HC Mag October 2015 by High Country Press

Volume 11 • Issue 2 October/November 2015

A Moment in Time ...

Autumn

ASU Soccer History • The Far Horizons House • Jewely From Mia Banner Elk Fire Department at 50 • Bethel Church Growing October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

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October / November 2015

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High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

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High Country Magazine

C O N T E N T S

18 Soccer Powerhouse in the Mountains

In the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the Appalachian State men’s soccer team was among the best teams in the nation. Before football legend Jerry Moore was carried off the field by his student-athletes, soccer players put Vaughn Christian on their shoulders.

36 If Walls Could Talk

Tucked away in the Mayview neighborhood of Blowing Rock, the historic house known as “Far Horizons” has many tales to tell. Within its walls lie the stories of the prominent families who have lived there over the years, and its most recent history includes a total transformation under current homeowner Zachary Tate, a local real estate agent.

The Magic of Mia

Graduating from professional ballet training and conquering academia were merely stepping stones for the chic and sophisticated Mia Katrin, a Pennsylvania girl who truly believes that nothing is impossible in this world. Learn the story behind this inspiring entrepreneur/jeweler extraordinaire, and find out how she’s made jewelry an art form.

52 50 Years of Service

Banner Elk Fire and Rescue is celebrating an important milestone this year. Times may have changed, along with firefighting technology, but the relentless dedication of these hometown heroes remains the same. Learn how the department was started and what it takes to fight fires in the mountains of North Carolina.

66 “God’s Been Good”

Big changes are on the horizon for Bethel Baptist, a small, historic country church on the western end of Watauga County. Find out how its relationship with a local school is giving the church room to grow, and how they’re working together to support the community and the people in the valley.

on the cover • Tommy White Tommy is a Fine Art Photographer in Boone, NC where he owns and operates Tommy White Photography. In conjunction with Charleston based photographer Alistair Nicol, they own and operate Mountains to Sea Photography Workshops.

Fine Art Photography Instruction, with offices in Boone, NC and Charleston, SC

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Tommy also specializes in Luxury Home and Real Estate Photography, Weddings and Fine Art Portraiture. Prints are available upon request at: www. tommywhitephotography.com 828-773-0369 for a custom quote 6

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

READER SERVICES 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.

G A L L E R Y

F R A M E M A K E R S

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 828264-2262.

Fall Colors and Vistas September 30 - October 31, 2015 www.artcellaronline.com | 828-898-5175 920 Shawneehaw Avenue, Hwy. 184, Banner Elk

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.

Gabriel Ofiesh fall trunk shOw October 8 & 9 Thursday 1 to 5 • Friday 10 to 5

High Country Press/Magazine P.O. Box 152 1600 Highway 105 Boone, NC 28607 www.hcpress.com info@highcountrypress.com 828-264-2262

hardinfinejewelry.com | 828.898.4653 | hardinjewelry@gmail.com October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Contributing Writers Jesse Wood and Ken Ketchie

What It Was, Was Soccer Here’s an example of how one story can lead to another. Last summer, we interviewed Mike McKibbin and Jim Mizner for a business spotlight on Mike’s Inland Seafood. They’ve been serving up the best catch around for about 35 years. While that was a great story, writer Jesse Wood found something else of interest. It turns out Mike played soccer for App State in 1973, when Vaughn Christian was morphing the program into a national powerhouse. Jesse’s a real soccer fan, probably because he spent half his childhood living in Europe, where soccer is king. Mike told stories of how “Kidd Brewer Stadium was packed to the rafters” when Thompson Usiyan played. Usiyan is one of the greatest collegiate soccer players to ever play, and in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, App State men’s soccer was the talk of the town and even beyond – as the program made headlines in Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post and the New York Times. It wasn’t long after finishing up the piece about Mike’s Inland Seafood that we – being in the publishing industry – were flipping though some old newspapers lying around. And sure enough, there was a Nov. 18, 1978 edition of the Sundown Times with the headline, “ASU Soccer Squad Eyes NCAA Title,” above an image of 3,500 fans on their feet at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Jesse was fascinated learning about these stories, including the “Nigerian Connection,” and befuddled as to why, being an App State grad and huge soccer fan, he didn’t know about this rich tradition. He found that App State professors Gregory Reck and Bruce Dick had already wondered the same thing. They published American Soccer in 2015, which has a chapter focused on App State. They observed that memorabilia from this “golden era” isn’t documented among photo collages throughout the Plemmons Student Union and other parts of campus. They also noticed that as the years go on, the soccer facilities move farther and farther from campus. App State’s soccer history seems to have been pushed aside or turned into a casualty of unintentional oversight. There isn’t much around to remind us of those days, and former players and coaches fear this history may be forgotten all together. Hopefully our story can help fill some of that void. In the end, we find out that soccer – here just like for most in the USA – is just an afterthought. There are a bunch of hardcore fans and players out there, but you won’t find them unless you are hanging out at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex or the Boone Saloon. Soccer just doesn’t compare to football. While I don’t know how many people watched the last Major League Soccer championship, I know it wasn’t 120 million. That’s how many people tuned in to see the Patriots squeak by the Seahawks last February. I also don’t know how much revenue the men’s soccer program pulled in, but I know it wasn’t $4.4 million, which is what the Mountaineers football program hauled in according to Business Insider. For whatever reason, football – not soccer – rules here. It’s as American as apple pie. And it’s what pays the bills 8

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Jesse Wood Jessica Isaacs Allison West Celeste von Mangan Katie Benfield Troy Brooks Contributing Photographers Frederica Georgia Todd Bush Sarah Weiffenbach Faisuly Scheurer Advertising Director Jeffrey Green

SHARE WITH FRIENDS You can share our magazine with friends that are out of town by sending them to our website. Just click on “Magazine” in the Menu Bar and that will take you to our online magazine where you can flip through an issue online - just like you would with a printed copy.

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October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Calendarof Events OCTOBER 2015

Art in the Park, Downtown Blowing Rock,

828-295-7851

Creatures of the Night and Bonfire Delight, Grandfather Mountain, 800-468-7325

Brushy Mountain Apple Festival,

Downtown North Wilkesboro, 336-921-3499 3-4

Fall Colors Guided Trail Walks, Grandfather Mountain,

800-468-7325

Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre, ASU

Black & White and Art All Over Opening Reception,

Schaefer Center, 800-841-2787

Ghost train at TWEETSIE RAILROAD every weekend in october

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, 828-295-9099 9-10

Ghost Train Halloween Festival, Tweetsie Railroad, 800-526-5740

Leaf Lookers Hayride, Beech Mountain Kite Field,

828-387-3003

Kids Mini Market at the Watauga Farmers’ Market,

Horn in the West, Boone, 828-355-4918 10-11

Boone Heritage Festival, Horn in the West,

Blowing Rock Jazz Society Concert,

828-264-2120

Meadowbrook Inn and Suites, 828-295-4300

Ghost Train Halloween Festival, Tweetsie Railroad,

17 17

Valle Country Fair, Valle Crucis, 828-963-4609 Evening with Chatham County Line & Silent Auction,

17-18

23-24

Ashe Civic Center, 336-846-2787

20-21

Woolly Worm Festival, Banner Elk, 828-898-5605 An Evening with David Sedaris, ASU Schaefer Center,

800-841-2787

27-28

Ghost Train Halloween Festival, Tweetsie Railroad,

27-28

Kids Mini Market at the Watauga Farmers’ Market,

Boone Boo Halloween Event, Downtown Boone,

Halloween Celebration at Beech Mountain,

Ghost Train Halloween Festival, Tweetsie Railroad,

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival,

Downtown Blowing Rock, 828-295-5222 10

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Holiday Market and Buckeye Bake-Off,

Buckeye Recreation Center, 800-387-3003

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

800-526-5740

Appalachian State Football vs UL Lafayette (Black Saturday), ASU, Kidd Brewer Stadium, 828-262-2079 Blowing Rock Christmas Parade,

Main Street in Downtown Blowing Rock, 828-295-4636

Buckeye Recreation Center, 800-387-3003 30-31

Festival of Lights, Chetola Resort, 828-295-5500 Annual Thanksgiving Tim Turner Pottery Event,

Art Cellar, 828-898-5175

828-262-6280

Madrigal Dinners, Ashe Arts Council, 336-846-2787 Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town,

Blowing Rock Memorial Park, 828-295-4636

Horn in the West, Boone, 828-355-4918

Summit Express Grand Opening,

Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521

800-526-5740

Daylight Savings Time Ends Appalachian State Football vs Arkansas State (Heroes Day), ASU, Kidd Brewer Stadium, 828-262-2079 First Friday Art Crawl, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280 Singer-Songwriter Jason Isbell, ASU Schaefer Center, 800-841-2787

800-526-5740

Appalachian State Football vs Troy (Family Day), ASU,

Kidd Brewer Stadium, 828-262-2079

NOVEMBER 2015

Beary Scary Halloween, Grandfather Mountain,

800-468-7325

Oktoberfest at Sugar, Sugar Mountain Resort, 800-784-2768

16-17

Annual Thanksgiving Kiln Opening,

Traditions Pottery Studio, 828-295-5099

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain

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CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN Casual Dining

Under New Culinary Management in 2015 Celebrate Oktoberfest with the whole family at Sugar Mountain Resort! Admission, parking and shuttle services are free. Enjoy Bavarian cuisine, authentic Bavarian Spaten beer, yodeling and the Oom Pah sounds of the 15-piece Harbour Town Fest Band, as well as arts, crafts and kids’ activities. As construction continues on one of the chair lifts, rides will still be available on the others. Take advantage of on-mountain lodging discounts and stay the whole weekend! Call 828-898-4521 or visit www.skisugar.com for more.

OCT. 10-11

Boone Heritage Festival Take a trip back in time and celebrate the history of life in Appalachia with this annual outdoor festival, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the beautiful, wooded setting of the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum in Boone. Admission to this event is free and you’ll enjoy 18th century living history demonstrations, craft vendors, music jam sessions, demonstrations from the colonial/Revolutionary time period, children’s activities, storytelling and more. For details, call 828-264-2120 or visit www.booneheritagefestival.com.

OCT. 11

FEATURING MUsIc oN ThE VERANdA ALL sUMMER Every Sunday from 5 - 8 PM

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www.greenparkinn.com | 828.414.9230 9329 Valley Boulevard, Blowing Rock October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

mountain

echoes

Students Participate in Improving the Health of Hardin Creek

By Troy Brooks

atauga High School students recently teamed up with the Hardin Creek Partnership to establish an on-campus rain garden, which now serves as the partnership’s first project to improve the Hardin Creek Watershed. The watershed is a 1.5 square mile area of land that drains into Hardin Creek, a tributary to the South Fork of the New River. More than one-quarter of the watershed has been covered in pavement, concrete, rooftops and other surfaces that have negatively impacted the health of the creek. Laura England, a lecturer in the Department of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University, said the creek drains a heavily urbanized watershed. “Boone is a small community, but this creek drains a lot of our urban area, including New Market Center and 194,” said England, who also serves as outreach coordinator for the college’s Southern Appalachian Environmental Research and Education Group. “A third of the land area is covered by what we call impervious surfaces such as pavement, sidewalks and rooftops. “The water isn’t traveling through the ground to the creek like it naturally would its going over the pavement and into the storm sewer system and very quickly into the creek carrying with it pollutants and a lot of energy that erodes the stream bed and banks.” The watershed experiences flashy flows when it rains that erode

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

stream banks, streambeds and unstable habitats, and only a few tolerant creek critters can live there. Community stakeholders have banded together to improve conditions in the creek through the watershed management and stream restoration. Watauga High’s rain garden, which will drain about 3,800 square feet of the school’s parking lot, is the first onConstruction students at Watauga High School install a slit fence alongside construction teacher Jason Matthews and Brian Chatham of Watauga Soil and Water.

CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 33Years

Jason Matthew’s students at Watauga High School begin the excavation stage of the school’s new rain garden. the-ground project aimed at improving the health of the watershed. “While the rain garden will filter only a small portion of urban runoff to Hardin Creek, we believe it has great educational value as a demonstration project,” said England. “Located in front of the school by the ticket office for the athletic fields, the rain garden will be visible to WHS students and their families as well as visitors to the campus. “We hope that it will inspire lots of people in our community to think differently about how we manage runoff so that we can project the values of our waterways that we all care about such as clean drinking water, healthy trout populations, and high quality recreational opportunities.” Stakeholders in the ongoing effort to improve Hardin Creek include: • Watauga High School • Appalachian State University • N.C. Cooperative Extension in Watauaga County • New River Conservancy • Mountain Alliance • Trout Unlimited, Stone Mountain Chapter • Watauga County Planning and Inspections • Watauga County Soil and Water • Town of Boone Planning and Inspections • Town of Boone Public Works To learn more, go online to saerec.appstate. edu/outreach/hardincreekpartnership.

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Winter & Small Works Exhibition November 27th – April 30th

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Students begin excavation on a new rain garden at Watauga High School. October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

mountain

echoes

Heritage Hall in Mountain City Celebrates 10th Anniversary

etween the years 1966 and 2005, Mountain City did not have a theatre for live shows. The only venues available were school gymnasiums, halls, and churches. These venues, however, did not compare to the charm of watching a show in the auditorium of the old Johnson County High School, which closed in 1966 to make way for a new high school. This September marks the 10th anniversary of the old school opening up as the Heritage Hall Theatre. The idea to preserve the old auditorium for community performances started with Evelyn Cook, a former drama teacher at the high school. She led a campaign to renovate the old building into a performance stage for the community. During the next seven years, volunteers raised money, organized labor and renovated the abandoned 1923-era high school auditorium, breathing new life into the old stage. In the fall of 2005, the facility reopened as Heritage Hall Theatre, a community-basedtheater suitable for a wide range of performances and events. During its 10th anniversary, Heritage Hall is closing out the 2015 year with a wide range of events from bluegrass duos to

performances by the Johnson County High School Players. The Heritage Hall Theatre is located at 211 N. Church St. in Mountain City, TN behind the public library. For reservations and/or to purchase advance tickets call 423-727-7444. For more information on the Heritage Hall and its coming events, visit heritagehalltheatre.org PERFORMANCES: Robin & Linda Williams - Saturday, Oct. 24 - 7 p.m. Tickets - $20 paid in advance / $23 door, $10 youth JCHS Players present “The Giver” and “Gathering Blue” Friday, Nov. 6 - 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 7 - 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 8 - 3 p.m. Tickets - $7 for adults, $5 for youth Phantom - Sixties Rock - Saturday, Nov. 21 - 7 p.m. Tickets $10 paid in advance / $12 at the door, $5 for youth “Dashing Through the Snow” - Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. Tickets: $10 paid in advance / $12 at the door, $5 for youth A Taste of the Nutcracker - Thursday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. Tickets: $5 per person for reserved seating

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High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Masquerade Ball to Support Hunger and Health Coalition

ave a ball this Halloween! Celebrate the spookiest time of year in style and for a good cause at the inaugural Masquerade Ball to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition of Boone. This festive inaugural fundraiser will take place at the Meadowbrook Inn, 711 Main St. in Blowing Rock, on Friday, Oct. 30. Show up sporting your favorite costume or buy a mask when you get there. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and the party will carry on through the night! The masquerade ball is the first Halloween event for adults of its kind in the High Country. It will replace the Christmas event that used to be the HHC’s primary annual fundraiser. Folks from the theatre department at Appalachian State University will be decked out in full costume and on hand to entertain with special performances, and the university’s Chancellor Sheri Everts has stepped up as the event’s primary sponsor. The festivities will include a DJ, flash mob performances, a cash bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, costume prizes, a trick-or-treat candy bar from Mast General Store, fortune telling, tarot card reading, face painting, a photo booth and more. Most importantly, the ball will support the HHC’s important work in the community. “I don’t think most people are aware of the services that the Hunger and Health Coalition provides to kids and families, whether it’s through the pharmacy, the backpack program or other food

assistance programs,” Armstrong said. “Many people cannot make it through the month and afford food and the medications they need on minimum wage. The Hunger and Health Coalition does not turn anyone away.” Get your tickets at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce (828264-2225) or at the Hunger and Health Coalition (828-262-1628). They’re on sale for $35 per person, or get a table for 10 at $300. Tickets will be $40 at the door, so get yours in advance!

