Avery County Traditional Artist Database

Avery County Traditional Artists Database The Avery Arts Council would like to thank all of the listed artists for their participation in this project and for sharing their knowledge and crafts with the community. The database was compiled from 2006-2007, and some information may be subject to change. Users of this Directory should be aware that the artists’ involvement with this project was voluntary. Many of the artists are elders and may not be actively practicing their craft. These we have included as a tribute and as resources for those interested in the history of folkways in the county. (See the “Artists Classification Codes” at the bottom of the page). Please be polite and respectful when contacting them. Additional information may be obtained through the Avery Arts Council at 828-898-4292 or by emailing us at info@averycountyartscouncil.org ARTISTS Gil Adams Gil plays fiddle in the old time band The Corklickers. He also calls traditional Appalachian square and circle dances. Bob Aldridge Bob is an award-winning traditional Appalachian flatfoot dancer. His father played dances in the Crossnore community, where Bob learned his first steps. He has performed all over the region and made several television appearances, and stars in his own instructional video. Becky Alghary Becky has published several books profiling local elders including Mountain Magnolias, about the lives of Avery County women. Alghary’s books highlight old time lifeways practiced in the early part of the century that have largely disappeared, while showcasing the unique personalities of her subjects. TV Barnett TV is an old time musician and craftsman in the Burbank community near Roan Mountain Tennessee. Barnett grew up in a musical family on the land that eventually became the Roan Mountain State Park. He plays guitar, two finger and clawhammer banjo, fiddle, makes jewelry, wood crafts and is a resource for the stories and history of the border communities of Elk Park, Roan Mountain and Buck Mountain. TV recorded many musicians who have since passed away and performs with Rhody Jane Meadows in the old time band the Roan Mountain Moonshiners Bertie Burleson Bertie publishes and edits the county’s local independent newspaper the Avery Post, which often contains stories regarding Avery Folklife. She has written profiles of some of the artists in this database. Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Avery Arts Council or visit www.corklickers.com P (828) 733 2004 P/R/I (828) 898 6754 140 Robert Cook Lane Banner Elk NC 28604 S/R (423) 772 3512 www.myspace.com/roanmountainmoonshiners P/S/R (828) 733 1407 Avery Post 35 Pinola Street PO Box 1056 Newland NC 28657 2 ARTISTS CONTACT INFORMATION S/R Jason Burleson learned bluegrass banjo and guitar from the earlier generation of Avery musicians, including Herb Greene and Herman Coffey, when he was 12 years old. He currently plays banjo for the Grammy nominated band Blue Highway and lives in Newland when he isn’t on the road. Doris “Dot” Bliss Doris runs the Little Bear Rock Shop out of her home in the Matney community where she was raised. The shop sells both local and exotic minerals and gems, and jewelry that Doris, a self- taught goldsmith, makes by hand. She has also written books about her experiencing growing up in the Mattney/Beech Mountain area. Bluegrass Tradition is a traditional bluegrass band featuring close harmonies and classic instrumentals by permanent members Herb Greene and Herman Coffey jason@bluehighwayband.com P/W/S (828) 963-9989 PO Box 1166 Banner Elk NC 28604 Contact Herman Coffey QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. P/W/S Thomas Burton is a folklorist and former professor at East Tennessee State University.who has been collecting songs, ballads and stories on and around Beech Mountain since the 1970s. He has written several books incuding Some Ballad Folks and Folksongs vol 1 and 2. Herman Coffey Herman has played traditional bluegrass mandolin and sung since he was a boy. He started playing with Bluegrass Tradition band mate Herb Greene in the 1960s. Contact Steve Kruger (828) 733 4660 3455 Miller’s Gap Highway Newland NC 28657 P/S/R ARTIST Artist Classification Codes: CONTACT INFORMATION P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 3 Virginia Coffey Virginia is a contract weaver at the Crossnore Weaving Room. She learned to weave with NC Heritage Award Winner Ossie Phillips and was employed by the Crossnore Weaving Room for 18 years. (828) 733 4660 3455 Miller’s Gap Highway Newland NC 28657 QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Un