East Tennessee Foundation

THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION 2020 -2021

Due to new scholarship criteria, an increased number of students are attending post-secondary vocational programs. Approximately $1.3 million is currently committed to ETF’s renewed and new scholarship recipients. Over 200 selection committee volunteers helped select scholarship recipients.

Pictured above are members of the Abbie Jane Harper Memorial Scholarship selection committee during their meeting held on March 10, 2020. This was one of the last of only five in-person meetings for scholarship selections prior to enacting ETF’s Business Continuity Plan. Remaining meetings moved online for the remainder of our scholarship selection period.

Scholarships at a Glance

$1.3

million is currently committed to ETF’s renewed and new scholarship recipients.

213

students (representing 218 ETF scholarship awards) are attending 41 different post-secondary institutions in fall 2020.

129

new scholarship awards

2021 IS THE BICENTENNIAL OF SEQUOYAH FINISHING THE SYLLABARY IN 1821.

Never before or since, in the history of the world, has one man, not literate in any language, perfected a system for reading and writing a language.

Sequoyah had announced in 1809 in his blacksmith shop that the Cherokee could create a writing system to put their Cherokee words on paper. He spent 12 years of his life trying to create a writing system. We know he tried different types of writing systems, but these different systems would not work for him.

When Sequoyah discovered the sounds of the Cherokee language, he then realized that he could take each of the syllables and give it a symbol. He then could sound out the Cherokee word and using his symbols, could write any Cherokee word. The Cherokee speaker could spend some time learning the symbols and then could sound out and read or sound out and write their Cherokee words on paper.

February 21, 1828 was the first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix, 193 years ago. The Cherokee press and type were shipped by water from Boston in November, 1827. They arrived at Augusta, Georgia, via Savannah, and finally reach the New Echota in January, 1828 after an overland trip by wagon.

The Press, a small royal size, was like none I ever saw before or since. It was cast iron, with spiral springs to hold up the plates, at that time a new invention. We had to use balls of deerskin stuffed with wool for inking, as it was before the invention of the composition roller. . . John Candy, a native half-breed . . . could speak the Cherokee language, and was of great help to me in giving me the words where they were not plainly written. The absence of newsprint caused a delay in the publication of Volume I, No. 1, of Tsalagi-tsi-le-hisani-hi, the Cherokee Phoenix. A supply finally was obtained from Tennessee and, on February 21, 1828, there appeared the inaugural issue of the father of America’s aboriginal newspapers. It was a journal of four five-columned pages measuring 21 by 14 inches. The vignette included a representation of the fabulous phoenix, the Egyptian bird which lived for 500 years, was consumed by a cleansing fire, and arose from its own ashes in all its youthful freshness. That first issue announced that the weekly Phoenix could be procured for $2.50 a year paid in advance, or $3.50 paid at the end of the year. Rates were reduced to $2 and $2.50 for non-English readers. This was a description of the press by John Wheeler, the first printer. This is from an email that Duane King, Ph.D. sent Lyn Henley, the museum exhibit designer, during the design phase. It mentions “The absence of newsprint caused a delay...” this was due to the Press weighing so much and the newsprint was left behind. Then it mentions, “A supply finally was obtained from Tennessee....” Does anybody in Knoxville want to guess? The paper was obtained at Papermill, near present day McKay’s right off of Papermill Drive.

With the guidance and expertise of Brian Baker, owner of Striped Light, we finally have got started organizing our syllabary type.

This year Sequoyah Birthplace Museum will be celebrating Sequoyah’s achievement throughout the year. Plan to visit Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and celebrate 200 years of Cherokee literacy with Sequoyah’s creation of the syllabary in 1821. Keep checking our website and facebook page for events.

Open Year Round Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pmSunday: Noon - 5pm

(Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s)

(423) 884-6246 seqmus@tds.net www.sequoyahmuseum.org Highway 360, Post Office Box 69 Vonore, Tennessee 37885

Owned and Operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, it is Tennessee’s only Tribally-operated historical attraction.

Photos by Brandon M. Johnson

SCENIC DRIVES

THE BLUERIDGE PARKWAY

inding its way through the rugged hills of Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers travelers a relaxing drive into the stunning landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. The road stretches out for 469 miles and provides a link between the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks. Often referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the parkway invites visitors to experience not only the culture of the region but the exceptional and unique habitats of nature.

If a visitor’s legs begin to ache from the drive, there are several activities along the parkway that can stretch out those sore limbs. A hike on one of the trails can offer a closer look to the thriving forest around them and with over 369 miles of trails to choose from a hike can be as long, or as short, as preferred. Other activities are also available, such as: picnicking, fishing, biking, and camping. The Pisgah Inn nearby offers a place to stay to make the most of the natural beauty of the mountains.

