Keeping the culture in Boone

BY MATTARAE STASKEL

Boone and the rest of the High Country have always had a unique culture that breeds art, expression and resilience, with many people taking the time to make sure that the culture is not lost to time.

This preservation has been done through the cultivation of historical items and programs that celebrate the history itself, and they can be found all around the High Country. In Boone, the town set up the Cultural Resources Department, which works with individual organizations and programs to encourage the promotion of the area’s culture and continue the organizations’ efforts.

According to Mark Freed, the cultural

SEE CULTURE ON PAGE 45 PHOTO SUBMITTED The concerts at Jones House this summer will feature the musical genres of bluegrass, jazz, folk, rock and roll, soul and more.

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resources director for the town of Boone, the Cultural Resources Department oversees four different areas.

“One being some of the properties that the town owns and a number of historic properties,” he said. “We help oversee them, including the Jones house, which is where our offices are located.”

The cultural resources department works with the Southern Appalachian Historical Association to oversee several properties, including the Horn in the West Amphitheater and Hickory Ridge Homestead.

The cultural resource department runs a lot of programs in the Boone community, houses historical items and does general advising on cultural topics for town council and other committees.

“We do things like passing on musical traditions, through our jam sessions, music lessons, and showcasing our original music for our concert series,” Freed said. “This year, we’re helping spearhead Boone 150, our sesquicentennial celebration, in our department.”

According to Freed, there are many ways that the community can be involved in cultural celebrations in Boone.

“They can come and participate in our jam sessions or music lessons, or it could be an artist who gets involved with art galleries,” he said. “It could be the people who want to come out and be participants at concerts and attendees, or at our festivals or events.”

For those who are looking to learn more about the history of Boone, the Jones House is a great jumping off point, according to Freed. The cultural resources department even offers a historical walking tour of Boone, both in print and digital.

For a more hands-on experience, community members can even become involved with the cultural resources advisory board, where they meet quarterly and help give advice to the town council on different cultural affairs that come up.

“There are all kinds of ways that people can get involved, whether it’s to learn more, whether it’s to participate and be a part of something, or even virtually for that matter,” Freed said.

Even through the COVID-19 pandemic the Boone Cultural Resources Department has found ways to make these events accessible to everyone.

“We have a nice YouTube collection of concert performances that have been done,” Freed said. They also have recorded workshops, instructional videos and speeches that were given at various town functions.

Ultimately, Freed said that conserving the rich culture of Appalachia and passing it on to the next generations are the most important things.

“Boone is in a really special place,” Freed said. “We have that interesting balance of the traditions of the mountain.”

For more information, visit townofboone.net and joneshouse.org, call (828) 268-6280 or visit www.facebook.com/ TheJonesHouseBoone.

FILE PHOTO Pete Gallant, playing a frontiersman, sits in his log cabin at the Hickory Ridge Living Museum.