The planning committee for the upcoming masquerade ball try out their new masks and enjoy a spooky drink at their latest meeting.

Graystone Eye Welcomes Scott A. Thomas, MD Graystone Eye is pleased to announce the addition of Scott A. Thomas, MD. Board certified in comprehensive ophthalmology, Dr. Thomas is now accepting new patients at Graystone’s Boone, Linville and Lenoir offices.

Hickory • Lenoir • Lincolnton • Boone • Linville

(888) 626-2020

graystone-eye.com October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Boone’s Premier Tile Showroom

Owners Trudy and David Shell

STore HourS: Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: By Appointment 1852 H w y. 105, Bo one • 828-265- 0472 • w w w.Mo un t a inT il eNC .c o m October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

App State’s Rich Soccer Tradition... Was The

GOLDEN

ERA

Pushed To The Wayside? By Jesse Wood

ore than a decade before the legendary Jerry Moore set foot in Kidd Brewer Stadium and long before the Mountaineers were making headlines for its stunning upset of Michigan football amidst back-to-back-to-back championships, the men’s soccer program at App State was a national powerhouse. Throughout the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the program was frequently ranked in the NCAA top 25 (as high as No. 7); won 10 out of 11 Southern Conference championships; and recruited Olympians, including Thompson Usiyan, a Nigerian striker who holds several NCAA records that will likely never be broken. Today, some fear that this history will be forgotten, or worse, the program will cease to exist. When Vaughn Christian took over the men’s soccer program in 1971, he wasn’t a household name. He was handed the reigns of the soccer team because it came with the job description as App State’s new physical education teacher. The program was only 10 years old when Christian arrived, coincidentally at the same time the university joined the Southern Conference. The year 18

High Country Magazine

Soccer? Yes, Kidd Brewer Stadium was rocking during soccer games in the ‘70s and early ‘80s when the Mountaineers were among the best teams in the nation.

October / November 2015

In his second year as head coach, Vaughn Christian (left) looks on from the sidelines in 1972. Notice the turf at Kidd Brewer Stadium in 1972 in the photo on the right: “We were the first school to have artificial turf. Back then it was like playing on concrete with a little carpet on top. If you went down you were seeing stars,” former player Mike McKibbin said. before Vaughn took over, the team went 2-8 and was outscored by more than 30 goals in those 10 games. Christian inherited a socVaughn cer program that was founded by Dr. Eric DeGroat, who coached from 1961 to 1969. DeGroat didn’t believe in recruiting outside of the App State student body and thought of winning as more or less a byproduct of playing the game, according to research

ning, its meteoric rise and subsequent mediocrity. Back then soccer wasn’t widely played in the United States and that was especially Christian, Former Appalachian State Men’s Soccer Head Coach so in the High Country. The only two soccer goals that by App State professors, Gregory Reck existed in Watauga County were the and Bruce Dick, for their 2015 book, ones on the college campus in Boone. American Soccer: History, Culture and The general public and youth didn’t Class, which features an entire chapter have access to soccer fields nor a soccer on the App State program – the begin- complex, such as the relatively new one

“I am very concerned about keeping this part of history written down.”

Pictured here in a 1973 team photo, Mike McKibbin (back row, second from right) and Emmanuel “Ike” Udogu (middle row, fourth from right) both still reside in the High Country. McKibbin is co-owner of Mike’s Inland Seafood in Boone and Udogu is a professor at his alma mater. October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Emmanuel ‘Ike’ Udogu played for the Mountaineers in 1973 and 1974. He was a junior college transfer from Montreat College. Before moving to America, he was born in Warri, Nigeria, which is located in the mid-western part of the country. During his time at App State, he was among the top players in the country. While he loved to play soccer, he came to the states to receive an education. He majored in political science. Today at the age of 63, Udogu is a professor of political science at App State and is shown here in his office pointing to his home country of Nigeria. named after Ted Mackorell at Brookshire Park in Boone. “It family in order to watch high school or junior college games. was pretty much unknown at that time, certainly in this part of He also wrote hundreds of letters in an attempt to persuade players to come to Boone. That’s how he landed Usiyan – with the country,” said Christian. a letter every other week. Christian remembered beChristian also realized that ing at the first soccer clinic many of the professional socin Boone on a Saturday in cer players were foreign. So the ‘70s at Hardin Park Elhe called up someone he met ementary School. The county during graduate school at Vanrecreation department didn’t derbilt University in Nashville, own soccer balls, so former Tenn. This person happened Athletic Director Jim Jones, to be the Minister of Educawho was very supportive of tion from Nigeria, who was soccer, allowed Christian and able to get Christian in touch his players to use the univerwith highly skilled players sity’s equipment to introduce from that particular African the sport to local children. country. “That was a pretty big Such was the state of soccer connection,” Christian said. in these mountains half a cenIn Christian’s first year in tury ago, when soccer players 1971, he didn’t have foreignwere called “booters” in the ers to play, but he brought college newspaper. So how did Christian take the program to Emmanuel ‘Ike Udogu’ and coach Vaughn Christian in 1973 the program to life, finishing with a 6-6 record. The follownational prominence? Well for one, he was a relentless recruiter of top talent. Unlike his pre- ing year, the Mountaineers won its first Southern Conference decessors, he travelled up and down the East Coast, from New (SoCon) championship, going 10-4. John “Stump” Gimenez of Jersey to Miami, spending many holidays on the road with his Florida led the way in 1972 with 19 goals and was named So20

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

From left: Assistant Coach Jim Watts, John “Stumpy” Gimenez, Frank Kemo, Emmanuel “Ike” Udogu and Head Coach Vaughn Christian in 1973. Gimenez, Kemo and Udogu were selected All-Conference that year.

Con Player of the Year (POY) for the first time; he would win it the following year as well. Vaughn had the program clicking in swift fashion. It was growing in popularity amongst the students with each win and Christian had yet to tap into the “Nigerian connection,” as the recruitment of Nigerian players to App State, Clemson and Alabama A&M would be called. In ‘73, Christian recruited “some of the finest freshman players in the country” and his finest class to date, including all-state soccer players from New Jersey, Frank Kemo and Greg Bond, according to a pre-season article. Christian also landed his first Nigerian player, Emmanuel ‘Ike’ Udogu, a junior college transfer from Montreat College, who scored 22 goals and was named among the best players in college soccer in his first year. By the end of the 1973 season, more than 3,000 spectators watched the Mountaineers defeat The Citadel for the SoCon championship. Enrollment at this time was 7,500. Udogu, who would win SoCon POY in 1974, said Florida International University and Appalachian State both recruited him in the early ‘70s. Asked why he chose the mountains over Miami, Udogu simply said, “Because Christian came personally.” Udogu, like his fellow Nigerians following in his footsteps, were coming to America to get an education first and foremost. “My philosophy was to come and play and do school work … Education was number one. I did play alright, but I always knew I was going to grad school,” said Udogu, who is a 63-year-old political science professor at App State today. A major part of Vaughn’s success relied upon the Nigerian connection, which in addition to Udogu and the transcendent Usiyan, netted Michael Somnazu, Emmanuel

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Mike McKibbin played soccer in high school and wanted to see how he would stack up against collegiate talent. He played defensive back for the Mountaineers in 1973 and held his own. Today, he’s co-owner of Mike’s Inland Seafood in Boone. While his playing days have been over for a while, McKibbin started the first local classic team, the High Country Avalanche, which was a traveling team comprised of the best local players, and has officiated for the past three decades. In fact, he referred the first game at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. He’s referred rec, classic, high school and college games, including state finals and all-star games in high school. “He’s done a heck of a lot for soccer [in the High Country],” said his former coach, Vaughn Christian. Igbeka, Charles Adimora and Kingsley tice, Christian expected all of the players Esebaman (SoCon POY in 1979) and to run two miles in under 12 minutes. “If the recruitment of players from other you had done his system, you could eascountries like England, Ghana, Chile, ily do it,” said McKibbin, who has referCuba, Israel (David Mor – SoCon POY eed in the High Country for the past 30 in 1975), Italy and Costa Rica. But there years and who also started the first local were a couple other factors that righted classic program. “I was in the best shape I was ever in.” the program. Just like McKibbin, Udogu said that “One thing about Vaughn, he was big into conditioning. He made it into a the team was also very “unselfish” when asked for reascience,” Mike sons of App McKibbin, who State’s almostwas a defensive instantaneous back in 1973 success. “It was and is the coa team effort, owner of Mike’s and we worked Inland Seafood Mike McKibbin together as a in Boone. “We Former Player (1973) and Local Ambassador of the Sport team. That was never got slow the beauty. It in the last 10 to 15 minutes of each half, so we would do was very effective,” Udogu said, adding a lot of our damage late in the half … It that the staff and players were all supwas incredible. We never got tired, and portive one another. During Christian’s tenure from 1971 we put a lot of balls in the net.” On the last practice of the season, to 1977, it was much the same: recruit, Christian would time all of the players on win, repeat. He recruited four eventuvarious runs and would give each player al SoCon Players of the Year – Udogu, a conditioning regimen to follow during Mor, Usiyan and Esabeman – that won the summer. By the time of the first prac- the award five times from 1972 to 1977.

“I wonder if Appalachian will even have soccer down the road.”

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The ASU Soccer Stadium is located at Brookshire Park in the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex, which is named after a former App State goalkeeper. Mackorell played from 1978-1982. He holds the school record for saves in a season season: 149. He also ranks fourth in saves in a career at App State: 227. The ASU Soccer Stadium seats 1,000 and is adjacent to several other fields that are utilized by youth and adult recreational leagues and the High Country Soccer Association.

The Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex

While dominating conference play throughout the early part of the decade, the Mountaineers were invited to play in its first NCAA tournament in 1975, just five seasons after Christian took over. Even though Udogo graduated after the ’74 season, the ‘75 squad was the more talented of the two. The roster included 5 first-team All-Conference

selections – Frank Kemo, David Mor (a Olympian from Israel), Ronnie Groce, Larry Panford and Mike Shepherd – and 2 second-team All-Conference selections – Fernando Ojeda and Tony Suarez. The first matchup of the 1975 season was against UNC-Chapel Hill, who pummeled the Mountaineers 9-0 the first time Christian faced them earlier in his

career. Prior to the opener against UNC, Kemo predicted to the Winston SalemJournal: “ “If we beat Carolina in the opening game, I think we will go undefeated. We are more talented than ever before, we have a great deal of depth, and many of the players who will be on our bench could be starters.” Well, Kemo was almost a prophet.

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Head Coach Vaughn Christian talks strategy before a matchup at Kidd Brewer Stadium in 1974. App State did beat UNC 2-1, and they damn near went undefeated. They were ranked as high as 5th in the South Region during the middle of the season amidst a 19-game winning steak. After finishing the regular season undefeated (12-0), the Mountaineers were awarded a bid to play in the NCAA playoffs in November of that year.

Their opponent? Howard University, the defending national champions, a team that won it all in 1971 and in 1974, the previous year. The players at Howard, which was stacked with international talent, were described as just bigger, faster and stronger than the Mountaineers in media reports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They just had too much talent for

Ronnie Groce (from left), Luis Sasteque, David Mor, Tony Suarez, Fernando Ojeda in 1975. Mor was an Olympic soccer player in Israel and Tony Suarez was Cuban born and played professional until 1985, when he blew out his right knee. 24

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October / November 2015

“I knew he was going to be good, but I didn’t know he was going to be the best player in the country.” Former App State Head Coach, Vaughn Christian, on Thompson Usiyan, one of the greatest collegiate athletes in NCAA history. Thompson Usiyan chose App State over perennial collegiate soccer powers Clemson and Howard universities and professional teams in Europe. Thompson would go on to break several NCAA records that still stand to this day, nearly four decades later, before moving playing professionally in the U.S. for 15 years. us,” Christian told the Washington Post after Howard won the game 3-1. The program, however, garnered invaluable “exposure” and announced itself as a legitimate title contender. Even though 1976 was supposed to be a stronger team and expectations were raised – for example, it had another Olympian, Mike Somnazu of Ni-

geria, and returned several starters, the Mountaineers failed to win the Southern Conference championship. While its 10-4-1 record wasn’t shabby, they were not invited to the national tournament. But there was no need to worry because Christian pulled of a coup the following offseason. He landed Thompson Usiyan by re-

lentlessly recruiting him through the mail and his Nigerian contacts. Thompson was a member of the Nigerian Olympic team and looked like a man among boys on the soccer pitch in college. He chose Appalachian State over Clemson and Howard, two perennial powers that App State was attempting to slay. Thompson could have played profession-

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Frank Kemo, as a senior in this picture, is regarded as one of Appalachian State’s best soccer players. He played from ’73 to ’76 and was inducted into university’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

Members of the 1976 squad came from the U.S., Italy, Ghana, Nigeria, Costa Rica and and elsewhere around the globe. Recruiting international players certainly expedited App State’s success in men’s soccer in the ‘70s.