The Blue Ridge Parkway does more than offer scenic views and a promising getaway. It also protects and preserves the surrounding wildlife, historic buildings, and sites from destruction. Whether that means keeping a home for the mighty black bears or preserving a pioneer’s log cabin, the parkway creates a space for all to live in this landscape.

For more information, including alerts and conditions along the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit www.nps.gov/blri or www. blueridgeparkway.org.

BUILDING AMERICA’S FAVORITE DRIVE It is the longest road planned as a single unit in the United States. It is an elongated park, protecting significant mountain landscapes far beyond the shoulders of the road itself.

It is a series of parks providing the visitor access to high mountain passes, a continuous series of panoramic views, the boundaries of its limited right-of-way rarely apparent and miles of the adjacent countryside seemingly a part of the protected scene.

It is a “museum of the managed American countryside,” preserving the roughhewn log cabin of the mountain pioneer, the summer home of a textile magnate, and traces of early industries such as logging, railways, and an old canal.

It is the product of a series of major public works projects which provided a boost to the travel and tourism industry and helped the Appalachian region climb out the depths of the Great Depression.

Stretching almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, it encompasses some of the oldest settlements of both pre-historic and early European settlement.

As the last piece of the parkway to be completed, the Linn Cove Viaduct is a marvelous feat of engineering and environmental protection. Completed in 1983, at a cost of almost $10 million, the Linn Cove Viaduct is 1,243 feet long and contains 153 segments weighing 50 tons each. The American Society of Civil Engineers designated it a National Civil Engineering Landmark.

ESTABLISHING THE ROUTE The exact route location of this segment, commonly referred to as the “missing link,” created a lengthy and heated controversy between private individuals and the National Park Service. Finally, North Carolina Governor Dan K. Moore negotiated a compromise location. A key factor in this controversy was environmental concern over Grandfather Mountain. Engineers were faced with a serious question: How do you build a road at an elevation of 4,100 feet without damaging one of the world’s oldest mountains?

National Park Service landscape architects and Federal Highway Administration engineers agreed the road should be elevated, or bridged, where possible to eliminate massive cuts and fills. Figg and Muller Engineers, Inc. developed the bridge design and construction method. The result: the most complicated concrete bridge ever built, snaking around boulder-strewn Linn Cove in a sweeping “S” curve.

THE LAST PIECE OF THE PARKWAY

SCENIC DRIVES

THE CHEROHALA SKYWAY

ruising through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, the Cherohala Skyway is a curving and wild ride. The roadway is a thrill ride for bikers and sports car drivers to not only test the curves but to see open views of the scenic ridges. Traveling through Robbinsville, North Carolina up and down the hills to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile adventure into the backwoods of the mountains.

The road itself is not the only attraction. Hiking trails and captivating waterfalls lurk off the pavement waiting to be explored. They can offer a refreshing resting place for the heat of the asphalt. Local businesses and hotels off the skyway also give motorists a space to unwind from the twisting lanes.

The Cherohala Skyway has no buildings or facilities other than a few restrooms along the 43-mile strip— so make sure the tank is full before you go! While this could be daunting to some, to others, it strips civilization away. Along this stretch of road, it’s just mountains and a passing visitor.

For more information about the Cherohala Skyway, visit www.cherohala.com.

Photo by Roger Canada

JUST OFF THE CHEROHALA SKYWAY: The Tellico Ranger District of the Cherokee National Forest contains 151,083 acres in Monroe County, Tennessee. The Tellico River area boasts remote backcountry surrounded by three rivers and their tributaries, where fishing for brown rainbow and brook trout is excellent. The Tellico River Road offers intimate views of the river and 90-foot Bald River Falls. Many campsites are available along Tellico River or Indian Boundary Recreation Area just off the Cherohala Skyway. Stop by the ranger station for information or a map, they are open 8am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.

Photo by Joe Atkins

JUST AT THE END OF THE CHEROHALA

IS JOYCE KILMER MEMORIAL FOREST This forest is one of the Nation’s most impressive remnants of old-growth forest. The forest contains magnificent examples of more than 100 tree species, many over 400-years-old, and some more than 20 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall. This 3,800-acre forest was set aside in 1936 as a memorial to the author of the poem “Trees,” Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action in France during World War I. This forest, part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slick Rock Wilderness, is maintained in its primitive state. The only way to see this forest is on foot. A 2-mile trail leads to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial and loops through giant trees. A restroom and picnic tables are located at the trailhead.