compressed) decompressor are neede d to se e this picture. P/W Bill Constable Bill plays primarily bluegrass banjo and guitar. He is a member of the Wiseman family, learned from many of his musical elders.and plays with the progressive Bluegrass band Sassagrass. The Corklickers The Corklickers have been playing old time string band music since 1976 at venues such as the Carter Family Fold and Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival. Members include Avery County residents Mark Adams and Gil Adams. Junior Dellinger Junior is a bluegrass fiddler who lives in the Toe River Valley. He began playing in the 1940s when bluegrass first began to take hold in the region. Junior has played with several groups and recently founded the Riverside Music Park. Dean Dellinger Dean plays bass in the touring gospel bluegrass band Pure Heart. When he isn’t on the road he helps his father Junior run the Riverside Music Park . (828) 765 5484 P/W/I/S www.corklickers.com P/S Contact Avery Arts Council/See Riverside Music Park Entry Contact Avery Arts Council/See Riverside Music Park Entry ARTIST Floyd Gragg Floyd has run his craft and preserve stand on Artist Classification Codes: CONTACT INFORMATION Stand located on US 221 north of the Grandfather Mountain main entrance. P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 4 Grandfather Mountain since 1957. He is also a fiddle, banjo and guitar player in both the bluegrass and old time styles. During the summer you can find him selling wood crafts, preserves, local molasses and honey. Floyd grew up in a log cabin on Grandfather, and is a resource for local music history and lifeways, such as apple butter making and hunting. Contact the Avery Arts Council P/S/R Shirley Gragg Shirley is the master weaver at the Crossnore Weaving Room where she has worked since 1977. She learned from North Carolina Heritage Award Winner Ossie Clark Phillips. (828) 733 4660 Crossnore Weavers PO Box 249 Crossnore NC 28616 info@crossnoreweavers.com W/I/R Herb Greene Herb began playing guitar at dances with his father, a banjo player, at a young age. In the years that followed he perfected his singing voice and guitar playing with Herman Coffey in Bluegrass Tradition. Elizabeth Hardy Elizabeth learned to tell “Preacher” and family tales from her grandfather and uncles in Kentucky. Today she teaches oral history at Mayland Community College and tries to keep the tradition of Appalachian storytelling alive in the next generation Michael Hardy Michael is a local historian and author who has written several books on Avery County including Remembering Avery County: Old Tales from North Carolina’s Youngest County. Michael is an expert on local Civil War history. He does historical recreation and plays old time music specializing in murder ballads. Mr. Greene passed away in the Spring of 2008. We prefer to think of him as having been promoted to glory. (828) 765 7351 ext. 271 336 Laurel Mountain Road Newland NC 28657 ehardy@mayland.edu P/W/I/S (828) 737 0305 336 Laurel Mountain Road Newland NC 28657 www.michaelchardy.com R/S/D Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 5 ARTIST Ted and Rosa Hicks The wife and son of the late NEA Heritage Award winner Ray Hicks still live in the family home on the back side of Beech Mountain. Rosa and Ted are a wealth of knowledge on the old time way of life and the history of folk arts in the region. Ted is a Jack Tale teller and both know many of the old songs and riddles. Rosa is a resource for traditional foodways, herbs and other wild plants, and traditional agriculture. CONTACT INFORMATION Contact the Avery Arts Council or visit www.rayhicks.com QuickTime™ an d a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are need ed to see this p icture . R Naomi Huston Naomi is the cooking editor for the Avery Post, organzies the Sunday Dinners at the Cranberry School, and is a contact for Avery County foodways. Allen Johnson Allen comes from a family of fiddle players. When he is not on the road with nationally known bluegrass acts, he lives in Linville. Michael Joslin Michael has written several books and articles on traditional artists and craftspeople from Avery and Mitchell County including Highland Handcrafters. He teaches English at Lees McCrae College in Banner Elk. Linville Ridge Linville Ridge is a bluegrass band based out of Burke and Avery County and includes members of the Wiseman Family. (828) 733 1407 R (828) 898 5391 P/W/I/S (828) 898 8721 joslin@lmc.edu R/S Contact Mike Ramsey mikeel@charter.net (828) 438 9470 or visit www.linvilleridgeband.com P/S Steve Kruger Steve helped the Avery Arts