where they lost to Clemson 3-1 in ally in the Premiere League, but he a South Regional matchup. chose to go to college because he Following the season, Chriswanted an education. tian stepped down as coach. He Christian met Thompson at the stepped away as the program airport in Charlotte prior to the Emanuel “Ike” Udogu Soccer 1973-74 peaked because he wanted to fofall semester in 1977. As Christian Sept. 13, 1986 cus on teaching. The keys of the drove through the steep, winding Thompson O. Usiyan Soccer 1977-80 soccer program were handed to two-lane roads along U.S. 321 toHank Steinbrecher, who was comward Blowing Rock in fog so thick Sept. 2, 1989 ing off a five-year stint as Warren that you had to roll down the Vaughn Christian Soccer/Coach 1971-77 Wilson’s head soccer coach and window to try to see the striping Sept. 1, 1990 athletic director. (Many years laton the road, Thompson had secJohn Nedd Soccer 1982-85 er, Steinbrecher assumed the role ond thoughts. The two were esSept. 9, 2000 as CEO and Secretary General sentially strangers to each other, Earl W. Henson of the United States Soccer Fedand Thompson wasn’t quite sure FB/BB/Baseball/Soccer/Track 1934-38 eration; he was perhaps the most what was waiting for him at the Sept. 9, 2000 powerful man in U.S. soccer in the end of this rural highway. “ImagMark Schwartz Soccer 1979-82 ‘90s.) Steinbrecher was handed a ine anybody getting in a car with Sept. 11, 2004 golden egg and he knew it. “I ina stranger, especially coming from herited one of the best teams in Nigeria. There was crime there. It Rob Wilcher Soccer 1982-85 the United States,” Steinbrecher was like the Wild West,” Vaughn Sept. 9, 2006 said, according to American Socsays. “He was very concerned. Art Rex Soccer Coach 1981-97 cer. “I was lucky.” ‘Woah. Woah. What have I got Sept. 8, 2007 Under new leadership, Appalamyself into.’ It was very frightenAndy Salandy Men’s Soccer 1987-90 chian State would win a ton more ing for him. He laughs about it Sept. 8, 2012 games and Usiyan would score a now, but we had never met face to Frank Kemo Men’s Soccer 1973-76 ton more goals. They finished the face before I picked him up at the Sept. 6, 2014 season ranked No. 15 in the naairport.” tion, and the team won its first Well, if there was any culture NCAA tournament game on Nov. shock in Appalachia, Usiyan didn’t him, in an attempt to get him ejected. show it on the field. He was so good in In his first year, Thompson led the So- 18, 1978. The Mountaineers defeated college that teams tried everything they Con in goals (22) and assists (7). He also (actually destroyed) George Washington could do to knock him off his game. put the Mountaineers on his back, lead- at home 9-3. Usiyan put on a recordThey played more physical, kicking him, ing them to a national ranking of 12 in setting performance, scoring seven goals and sometimes grotesque, spitting on ’77 and into the NCAA tourney again, and assisting on one in the playoff vic-

App State Athletics Hall of Fame (Soccer-Affiliated Inductions)

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October / November 2015

tory. That game was described as looking “like poetry on the field,” according to the Sundown Times. This win was a milestone in App State soccer. “That ASU could win so soundly is indicative of where the Mountaineer program has come,” according to that issue of the weekly paper. In 1979, Usiyan only played three games because of an injury. While the Mountaineers won another consecutive SoCon championship, App State didn’t make the NCAA tourney nor was it ranked. That would change the following year as App State finished the season ranked No. 16 in the country and as high as No. 7 that year, according to American Soccer. App State would go on to lose to Duke 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, while Usiyan broke more records. In his last season, Usiyan broke single season NCAA records for most goals in one season (46), goals per game average in one season (2.71), points per game one season (6.35) and all-time points leader in a season (108) – all in 1980. These records have never been broken nearly 40 years later – nor has his other NCAA records: most points in a tournament game (15 points v. George Washington in 1978), most points in an entire tournament (15, 1978),

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Fernando Ojeda, who played in 197576, looks on as Watauga County youth learn soccer fundamentals from the team’s coaching staff and players at a clinic sponsored by the Watauga County Recreation Department. When this photo was published in a local paper, the caption read that “With the growing interest in soccer in the area, department officials say that a soccer program may be started in the fall.

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Men’s 2015 Roster: Back (Left to Right): Jeff Bilyk, Matt Nelson, Thibaut Arpinon, Anson Girone, Alex Beranger, Ben Steen, Cooper Coughlin, Jaron Bradley, Paul West, Jake Chasteen, Jamir James, John Walrath, Stephen Chapman, Raheem Somersall, Chris O’Grady, Cole Atkins, Ronnie Hreha. Front (L-R): Jeremy Tshongo, Mason McCarter, Austin Stamey, Daniel Avila, Alex Herbst, Jordan Melia, Ian Bennett, Trey Hemphill, Keegan Tanaka, Donovan Japp, Caleb Moore

Men’s Head Coach Matt Nelson

Women’s Head Coach Sarah Strickland

Women’s 2015 Roster: Front (L-R): Merlin Beckwith, Jamie Palermo, Leah Smith, Jenni Loveless, Kate Ward, Alexa Asher, Jessica Easley. Middle (L-R): Jackie Nieradka, Aubrey Fletcher, Jenn Bass, Abbey Nolte, Kabrina Keys, Carrie Taylor, Phenix Durham, Morgan Mosack, Kelly Flanders, Erin Settle, Kat Greer Back Row (L-R): Emmily Cowie, Jane Cline, Bri Balhmann, Lindsey Tully, Sam Steyl, Megan Roberson, Taylor Ray, Sam Childress, Sarah Moon, Sarah Peatross, Sarah Murphy

all time leader in career goals (109), all team leader in career points (255) and points per game average (5.2). In multiple categories, Usiyan ranks first and second in the NCAA records because of his 1978 campaign. One wonders what numbers he would have put up he hadn’t hurt himself in 1979. “He was so fast and so soft, you really only knew he was there when he blew by you,” Hank Steinbrecher told NCAA. com. “I’ve seen athletes at the highest level of the game, and Thompson not only had the ability to be at that level, but to be really focused and dedicated to a training regimen. With his mental discipline and incredible skill level, it’s 28

High Country Magazine

no wonder that his records have lasted this long.” More than 3,500 people were in attendance for App State to host and win its first playoff match in 1978, and by the time Usiyan graduated in 1980, it wasn’t unheard of for 5,000 to 6,000 people to attend home soccer games, according to former coaches and players. (Compare this to Christian’s first year, when it would be about 25 to 50 people – “mostly girlfriends of the players” – in the stands.) “When Thompson played, Kidd Brewer Stadium was packed to the rafters,” McKibbin said. “He was that great.” After Usiyan moved on to play 15 years professionally in the states and sev-

October / November 2015

eral years on the Nigerian squad, Steinbrecher moved on as well. After riding the coattails of Usiyan, Steinbrecher left to be the head coach at Boston University, reportedly because he could see the writing on the wall. “By the end of Steinbrecher’s third season, the university administration initiated plans to downsize the soccer program and turn its support to highend revenue sports, even though Christian and Steinbrecher had led the soccer team to seven straight seasons without a conference loss,’ Dick and Reck wrote in American Soccer. Steinbrecher said, ‘They started talking to me about reducing scholarships [to three], at a time

when we were outdrawing the football team.’ Disillusioned with the lack of support he left ASU…” Art Rex took over and enjoyed immediate success, which lasted through the end of the decade. Rex continued the Mountaineers consecutive conference victories streak, which lasted from 1977 to 1982. To this day, the 35 consecutive conference wins from that time period is an NCAA record. A former professional soccer player, Rex was an assistant under Steinbrecher for three years and was earning a masters degree at App State. “It just seemed like the natural step for me,” Rex said. From 1981 to 1985, Appalachian State featured three different players to win the SoCon POY awards: Mark Schwartz (’81, ’82), Scott Anderson (’83) and John Nedd (’85). The team also won four more SoCon under Rex’s tenure. He was selected SoCon Coach of the Year in ’84, ’85 and ’89. 1989 would also be the last time that an App State player (Carlos Lee) would win SoCon POY under Rex’s watch. (Jordy Broder would win it in 2000 and go on to a successful professional soccer player.) In addition, ’89 was the last time App State won the Southern Conference, although it did win the first SoCon tournament in 1990, where Andy Salandy was named tournament MVP.

Stephen Chapman (No .17) and Trey Hemphill (No. 9) dribble versus Longwood University opponents in a home game at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in September. Photos by Sarah Weiffenbach

October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Jake Chasteen

Rex inherited a program with four Nigerians, but soon afterwards, Nigeria became embroiled in a military coup and the country’s government stopped subsidizing scholarships. Watauga High School “When you take away four full scholarships … that is signifiJake Chasteen was a cant,” said Rex. Without those scholarships Rex said he had about 3.5 scholarships (when calibrating in-state and out-of- standout at Watauga High state tuition) to divvy out however he wanted. He could give an School. From Blowing Rock, entire scholarship to one player or, as generally was the case, Chasteen is a sophomore goalkeeper on the App State spread it around to a variety of players. While he found some talent in Trinidad & Tobago such as men’s soccer team and Nedd and Lee, who both won SoCon POY, Rex said he pri- most recently recorded a marily spent all of his scholarship money on in-state players shutout in his first collegiate because of the cheaper tuition. “With that said, the quality has start in September against to be there,” Rex said, adding that there is a flurry of competiLipscomb. tion for those in-state players. Several other schools in North Carolina have robust programs that routinely rank in the Top 25. Plus there are programs vying for these players in neighboring states such as the University of Virginia, which has won moved to State Farm Fields, which didn’t have locker rooms the national championship six times since ’91, and Clemson, and sat 360 in the bleachers. Then in 2008, it moved to the which won in ’84 and has been to 28 NCAA tournaments since freshly constructed Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Brookthe ‘70s. These schools have a history of allotting the maxi- shire Park, which as Reck and Dick note is more than 3 miles mum 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA – whether those away from campus. By 2010, the men’s and women’s programs get much-needstudents qualify for in-state tuition or not. Rex resigned from the head coaching position in 1997 af- ed locker rooms. ASU Soccer Stadium seats 1,000 and has a ter 17 seasons as the head coach with the most wins at App fully functional press box, according to the university. It’s not unheard of for the stadium to fill State; his record was 147-159-21. to capacity like it did during the Since Rex resigned, the program home-opening exhibition this fall has hired six coaches and recorded “He was just that special,” or as likely will happen against 152 wins, 134 losses and 33 ties former App State head coach UNC-Asheville in October. So (not counting the current 2015 things got a little better from an season). There have been no more Hank Steinbrecher said of infrastructure standpoint. But the tournament appearances and national rankings since 1980, since Thompson Usiyan. “A powerful, complex is still more than 3 miles away. Usiyan graduated. powerful player; hard worker; In the 2007 soccer media About a month after Rex guide, the university’s athletics coached his last game, the App studious guy. He’s the best department wrote: “Plans are unState football team won its third derway to improve the home of straight national championship. student-athlete the Mountaineers. As part of a Earlier in the year, the university $32 million athletics facilities enbecame a household name when hancement plan, the Mountaineer the football team beat the Michisoccer program will have a new gan Wolverines at The Big House in a stunning upset, one called the greatest ever. Rex was quite on-campus facility located adjacent to the new baseball field aware that soccer wasn’t high on the priority totem poll at uni- near the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in the coming versities across the country, where revenue-generating sports years.” But as Reck and Dick note, “that never happened.” Reaching out to officials in the athletics department, insuch as basketball and football are king of the hill. Most recently, for example, App State football brought in cluding Athletic Director Doug Gillin, ASU’s sports informa$4.4 in revenue during its first season in the FBS, in the Sun tion director Mike Flynn released this statement: “As is often the case when implementing large-scale conBelt Conference, last year, according to BusinessInsider.com. struction projects, the athletics facilities enhancements plan Across the country, the average FBS football team could fund nearly four starting lineups with scholarship players, mean- that was first unveiled in 2005 evolved over the course of it while the average soccer team couldn’t completely field one moving from vision to reality. “One part of that evolution was that it proved to be unfeateam of in-state or out-of-state scholarship players, according to an ESPN report in 2012. Without needing to hear these sta- sible to construct a soccer stadium next to the baseball stadium tistics, Rex just chalked soccer being a low priority as a “busi- behind the old Broyhill Inn as was originally planned in 2005. Therefore, the athletics department actively sought other opness decision” for the university and its athletics department. While App State soccer was still sharing a home with the tions for a soccer-only facility, which led to the eventual confootball program its meteoric rise in the mid ‘90s, that would struction of the Appalachian Soccer Stadium at the Ted Mackchange in the next decade. In 2005 – after three straight na- orell Soccer Complex in 2008. “In his short time as athletics director, Doug Gillin has been tional championships in Football – ASU’s soccer program was

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“It’s obvious football evaluating all of the athand basketball are the letics department’s facilipriorities, and that is unties needs. He has stated derstandable. They help that developing a new bring in the money and facilities master plan will get publicity and need to be a priority for the dereceive more for sure,” partment going forward Nelson said, adding that but there is no timetable this situation is no difor details for that master ferent than at other uniplan at this time. versities. “Obviously as “In the meantime, we a coach, you always ask are committed to conand want a little more tinuing to enhance Appafor your program. But lachian Soccer Stadium give Doug Gillin credit, for our soccer programs he’s done a really good as we have since the staForward Stephan Chaptman, defensive back Ben Steen and job getting all the other dium opened in 2008. This year alone, we have another player run a set piece against Longwood University in mid- sports what they need Photo by Sarah Weiffenbach for the year.” made a significant in- September in an attempt to score A former standout vestment in graphics to goalie at Lynn University better brand the facility as the home of the Mountaineers and we’re excited to showcase in Boca Raton, Fla., and professional player for several seasons the facility in November when it hosts the Sun Belt Conference stateside and overseas, Nelson arrived at App State in 2008 as an assistant coach under Shaun Pendleton, who previously Men’s Soccer Championship.” Long story short, it sounds like there aren’t current plans coached at Lynn for 17 seasons. When Pendleton died tragito build an on-campus facility for the men and women’s soc- cally at the age of 49 in the middle of the 2011 season, Nelson took over as head coach. Under Nelson and with a bevy of emocer programs. In the face of obstacles, such as playing beside grade tions swirling, the Mountaineers pulled off an 11-game unschool rec leagues at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex, where beaten streak (7-0-4) behind one of the nation’s top defenses in the parking situation is such that cars routinely line both sides goals-against, shutout percentage and save percentage. Nelson of Brookshire Road, current head coach Matt Nelson isn’t was named SoCon Coach of the Year. “It was a very emotional time. It’s always hard and you making any excuses. “We have a team that can definitely win the conference.” Every year, Nelson said his expectations of never know the right way to handle [the situation]. You don’t even know if there is a right the program are the same: way to handle the situation. “To win the Southern ConferWe had some great leaders ence. It’s been so long since that were seniors,” Nelson App State has been to the post said. “It was probably one of season and the NCAA tourthe most trying times in my nament. That’s the goal every Former head coach Hank Steinbrecher life for myself as well as the single year.” 27 other guys on the team.” Of course it would be nice Nelson wasn’t initially aware of App State’s rich soccer to have a stadium in proximity to the campus, not only for the convenience of the players but for students to watch the teams tradition. It wasn’t until he helped move some of the offices play at home on weekday or weekend nights. “That’s some- from Varsity Gym to the new Appalachian Athletics Center thing that would be preferable. We would like something close shortly after he arrived to Boone that he came across a couple and easier to draw students to the field. The land situation on photos dating back to the ‘70s. “Thompson Usiyan [had just campus is very, very limited,” Nelson said. “Hopefully, that is scored] and from beyond the bleachers it showed a packed a long-term goal for the program and university. Hopefully, stadium and everyone is going crazy when he scores,” Nelson said, describing on the photos. He then researched Christian we’ll get there one day.” It would also help if Nelson were allotted the full amount and Usiyan and that time era when App State’s soccer proof scholarships – but that has never been the case at Appa- gram was making headlines in Sports Illustrated, the New lachian State University. Nelson can divvy his scholarships York Times and the Washington Post. Since many of today’s collegiate players and recruits however he sees fit, but it works out to be out 9.9 in-state scholarships. That number drops if he went with more out-of- weren’t alive when App State men’s soccer was dominant, the state players. As for in-state players, look at what nationally younger generation isn’t aware of App State’s prominence. So ranked teams App State is competing against: UNC (No. 2 in sometime after Nelson took over as head coach, he started a the country as of September), Coastal Carolina (No. 5), Elon “Wall of Fame” in the locker room that includes old memo(No. 8), Wake Forest (No. 15) and UNC-Wilmington (No. rabilia, plaques and trophies. While most don’t know about 22). And that doesn’t include in-state schools such as UNC- App State’s “golden era” in soccer, Nelson said his players Charlotte, N.C. State and Duke, which also received votes to know the history: “They do.”  be included in the Top 25 in September 2015.

