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Part 6 of Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot covers the gruesome execution of John Goss on December 7, 1923 at State Prison in Raleigh. After being delayed for a week while Governor Morrison was out of state, Goss is put to death on Friday, December 7, 1923, a scant 73 days since he allegedly committed the assault on Alice Thomas. Visit mitchellnchistory.org for more information on Mitchell ...

In Part 5 of Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot, we review the events leading up to the trials of John Goss and members of the mob who rioted in Spruce Pine on September 26 and 27, along with a discussion of the trials themselves. Particular attention is given to Governor Morrison's insistence on a speedy trial process, pushing court and county officials to schedule a special term of court f...

Part 4 of Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot is a day-by-day account of events from September 26, 1923 to October 8, 1923, including Goss's prison escape, the alleged assault on Alice Thomas, the manhunt that ensues for him, the decision by a mob to remove African-American workers from jobs they were working on around Spruce Pine and send them out of town on trains, the stand-off between the...

Part 3 of Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot is a look at the times surrounding the riot, including some possible triggers that may have caused it. Racism plays a prominent role in events, but rapid change in the region brought on by the start of major mining operations along with the construction of paved roads and other modern conveniences was also upending the social order that had persis...

In Part 2 of Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot, we take a look at some of the individuals who played prominent roles in the riot, including their positions and responsibilities, and share brief biographies of each. Visit mitchellnchistory.org for more information on Mitchell County history and heritage.

Railroaded: The Spruce Pine Race Riot was the September 5, 2023 program by the Mitchell County, North Carolina Historical Society. The presentation marked the 100th anniversary of an event known locally as the Spruce Pine Race Riot. Taking place September 26, 1923, the riot centered around the deportation of African-Americans who were working on several public works projects and in area mines. ...

Stories of Appalachia hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins presented our June, 2023 program on Buladean resident and Mitchell County legend Sam Brinkley and his famous beard. Sam traveled the world with side shows and circuses, meeting famous people but returning each off-season to teach school in Buladean. Here's a recording of their presentation. And, visit the Stories of Appalachia TH-cam Chann...

Dr. Dan Barron presents the first program of the 2023 program season, sharing the story of The Appalachian School the forebear of today's Penland School of Craft.

Mitchell County, North Carolina was home to the largest number of North Carolina Living Treasures during the program’s existence. This video, produced in 2004, presents interviews with Arval Woody, Bea Hensley and Mike Hensley and Billie Ruth Sudduth who received the award and Oscar “Red” Wilson who received the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award. All but Mike Hensley have passed on since its p...

During World War II, Americans supported the war effort in a wide variety of ways. The homefront was a critical partner to the battlefront, as everyday men, women, and children did their part to win the war and support the troops. Programs like the Aircraft Warning Service and the many branches of the Civil Defense Corps recruited civilians for a wide variety of tasks from performing first aid ...

Jonathan Bennett is the presenter of our 2021 special Veteran's Day program. The subject is the Cherokee War of 1776. Largely forgotten as it took place at the same time as the American Revolution, The Cherokee War had profound implications for Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The presentation works to provide a balanced view of the conflict from both sides and...

The July 19, 2021 program presented by geologist Alex Glover on the history of mica mining in Mitchell County and information on the uses for mica. This is part of the 2021 program series by the Mitchell County Historical Society.

A virtual presentation on April 25, 2021 by David Biddix on the history behind the famous hotel that sat atop Roan Mountain on the North Carolina/Tennessee line in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Information on John T. Wilder and his grand plans for building a resort in the clouds along with a discussion on the famous visitors to the hotel is included.

Jonathan Bennett and David Biddix present a Civil War story, a tale of intrigue centering around 4 Union officers who escaped from a Confederate prison camp in Columbia, South Carolina. The quartet spent 56 harrowing days getting back to the friendly lines of Colonel George Kirk in East Tennessee in the winter of 1864. It is also the story of Mitchell County residents Isaac and Alice English an...

Daniel Boone's Tree at Dellinger Mill

Dellinger's Mill in Bakersville, North Carolina

2020 Overmountain Men Celebration Spruce Pine, North Carolina

Scotland: Where WE Came From...Or Did WE Really Ever Leave?

The Toe River: The Valley's Highway

Geology of the Toe River

Rhonda Gouge Plays Music of Mitchell County, NC - August 21, 2017

The Frankie & Charlie Silver Story

Mitchell County: Early Crossroads of Culture

Penland Post Office

Mountain Church Music Rhonda Gouge

The Railroads of the Toe River Valley

World War I - Dr Lloyd Bailey