com. See ad on page 55

Watsonatta

BOONE. “Everything for the horse and the horse’s boss.” Though it’s funny, that’s not a joke. Watsonatta Western World’s store in downtown Boone is overflowing with western wear and includes some of the largest collections in the High Country of cowboy boots, work boots, hats, caps, leather coats, genuine furs, purses, leather handbags, saddlebags, tack, belt buckles, men’s and women’s clothing, toys, saddles and much more.

Recently, local owners Darrel and Ellen Watson, stocked the store with the highly anticipated and coveted Game Day Boots with the ASU logo. Now is the perfect time to support the Black and Gold – and at the same time support one of downtown Boone’s favorite businesses.

Watsonatta Western World has provided the High Country with quality merchandise for four decades. The shop is located at 711 W. King St. Next time you’re strolling through downtown Boone, stop and see their wide array of country-western merchandise.  828-264-4540. www.booneboots.com.

See ad on page 31

wingnit

BANNER ELK. WingN’It is your local wild bird and gift store with an eclectic flair. Not only do they have the largest collection of wild bird houses and feeders and no waste wild bird seed, but they also have quite an eclectic mix of home décor and accessories, a unique collection of gifts, and for the winter they will be carrying hats, gloves, socks and sleds! And don’t forget the fudge!

All year they carry a wide variety of candles, votives, garden flags, wind chimes, linens and all things bird.

Come and pick up some tasty treats in their snack center. WingN'It now offers tasty, delicious fudge and Hershey's Ice Cream to satisfy the sweet tooth of any visitor. This shop has everything you're looking for in one eclectic, unique location.

And now, in season they have become “The Little Red Caboose Christmas Store with a variety of Christmas decorations, ornaments and plenty of gift items at the Red Caboose in Banner Elk.  828-898-5008. www. winginitnc.com. See our ad on page 56

December 2013

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Picture to Begin in...

58

Saving the Appalachian Theatre High Country Magazine

December 2013

Above are historic images of the theatre. The building caught on fire in the '50s because a flame from the popcorn machine spread throughout the building. By the '70s, the neon marquee was removed due to safety concerns. The far-right image depicts the foreclosed, gutted theatre in 2011.

Photos courtesy of the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, Ken Ketchie and Jesse Wood

S Story by Jesse Wood

ince moving to Boone more than 40 years ago, Bettie Bond has worked on various projects, serving on many committees in the town.

But none of those hold a candle to the effort to preserve the 75-year-old theatre in the heart of downtown Boone. In one sentence, Bettie Bond, an executive committee member of the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, summed up the successful ingredients: “Never in my life have I been on a project that had all the elements: the passion, the creativity, the excitement, the leadership, the money – and all in the same room at the same time.”

The project’s completion is still a ways away, yet the nonprofit has secured the deed to the property by repaying the

$624,500 loan from the Town of Boone.

While the capital campaign is still in the silent phase, more than half of the funds to cover the multi-million dollar restoration and ensuing operation costs were raised in about 16 months. Initially, some criticized the town for participating in this costly venture and going out on a limb to purchase the vacant, padlocked building in foreclosure. Yet, the town recouped its funds earlier than expected, and the incorporated nonprofit overseeing the theatre remains debt free. So far, the opening date is uncertain, but one thing’s for sure: it will happen. “You can put money on that horse,” Bond assured.

Two decades before the Appalachian Theatre became a mainstay motion-picture

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Appalachian Theatre, circa 1977 attraction on King Street, a prior generation of moviegoers sat on benches in the basement of the Watauga County Courthouse a few blocks away to watch silent films. This was the brainchild of W.R. Winkler, who in 1919 purchased $300 worth of projector equipment for the shows. “On a good night” – as one historical account authored by Craig Fischer, Frank Mohler and Eric Plaag goes – Winkler could count on 40 to 50 people to attend the Saturday night screenings, and eventually, as the popularity grew, Wednesday night screenings, too. Just as sound was revolutionizing cinemas across the globe, Winkler began expanding his film enterprise in Boone. In 1923, Winkler partnered with Arthur E. Hamby, selling half his stake in the basement operation before it became the Dixie Theater in 1924. The following year, Hamby and Winkler built the Pastime Theatre along West King Street in what is now the Professional Building. The Pastime sat 400-plus patrons and featured motion pictures, traveling western shows and novelty acts and performances from musicians.

