Henrietta “Hennie” Whitted Price (1864–1923) was a Hendersonville native, poet, and composer whose life took her from the Blue Ridge to Chicago before returning to rest in Oakdale Cemetery.
Long before the Nantahala was a playground for rafters, the Cherokee told of U’lag‘û — a giant yellow-jacket said to be as large as a house. The legend explains the origin of yellow-jackets and marks the land with names still known around Franklin and the Nantahala Gorge.
Before there was “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” another Bill Nye made America laugh. Edgar Wilson Nye, a 19th-century humorist and journalist, found his final resting place in Fletcher. His memorial and grave at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard still draw visitors curious about the man once known as “Bill Nye the Humorist.”
The Appalachian Barn Alliance is a historical preservation society dedicated to cataloguing the barns of Western North Carolina, particularly in Madison County. For their 10th Barn Day, an annual celebration of barn heritage complete with barn tours, live music and a meal, the ABA will highlight their restoration work on the Smith Heritage Farmstead at the Bailey Mountain Preserve.
Family-friendly festival with live music, inflatables and 3-on-3 basketball tournament highlights Edward W. Pearson’s vision and neighborhood pride
Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville is more than a campus. Built over a potter’s field, the school’s haunted reputation blends verifiable history with enduring folklore.
A simple grave in Riverside Cemetery marks the tragic story of Allen “Buck” Trivette. In 1911, the young Asheville man was shot by his uncle, Pitt Ballew, during a family quarrel that led to trial in Buncombe County.
In April 1925, Asheville briefly became the center of a baseball mystery. Babe Ruth collapsed at the train station and rumors spread worldwide that he had died here. Newspapers even printed his obituary before the truth emerged. Discover how the “death” of the Babe in Asheville became a strange piece of local folklore.
In 1890, engineer Lewis Tunstall was killed when his train careened down the Saluda Grade at 75 miles an hour. The wreck led to the creation of safety switches that saved countless lives. Today, Tunstall is remembered not only for his sacrifice but also by a striking monument in Hendersonville’s Oakdale Cemetery.
“The Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia” will be held as a weekend-long series of events from Thursday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 9 at venues across Asheville.