SCENIC DRIVES

TAIL OF THE DRAGON

omething lurks inside the mountains. The beast that lives there is ruthless to those who are unprepared. While many have faced it, not all have made it passed its deadly tail. Surrounded by the Great Smokey Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest, US 129 has become known for its tight curves and dangerous turns. Nicknamed “Tail of the Dragon,” the 11 miles have attracted motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts for years to test their luck against the serpent in the mountains. The 318 curves making or breaking all those who journey along the black scales of the pavement. Something roars within the ancient hills. Do you dare face the Dragon?

LOOK FOR THE TAIL

Most navigation systems will take you miles out of your way. We are located on the parkway at milepost 408.6. If your GPS is telling you to get OFF the parkway, it’s probably telling you to go the wrong way.

N 35.40025 W 82.75444

urrounded by sun-loved treetops and heaven blessed mountain peaks, the

Pisgah Inn sits shining at the top of the Blue

Ridge Mountain Parkway. Named after Mt. Pisgah where it rests, the Inn takes its guests away from the urban world to the wilds of North Carolina.

Where it is the natural winds of the mountains that serve as air conditioners, and the quiet air covers it all like a blanket.

A little over an hour away from Asheville, NC, the

Pisgah Inn offers nature-lovers a paradise. With several hiking trails surrounding the Inn, guests can experience the mountain first-hand with basic trail maps offered by the Inn. A dining room provides meals for the whole family to enjoy, and The Grazing Deer Café offers a selection of sandwiches, pastries, picnic supplies, and hot take-out meals straight from the chef’s kitchen.

The Country Store also comes with camping supplies and groceries alongside gifts for the ones back at home.

PisgahInnMILEPOST 408.6 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAYS If cabin-fever sets in, just drive down the road! Within miles of the Inn there are several hiking trails and scenic routes to be found. There is also The Cradle of Forestry, a forest museum 15 miles away, and the dazzling Looking Glass Falls. Exploring the life of North Carolina is also a breeze with neighboring towns close-by. In the end, a guest might stay up on the mountain. Views of the ridge and valley can enrapture the imagination and bring this growing fast-paced world to a standstill. Enjoy the dawn creeping in with the bright colors of an artist over the aging, Appalachian mountain with a steaming cup of coffee right from your balcony. The Pisgah Inn is only open for a limited season beginning April 1st through October. If you want to experience your next vacation here, be sure to go online and make your reservation. www.pisgahinn.com

HISTORY OF PISGAH INN

Before the European Settlers entered this part of North Carolina, these mountains and valleys were the exclusive domain of Cherokee Indians. The Cherokees had their own names for Mount Pisgah and the Pisgah Ridge. The mountain was Elseetoss and the ridge was Warwasseeta, and around them the land was rich in game and lush with trees and other plant life.

The name Pisgah comes from the Bible, Deuteronomy 3:27. The Lord ordered Moses to the top of this mountain and told him to look in all directions, thus revealing the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel. There are at least two stories as to how this Biblical mountain’s name came to be applied to this sylvan eminence in Western North Carolina:

In 1776, General Griffith Rutherford led an expedition against the Cherokees. Accompanying this expedition as a chaplain was one James Hall. The men of the expedition saw the mountain from the French Broad River valley and saw a rich land around it – a land of milk and honey, a promised land. James Hall, preacher and soldier, is credited with drawing the parallel with the land that Moses saw from Pisgah and applying the Biblical appellation to this mountain.

Newton was a Presbyterian minister who lived and taught in the late 18th and early 19th centuries at what became Newton Academy in Asheville. Reverend Newton is credited with naming Mt. Pisgah. Because of the extensive view in all directions over a rich land, Reverend Newton felt there was similarity between this mountain and the one on which Moses stood.

Phyllis O’Connell, current owner recently built a handicap accessible deck for all visitors to the Pisgah Inn.

Thomas Lanier Clingman was state legislator, United States Congressman, United States Senator, Confederate General, and somewhat given to controversy. Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is named for him. He left his mark in the history of North Carolina through his famous argument with Dr. Elisha Mitchell (for whom Mt. Mitchell was named). He has been described as “an intrepid man of most arrogant and aggressive character, greatest self-confidence, unlimited assurance, prodigious conceit, stupendous aspiration, immense claims, more than common ability, no considerable attainment or culture, great boastfulness, and much curiosity.” Mr. Clingman owned 300 acres on and around the top of Mt. Pisgah. He owned this land from the 1830s until shortly before his death in 1897, when he sold this land to George W. Vanderbilt. George Washington Vanderbilt was the grandson of the “commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt. Mr. Vanderbilt began buying land South of Asheville in 1888, and by the time he finished, he owned about 125,000 acres, including Mt. Pisgah. Near Asheville, he built his famous Biltmore House, the grounds of which Frederick Law Olmsted landscaped.