Then in 1937, Hamby and Winkler bought a house lot across from the Daniel Boone Hotel on the south side of King Street for $10 and “other valuable considerations” from the Hahn family, according to the account by Fischer, Mohler and Plaag. This lot would become the Appalachian Theatre, and two months before it hosted its gala opening in 1938, Hamby and Winkler leased the theatre, along with the Pastime, to a fatherand-son tandem from Statesville. The Appalachian Theatre featured a neon marquee that nearly protruded above King Street and is possibly the first and only Art Deco building in Watauga County. Its original front façade was brick, covered almost entirely with decorative, black-baked porcelain tiles arranged geometrically, leading to a prominent motif above the projecting marquee, which was trimmed with aluminum. Also, the mezzanine featured a “ladies powder room” and “men’s smoking room,” according to a pro-

gram of the theatre’s premiere in the late 30s.

When the theatre opened on Nov. 14, 1938, it cost between 10 to 30 cents to enter the movies, and children’s tickets were always 10 cents. Several film segments were shown that first day, including a Walt Disney Production called “Brave Little Tailor;” a brief documentary titled “Unusual Occupations” that portrayed how the Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist doll was made; and the feature screening, “Breaking the Ice,” starring Bobby Breen and Irene Dare. Also on the premiere’s bill was a newsreel, which was common at the movies back in the day.

The newsreel, which years later would provide broadcasts of World War II, and ticket prices weren’t the only thing different at the movies back then. “To bring to Boone, at all times, good, clean, wholesome entertainment” is what the opening day program pledged. It also noted that the new “beautiful and luxurious” theatre represented “our faith in the future of Boone.” The Appalachian, it claimed, was dedicated to making everyone’s life cheerful.

“Still within all of us are life and laughter, travel and adventure, beauty and science – all made possible by the silver screen,” the program read. “Romance, excitement, mystery, mirth – the spice of life. They take us out of the rut of hum-drum existence.”

‘One of the Finest Things’

That’s how C.J. Hayes described the theatre, and he of all people would know. He used to frequent the joint as a youngster, and subsequently worked there for 55 years – from floor mopper and popcorn popper to manager. In one way or another, C.J. Hayes experienced probably every phase of the old Appalachian Theatre, which is proving to be quite resilient because an engulfing fire and foreclosure have yet to vanquish the theatre.

“Romance, excitement, mystery, mirth – the spice of life. They take us out of the rut of hum-drum existence."

– Premiere 1938 program on movies in general

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The projecting marquee (top) was neon and the original, exquisite front façade featured decorative, black-baked porcelain tiles arranged geometrically, leading to a prominent motif above the marquee. (see opposite page) On Jan. 21, 1950, a popcorn popper erupted into flames and quickly spread throughout the building, ruining the theatre’s lavish interior. As Fischer, Mohler and Plaag’s historical account reads, “That afternoon, the teen operator of the open-flame popper at the rear of the theatre went to the front of the theatre to drop off his first batch of boxed popcorn, then lingered to chat with the concessions stand girl. During his absence, the still active popper burst into flames. The result was a fire that quickly spread, then entered the ventilation system. As the theatre manager stood on stage and asked the audience to leave calmly, flames burst out through the air conditioning ducts, prompting something resembling a stampede.

As the crowd reached the front doors of the theatre, a large concussion – what one witness called ‘a hot wave’ – swept through the theatre.” No major injuries occurred during the blaze.

Luckily for Hayes, he wasn’t manning the popcorn popper during that unfortunate incident. Actually, Hayes didn’t begin working at the theatre until after the fire. Once the theatre was refurbished by the Atlanta-based Harris F. Ragsdale and opened for business, Hayes started his entry-position at the Appalachian.

Back then, Hayes said people would watch movies for the same reason they do now, to escape and for enjoyment, but the experience? “It was altogether different,” Hayes said. "You’d have mov-

ies on for a couple of days. You wouldn’t have them on for four or five days like you do now. It was an experience. You’d see the news of the day … and a cartoon to go with the movies. It’s not like it is now.”

