History of

Avery & Watauga Counties, NC

New! 66 Page Illustrated Booklet

Early days in Avery & Watauga Counties in mountains of northwestern North Carolina, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this new 66-page spiral-bound booklet, comprised of excerpts from several vintage books. These source materials include John Hill Wheeler's 1851 Historical Sketches of North Carolina; North Carolina, A Guide to the Old North State, a product of the WPA, first published in 1939; and A New Geography of North Carolina, a project started in the 1950s.

The tri-color front cover is printed on 80# card stock and has been protected with a vinyl sheet. The text is printed single-sided on 60# opaque paper, with the print enlarged to fit the 8.5" x 11" paper and improve readability.

Towns mentioned in the booklet include: Avery County -- Newland (county seat), Montezuma, Linville, Crossnore, Elk Park, Heaton, Banner Elk, Cranberry, Minneapolis and Plumtree. Watauga County -- Boone (county seat), Blowing Rock, Vilas, Amantha, Sugar Grove, Zionville, Valle Crucis, Sugar Grove, Vilas, and Deep Gap.

Among the many subjects included are: Geological and Physical features, including the Watauga River, Cove Creek, Howard's Knob, Tater Hill, the Valley of the Cross, North Toe Valley, and the "Hayshins", ; Riddle Knob, and the capture of Col. Benjamin Cleaveland in the Revolutionary War; Bios of Daniel Boone and Tennessee's first governor, Gen. John Sevier; Patch Farming; Tourism, transportation, forestry, and industry; the Tar Heel Mica Company; Schools, including the Appalachian State Teachers College, Crossnore School, and Lees-McRae College; Churches and church discipline; Thomas Hodges and other early visitors and/or settlers; during and after the Civil War; the MacRae-Morton family, Shepherd M. Dugger, "Uncle Jake" Carpenter, W.C. Tate and J.L. Hartley; ; Cone Memorial Park; the Rock at Blowing Rock; Stories about names, legends of Johnny Moccasin, the buried treasure of Frank James, and other curious bits of history and trivia. The WPA section offers a nostalgic glimpse of the area from a 1939 vantage point, offering historical notes and sightseeing possibilities.

Our North Carolina booklets are a good resource for learning about the history, geography and social climate of places where you or your ancestors have lived or places you plan to visit.