“I think ASU had a goldmine and they wasted it.”

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

TITLE INSURERS WORK FOR YOU! What You Need to Know About Real Estate Title Insurance Special Report from Jeffrey J. Walker, Esq. Title insurance companies have protected the American dream of home ownership for more than a century. The behind-the-scenes work of title insurance agents ensures the quick and secure transfer of land, giving consumers and lenders confidence in their investment. On closing day, a homeowner not only attains ownership of a property, the buyer also walks with the assurance that his interest in the property is protected. This is achieved through professional working in the land title insurance industry. When somebody purchases a home, how can they be sure that there are no problems with the home’s title and that the seller really owns the property? Problems with the title can limit the homeowner’s use and enjoyment of the property as well as bring financial loss. That is what a title search and title insurance are for. After a buyer’s sales contract has been accepted, a title professional will search the public records to look for any problems with the home’s title. The search typically involves a review of land records going back many years. Nearly 40 percent of all title searches reveal a title problem that title professionals fix before closing. For instance, a previous owner may have had minor construction done on the property, but never fully paid the contractor. Or the previous owner may have failed to pay local or state taxes. Title professionals seek to resolve problems like this before you go to closing. What happens if a problem arises after a homebuyer moves in? This is an additional benefit provided by the title insurance industry. An Owner’s Policy of Title Insurance remains in effect as long as the policyholder (or their heirs) owns the property that is insured. And, an Owner’s Policy covers legal expenses involved in defending the title on behalf of the homeowner. Let’s face it – a homebuyer certainly has more than enough to think about during the closing process when purchasing a new home. An Owner’s Policy provides the peace of mind that comes from knowing their investment is protected. The American Land Title Association (ALTA) helps educate consumers about title insurance so they can better understand their choices and make informed decisions. Homebuyers, regulators and legislators are encouraged to check out the website, www. homeclosing101.org, to learn more about title insurance and the closing process. Walker Title LLC, owned by attorney Jeffrey J. Walker, is located at 118 West Main Street in Mountain City, TN; is an active member of ALTA and the land title associations in both North Carolina and Tennessee; Attorney Walker is licensed to practice law in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee and is the senior partner in Walker DiVenere Wright, Attorneys at Law, in Boone, North Carolina.

Need legal advice or Representation? Call Walker DiVenere Wright If you are like the clients that have built our reputation, you want a lawyer who is local and available, one who listens and is responsive to you, answers your questions and understands your case and the courts. At Walker DiVenere Wright we’ll answer your calls. We’ll make time for your questions. We’ll listen. We won’t waste your time. We’ll explain the law and your choices and offer guidance. Walker DiVenere Wright is a full service law firm representing clients in civil and criminal matters, including: All Real Estate Matters • Wills & Trusts Accidents • Personal Injury Construction Matters • Insurance Claims Criminal & Traffic Matters • Family Law

Visit www.walkertitleTN.com for more information or call 866-727-0207 anytime

Jeffrey J. Walker Tamara C. DiVenere Anné C. Wright Andrew S. Jones

783 West King Street, Boone NC 28607 828-268-9640 • 800-451-4299 info@jjwpa.com www.lawyernorthcarolina.com October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

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October / November 2015

Far Horizons Story by Allison West

f the walls could talk at 1245 Laurel Lane, a nearly 6,000 square foot mansion nestled in the hills of the Mayview neighborhood just off the beaten path in downtown Blowing Rock, it’s safe to say that secrets would be shared, memories would be evoked and hearts would be stirred. The home, an architectural gem erected atop 50 feet of solid stone that somehow manages to be both imposing and charming, holds almost a century’s worth of stories. Originally built in 1924 by William Alexander — a prominent Charlotte capitalist and real estate developer who invested thousands of dollars turning Blowing Rock into one of the premier resorts in Western North Carolina when he purchased a 25-acre tract of land in Mayview in 1917 — the dwelling has been home to a handful of prominent families who created their fair share of memories over the years.

Consider, for example, the whispers and hushhush strategy that must have surrounded the Prohibition-era bottles that during a major 1990 renovation were unexpectedly unearthed from beneath the lower steps of the basement staircase. Or soak in the nots o - c l a nd e s t i ne arrangement of the inhabitants of the home in the 1930s: The story goes that the married man of the house at the time hosted a weekly Saturday night poker game. While several forms of gambling were legalized in various regions of the country in the

Photography by Todd Bush October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

A landscape by Sue Fazio, wife of legendary golf course designer Tom Fazio, adds a splash of color to the dining room. 1930s, including social games, a raucous game of poker was still an object of disesteem to the refined (and religious) set. So a deal was struck between the husbands and their wives that (allegedly) made everyone happy. The men could play poker, free of their wives’ furrowed brows, as long as the prizewinner agreed to show up at church the next morning and deposit all the previous night’s winnings into the offering plate. Not only did this guarantee that the winner attended church, it also ensured the losers did too: They wanted to witness firsthand that the money actually made the transition from pocket to plate.

The study features a cozy corner that offers a quiet place to read. 38

High Country Magazine

But the most recent of all anecdotes and reflections comes from the home’s current proprietor — Blowing Rock real estate agent Zachary Tate, whose mother, the late philanthropist Anne Cannon Forsyth, purchased the property from Nathaniel and Eleanor Ward in 1952. In 1998 Forsyth, a native of Winston-Salem and the granddaughter of RJ Reynolds, willed the property to her son, who then took sole possession of the home upon his mother’s passing in 2003. Tate lived in Winston from 1960 to 1973 and spent summers at the Blowing Rock home with his mother and family. L.P. Tate a consummate horseman

In this corner of the living room, a Sue Fazio landscape is featured on the wall, and a view of its reflection is pictured in a mirror on the adjacent wall. October / November 2015

The living room also features this upholstered cocktail table.

A large Oriental rug from The Rug Co. adds a colorful background for the neutral upholstery, and the nearby fireplace showcases a Sue Fazio landscape. who has a jumping class named after him at the Blowing Rock Horse Show — which, incidentally, was started by Zach’s grandfather, L.M. Tate. It was during this idyllic childhood when Zach remembers “my father taking me on moonlight rides around the Moses Cone Trails … horsedrawn hay rides that took the kids down Main Street… stopping at Storie’s Street Soda Shop for ice cream and hand-mixed sodas … going to the movies on Main Street … and riding for free on Tweetsie [Railroad] because the husband of the woman who helped raise me was a conductor on the train.” He also remembers a home not intended for winter use, even with seven fireplaces ablaze to help heat the structure. Little insulation, brutal temperatures and trademark Blowing Rock winds caused pipes to freeze, a frequent occurrence Tate encountered when he took root in the home in 1977 during his sophomore year at Appalachian State University, from which he earned a degree in Business Management in 1981 and an MBA in 1985. Despite the physical and financial hazard of frozen pipes, Tate fondly recalls a life spent in the house dubbed “Far Horizons,” its name clearly inspired by its magnificent, awe-inspiring vantage point above the Gorge. “The view from the house is of course what makes it so special,” which inspired Tate to add the three upper decks during the 1990 remodeling, an effort that also converted the five-bedroom, three-bath house to a more livable four-bedroom, four bath yearround home. “Standing on the deck you can see Grandfather Mountain to the west, Table Rock and Hawk’s Bill Mountains to the south,” describes Tate.” You can even see

A large, arched window keeps this room feeling sunny and bright. October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

the Mount Mitchell Range over Asheville and parts of Charlotte on a clear day as well.” Since his college days, Tate has lived in the home full time save for six years spent working in other cities. He and his wife Linda, to whom he was married in 1999 and has sold real estate with in Blowing Rock since 2004 (“Team Tate” are currently partners and brokers at Blowing Rock Gallery of Homes & Land), have made it their full-time residence since 2003. And while college shenanigans and bad decisions would certainly make for attention-grabbing memoirs, perhaps those pale in comparison to the scary moment Tate recalls from a holiday weekend in summer 2014. On the night of July 2, he and Linda were in the kitchen preparing dinner for houseguests when he smelled smoke. A quick investigation led him to a flame-and-smoke-filled furnace room, at which time he immediately evacuated the home. The resulting smoke damage was extensive, but remarkably the artwork was able to be fully cleaned and preserved. A faulty surge protector was to blame for the fire. Tate says “Thanks to the rapid response and professionalism of our Blowing Rock Fire Department, the fire resulted in very little flame damage but smoke damage was extensive.” Although a few dining room floor joists were partially burned, the fire only damaged mostly just the electrical wiring and ductwork. Fast forward 15 months and approximately $900,000 in renovation dollars later and here we are, at the tail end of a massive dream project undertaken by Banner Elk-based interior design firm Dianne Davant & Associates (which also captained the 1990 renovation) and Eddie Greene Construction of Boone. The all-consuming, down-to-the-studs damage rendered the house a virtual clean slate. Davant, however, saw this

Zach and Linda Tate and the family dog, Shelby. not as an obstacle but as an opportunity. “We knew we would have to redo all the tile, all the finishes, everything,” she says of the plans she would draw up with Margaret Handley, one of Davant’s two Vice Presidents of Interior Design (the other is Pam McKay). The obvious first step, recalls Davant, whose

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High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

talents have extended to such projects as decorating the jet of Wayne Huizenga (partial owner of the Miami Dolphins) and Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, was to open up every room in the house, taking advantage of the sweeping views and the abundance of natural light filtered through the massive windows. For example, she notes, “we moved the bar area to open up the living room and fill in part of what used to be a sun porch. Now it’s a perfect entertaining area.” The designers also chose a schematically-friendly neutral palette throughout the home, replacing the origiThe master bedroom was designed using relaxing shades of blue nal shades of colors and to create an ultimate place of peace and comfort. previous accents the house was dressed in when Zach’s mother lived there. the house looking its ‘mountain-traditional’ self but incorporatThroughout the renovation and design process, says Davant, ing a more masculine interior, a more tailored look.” whose firm also has a second location in Port St. Lucie, Fla., “We The kitchen, for example, is accented with stone floors and guided Zach through the process of what we were doing to keep granite countertops, is finished in wormy chestnut cabinetry

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High Country Magazine

ZACHARY TATE’S FAMILY TREE LM TATE GRANDFATHER Zach’s grandfather, a horseman from Pinehurst, NC, who started the Blowing Rock Charity Horseshow, which celebrated its 93rd anniversary this year and is one of the oldest continually operating horse show in the country.

LP TATE FATHER Zach’s late father, a consummate horseman who trained thoroughbred race horses and even had an entrant in the 1956 Kentucky Derby (it didn’t win). An inductee into both the North Carolina and Virginia Horseman Hall of Fame, LP also trained hunters and jumpers, one of which he sold to actor Paul Newman. His legacy is preserved via “The LP Tate Jumper Classic,” the jumping class at the Blowing Rock Horse Show named in his honor.

ANNE CANNON FORSYTH MOTHER Zach’s mother, who had four children (two sons and two daughters) with her husband LP Tate; who were later divorced and she then married the late Dr. Frank Forsyth. The daughter of RJ Reynolds, Forsyth’s private philanthropy touched thousands of lives and helped hundreds of families throughout North Carolina. A staunch advocate for racial equality and cultural diversity, Forsyth created the Stouffer Foundation, which placed 142 black students in 22 preparatory schools throughout the South in order to achieve racial integration. She also founded the Awards Committee for Education (ACE), a program that sent 700 black students from North Carolina to summer sessions at colleges and universities throughout the state. Forsyth was an admirer and collector of art — from paintings and fine art to contemporary and classic literature — and as such was a major benefactor to the North Carolina School for the Arts, the Penland School of Crafts, and the Blowing Rock Stage Company, which received a $250,000 legacy gift that was used to help fund the now defunct Hayes Performing Arts Center. Her mark is permanently felt on Blowing Rock as well, as she donated land for both the Annie Cannon Memorial Park and the Charles Davant Ballfield, and contributed significantly to the Blowing Rock Hospital. Upon her death she also left money to form the Anne Cannon Trust, for which Zach was named Executive Director. Over the course of five years, ACT helped fund scholarships to Appalachian State University for 100 underrepresented students who declared their candidacy for becoming teachers. Linda Tate also serves on the ACT Board. Says Zach, “My mother wanted me to continue to be involved with philanthropy after her death, so she enabled me to do this by setting up a trust for me to administer, thus allowing me to stay in touch with the needs of the less fortunate. We have elected to focus on North Carolina and underrepresented groups to honor her past efforts.” The trust is currently funding the Magnolia Scholarship Program at Wake Forest University, committing $12,600 a year for six years to provide program support for first-generation students attending the school. 42

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Anne Cannon Forsyth

L.P. Tate

Zach’s Mom And Dad horsing around as teenagers

Z. Smith Reynolds

“We guided Zach through the process of what we were doing to keep the house looking its ‘mountain-traditional’ self but incorporating a more masculine interior, a more tailored look.” courtesy of Banner Cabinets in Newland, N.C.; rock mason Kenny Bush used ingenuity and innovation to house receptacles in a rock wall to meet 2015 code; and beams were added to ceilings to, as Tate says, “mountain it up.” Tate adds “and our electrician, Richard O’rien, brought everything back online by rewiring the whole house. The four bedrooms, each with its own fetching stone fireplace replete with gas logs and a rough-hewn lumber mantle, are all situated on the third level, throughout which are carried the richly stained oak floors from the main level. The bathrooms are bathed in shades of neutral earth tones, the countertops finished in granite and the showers with seamless glass. And then there’s the jaw-dropping basement level. Surrounded by exquisite rock walls that look impenetrable by even the heartiest of wrecking balls, the area is referred to by Tate as “the play area.” It’s an entertainer’s fever dream. First there’s the substantial wine cellar outfitted in barn siding with its custom-made stained

The sunny game area boasts lots of natural light and a panoramic view of the “Far Horizons.”