“News of the day would come on first … It helped people learn about the day, [learn about] what was going on during the war and everywhere,” Hayes continued, “All the movies back then anybody could go see them. It was just good family stuff back then. It was interesting to say the least. You could go and take your kids. It was pretty neat. It was a big part of the community back then. You could go to see ball games, and other than that, you had your movies to go to with family.”

Stripping Away History

By the 1970s, the theatre’s exterior appearance also dramatically differed from those early days at the tail end of the Great Depression. Due to safety concerns, the overhanging marquee and porcelain tiles on the façade were covered with plywood sheathing. And in the early ‘80s, a new owner dramatically altered the historic theatre operation by enclosing the balcony to simultaneously show two late-run films. From the ‘80s to date, ownership of the Appalachian changed hands five times. Winkler and his December 2013

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wife Effie sold the theatre to Charlottebased Essantee Theatres Inc. for $10 and “other good, valuable and sufficient considerations” in 1981. After the balcony enclosure, Essantee renamed the theatre the Appalachian Twin, and five years later, the Carmike Cinemas acquired the downtown Boone theatre after buying out Essantee.

But it wasn’t until decades later that the theatre met its saddest fate.

After nearly 70 years of operation, Carmike Cinemas decided to close shop on Nov. 29, 2007, and sold the property to Cecil DeBoone, LLC, a limited liability corporation controlled by Frank Mongelluzzi, a developer with ambitious plans to turn the theatre into a restaurant and bar featuring live music. Before Region’s Bank foreclosed on the property because the Mongelluzzi’s were in debt to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, the building was gutted. Nearly any remaining 1938 and 1950 decorative elements were stripped from the building, and the original tile entryway was destroyed with layers of concrete. In addition, the entire building was taken down to its bare brick. When the foreclosure process ended, the theatre remained vacant, boarded up and padlocked to those passing by – as it still is … for now.

While a foreclosure is a negative process for those associated with a property, it might have been the best thing that could have happened in order to preserve the theatre’s original 1938 appearance that was dubbed a “magnificent” piece of architecture in a newspaper article in the December 2013

'30s. In November 2011, the Town of Boone posted the winning bid in a foreclosure auction and purchased the old theatre for $624,500, which included $75,000 of Downtown Boone Development Association funds (DBDA). The DBDA agreed to pay back the town within three years.

Well, that happened in July – a year-anda-half early. Throughout that process, the DBDA nurtured the creation of the incorporated nonprofit Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, which took possession of the deed and the keys to the property in the summer of 2013.

Wonderful Space, Wonderful People

As soon as the foreclosure auction ended and the town took possession of the theatre, community members, business leaders, town officials, cultural connoisseurs and experts in the arts, architecture, business, construction and other necessary fields met and formed the Appalachian Theatre Renovation Task Force. A few months after that first meeting, a financial consultant was hired to oversee the capital campaign, which included interviewing prominent, prospective donors, raising money and applying for available grants that would enable the group to not only purchase and restore the historic theatre but also fund future operation costs. In the initial meetings with the financial consultants, a preliminary monetary goal of $6.2 million was thrown out, which included $4.2 million for refurbishing the

old theatre, $1.2 million for a three-year operating budget to allow for learning and growth and the acquisition of the building.

Renovations include restoring the removed electrical and plumbing systems, finishing the interior wall surfaces and art deco style, and new theatre seating that meets ADA requirements. Also, the original theatre façade and neon marquee are to be restored.

Those involved in the project are constantly searching for any items, photos or knowledge of the historical aspects of the theatre.

Recently, two sisters – Pam Fisher and Julie Storie Cline – donated an original 1938 program from the opening night that belonged in their mother’s scrapbook. The group also located some of the interior light fixtures and pieces of the facade decorative glass that adorned the outside of the 1938 theatre.

The silent phase of the capital campaign has yet to end, but John Cooper, chair of the board of trustees for the theater nonprofit, said the end is in sight. “We are getting close to our goal to go public,” Cooper said. So far, more than 50 percent of the unannounced goal has been raised, and Cooper added that it was likely at that time to have the architectural renderings completed, which he said would reconfirm the due diligence efforts as it pertains to refurbishing costs.

