A Feat of
Historic Proportions Watauga Historical Society to publish book
By Scott Nicholson
Local history is alive and well, and the county’s past will
soon be framed, bound, and printed.
The Baird Farm house.
The Todd Hotel.
The Vardell Cottages.
The Watauga County Historical Society is tackling a major publishing
project, as it revitalizes and prepares to collect more information
on the county’s past and also share its work with the public.
The historical society was organized in 1977, mostly through the
efforts of Appalachian State University history professors Max
Dixon and Carl Ross, and it went through periods of activity and
dormancy in the following 30 years. The group recently energized
for a project to collect architectural history of the county,
compiling photographs of old buildings and homes, with a book
release coming next year.
Diane Barefoot, president of the historical society, said the
group is a means of educating the public about the history of
Watauga County and is a vehicle for the preservation of the culture
of the area. The group recently achieved its 501(c)3 non-profit
status, which Barefoot said would help the group further its goals
by making donations tax-deductible.
“Our big project is a book on the architecture of Watauga
County,” Barefoot said. “We’ve collected hundreds
of photos, and it will have a history essay as an introduction.
It’s a beautiful book, and a lot of the old Watauga County
families will have property represented.”
Barefoot said publications have long been one of the goals of
the organization. A journal entitled “Watauga County Times
Past” was published for several years in the 1980s, with
community members and scholars contributing articles to the journal. Another
project spearheaded by the society was the transfer of a 1937
film of Boone from 8 millimeter to video, with the tape made available
to schools and libraries.
Watauga County Historical Society members contributed to the history
essay section of Volume I of “The Heritage of Watauga County,”
a collection highlighting the history of the county and its families. The
society initiated the transcription of the microfilm copies of
federal census records into book form, a project later taken on
by the Department of History at Appalachian State University,
which completed, marketed and sold the transcriptions. The society
helped launch the first Cove Creek Heritage Day in 1996 and co-published
the book “Memories of Cove Creek High School.”
The next big project has its roots not only from centuries of
local architecture, but from past efforts by the society to collect
local history. The book is a compilation of past historical surveys,
one of which originated with the Watauga County Historical Society
in the early 1980s. About 300 historic structures will be documented
in the book, and the society is always looking for more.
“The Architectural History of Watauga County, North Carolina”
is being edited by J. Daniel Pezzoni, an architectural historian
and preservation consultant with Landmark Preservation Associates
in Lexington, Va. He is the author of more than a hundred National
Register nominations nationwide, as well as architectural inventory
publications for Onslow and Lee counties in North Carolina.
Barefoot said the book will undergo production this year, with
discount preorders being taken later this year. It will be released
in spring 2009, and Barefoot said the group is also planning fundraisers
to help with preservation efforts.
While the book is the main project at the moment, along with scheduling
historical talks, Barefoot said the group is trying to regain
momentum. She joined the society as an ASU student shortly after
it was formed, and has seen it go through various phases over
the past few decades. She credits society vice-president Bettie
Bond and others with helping invigorate the group.
“We’ve gone through natural ups and downs, and we’re
trying to get back on track,” Barefoot said. “A lot
of things need to be done, and there are buildings to preserve.
Look at the (downtown) Boone post office. We’re not involved
with preserving that, but it’s an example of how endangered
historical structures are in this county.”
Over the years, the society has held public meetings so various
aspects of Watauga history could be discussed. These lectures
allow community members of many backgrounds and professions to
highlight their research and experiences, with the next coming
up on April 1, when Michael Hardy will deliver a presentation
on Watauga County and the Civil War.
Hardy’s talk is entitled “I had rather drink out of
them mud holes thare on Brushy Fork...” Hardy will attempt
to separate fact from fiction, asking what happened along Cove
Creek and on the Watauga River during the war, and covering major
events like Stoneman’s Raid.
Hardy, a longtime resident of the North Carolina mountains, is
an award-winning author and historian. Among his works are histories
of the 37th North Carolina Troops, Watauga County and North Carolina’s
confederate soldiers. His articles have appeared in numerous publications,
including “America’s Civil War,” “North &
South” and “Civil War Times.” The presentation
is on April 1 at 5:15 p.m. at the Watauga County Library in Boone.
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