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OLD WORLD GALLERIES

697 West King Street • Downtown Boone 828.264.6559 • oldworldgalleries.com October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

The Place Known as Mayview

Mayview Manor, an opulent 138-room hotel that stood on the cliffs of Blowing Rock and opened in 1921.

he grand estate home of “Far Horizons” rests in the midst of what is arguably the most storied area of Blowing Rock, the neighborhood known as Mayview, developed by prominent Charlotte capitalist Walter Alexander in the early 20th Century. In 1917 Alexander moved to Blowing Rock and subsequently invested thousands of dollars into turning the town into one of the premier resorts of Western North Carolina. The esteemed developer, who has a room named after him in the Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort, built the area’s most celebrated hotel, Mayview Manor, an opulent 138-room hotel that stood on the cliffs of Blowing Rock and opened in 1921. The hotel, constructed of pre-blight chestnut wood, native fieldstone and a chestnut bark exterior, was considered the quintessential getaway for the rich, with its elegant entertainment and acclaimed fine dining. In fact, Ben Ward, editor of the Southern Lumber Journal in Jacksonville, Fla., wrote a glowing review following a trip to Mayview Manor in the 1930s: “I have found many spots where I wished we might relax for a while but never in all these travels have we found a summer resort that offers quite so much, from our viewpoint, as Blowing Rock, N.C., and its famous Mayview Manor Hotel … Therefore it gives me a real pleasure to recommend a stay of a week or so there to my friends, especially those whose nerves need a healing process. And, I should add, I think that the rates are surprisingly reasonable.” After its closure in 1966, the hotel sat empty until it was demolished for a housing development in 1978. Even in its absence, Mayview Manor remains one of the most revered pieces of architecture in Blowing Rock history. “Far Horizons” clearly kept great company.

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High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

glass window that offers a view into the adjacent slate-floored pool room. Then there’s the exercise and game room, smartly finished with cork flooring and a flat-screen television that makes a workout seem less painful. Even the outdoors are both elegant and snug: the synthetic slate roof, the commanding wooden doors, the stately pine siding, the prodigious driveway, the noble wrought-iron fence surrounding the property, the romantic gazebo perched on its own enchanting lot, and the quaint 900-squarefoot garage apartment. At press time, Davant was in the process of putting the final touches on the endlessly impressive, magazineready interior décor, and Tate was over the moon in anticipation of the finished product. “My mother would not recognize the place as it is now,” he raves, “with the magical transformation work Dianne Davant has done on it. Her firm has done an excellent job of modernizing the home while keeping and enhancing the ‘Blowing Rock charm’ that makes the house so special.” The result of her masterwork? A nearly 6,000-square-foot structure that feels as cozy as a mountain cottage. “We wanted the house to feel more casual and comfortable,” explains Davant, who admits to a particular fondness for the intimacy projected by the living room. “We took away the formality that had once been in the house and now there is a very open flow to the house. All areas are just wonderful for entertaining.” For nearly a century, memories have been made and tales stored within these walls. These days, however, bottles of wine don’t have to be hidden under stairwells. The Tates will set them prominently on the counter alongside gourmet cheeses and fresh fruit, offered to welcome family and friends and revel in the stories surrounding them. Cheers to the narrative of the next 100 years at “Far Horizons.” 

Renovation Team Contractor: Eddie Greene Cabinetry by Banner Cabinets Electrician: Richard O’Brien Plumbing: Ray La Bonte Stone Mason: Kenneth Bush HVAC: Edmisten Heating & Cooling Rugs: The Rug Company Security, advanced sound, lighting and entertainment: Mountain Heritage, Newland NC.

October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Mia Katrin Classical Composer of Couture Jewelry

Mia models her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Signature Collectionâ&#x20AC;? ring set with a blue topaz. Like all her pieces clients can choose from a side array of stones to accent the settings including your birthstone. 46

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

BY celeste von mangan

ia Katrin arrived storm-tossed the day she showed up at my door. Storm-tossed but not disheveled. Quite the contrary. The wind and rain and fog and slate gray sky may have been blowing and falling and drifting and lowering but Mia was looking decidedly classic Audrey Hepburn albeit warm-blonde-to-Miss Hepburn’s brunette, but said tresses were wrapped in a head scarf and slim dancer’s physique in a classic beige Burberryesque trench coat with skirt beneath ala Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Charade. I glanced up from writing my bimonthly column and saw the streets of West Jefferson fall away behind Audrey, I mean Mia and the streets of Paris, France unfurl instead as she stepped inside the office door ushering in the scent of new fallen rain and the vision of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And that’s the magic of Mia, or at least a portion of it as I discover over a trail of phone interviews and meetings in person in the following weeks. She’s timeless. She’s your best friend from girlhood. Your big sister. Your favorite aunt. She’s your teacher from teen-hood and the professor from your college days. She’s the entrepreneur you wish you could be. Mia is the originator and owner of her company, JEWEL COUTURE LLC that has been based in Ashe County for almost a decade, a town she adores because of its unspoiled quaintness and quiet charm. She’s from a small town too, called Media and that is where her story begins, I learn, as we chat over coffee at a local cafe. “I’m originally from the Pennsylvania suburbs,” said Mia. “Media is the County Seat of Philly. Then we moved to Wallingford, about three and a half miles away and, at the time, at that young age, I thought it was this big move. There’s three little stores; a drugstore, post office and a market. Across the street was the library. This area lies in the southwest suburbs of Philly.” Mia’s father was a professor at Temple University, where he taught Spanish Language while her mother ran a dance studio, teaching ballet. “I was in a semi-professional dance troupe, “said Mia, “called Ballet Trianon. I went to Washington D.C. in 12th grade to attend the National Ballet Academic School. Frederick Franklin was the director. I performed at the Academy of Music and was lowered onto the stage on a swing in a solo dance performance.” At age 16, Mia graduated from the ballet school. “Margot Fonteyne presented our diplomas,” she said. “Half of my friends joined the company and I was going to also, but decided not to join in the end.” That end was really just the beginning when Mia made the decision not to become a professional ballet dancer. She instead took the high road in academics, a field where she was

I started designing high-end pieces in 2003, made with 18 to 22 karat gold with all precious gems such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds.” – Mia Katrin very comfortable. “I went to the University of Michigan and graduated in three years, then went on to graduate school at 19.” she said, “to the University of Chicago Grad School.” Having been granted tenure at 25 followed by a promotion to associate professor at 26, by age 30, Mia felt the stirrings of slight discontent. She felt like she wanted to do something more. Something different. “I got interested in gems and just have an affinity for them,” said Mia. Mia’s extreme formal training and discipline, first in the ballet then academia, enabled her to study and comprehend October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

as well as employ the resulting knowledge gleamed from a tome of a textbook spawned from the Gemological Institute of America to learn more about her newfound passion-soonto-be-profession. “It’s a really thick book, “said Mia, of the gem textbook. “I would find the gemstones then have them tested. I started designing high-end pieces in 2003, made with 18 to 22 karat gold with all precious gems such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds.”

Enter 2008

“When 2008 came, the market just changed overnight, “said Mia. “Prior to that time, my jewelry only sold for thousands of dollars per piece. I then had to come up with pieces I could sell for under $1,000 per item. By using 14 karat gold, some silver and a whole range of semiprecious stones like topaz, citrine, and amethyst, I was able to offer this.” Every year, Mia has produced and introduced a fresh collection. Her newest is called The Signature Collection and it may just trump her past creations. Drawing inspiration from treasured, classic jewels through the ages but with cutting edge, contemporary design thrown into the mix and through literally networking around the country and the world, jewelry makers are working on her designs in factories and locales as exotic as Jaipur, India. The Signature pieces consist of a 20.75 karat cut, very large blue topaz earring set in 18 karat gold, an 18 karat gold ring with diamonds and a choice of gems for the center, the blue topaz and sapphire being very popular. “I’m still offering my other collections,” said Mia, “the Jewel Casual, Egyptian Collection, Precious Briolette, Statement Necklaces and Gioia.”

Eve models the ring, bracelet and necklace from Mia’s “Signature Collection” and Magnum opus for her jewelry designs, that are now available and are custom made. Eve Chambers is a professional hair stylist and licensed cosmetologist based in West Jefferson, North Carolina. She has her own booth in Reflections, a full service salon owned by Geraldine Roten. Eve was the makeup artist and stylist for the Mia Katrin photo shoot. She can be reached at 336-846-3500 Tuesday through Saturdays. to make an appointment. She also accepts walk-ins. Reflections is located at 102 Long St, West Jefferson. 48

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

“I was in a semiprofessional dance troupe called Ballet Trianon. I went to Washington D.C. in 12th grade to attend the National Ballet Academic School. Frederick Franklin was the director. I performed at the Academy of Music and was lowered onto the stage on a swing in a solo dance performance.” – Mia Katrin

The Signature Collection will bring Mia’s artistry back to the high-end jewelry market, even surpassing her pre2008 pieces while bringing another new element to the forefront of her own JEWEL COUTURE company: Other people are making the rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces from Mia’s own designs. In the past, She hammered out gold in her studio—“I studied with a goldsmith” and placing the various precious and semi-precious stones, the emeralds and lapis and citrine and Tahitian pearls—“My friend owns his own pearl farm” and sapphires

and diamonds and rubies in and on and through the silver and gold settings with her own hands. “I just returned from a trunk show in Richmond Virginia at Adolf Jewelers,” said Mia, “where they just picked up my line.” At this juncture, Mia travels on a regular basis across the United States, hosting trunk shows and fashion shows to offer her designs to an ever-widening clientele and counts celebrities such as Sharon Stone, famous literary folk and the international jet-set elite amongst her clients. Her homey upbringing in a small town have failed to desert Mia and

October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

she happily shops at the Ashe County Farmers Market, attends the six dollar movies at the Downtown West Jefferson Parkway Movie Theater and grows her own tomato plants “I took a picture of them, they grew to be seven feet tall!” So of course she offers her pieces to High Country residents and visitors at a West Jefferson business, Perry’s Goldmine. “After spotting the store I wondered if it was the same Perry’s I knew from Charlotte,” said Mia. “And it was. Coleman Perry has his main store there and a store right here on South Jefferson Avenue. I’m hosting a trunk show in October.” As a former philosophy professor with a Doctorate in Aesthetics from the University of Chicago, Mia is passionate about speaking and writing about all aspects of the jewelry field. She has written her own column for Southern Jewelry News for nine years and has just accepted another invitation to speak at a venue held at the venerable Texas Jewelers Association in San Antnio, Texas this October. We’re outside the local feedstore where I’ve just picked-up some horse pellets and laying crumbles for chickens, our interview running into the evening hours and closing the cafe down. Mia met me there and now we sit in her car and talk philosophy and relationships and spirituality and art verses craft. She’s telling me about just now, rediscovering friends and family from her formative years and laughing about “first date Freddy” who happens to live in North Carolina as well, off the mountain and happily married, but she had an unforgettable date that set the precedent for all others, or so that is my understanding. Then we’re onto the juicy bits of creating. The Art verses craft part. “When it’s just craft, you’re not going through that process of self-discovery,” she said. “You’re doing it through some medium like poetry, sculpture, painting. That’s what’s thrilling about it in terms of design. If it’s really art, it has that divine spark. It’s creation. You’re doing what the creator does—there is something divine about it. That’s what is moving it. People get it. They see the spark there. Recreating creation. That is what art is at it’s core. It’s poiesis, which is from the Greek, meaning creation or formation. It’s not just mirroring creation, it’s like entering into it. You’re becoming the creator.” That...is The Signature Collection... entering creation. Art. Mia is a classical composer of couture jewelry much as her favorite musician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a classical composer of music.

Eve (left) and Mia help Celeste (center) get into the act. Ladies love trying on all the pretty, shiny jewels. And that, I’m thinking is the magic of Mia, that I picked up at first blush. She moves through all elements in speech and action—earth, air, fire, water. We covered topics from the sublime to the

secondary and it all flowed like lofty art. Even my parting words, “So Mia, now that your jewelry line has reached an art form... why not fall in love and get married?” Or maybe I just thought it, but she

laughs, big smile, eyes sparkling and you believe she’ll do that too, as she retreats back to her world of gems and hammered gold and seven foot tall tomato plants into the Audrey Hepburn night. 

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High Country Magazine

Banner Elk Fire and Rescue 50 Years of service

Training Sesson Photographed by Faisuly Scheurer

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Fire...