While it’s still too early to begin looking back at this project, Cooper did say that two things have stood out to him so far – the space and the people involved in this effort. Echoing Bettie Bond’s comments on the ingredients present for success, Cooper specifically mentioned the talent, expertise and energy of the group. “We are thrilled the way it’s going ... The theatre is an outstanding space, so you’ve got two things coming together perfectly. A wonderful space and wonderful people," Cooper said, "all working at the right place at the right time.” 

Before the building went into foreclosure, the interior was stripped of nearly all of the remaining decorative elements from the '30s and '50s. Photos by Jesse Wood

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Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Preserving 200 Years of Downtown Postal History

BY JESSE WOOD 64

High Country Magazine

December 2013

I

t’s a routine older than most of the current voters in Boone.

Every morning like clockwork, Stacy Eggers Jr., 89, strolls into the historic downtown post office and checks P.O. Box 248. Afterwards, he sits at a corner table overlooking King Street and sorts his mail, throwing the junk deliveries into the trash before sauntering across the street to his law office.

P.O. Box 248 has been in the family since the post office opened in 1939. Stacy’s father, a realtor, rented the box initially, and in 1950, Stacy took it over after graduating from law school. But before his law career, Stacy served in World War II, as did his brother Morris; both were stationed overseas. Back then, the Internet – with its email and social media – didn’t exist, so the only line of communication between the faraway Eggers’ brothers and family in rural Watauga County was snail mail. In 1943, Stacy landed in North Africa and his ensuing travels during the last two years of World War II took him around the world and back again. All the while, though, he stayed in touch with family and friends through that little mailbox in downtown Boone.

On April 10, 1940, more than 3,000 people attended the dedication ceremony of the new post office in downtown Boone to hear remarks from Postmaster General James A. Farley, who had earlier announced his candidacy for president. Photo courtesy of Robert Snead Stacy Eggers Jr. (below) sorts his mail at a table in the corner of the post office one morning in November. With P.O. Box 248 in the family since 1939, this has been a routine of his for decades.

Photo by Jesse Wood

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Four days after the Appalachian Twin Theatre showed its first matinee for 20 cents on a Monday in November 1938, the federal government acquired roughly an acre of land from Emma Councill for a new post office about a block away. The land was identified as an ideal site by Wade Brown, a lawyer who would later become the mayor of Boone in the ‘60s, after reading a notice about the search for a post office site in Boone. Brown petitioned U.S. Congress on the site after seeking the response from other business leaders in the community. As part of the “friendly condemnation” that was customary practice at the time for the government to secure private land for public use, the Councill family received $7,000 in return. Brown served as attorney for the Councill family during this process.

In the 1930s, that parcel looked much different than today. Linney Street, the road that runs perpendicular to King and Queen streets and borders the post office, didn’t exist. An old frame house was demolished and the property was excavated extensively – from the same height of the adjacent property with the “Linney House” to its present elevation. Like other buildings of its era, the post office was funded through the Works Progress Administration. During that time, Boone had the fortune of “good political connections,” as Eric Plaag, a member of the

Boone Historic Preservation Commission, noted in an essay. Robert L. Doughton, Watauga County’s representative in the U.S. House in 1937, also happened to be the chairman of a committee that successfully pushed for the WPA funding of post offices throughout North Carolina.

While funding for the downtown post office was secured by August 1937, construction of the Colonial Revival style building, dressed with an ashlar stone façade, didn’t begin for at least another year. Led by architect Louis A. Simon, the design was the creation of the Office of the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Department of Treasury. “Boone’s post office plans were probably a slight variation on a standard Treasury Department design for post offices of this era,” Plaag asserted, “modified to account for the unusually spacious project site and the use of local stone materials in its façade.” According to narrative in the 1996 application for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, the construction process went smoothly, judging from the correspondence between Wiley Hartzog, the Boone postmaster, and the U.S. Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. Frequent images sent to the capitol for federal approval depicted lumber and machinery on site at the beginning of January 1939; the foundation in place at the end of January; and a finished exterior as of July 1939.

Among those involved in the construction process were stonemasons Earl and Clarence Lyons, Williard Watson, the first cousin of Doc Watson who was famous for crafting handmade wooden toys, and even the local postmaster himself Wiley Hartzog.

