Explore Asheville’s past with Tombstone Tales, a series uncovering the stories of iconic figures buried in the area. From local legends to unsung heroes, these historical highlights bring history to life—one grave at a time.
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Tombstone Tales: Deadly 1889 camp meeting in Buncombe County
A violent confrontation at a Turkey Creek camp meeting led to a death and a murder trial in Buncombe County.
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Tombstone Tales: Ella Morrison shaped Asheville institutions
Buried at Riverside Cemetery, Ella Morrison left a lasting mark on Asheville’s civic life.
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Tombstone Tales: War of 1812 Veteran Buried in Haywood County
Elijah Deaver, a War of 1812 officer and early settler, gave Bethel a resting place that still serves the community today.
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Strangeville: Ghost lore at St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, NC
Long before ghost stories took hold, St. John in the Wilderness carried a layered history. Explore how its cemetery and past shaped its haunted reputation.
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Tombstone Tales: A Waterloo veteran in Flat Rock
A Waterloo veteran from Glasgow left his mark on Flat Rock before his remains were reportedly carried back to Scotland.
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Tombstone Tales: President Lincoln’s bodyguard in Asheville
A Civil War captain known around Asheville for his faith and his stories left behind a life that still resonates.
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Tombstone Tales: Charlie Silver’s grave and the enduring mystery of Frankie Silver
In the Kona community near Bakersville, a quiet cemetery holds the resting place of the young man at the center of one of North Carolina’s most debated 19th-century tragedies.
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Tombstone Tales: After a dog attack in 1902, Willie Harris’ family raced to save him
After a dog attack in Asheville in 1902, 5-year-old Willie Harris was taken north for rabies treatment at a Pasteur institute, where hope briefly rose before ending in heartbreak.
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Tombstone Tales: The life and legacy of Dr. William Caldwell Tate in Morganton
His grave in Morganton marks the life of a nineteenth-century physician whose work carried him from country sickbeds to Civil War service.