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October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Milestone Sparks Celebration of Hometown Heroes After Five Decades of Dedication

By Katie Benfield

ay in and day out, firefighters risk They are the reason that we can live with matter how large. The department celebrates its 50th their safety and their lives to pre- peace of mind, and we know that they are anniversary this year, and its members revent injury or death of the people there for us when we need them. In Avery County, the Banner Elk Fire main committed to protecting the commuthey know and care about. They do it out of a passionate determination and calling and Rescue team ensures the safety of its nity from imminent danger. to protect those who IN THE need protection. BEGINNING They are our It was autumn of everyday heroes — 1965. Cecil Crawmaybe your pastor, ford was working as your X-ray technian X-ray technician cian or a friendly at the local hospital face you see on the when he was apstreet. They are the proached by two people that go above of his friends. They and beyond out of proposed an idea to the goodness of their establish a volunteer hearts to ensure the fire department in safety of the folks the town of Banner around them. Elk, and they wanted In 2014 alone, the him to get involved. National Fire Pro“They needed a tection Association certain amount of reported that fires people in order for caused 3,275 civilian deaths, more than A dedicated member of Banner Elk Fire and Rescue, who is also an auto mechanic, donated it to actually function,” Crawford said. 80 percent of which a car for training purposes. For this training, pictured here, the department established “So they somehow were the results of teams comprised of veteran firefighters and new members who work together to control rounded them up, home structure fires. the fire. George Wright said that new members are often lovingly referred to as “probies” and we had people That doesn’t inand the department veterans work hard to teach them as much as they can. from all walks of life clude the more than — college professors, 15,700 fire-related injuries that happened community, people and places alike, protecting it from the danger threatened by lumber salesmen, insurance agents, docacross the country. The same report explains that the fire. For the past 49 years, the department tors who doubled as our medical advisors. “Then it just became.” 1,298,000 fires that occurred in the U.S. has worked to be the first on the scene of They needed money, Crawford said, last year led to an estimated $11.6 billion any local emergency and has remained prepared for whatever crises may arise, no and money was hard to come by. in direct property loss. Barbecue dinners and other events were With an ever-increasing number of orchestrated to get the money they needed, house fires and arsons on both public and and the old Cannon hospital served as a foprivate properties, many resulting in inCecil cal point for the fundraising effort. They jury, death or unmanageable expenses, the Crawford often used an old ice machine and sold need for firefighters continues to grow in drinks to keep the money moving. every community, including our own. In 1965 Cecil “We would open up big drinks and Luckily, in North Carolina’s High Crawford helped pour them up for people to buy,” CrawCountry, we can rest easy knowing we’re establish a volunford said. “We had to put in a lot of hours in the hands of hardworking rescue proteer fire departto make that money.” fessionals (and volunteers) who put their ment in the town They put in countless hours of work to lives on the line to protect ours every day. of Banner Elk. 54

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Top: (from left to right) Paige Bisenieks, Erick Broschinski, Teddy Thomas. Middle: George Wright. Bottom: (left to right) Danny Clark, Faisal Shah, Clay Beattie, Robert Hancock, Eric Burr, Keegan Gilder, Brian Hicks, Tyler Burr, Will Treen, Tyler Pauley emergencies and serves as make it happen, but it was the president of the departworth it for them — every ment’s board of directors. penny they raised meant As a spokesperson for they were one step closer to the department, he appreciprotecting their homes and ates the challenges the detheir neighborhoods. partment’s leaders faced to “We all knew that we get it off the ground and the needed the fire department investment every man had for the community,” Crawto make, which included ford said. “The closest one paying out-of-pocket for the was 12 miles away and we materials they needed. all saw the need for it. That’s The initial volunteers why we did it.” wore cotton jackets that Despite their hard work, were purchased for $100 adequate funding remained each. The design of those an issue for the team behind first jackets has been rethe new department, which placed many times over by was officially established the latest in firefighting techlater that year. Tyler Burr demonstrates the many ways to gain access to a burning car nology, Wright said. Today’s The Rev. George Wright, using a pick axe that was part of an evening of training. equivalent of the jacket costs who serves as pastor at the about $900 and is coupled nearby Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, first joined the department as a volunteer firefighter. His with pants that cost close to $700. A member of the community donated to the inaugural fire and decision to join came in the wake of the tragic death of four members who died when they were away on a fire training weekend. rescue team a 1937 Seagrave fire engine, which Wright says still In the aftermath of that tragedy, he met many of the members and runs, “although it needs a lot of tender loving care.” “The firefighters would use this engine in the dead of winfound a place where he felt he could serve the community. Today he is the department chaplain, fights fires, responds to medical ter,” Wright said. “It had an open cab and a loud bell that they October / November 2015

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Every calendar year, the department requires each of its members to complete 48 hours of training, 12 of which are required for certification through the state of North Carolina. A state representative leads NC certified training, and the department’s own officers conduct the remainder of what they call “inhouse” training. Members gain experience in using pumps, driving and medical response.

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Founding member Cecil Crawford (second from right) is joined by current members from left to right: Captain Clay Beattie, Chief Gary Miller and Chaplin George Wright

would ring as they drove through the town. I have heard tales that a fireman would ring the bell and shout at people to get out of the way.” Clay Beattie, who serves as the department’s captain, said the firefighting technology they used, including the engine, was much different 50 years ago from what they use today. “They had a switchboard of some kind, and if they got a call, the lady who was working there would basically set up the phone lines,” Beattie said. “The firefighters’ house phones would ring and ring until they picked up, and then the lady would tell them all the details they needed to know about the call.” While the technology may have been less effective in the beginning, the training they received was still effective. To prepare for their roles in protecting their neighbors, the volunteers would spend every Saturday in training. They took advantage of opportunities to burn dilapidated homes and structures in the area, using them as practice to advance their firefighting training.

“That way, when we got to an actual house fire, car fire or grass fire, we would know what to do,” Crawford said. “It’s just like medical school. You need practice, and that’s what we got.” Serving in the peaks of the western North Carolina mountains meant vigorous training and often included riding in an open cab through the hills in the dead of winter. The volunteers didn’t shy from the hard work, however, and they have remained committed to their rescue mission, and to each other, over the years. “We were all friends with each other, and we took care of one another. We felt a closeness with one another that really meant something,” Crawford said. “I loved being involved in something different and, once we got into the swing of things and responded to calls, I loved helping other people.”

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THE ROSTER

The selfless members of the known and loved Banner Elk Fire and Rescue are: Gary Miller, Chief Fred Shrader, 1st Assistant Chief Skipper Blair, 2nd Assistant Chief Clay Beattie, Captain Tyler Burr, Captain Rob Hancock, 1st Lieutenant Teddy Thomas, 2nd Lieutenant Catherine Arnett Ryan Arnett Shannon Barnett Emily Beattie Paige Bisenieks Eric Broschinski Erik Burr Danny Clark

D Frazier Keegan Gilder Brenna Harden Brian Hicks Kevin Hodges Tim Holcomb Hannah Hoots Tim Horney Meghan Lay Chris Lyerly Missy Miller Ricky Norwood Tyler Pauley Steven Phenneger Austin Rubin Zee Roguska Faisal Shah Orrie Smith Robert Strange Will Treen George Wright

Members of the Banner Elk Fire Department • May 2, 1965: Front row (from left): George Litton, Terry Chappell, Roy Smith, Doyle Shomaker, Homer Bumgarner, Murphy Hodges, Floyd Ramsey and Harrison Baldwin. Back row (from left): Cecil Crawford, Robert Grindstaff, Chester Puckett, Lloyd Ramsey, Lee McCaskey, Ralph Gwaltney, Joe Perry, W.D. Von Canon, Dave Draughon, Jack Smith, Charlie Ramsey and John L. Dean. Seat in the truck with the mascot, Mr. “Prince” Dalmation, is Al Crawley. Not pictured: Dr. C.M. Stamper, Dr. Robert Smith, Ed and Fred Jennings, Bill Puckett, Auburn Andrews, Bob Goforth and Don Baker. 58

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OUR SCHOOLS

Captain Clay Beattie, one of two paid staff members, mans the fire house.

50 YEARS LATER

Times and technology may have changed, but the heart of the department has remained the same. They still want to serve and protect the people of their community, regardless of the risks they face when they’re out fighting fires. “Technology is a lot different now than it was, along with funding,” Beattie said. “But the overall goal of serving the community is definitely the same.” The department continues to train three Mondays out of the month, and they respond to calls with the same efficiency and determination they had 50 years ago. “We try to have as many firefighters there to train as possible, but sometimes it fluctuates,” Beattie said. “We have members who are students at Lees-McRae and people who have to provide for their families.” They don’t get paid for their noble efforts, but that never stops them from putting it all on the line to protect the community. Even though they’re working in their own lives to pursue careers and grow families, they remain steadfast in their commitment to service and loyal to the people in their hometown. “We train really hard, and we put a lot of

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1st Lieutenant Rob Hancock inspects equipment before a training session. October / November 2015

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If you visit the department, you’ll find a very meaningful memorial outside of the building. It commemorates the charter membership of Banner Elk Fire and Rescue, as well as four firefighters who lost their lives together in a tragic accident unrelated to their service.

When Banner Elk Fire and Rescue responds to a fire, fire alarm or expected fire, its Engine 1201 is the first major firefighting tool on the scene. George Wright calls it “a beast of a vehicle” and said it nearly pumps out water faster than the firefighters can get it out of a hydrant.

hours into training,” Wright said. “We realize that what we do is nected to hydrants in order to combat fires. “All of our trucks can hook up to fire hydrants, but where we a necessary and integral part of our community. “We understand that when we respond to a call, we are inter- live doesn’t have as many hydrants as somewhere like Boone,” Beattie said. “So, a lot acting with the comof time we are shutmunity on the worst tling water from a difday they’ve had.” ferent location.” The department is With their engines, comprised of 36 men they respond to house and women. Two are fires, car fires, brush paid employees and fires and many of the others are all volwhat they call “ladder unteers. calls.” BEFR recently Robert Hancock, elected Gary Miller, who serves as a lieutena volunteer firefighter ant of BEFR, explained and a full-time pothat ladder calls typilice officer, to serve cally involve the fireas chief, and he said fighters climbing onto he’s honored to do a roof to reach, rescue the job. and then descend the “It means a lot. ladder with people in It’s an appointed poneed. sition,” Miller said. “I have more fun “The people who George Wright shows a jacket to Cecil Crawford that dates back to his getting called in on appointed me had time with the department in the late 1960’s. This jacket belonged to actual fire and rescue enough faith and trust Ralph Gwaltney and was very different from the jackets they use today. calls,” Hancock said. in me to put me in that “The ladder guys get position.” Miller was recruited to join the rescue operation 15 years ago to cut down doors, cut into roofs and go in and rescue people.” The department is also prepared to respond to medical emerby some of his friends, and he noted that the department’s morale gencies, and they’re always willing and ready to handle whatever is stronger today than it has ever been. “The group of guys that are at that fire department now, I trust is thrown their way. “I’m extremely confident in the group of officers that surcompletely,” he said. “We care about each other more now than round me,” Miller said. “They’re a group of good guys that have we ever have before.” The department employs four different engines: two are had lots of years of experience.” Hancock said they never know what’s coming next, so they’re pumper/tankers and two are standard engines. Each pumper/ tanker can carry up to 1,000 gallons of water, Beattie said, and always prepared for anything. “We run such a wide variety of emergencies,” Hancock said. they are used to transport water from outside sources, such as streams or rivers, directly to the fire. The other two engines are “There’s really no telling what we’re going to get into or where not able to carry as much water, so they often need to be con- we are going to go or who is going to show up.” 60

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When they’re out on a fire call, Banner Elk firefighters sport gear that’s referred to as Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, that costs about $2,500 per person. Firefighters fully equipped to enter a structure fire will also wear boots, pants, a helmet, a coat, a hood, a jacket, gloves, a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a radio, tools, a flashlight and other gear that can easily total an additional $4,000. That means that each team member can be wearing up to $6,500 worth of PPE at a time. Each year, the department applies for grants to purchase five new sets of gear per year. Through 50/50 grant funding, the state and the county split this cost every year. Because the bunker pants and jackets expire every 10 years, this rotating process of gear replacement allows the department to stay up-to-date on safety standards and regulations.

Waiting Your Turn: Banner Elk Fire and Rescue wants to ensure that new and younger members get as much experience as possible on training assignments. Pictured here, some of the more experienced firefighters are standing by and patiently observing a training exercise.

HOMETOWN HEROES

Making the decision to become a firefighter is a selfless and admirable choice for every man and woman that makes it. They may all have their own reasons for doing what they do, but they all agree that the hard work is worth it when they’re saving lives at every turn. “We realize there is risk involved, but we all know that it’s a commitment we are making to helping people,” Wright said. “Our membership means we get to serve people in a very real way.” Hancock said he was looking for excitement when first joined the department, but he quickly learned the gravity of what he was doing and why it is so important.

“After I got involved, it became a lot more rewarding than just exciting,” Hancock said. “It’s still exciting to me, but it’s a lot about helping people on the worst day of their lives. “I know I’m in a position where I can do that. There’s folks that need help, however dangerous it is, and I hope someone is there to do it for me when I can’t do it anymore myself.” The department gives its members the opportunity to make a difference in the community that means so much to him. “It means being part of this community and giving back to them,” Beattie said. “I came down here for school at Lees-McRae and fell in love with the place. It feels nice to give back to the place that I love.” Firefighters often see and experience horrific things, but Mill-

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er said that doesn’t stop them from remembering why they joined the department and why they do what they do. “I love the fire business, and I love public safety. You do this job because you love it and you love to help people. You love to be put into situations where you can help people,” Miller said. “I stay in it because of the real reasons I got into it to begin with, and that was to help somebody.” Members recently held an event to honor the charter members who are still alive. Among those who could attend were: Cecil Crawford, Terry Chappell, Doyle Shomaker, Chester Puckett and Joe Perry. We also hosted a 50th anniversary event for the community that included food and drinks, games, face painting and gifts for kids, and a chance for members of the community to try on the firefighting gear and handle a fire hose as they got a feel of the power of the water flowing through the hose under pressure. Over and over again, the brothers and sisters of Banner Elk Fire and Rescue put their lives on the line for the people in their community. They selflessly take on lifethreatening tasks on a regular basis, and they do it for their friends and neighbors. “Most volunteers don’t think about their own lives,” Beattie said. “Just the

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During the training session the car was re-lit many times for several drills. ones they can help.” The department is always in need of volunteers. If you’re interested in helping protect the people of Banner Elk and Sugar Mountain, please don’t hesitate to raise your hand. “We have a love for people and helping them, and we are so grateful for our volunteers who continue to do so,” Wright said. “It’s a commitment, but it truly is a noble one.” 

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AVERY COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

The Avery County Firefighters Association is an organization that consists of 12 different groups that were all founded in order to help assist in fire and medical emergencies in the area. They are involved with fire and first-response medical services for more than 18,000 full time residents and are led by ACFA President Paul Buchanan.

ACFA members include:

• Avery County Ladder Company • Banner Elk Volunteer Fire Rescue • Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department • Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department • Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department • Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department • Frank Volunteer Fire Department • Green Valley Volunteer Fire Department • Linville-Central Rescue Squad • Linville Volunteer Fire Department • Newland Volunteer Fire Department • Seven Devils Volunteer Fire Department

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Bethel Baptist Church sits at the intersection of Bethel Road and Mountain Dale Road in Vilas.

orth Carolina may be known for its friendly folks and Southern hospitality, but you don’t have to go to Mayberry to find a little slice of hometown heaven. Wherever you are in the High Country, you’re just a short drive away from the Bethel community, one of the most beautiful and welcoming valleys in the area. The word “Bethel” can mean “house of God” or “holy place,” and the people who live there will tell you that’s the best way to describe it. A quick trip from Boone along U.S. Highway 321 will bring you to the western end of Watauga County and you’ll turn over to Bethel Road as you approach the valley. Every curve is marked by a different view of the climbing mountains, which open up to reveal the ethereal, sweeping countryside as you make your way into Bethel. Nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of the Blue Ridge, this charming community will have you ready to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. The area is home to a diverse group of 66

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people, comprised of both recent newcomers and families who have been there for generations and generations. It’s a place of peace and serenity, of laughter and life, of friends and family. It’s also a place of faith and fellowship and is home to several small, country churches, including Bethel Baptist, which was established more than 160 years ago. For many years, the church has served as a cornerstone in the valley and a guiding light for many of its inhabitants.