200 Years of Mail in Downtown Boone While construction of the WPA-project post office began nearly 75 years ago, the postal history of what is now downtown Boone began nearly two centuries earlier – decades before the Civil War and decades before Boone would have its current namesake. On July 20, 1823, Jordan Councill, a member of a prominent family in the region, began operating a post office in his general store that was located roughly 300 yards away from a hunting cabin that Daniel Boone used frequently on westerly trips. Councill, who became the first postmaster in the rapidly growing community of Boone, ran that post office, all but one year, until 1866. The community was known as Councill’s Store before it became the Town of Boone in 1850, and 22 years later, the N.C. General Assembly would accept the community’s charter to incorporate the Town of Boone.

While Boone had “good political connections” with Doughton in office, the funds for the post office probably wouldn’t

Construction of the downtown post office went smoothly, according to correspondence between local and federal officials. Stacy Eggers Jr. said he remembers a post office, which had combination lock boxes, beside the alleyway in the background of the post office construction. Photo courtesy of Historic Boone society archives

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December 2013

have appeared if not for the rapid expansion of the postal service in the area during the first three decades of the 20th century.

Doughton, as a historical account notes, “proudly took credit” for securing funds for a post office in Boone, but yearly net receipts of postal business skyrocketed, rising from $2,109 in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 1915, to $14,955 in 1936. As the National Register of Historic Places application form notes, “This rapid growth prompted Congress to appropriate money for the construction of a new post office in Boone [in] 1937.”

The Dedication All the movers and shakers were there.

On Wednesday, April 10, 1940, it’s estimated that more than 3,000 people attended the dedication ceremony of the new post office. That figure exceeded the population of Boone, which is estimated to be between 1,800 and 2,500, depending on the source. The great attendance was attributed to U.S. Postmaster General James Farley, who had sometime earlier announced his candidacy for president.

Since Farley marked the first appearance of a presidential candidate in Boone, the dedication committee sent invitations to many prominent people and government officials in the state. “I was there for the dedication,” said Eggers, who was about 16 years old at the time. “I don’t know if I had seen that many [people in Boone] before, but I have seen that many since.”

On that morning in spring, folks crowded the open areas in front of the post office and nearby gas station and car dealership for the festivities. The Appalachian High School Band led off the event with a concert on the post office lawn. The mayor at the time was W.R. Lovill, who welcomed those in attendance, and Rev. Paul Townsend of Boone Methodist Church and Rev. J.C. Canipe of Boone Baptist Church gave the invocation and benediction, respectively. Along with Rep. Doughton, Farley spoke to the crowd. According to a newspaper account of the dedication ceremony, Farley said the “simple elegance and design [of the post office] will stand as a constant reminder of the power and dignity of the government of the United States.” In addition, he dedicated the building to the “use of all the people, rich or poor, strong or weak, Democrat or Republican.”

Above is the program for the dedication of the post office in downtown Boone. As Stacy Eggers Jr. mentioned, the program lists all the “movers and shakers” who attended the event.

The Post Office in the Old Days During that era, the post office – aside from its primary function of delivering mail – was a different place than it is today.

Back then the post office was open seven days a week. Not only was it the place

where “Most Wanted” posters for local, state and federal criminals were posted, but it was an actual hub of the community, a gathering spot to begin one’s day. “The post office was a central place in Boone.

Everybody went to the post office, and they didn’t say, ‘the Boone Post Office,’ they just said, ‘the post office,’” Eggers

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of local happenings. Before the Internet, people learned of news from around the state, the nation and the world through newspapers, which were delivered to doorsteps far and wide. The news might be two or three days old when it reached its destination but that didn’t matter; that was the norm. Plaag noted that older post offices in the rural areas would even hang up a copy of the local and state newspaper for customers to read.

Fate of Historic Downtown Building Solidified An artist rendering of the post office when it was constructed in the late ‘30s shows that not much has changed in the past 75 years. Notice the tree that is present on the lawn today (below). Photo by Ken Ketchie recalled. “They would have the mail out early at that time, and all the businessmen were there getting mail between 8 and 9:30 in the morning. If you wanted to see somebody, you would meet them there and chat and get with each other before the day started up.” He added that all three windows were open and “usually busy most of the time.”

In the old days, the post office – especially in rural areas – was always inside a general store, such as Jordan Councill’s Store or the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, for example. The general store wasn’t just a place you bought essentials;

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it was a place where people would hang out and jaw about this and that. For people who lived out in the boondocks, the post office served as a place to catch on the happenings in town. “The post office was where you saw your neighbors, who you might not normally see on an average day.