Two other famous names are associated with Vanderbilt and Biltmore Estate. In 1891, Gifford Pinchot, recently returned from studying forestry in Europe, became Chief Forester of Biltmore. Here, with Mr. Vanderbilt’s strong support, he introduced scientific forestry to the United States. In 1898, Pinchot was named head of the Forestry Division of the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Carl A. Schenck of the University of Darmstadt came to the United States to succeed Pinchot. When Dr. Schenck came to this country, there were fewer than half dozen trained foresters, and all had studied forestry in Europe. There was no place in the United States to study forestry.

With George W. Vanderbilt’s support, Dr. Schenck founded the Biltmore Forestry School in 1898. Classes first met in the village of Biltmore, upstairs in what is now the headquarters of the Biltmore Company. This building is a Registered National Historic Landmark. The field school for the Biltmore Forestry School was near the foot of Mt.Pisgah. The United States Forest Service has done an excellent reconstruction of this school at the Cradle of Forestry in America.

In 1911, the United States Congress passed the Weeks Act. This monumental piece of legislation permitted the US Forest Service for the first time to purchase forest lands. In 1914, the Forest Service purchased nearly 80,000 acres including Mt. Pisgah, from Edith Vanderbilt as a part of what is now the 479,000 acre Pisgah National Forest.

In the Mount Pisgah area, the Vanderbilts kept 471 acres in Buck Springs Gap, about a mile from Pisgah Inn. Here, George W. Vanderbilt had constructed a popular log hunting lodge. The main lodge had four bedrooms, a breezeway-connected building had two bedroom suites, and the kitchen/ dining building was connected to the other two. There were several buildings near these buildings. Mr. Vanderbilt built the Buck Springs Lodge just before the turn of the century, and all of the buildings were razed in 1961.

The Mt. Pisgah area has been a popular resort area for a number of years. The first Pisgah Inn opened about 1918. This rustic old Inn was a welcome journey’s end for thousands of travelers escaping from the heat of the lowlands in the summer. Development of the modern Pisgah Inn began in the early 1960s. The original Inn was disassembled in 1990 due to safety concerns.

Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway in this area was built across land transferred from the U.S. Forest Service. The exception was the 471 acres around Buck Springs Lodge. The State of North Carolina purchased the land and the lodge in 1959 and transferred the land to the United States for the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway through the Mt. Pisgah area was opened for travel in the mid-1960s. The present Pisgah Inn was built in 1964.

From 1964 until 1978, the Inn was owned by Aaron Prevost. Under his able ownership, a series of different managers directed operations. In 1977, the manager, Mr. Wright, passed away leaving open the position of Manager. In 1978, the O’Connell family came on board. Tom and Phyllis were retired hotel operators. Bruce, their son, had just graduated from the Cornell Hotel School. Together, they took the helm with Bruce running the food operation and Tom running the hotel division. Phyllis was the anchor that held the whole place together. Tom passed away in 1985 leaving Bruce and Phyllis to manage the Inn. Bruce O’Connell runs the Inn with the help of his mother.

FOR MORE STORIES FROM SIX BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY RECREATION AREAS GO TO: www.pisgahinn.com/history-of-pisgah-inn/

View of Parksville Lake in Cherokee National Forest.Photo by Brandon M. Johnson.

SCENIC DRIVES

OCOEE SCENIC BYWAY

LENGTH:26 MILES coee Scenic Byway, the first National Forest Byway in the nation, winds through the Cherokee National Forest, passing Parksville Lake and traveling through the scenic bluffs of the Ocoee River Gorge. One section of the byway climbs to the top of the Chilhowee Mountains in Tennessee. From here, you capture magnificent views of the Tennessee Valley, the Cumberland Plateau, the Blue Ridge Province, and on a clear day, views of North Carolina and Georgia.

Along with scenic views, the byway offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Parksville Lake (Lake Ocoee) provides visitors with opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing and camping. Ocoee River, on the other hand, attracts whitewater adventurists. Canoing, rafting, and kayaking are popular activities at the Ocoee Whitewater Center along the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom competition.

And if whitewater adventure is not for you, visit the historical remnants along the byway. The area, once inhabited by the Cherokee Indians, and later a Civil War site, is rich in history. The byway was also once a part of the Old Copper Road, where horse-drawn wagons transported copper ore from Copperhill and Ducktown to Cleveland Tennessee.

From high adventure, to scenic views, to rich history, there is something for everyone on the Ocoee Scenic Byway.