October / November 2015

The church’s humble beginnings were led by some of the area’s longstanding families, and its membership has seen steady growth over the years. It has, since its inception, remained a place of refuge for anyone seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a sense of belonging with a family of true believers. Bethel’s welcoming nature has ushered in a large number of visitors in the past couple of years, and its membership has greatly increased in that time. It continues

Historic Church in Western Watauga Prepares for Continued Growth

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA ISAACS “The first Sunday we were there, there were 17 people, including us,” said Steve Ficklin, who moved to the area in 1994 with his wife, Carolyn, from their home in Largo, Florida. After several visits to the area, the Ficklins were drawn to the friendliness of the community and decided to make Bethel their home. “I think the community is warm and caring and concerned about each other. Bethel Baptist Church was first estabIt’s like a big family,” Carolyn lished on July 4, 1851 as a missaid. “The people that have sion of the nearby Cove Creek been here for some time and Baptist Church. Throughout its the new people that want to be life, the church has erected seva part of it are included and just eral buildings for worship, the loved. Everybody cares about last of which was built in 1992 each other. If somebody’s sick, and is still in use today. it’s not a big deal to take a pot It’s a mission-minded of soup over or call them.” church that seeks to spread the Bill Sherwood, who opergood news and the word of God ated a dairy farm in the valley both at home and abroad. Its and would soon become a dear active youth program and chilfriend, extended the Ficklins’ dren’s ministries make it a great This sign, which sits in the parking lot along Bethel Road, first invitation to the church. place for growing families, and, keeps the community updated on what’s going on at the church. to grow as time presses on, and there are exciting changes on the horizon for this little church. Its leadership and its members are working to bring big plans to fruition, and community partnerships, like the one between the church and the adjacent Bethel School, are an integral part of its bright future.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

coupled with its central location, its open door policy makes it a natural crossroad for people from all walks of life. Its congregation is built on generations of the families who first established it, as well as folks who have come from out of town to make the High Country their home over the years. Although records indicate that Bethel had anywhere from 400800 members in the early 1900s, it’s seen smaller numbers in its recent history.

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First printed in the Watauga Democrat in December 1971, this image shows the congregation of Bethel Baptist Church in front of one of its early buildings. The Democrat explains this photograph was captured in 1912 or 1913. “He flagged us down while we were driving and said, ‘Are you the new folks in town?’” Steve said. “And then he asked, ‘Where do you go to church?” “We said, ‘nowhere yet’ and he said, ‘I need you to come to Bethel.’” The church may have been small in numbers at the time, but the Ficklins said its heart was much bigger. “We were the outsiders,” said Carolyn. “Everybody else was pretty much from here, grew up here and had been at Bethel for a long time. We came here and they just took us right in.” Pictured with the Rev. Charlie Martin (right) is Judy Ford, who has served with him as church secretary for more than 40 years. She first introduced Martin to her daughter, Stephanie, when they were living in Largo, Florida. Charlie and Stephanie have now been married for 38 years.

It only took them one visit to know that they were in the right place and, although they’d come from a much larger church, the Ficklins felt right at home and enjoyed the close, personal environment. “In those days we had the ‘come on down’ choir and anybody who wanted to would come up front to sing,” Steve said with a smile. “There were Sundays where the ‘come on down’ choir would be sitting up there to do their one song and there might be two people left in the audience.” In the coming years, the church saw slow but steady growth in its membership. “We got up to about 50-60 people after awhile,” Steve said. “We were holding our own.” Even without a full-time pastor for several years, the congregation remained dedicated to the church. “We had the most unique system — the deacons preached, Steve preached, everybody preached,” Carolyn said. “But you know it was a God thing, because we still kept growing.” As time went on, more and more people, longtime locals and newcomers alike, made their way into the Bethel family. “I think this is one of the most diverse churches I have ever seen. Almost every background and walk of life, from the poorest to the most affluent,” Carolyn said. “There’s just a great unity, I think, between everybody. All of those things don’t matter. We’re all sinners saved by grace.”

MAKING CHANGES

Prayers were answered several years ago when the Ficklins called on the Rev. Charlie Martin, pastor of their former church in Florida, to help them with the process of finding and hiring 68

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From the pulpit, the Rev. Charlie Martin delivers a sermon to a packed house in the sanctuary at Bethel Baptist Church in Vilas on Sept. 27, the last Sunday worship service that will be held in the existing church building. someone to lead Bethel Baptist. Martin visited to preach at Bethel on several occasions, and often provided employees from his own church to fill in for them while they continued the search for a new pastor. He recommended a handful of qualified candidates and each were well received by the congregation — but God had other plans. In 2007, the church’s 47 active members elected Martin to serve as their full-time pastor. After accepting the position, he and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Bethel from First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo, where they met and married and where he served as pastor for 37 years. Under Martin’s leadership, and with his passion for community outreach, the church’s tight-knit family began to see more rapid growth, and new family members have been added frequently ever since. “What we have seen is a slow but steady development up until the last two years. Lately we have started seeing more and more visitors coming in, which is the lifeblood of the church,” Martin said. “You’ve got to have people visit before they’ll ever decide to make that their home church. We have visitors every week now.” The Ficklins agreed that Martin’s proactive approach to outreach has attributed to the expansion of Bethel’s membership that’s happened over the past decade, but they know there’s more at play. “Charlie has had a huge impact on the community, but I think it’s more than that. We have people come into our Sunday school class for the first time and they will go on and on saying that they felt so welcomed from the time they walked through the door,” Carolyn said. “I think Charlie’s a big piece of that, but I don’t think you can do it with just a pastor. There has to be a community of believers that support him.” There’s no denying that the softhearted, neighborly personality of the church membership coupled with a friendly, good-natured pastor makes Bethel a comfortable place for visitors. But Steve said it’s the authenticity of the kindness that truly reaches every new soul that makes their way to the church.

Pictured is the register board that hangs in the front hall of Bethel Baptist Church. Sunday morning worship services draw anywhere from 220-260 members on average, and many in the congregation attend weekly Sunday school classes and Bible studies that precede the service.

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top: This view of Bethel School can be seen from the parking lot of the church. middle: This 1930s WPA-era stone building serves as the hub of the campus at Bethel School. bottom: Students wait patiently to board the bus home after school behind the Bethel gym.

presence of the Lord, but the warm fuzzy of people greeting them and welcoming them,” Ford said. “Charlie brought all of these ideas for bringing everyone together for fellowship, and that’s what people need.”

MAKING ROOM

“The difference is that it’s genuine. People are genuinely happy that you’re there. Our focus is not on numbers — the focus is on fellowship, praise and reaching people for Christ,” Steve said. “When that’s genuine, everything else falls in place. You can’t substitute anything for being genuine, so I believe that’s what has encouraged the growth in our church.” Church Secretary Judy Ford, who has been working with Martin for more than 40 years and relocated with him from his church in Florida, agreed with the Ficklins. “When people come in, they feel something. Not just the 70

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

Today, Bethel has a very active membership and new folks are regularly being added to the family. The rapid increase is exciting and encouraging for those who have been with the church for many years, but the positive change is not without its challenges. The church sees anywhere from 230-260 attendants on an average Sunday morning. But, with a sanctuary that can only seat 200 at a time and new people coming every week, there’s no surprise that a good seat is often hard to come by at the weekly Sunday worship service, and you’d better get there early if you want to find one. Church members have always enjoyed the regular 11 a.m. Sunday morning service, with Sunday school classes preceding at 10 a.m. About two years ago, an 8 a.m. service was added to accommodate the increasing number of folks who look forward to the fellowship every week. “The rule of thumb in churches and in meeting places is that once you get to 85 percent of being filled, growth slows down. You can’t grow once a building meets that capacity of occupancy,” Martin said. “We had to start the early service because we didn’t have any room to grow. We were maxed out.” Spreading everyone out provided a little room to breathe, but it also meant separating the tight-knit crowd. With sights set on a more permanent solution, Martin and the church membership established a building committee that would oversee plans for a new facility. A new building will eventually be erected next to the existing church on land that’s currently used as a parking lot. “It is a miracle and I know it is God. I’m an instrument, that’s all I am,” Martin said. “I am so grateful because I have seen what God is doing. We’ve bought the land, we have our building plans and we’ve already built a new parking lot.” The new church facility will include offices, classrooms, a spacious sanctuary, a fellowship hall to seat 300, a commercial kitchen and much more. The initial phase of the building process will likely cost close to $800,000, and the project could reach $1.4 million in total. The existing sanctuary will become the designated home of the children’s ministry. Having plans in the works means that Bethel will one day have the room it needs to continue growing, but a lot of fundraising still stands in the way of the groundbreaking. The church is nearly bursting at the seams as it is, and the members are ready to be reunited in one Sunday worship service. “Sitting in the choir, we’re up there looking at the back door. More than one time I’ve seen people coming in who couldn’t find two or three seats together,” Steve said. “They were either hesitant of coming in and had to split up, and on one occasion they left. I saw one family turn around and leave because they had nowhere to sit. As deacons, that’s when we got serious about finding a solution.”

The relationship between Bethel Baptist and Bethel School lends to a uniquely personal sense of community. Many of the school’s students are also members of the church, and, in turn, many of their parents are active volunteers in the school. The partnership is just one example of the role in local children’s lives that’s shared by the Watauga County Schools district and the greater faith community.

A NATURAL SOLUTION While the course has been set for the erection of a new, larger, more accommodating sanctuary, church leadership has quickly realized that the congregation needs room to grow right now. After careful consideration and discussion with the church membership, the deacons at Bethel Baptist contemplated moving Sunday worship service and Sunday school classes across the street to the adjacent Bethel School, a local entity with which the church has had a positive working relationship for many years. “It’s been a lot of years ago that we started talking to Prin-

cipal Randy Bentley down at the school,” Steve said. “I don’t remember exactly when that started, but he has always been very approachable, and a lot of those kids are members of our church.” The close proximity between the two campuses has allowed the church and the school to develop a unique partnership over the years. The church often works closely with the school through its ongoing local missions and service projects to find out which families in the area are in need. The church regularly shows appreciation for the tireless efforts of the school’s hardworking staff, and, as parents of students

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October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

contributions to the school in exchange for the occasional use of its facilities for church business and activities. With the approval of the school’s principal and the district’s administration, a number of Bethel’s Sunday morning Bible study classes were moved across the street to the school. Bethel’s Awana Club, a weekly Bible-based children’s ministry, already meets at the school during Wednesday night services. Under the same agreement, the school’s next-door park often plays host to church activities and outreach programs, including the annual Bethel Blast celebration that brings thousands of people together to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday every summer. After mulling over the options, the deacons recently approached the Bethel School administration with the idea for moving Sunday worship services to the campus A group of first-graders at Bethel School wait patiently to board their buses after until funds could be secured and a new church could school in the gymnasium, where Bethel Baptist Church will hold its 11 a.m. Sun- be built. day morning worship services and Sunday school classes for the next two years. In August, church members voted and school leadership approved their plan for the temporary solution. at Bethel School, many church members are active volunteers. The church will increase its annual financial contribu“There has been a long, long history of working together with tion to the school, and, beginning in October, the membership the school, which started before I even got here. Every year we will be reunited in one weekly worship service held in the school’s host all the teachers and school administrators here at Bethel for a gymnasium. thank-you luncheon, and everybody’s invited,” Martin said. “We A generous local contributor has donated a 45-passenger have also adopted the school for prayer. We pray for the school school bus that will shuttle church members to and from the — for the safety of the children and God’s blessings for the entire church parking lot and the school on Sunday mornings. Sunday school year.” school classes and children’s church will be held at the school, as When space started to become an issue a few years ago, ar- well. Wednesday night services and most other church activities rangements were made for the church to make annual financial will still be held in the existing brick building.

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October / November 2015

A lot of work will be required on a weekly basis to transform the school’s gymnasium every Saturday into a place suitable for worship services, but the membership is already working on a plan for outfitting the facility with everything they’ll need. The church has also purchased a state-of-the-art portable sound system, which will also be made available to the school for use in the gym and will become property of the school when the church moves into its new building. Church leadership anticipates that Bethel Baptist could be holding Sunday worship at the school gym for up two years or more. The prospect of room to grow could mean accelerated fundraising, however, and Martin said they’re leaving the timeline, and the future, up to God. “Our trust is in the Lord for the provision of what we need here,” Martin said. “We know he’s going to provide, it’s just a matter of time.”

BETHEL SCHOOL

For many years, Bethel School has served as a beacon in the valley in its own right. Situated on a hill directly across the street from the church, its campus is built around its original 1930s WPA-era stone school building. Today it serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades, but it once served as both a grade school and a high school before the county’s district consolidation. “It’s sort of a touchstone for the community,” said Principal Randy Bentley. “You have parents and grandparents who went to school here, some through eighth grade and some who even graduated high school here.” The school is not unlike the greater community in its heartwarming disposition. If you visit the campus, you’ll undoubtedly be greeted by smiling faces, warm hellos and friendly greetings from both the students and the staff from the moment you walk through the door until the time you leave again. “We have a great community and great kids — kids who work hard and they want to do what’s right,” Bentley said. “We have very few behavior problems. It’s a great place to work and I think it’s a great place to go to school. It’s a great secret in Watauga County.” With a little more than 170 students and only one class per grade level, it is the smallest school in the Watauga County system, but it just might have the biggest heart. “I think it’s a phenomenal school. It’s filled with a great staff and the students are incredible,” said Burl Greene, the school’s physical education teacher, who also serves as youth pastor at Bethel Baptist. “We have very October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Members of the children’s ministry at Bethel Baptist Church enjoy learning and playing during children’s church on Sept. 27, the last time that the church membership will have Sunday worship in the existing building. few discipline problems and they’re very motivated, hardworking kids. I absolutely love it. I love my job, the community and the kids.” While their close proximity to one another makes the connection between Bethel Baptist and Bethel School unique, it is just one of many relationships that the school maintains with other local churches and organizations. “We are not connected in any way, but we share the same vision. The church sees that the Bethel School staff is seeking to help the kids by educating them physically and academically, and they do a good job of supporting us,” Greene said. “The school is supportive of all churches, and I think that’s key. “It supports all the churches in the area, not just Bethel, but it works out logistically that we’re right across the street from each other. As two entities that are seeking to love the community and the kids, we partner well together.” Establishing working relationships between schools and the faith community leads to added benefits for both parties, Bentley explained, and Bethel School is happy to collaborate with all of the local churches. “Anytime you have a relationship or partnership between a school and some community organization, I think the school is stronger for it. You have people more engaged within the school and, from a staff standpoint, community support helps morale,” Bentley said. “It helps their energy level, and sometimes those resources flow into the classroom level, so it helps the school out from a resource standpoint and from a volunteer standpoint. Sometimes we’re able to bring speakers and guests into the school or arrange special field trips because of those partnerships. “I think there’s a multitude of ways that it can help the school. The flow back to the community partner is, in this case, use of facilities. It helps them, too, because they’re trying to help the community. That’s the way I look at it — it’s not just trying to help the school, but it’s trying to help the community at large.”