You went once a week to pick up mail from out in the sticks, and that was a chance to find out what’s going on in town, to see people you haven’t seen very often, catch up on gossip and find out politically what’s going on,” said Plaag, who is a historical consultant by trade.

And this wasn’t limited to knowledge

December 2013

Just as rapid growth in the surrounding community prompted officials in Washington to begin to fund and construct a post office in downtown Boone in the ‘30s, it has also caused future federal officials to consider selling the building and ending postal operations multiple times.

From 1940 to 1970, the town’s population quadrupled to nearly 9,000, and the amount of mail the downtown location was handling grew considerably. Once the community heard word of a new postal facility planned for Blowing Rock Road, downtown merchants and civic leaders feared the closure of its beloved post office and successfully lobbied Congressman Jim Broyhill to keep the downtown location – not just for its practical use as a postal operation but for its cultural resource to the community with its New Deal artwork and roots stemming from the WPA era.

A Mural Cloaked in Controversy

U

nlike the building itself, the post office’s famous lobby mural was cloaked in controversy when it was first designed. As part of a national 1939 contest sponsored by the WPA and the Treasury Department, artists were invited to submit proposed designs that would be used in the lobby of a single post office in each state. Perhaps because of Doughton’s connections to Watauga County, Boone’s post office was selected to receive North Carolina’s WPA mural from the contest. Alan Tompkins of Stratford, Conn., submitted the winning design for Boone’s post office and collected a commission of $740 – a substantial sum for the time. Tompkins’ initial painting, along with those for the other 47 states, was published in the Dec. 4, 1939, issue of Life magazine.

Commissioned for the east wall of the post office lobby, the mural’s original design was not nearly as popular with local residents as the building itself had been. The Watauga Democrat, for example, complained about the “so-called painting which portrays

a couple of hungry-looking tobacco growers in a ‘low-land’ field” and concluded that “as far the artistic imagination goes, the thing stinks.” Boone Postmaster Wiley Hartzog expressed concern to the Treasury’s Department’s Section of Fine Arts that the image of a tobacco field had little to do with Boone’s mountainous region and culture. In response to these criticisms, federal officials brought Tompkins to Boone to consult with locals and fashion a new concept. The present mural is the result of that consultation, including Daniel Boone’s depiction in a broad-brimmed hat, which Tompkins selected because “history tells us that [Boone] hated the coonskin cap in which he is so often depicted, and never wore one.” The mural is the only example of more than forty New Deal art works designed for North Carolina post offices that survives in the northwest part of the state.

By Eric Plaag, Courtesy: Town of Boone

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December 2013

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Planning Director Bill Bailey (above, left) speaks to a crowd attending the re-dedication of the post office in late October 2013. Standing behind Bailey are Mayor Loretta Clawson and project architect Randy Jones. Photos by Jesse Wood (See sidebar on mural.)

More than three decades later, though, fears of a closure reared its head again whenever a notice was taped to the front door of the Downtown Boone Post Office in Jan. 2008, stating that the U.S. Postal Service was going to sell the property.

That notice lit a fire under community members, the Boone Historic Preservation Commission and local officials, who gathered in a successful attempt to save the structure. The Town of Boone eventually submitted the winning bid to purchase the property for $1.25 million in 2009, while also securing a 20-year lease with the U.S. Postal Service to continue postal operations from the downtown site.

While the historic building is in the

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hands of the town, it doesn’t guarantee that the U.S. Postal Service will operate out of the building in the years to come. In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service announced that 3,700 locations, including the one in downtown Boone, could have potentially closed.

In May of 2012, the U.S. Postal Service announced that 234 rural post offices, including the downtown Boone location for the “foreseeable future,” would remain open.

Just as that announcement was made, Greene Construction, which was awarded a $1.2 million bid to refurbish the old post office, began renovations that included an “extensive restoration project that included asbestos, lead paint and mold remediation as well as the preservation of many of the building’s essential architectural

At night the post office almost glows from the outside lighting. Photo by Ken Ketchie components, including its original interior service windows, the original vault, original walls, flooring and window glass where possible and the buildings original stunning exterior stonework and weather vane.” This was in addition to the rehabilitation of the basement to house the Town of Boone’s Planning & Inspections Department and a handicap accessible entrance off of Linney Street.

