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Archive for the ‘Old Fort’ Category

Old Fort Resident Remembers the Self-Reliant Life, a Cross-Country Adventure, and the Friendship of a Lifetime

Posted in Depression Years, Everyday life, Farming, Old Fort, _Interviewee: Binkie Adams (transcript), _Interviewee: Jessica Gibbs, tagged , on August 15, 2009 |

Jessica “Jep” Gibbs was born in 1913.  The majority of her life has been lived in the Old Fort area, and she currently resides just minutes from where she grew up. In addition to her other stories, in this clip she talks quite a bit about her friend Binkie Adams, daughter of the visionary Col. Daniel W. [...]

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Andrews Geyser

Posted in Andrews Geyser, Old Fort, Trains, _Interviewee: Steve Little, tagged , , on August 14, 2009 |

In the late 1800s when the railroad from Old Fort to Ridgecrest was completed, passengers were treated to a very impressive sight as their train climbed the 13 miles of switchbacks and seven tunnels to the top of the mountain. Several times during their ascent they were treated with a view of “the fountain” at [...]

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“Characters Make the Community”: Col. Daniel Adams and Charlie McKinney

Posted in Old Fort, Orchard at Altapass, _Interviewee: Bill Carson, _Interviewee: Terrell Finley, tagged , , on August 14, 2009 |

In the early days of McDowell County, strong personalities often had a sizeable and lasting impact on the community. The accomplished inventor Col. Daniel W. Adams of Old Fort worked to bring water, electricity and telephone service to the town. Adams also served as a mountain guide and designer of municipal fountains, among a myriad of other [...]

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Davidson’s Fort: Revolutionary-Era America’s Farthest Outpost

Posted in Cherokee, Davidson's Fort, Old Fort, Revolutionary War, _Interviewee: Joe Williams, _Interviewee: Mark Hall, tagged , , , , on August 11, 2009 |

In October of 1781, the Revolutionary War ended when the British surrendered at Yorktown. But, much of the groundwork for that final American victory had been laid at Davidson’s Fort, located near the present town of Old Fort. The largest volunteer militia of the war gathered there and many historians say that the grit and determination of that force [...]

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Old Fort Businessman Recalls the Tannery and Other Industry

Posted in Industry, Old Fort, _Interviewee: Bud Hogan, tagged , on July 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

“I’ve been going to work in the same building for 62 years”, laughs Old Fort resident Bud Hogan. Here, he discusses the history of Old Fort from a businessman’s point of view. From the days of the tannery to the fading of the textile industry in recent decades, Mr. Hogan has had a front-row seat. [...]

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Billy Graham Makes a Surprise Stop in Old Fort

Posted in Everyday life, Old Fort, _Interviewee: Richard Stanley, tagged , on July 13, 2009 |

It seems you never know who you’re going to find standing out in the snow in front of the gas station at the I-40 interchange in Old Fort! From 1966 to 1972, Reverend Richard Stanley Jr. was the pastor at the Wesleyan Church just up the street from the station. Here, he shares the story of [...]

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Old Fort Mountain Music

Posted in Music, Old Fort, Old Fort Mountain Music, _Interviewee: Wayne Roland, tagged , , on July 12, 2009 |

When the Oral History crew was taping this piece about Old Fort Mountain Music, we set up for awhile on the street outside to get some shots of folks arriving and visiting with one another.  While we were out on the sidewalk, an elderly couple drove up and the gentleman helped the lady out of the [...]

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