“GOD’S BEEN GOOD”

The Rev. Charlie Martin is pictured in his office sporting a T-shirt with the adopted slogan of Bethel Baptist Church: “God’s Been Good.” 74

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October / November 2015

On Sept. 27, the church family worshiped together for the last Sunday service it will ever have in the existing sanctuary. From now on, at least for the next couple of years, all Bethel Baptist Sunday school classes will meet on the school’s campus, and the congregation will be reunited in a single 11 a.m. Sunday worship service in the school gym. Martin recently sent out a post card to everyone in the Sugar Grove and Vilas communities, informing them of the new arrangement and inviting them to be a part of the church family. While continued expansion seems to be on the horizon for Bethel Baptist, church members maintain that it’s not about the numbers. “My whole philosophy is that I’m a ‘great commission Christian.’ The Bible says that we’re to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Martin said. “In the process of obeying the great commission, it’s just an automatic that we’re going to be making more disciples. “There are a lot of churches around here, and my prayer is that the tide that lifts Bethel Church is going to raise the water level and the opportunities for every church. We just want to do what God wants us to do and we’re not in competition with anyone that loves the Lord — we’re all working together.” The Ficklins agreed that continued growth is part of the church’s

Paul, a friendly dog who lives nearby, meets and greets with folks at both the church and the school on a daily basis.

mission to reach as many folks as possible with the good news of the gospel. “It’s exciting to watch how God has really worked. I know a lot of people in a lot of small churches like when the environment is nice and warm and tiny,” Carolyn said. “But, you know, if the church is working like it should, we should be growing no matter what. There should be no such thing as staying a tiny church, and we should just keep adding to.” As both a deacon and a longtime member, Steve said he looks forward to seeing new faces as the congregation continues to expand. “The great commission is to go out and tell, and the mission field is all around us,” he said. “If you see that kind of growth, then it’s exciting to have the challenge of trying to make more room so people feel comfortable coming in.” Whatever’s in store for Bethel Baptist, Martin said they’re all relying on God’s plan for the future of the church and the community. “I don’t think our people really thought this was possible. I’ve got to tell you, when I got here, I knew that God brought me here, but I didn’t know what he was going to do,” Martin said. “My goal is just to be effective here and that we do the best we can do with what we’ve got where we are. I’m excited to see the excitement in our people.” Bethel Baptist Church is located at 123 Mountain Dale Road in Vilas. To learn more, visit www.bethelbaptistchurch.us, follow them on Facebook or call the office at 828-297-2694. 

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High Country Magazine

Stunning Year-Round Vistas in the Blue

Ridge Mountain Club BY JEFFREY GREEN

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

teve and Kim Stewart met in college at the University of Florida where they both were studying landscape architecture. Even before they were married they shared magical moments in the mountains of North Carolina. Later in life, with Kim working as a landscape architect for the City of Jacksonville, Florida, and Steve with the global design company, ARCADIS, they imagined a retirement in the mountains. Then fate struck a cruel blow when Kim was diagnosed with bone cancer. Rather than letting the disease crush their dreams they accelerated the time table. Kim was able to take a disability retirement and ARCADIS was open to Steve working out of an in-home satellite office in the mountains. They contemplated living in Asheville or Highlands/Cashiers, but finally settled on the High Country. While they had yet to find a lot or a builder, Steve was sketching out floor plans while Kim was collecting design ideas into a large idea book and pouring through the seven million interior design photos on the popular web site Houzz. During a visit to Headwaters, a development near Banner Elk, they visited a home that had been built by Barnette Builders. Liking what they saw, they had John Barnette and his wife Audrey, an interior designer, show them more of their homes. John positions his premier construction company as â&#x20AC;&#x153;building homes by designâ&#x20AC;?. Rather than knocking out multiple copies of the same floor plan, John likes each of his homes to be unique and to reflect the dreams and desires of the homeowner. Given the hours Steve and Kim had already devoted to researching everything they wanted in their home, they had found a good match to a quality builder that could make it a reality. But, the issue of location still remained. They booked a two day Discovery Tour at Blue Ridge Mountain Club, a centrally located 6,000 acre development between Blowing Rock and Boone. They were housed at the Watson Gap cottages on the property. Adam Clough, their BRMC salesperson, convinced the Stewarts to stay an extra night so they could attend one of the homeowner outdoor events at the Pavilion. While Kim rested up, Steve drove the development for several hours looking for the perfect lot. He found one at 2,700 feet with stunning mountain vistas. Reynolds Parkway makes a 180 degree turn at this October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Clockwise from top right: The second floor gallery commands a bird’s eye view of the living room and kitchen with French doors to the outdoor patio. Bottom left: Custom built sliding barn doors from the master bedroom open into the master bath to the right and the dressing area/closet to the left. BOTTOM Right: The master bath features a fully retractable side panel that goes all the way down to the floor level. This allows Kim easy bath access despite her limited mobility due to her cancer treatment. Upon moving in Kim enjoyed her first bath in three years. point so the road is both above and below the lot. With a water tower to the left and drainage area below there was a significant amount of privacy from other homes and future construction. Unfortunately, when he enquired, Steve found the lot was already under contract. But, the sale fell through giving the Stewarts their dream lot. Steve took his ideas about the flow of the home and his rough sketches to Boone architect, Bradley Dowdy. With Kim’s disabilities from the cancer treatment they made some adjustments including slightly larger rooms, wider hallways, an elevator and no steps anywhere in the house….not even up to the front door. Given they were planning a full time, non-vacation home they backed off a little on the pure mountain design and settled on a modern, industrial design with mountain accents. Steve concentrated on working with the architect to get the right flow while Kim focused on design research and 78

High Country Magazine

picking every fixture for the home. The three bedroom, three and a half bath home over two floors, all with 9-10 foot ceilings, is an economical 3,200 square feet of comfortable living with no wasted space and exceptional outdoor amenities and views. The entrance foyer leads to a two story living room with grand fireplace and an adjoining designer kitchen. The master bedroom is conveniently downstairs with an additional master and office/bedroom upstairs. Double doors off the living room lead to a comfortable screened deck with wood burning fireplace, built in barbeque grill and outdoor sitting and dining areas. This is Kim’s sanctuary and comes with stunning sunrises and panoramic views. An open deck wraps around the great room joining the screened porch to the master bedroom. The comfortable master bedroom is accented by the warmth of a wall mounted

October / November 2015

fireplace with crystal glass fire beads. Barnette Builder craftsmen built sliding barn doors to access the adjoining master bath and closet that gains significant energy efficiency from its proximity against a large natural rock outcropping on the property. The spacious walk-in master closet has the same John Louis solid wood closet shelving and organizers that the Stewarts loved in their Jacksonville home. The bathroom accommodates Kim’s limited mobility with a large no step shower and a walk-in tub that fully retracts to the floor. “When we moved in, it was my first bath in over three years” says Kim with a grateful smile. Steve’s attention to the natural flow of a home is readily apparent. A large custom pantry with sliding barn doors is directly across the hall from the kitchen. The kitchen flow is then laid out galley style to follow the food process with a refrigerator, prep area and sink, cooking area with the latest GE Profile appliances and then

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High Country Magazine

Right: Custom steel railings give the house the contemporary, industrial feel that the Stewarts wanted to achieve. Far Right: The emphasis in the kitchen is on work flow from pantry to prep-station to cooking area. Below: The casual living room features large windows, a custom made Fireplace screen and Charleston style earthquake bolt replicas. the clean-up sink. An open bar joins the kitchen to the living room so the chef can be part of any party conversation. The custom owner touches that are part of a Barnette home are clear in these rooms. The sliding barn doors, pantry shelving, range hood and living room fire screen were all custom built from Kim’s sketches and photographs by Barnette’s master craftsmen. The kitchen wall next to the hall is made from so called ghost wood … reclaimed beetle killed timber from out West. Above the two story great living room is a wooden gallery walk that joins the two halves of the second floor. Custom steel railings along the gallery give the modern industrial feel the Stewarts were looking to achieve. Charleston style earthquake bolt replicas cross the living room at gallery level to create some intimacy in the large overhead space. The downstairs floor plan is completed by a convenient ½ bath, elevator, laundry room, mud area and access to the garage just down a short hall from the kitchen. Heading upstairs from the living room you get to Steve’s command center. The third bedroom was designed to function primarily as an office with a comfortable desk looking out onto a stone patio on top of the rock formation that adjoins the master bathroom below. Sliding doors to the right of the desk allow Steve to hide any work clutter. Shelving on the back wall can be slid open to unveil a

High Country Magazine

October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Top: Kim spends most of her time in the screened in porch with a comfortable sitting area and wood burning fireplace. A built-in barbeque pit and outdoor dining room table complete the space. below left: A wrap-around outdoor deck joins the porch to the exterior door to the master bedroom and wild flower garden access. Murphy bed on those occasions when the room needs to function as a bedroom. A full bath is next door down the hall. Given that Steve works here year round, telecommunications was a major consideration. Blue Ridge Mountain Club offers fiber optic cable through Wilkes Communications giving Steve faster internet speeds than many of the ARCADIS offices and clients he communicates with on a daily basis. When Steve feels like a break or Kim is ready to join him for evening cocktails, a convenient door at the top of the stairs leads to that outdoor patio, to sunsets, to flowers and to the abundant creatures of nature that are an essential part of mountain living. Crossing the gallery above the great room takes you to the second master bedroom which also functions as a guest suite. This charming bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and an alcove to allow for a desk or a sitting area. The room also has access to the eves opening up significant space for storage of seasonal clothing and decorations. Directly next to the bedroom is a comfortable family room with its own TV center and mini-kitchen for snacks and guest coffee service. This allows the Stewarts’ guests to casually relax in the morning without having to disturb the rest of the household. When the Stewarts don’t have guests the room’s proximity to the elevator allows Kim easy access so they can use it as their evening entertainment room. 82

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October / November 2015

Blue Ridge Mountain Club

Blue Ridge Mountain Club (BRMC) is conveniently located off the Parkway on over 6,000 acres between Blowing Rock and Boone. While living in a mountain setting, residents can still enjoy the shopping, medical, dining and entertainment options of these nearby towns. They also enjoy a plethora of nearby winter and summer sports, activities, art shows and festivals. Home sites follow the ridge line from 4,900 feet at the top gate down to less than 2,000 feet giving each home or condominium unparalleled views. For many it feels like living on the Parkway itself. Construction is underway on the property to build a town center to house community services, a fire station and convenience shopping. BRMC is an active neighborhood community, home to a broad range of summer and year round residents that genuine enjoy each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company. The Watson Gap outdoor Pavilion and other spots around the development is the scene of frequent home owner gatherings and social events. The BRMC Fitness Trail is a 5-mile circuit that circumvents the Watson Gap Park area and features a variety of permanent outdoor exercises equipment and stations. October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

GREEN FEATURES

While the Stewarts did not want to go through the expense of having their house LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a green building certification), they did plan and incorporate many green features into the home: • Electric heat pump/propane combination that allows electricity to heat the home until it becomes too cold outside for the heat pump to operate efficiently. At that point gas heat kicks in. Also, four temperature zones in the home allow you to adjust temperatures based on the portions of the home you are using. •

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Energy Star rated appliances to maximize efficiency

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Bamboo floors, an ecologically friendly and highly renewable flooring resource

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Gas on demand water heaters so you only heat what you need.

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Higher insulation R ratings and LED lighting to decrease energy consumption

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Recycled materials in the foundation

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Recycled ghost wood in the kitchen and master bedroom

•

Low VOC paint to reduce chemical emissions

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Trex decking using recycled materials that also reduce maintenance.

•

Generator

“It’s a one-of-a-kind, year round, mountain paradise that meets their every desire.” Outside of the home, Kim designed a low maintenance, perennial garden using as many native plants as possible. To the left of the door to the deck from the master bedroom is a large wild flower garden. She purposely picked flowers that would attract humming birds and butterflies. One would think that a house with this many features would take two years or more to build, but with the Stewarts attention to detail, and their close collaboration with John Barnette and his construction team , it was completed in just eleven months. Steve says: “We researched and picked everything, made decisions fast and visited the site every three to four weeks during construction.” Many mountain homes built on our slopes look very similar and have wasted space with multiple great rooms on different floors. By carefully thinking through every detail and working with a builder that was willing to listen carefully to their needs, the Stewarts have comfortably packed all the unique, custom amenities of a much larger home into just 3,200 square feet. It’s a one-of-a-kind, year round, mountain paradise that meets their every desire.  84

High Country Magazine

Below: Kim and Steve Stewart stand proudly below their custom built range hood. Their kitchen features GE Profile appliances.

October / November 2015

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October / November 2015

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Exclusive styling that takes you from work to evening & into the weekend October / November 2015

High Country Magazine

Parting Shot...

Lonnie Webster

What Was Old Is New Again

t’s fitting that a fire truck that saved Blowing Rock from more destruction in the mid-‘20s has been restored, preserved for all citizens to see. In 1923, Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock was afire, building after building disintegrated to ash. As the fire blazed through an entire section of the village, citizens unsuccessfully tried to douse the fire with buckets of water. Back then the Town of Blowing Rock didn’t have a fire department, let alone a fire engine. Immediately afterwards, the town started organizing the Blowing Rock Volunteer Fire Department. Three years later in December of 1926, the department secured its first fire engine: a 1927 LaFrance Brockway Cosmopolitan for $6,500. Funds came from private donors, the Community Club and a gala dance at Mayview Manor, according to history on the fire department’s website. This purchase immediately paid dividends. A few months later on March 23, 1927, an old barn caught fire and threatened several adjacent residences and structures, including a store owned by W.L. Holshouser, who 88

High Country Magazine

happened to open the first store in Blowing Rock in 1893 at the corner of Main and Sunset streets, according to Images of America: Blowing Rock. His first store burned down in 1923, but the new fire truck saved his other store. “When Chief of Police, Gene Story, turned in the alarm, the truck responded with engineer Rob Greene at the wheel. Under the direction of Fire Chief J.A. Panella, two streams of water were soon playing on the flames, which were confined to the barn. Two horses and a cow in the barn were saved,” according to a historical account in the Watauga Democrat. The truck was eventually put out of commission decades ago, and over the years, it changed hands a few times. For the past decade it wound up sitting in the backyard of a summer resident, Dr. E. William Akin, who purchased the truck from a member of the Broyhill family, according to Ginny Stevens, a member of the Blowing Rock Historical Society. Akin passed away last year and his wife sent the title to the BRHS, which donated $25,000 to restore the old fire engine before

October / November 2015

By Jesse Wood

turning it over to the town. In October, thenBRHS President Marcia Quinn and current BRHS President Lowell Thomas contacted restorer Bryan Summers, who owns Summers Show and Go. Summers and his crew restored the old fire engine: disassembling the body, sanding all of the parts, carefully repainting each part and putting it all back together. In late September, Memorial Park hosted a restoration celebration of the restored vehicle. The fire engine had previously made a showing in the Fourth of July parade and will likely be part of the Christmas Parade this winter. The community will also have the ability to see the restored vehicle during tours of the fire department. “Our mission as the historical society is the preservation of all and anything to do with Blowing Rock. Most people think about buildings, but this truck is a major piece of the town’s history,” Quinn told High Country Press in September. “It is just so important to have physical things like this preserved. The town and people for generations will know that this will now be housed and will be safe and will be available for them to view.”

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October / November 2015

High Country Magazine