Speaking at the re-dedication of the renovated, historic post office in late October, outgoing Mayor Loretta Clawson exclaimed, “Thank goodness it’s still here.” She recalled feeling dejected after walking up and down King Street while noticing the peeling paint and just knew something needed to be done. If not for the Boone Historical Preservation Commission, Boone Town Council and encouragement from constituents, Clawson figured this success story may never have come to fruition. “I have to say, as mayor and [former member of the] town council, I think we have gotten the most praise for renovating this as anything that happened in my 16 years,” Clawson said.

Bill Bailey, the director of Boone Planning and Inspections, and Randy Jones, architect of the project, both praised Greene

Construction during the re-dedication ceremony on Oct. 27. For example, Bailey said the contractor took as much pride in the project as did the Town of Boone.

Bailey spoke about the neglect of the old post office over the past 15 to 20 years and the need for its renovation. He even touched on the money spent throughout the course of the project, something that has been vilified as “wasting taxpayer money” in some political circles. “We are just glad to be able to spruce it up, and there is always a cost associated with that, but we are losing so many of our historic buildings. The Daniel Boone Hotel is gone and several others. This should be here for hopefully another 70 years,” Bailey said, adding that it’s rare for a local government to take the initiative to save, for example, an old post office.

P.O. Box 248: To Stay in the Family?

During the grand opening ceremony in October after Clawson, Jones and Bailey gave remarks, the floor was opened to members of the public and others in attendance to tell a story or reminisce on the downtown post office. Eventually, the

floor came back to Bailey, who recounted meeting Stacy Eggers Jr. for the first time. At the beginning of the construction process, Eggers walked into the post office, checked his mail and wondered what happened to the table in the corner. “Throughout the entire construction process if this desk wasn’t here, it wasn’t a good thing,” Bailey joked. “He was a great guy … We were actually going to throw this desk away until, one, we figured out it is original, and two, it is necessary for certain people to conduct business on this desk.” So the desk was retrieved.

Every morning when Eggers would walk into the post office during the construction period, a member of the town staff or laborer would run over and wipe all of the dust off the table.

After a routine that is more than 60 years old, Eggers' curiosity as to the whereabouts of that table is understandable. While Eggers doesn't have another 60 years left, he hopes the downtown post office and P.O. Box 248 are around for following generations. “Well, I’d hate to see it go, it’s been there since the ‘30s,” Eggers said. “As long as the post office is here, we will keep it there, I guess.” 

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Parting Shot...

By Lonnie Webster NOW

Blowing Rock U.S. 321 Road Widening

A

massive rock once jutted from the mountainside in Blowing

said Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence, who has witnessed ing process,” Lawrence said.

of blasting a whole mountain, the project has been chipped away at eight to ten truckloads at a time, Maymead Inc. Project Manager, Chris Byers, ternoons, but the rainy summer slowed things down even more.

Starting in early 2012, the U.S. 321 widening project in Blowing Rock, originally awarded to Taylor & Murphy Construction Co. Inc., of Asheville, is still on schedule as 2013 comes to a close. Since then, Maymead Inc. of Mountain City, Tenn., took over the $66-million project several While the past two months have been dry and workable, a High Coun-

Before

Starting Out 74 72

some work for the next three months. “It’s usually around March when we start to climb out of [these harsh weather conditions],” Byers said. “We will continue to work until 30 mph winds and snow set in. It’s really hard to get work done in those conditions.”

Maymead is working with Vacellio & Grogan Inc., a highway and bridge construction com-

HH I Gi g H hC O 20132013 CU o Nu TnRtYr M y AMGaAgZ aI Nz Ei n e December December

pany based in Beckley, W.Va. Maymead subcontracted the blasting work, retaining walls, drainage and erosion control to Vacellio & Grogan, Matt Farley, vice president of operations for Vacellio and Grogan, said.

done a wonderful job of keeping the public up to speed on daily lane and road closures,” Farley said.

“Most of our jobs don’t have the grading component, so as far as the size of the job, a big reason why this one is bigger is because it has much June 30, 2016, according to the NCDOT website.

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December 2013

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Ski Weekend.

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Fall Colors.

BACK PAGE - 76 PAGES

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