Council create the Traditional Artist Database. He is a resource for folklore in Avery County and plays old time and bluegrass fiddle, banjo and guitar. (828) 719 9477 stevendkruger@gmaill.com P/I/D/R/W Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 6 ARTIST Rhody Jane Meadows Rhody lived in Avery County and taught Appalachian cultural programs in the schools before she moved to Tennessee where she currently resides. She is a storyteller, singer and plays the guitar, clawhammer banjo and autoharp with the Roan Mountain Moonshiners. Alfred and Amy Michels The Michels live on a traditional working farm in Ashe County. Alfred makes and repairs fiddles and farms and cuts timber with horses. Amy spent part of her childhood on Beech Mountain where she learned the traditional music and lifeways of the community. The Michels make molasses and cider, grow heirloom vegetables and are old time musicians. Teresa Shadoin Continuing a long standing Avery County tradition Teresa Shadoin, coaches award winning square dance and clogging teams for the middle and high schools and at Newland Elementary where she is an administrator. Teresa learned Appalachian dance while a student of local legend Kay Wilkins. She can call square dances as well, and her team, recently awarded a National Championship, is available for performances. CONTACT INFORMATION www.rhodyjane.com P/W/I/S (336) 385 6995 W/P/S/R teresashadoin@averyschools.net (828) 733 4911 ext. 231 Newland Elementary School 750 Linville Street Newland NC 28657 QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture. P/W/I/R Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 7 ARTIST Rebecca Trivette Rebecca is a former president of the Riverwalk Quilt Guild and a contact for other quilters in the community. CONTACT INFORMATION (828) 733 9430 840 Little Plumtree Creek Newland NC 28657 rgtrivet@bellsouth.net R/I/D Leniavill Trivette Leniavill grew up in the Beech Creek Community of Avery County and currently resides in Zionville. She is a weaver, quilter and rug hooker. She learned from her mother, NC Heritage Award winner Ossie Clark Phillips. Jim and Jennie Vance Jim and Jennie grew up in large musical families near Crossnore. Jennie and her siblings saved money picking chesnuts and bought a Stella guitar which they all shared. Jim started out on a cigar box banjo and fiddle and began touring around the region with local musicians and as a sideman for bluegrass greats such as Mac Wiseman in the 1930s and 1940s. He met Jennie at the fountain in Crossnore where she was singing with her sisters. They were married and began a life on the road playing Bluegrass at concert and dance halls, rodeos, and once on a USO tour of Vietnam. In the 1970s they moved back to the mountains, and with the help of the community built the Music Barn and campground, which until 2006 was a regular music venue every Friday and Saturday during the summer and fall. The Barn is available for lease and will be open for special events. The Vances are also enthusiastic bear and hog hunters as are their children and grandchildren. Lonnie Ward Lonnie started playing banjo around the age of 10 in a downstroking/two finger pattern he heard his mother play in the 1930s. He later picked up the dulcimer, mandolin and guitar and most recently the fiddle. Lonnie played with many local musicians of note including Buna Hicks, Ora Watson and Tab Ward. He is one of the last of the elder generation of Beech Mountain old time musicians. (828) 297 5613 185 Silverstone Road Zionville NC 28698 R/D (828) 733 2807 636 Smoky Bear Road Crossnore NC 28616 P/R/S (828) 297 3184 1761 Old Watauga River Road Sugar Grove NC 28679 P/S/R Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 8 ARTIST Rick Ward Rick is the grandson of the prolific old time banjo player Tab Ward and son of the instrument maker N.T. Ward. He plays a unique style of clawhammer banjo he calls the “double-knock” that he learned from his grandfather. Rick makes and plays the old mountain-style wood rimmed banjo widely used by musicians throughout the mountain south before the widespread introduction of factory banjos. Rick also makes dulcimers, sings ballads, is an aboriginal skills specialist, herbalist, historian and historical re-creator (Long Hunting and Revolutionary). CONTACT INFORMATION Contact the Avery Arts Council P/W/I/S/R Kay Wilkins The “grand old dame” of Precision Clogging and Appalachian Smooth and Square Dancing’s introduction to Appalachian traditional dance was watching her father play clawhammer banjo and call dances in the living room of their home in Plumtree. Kay studied dance as a student at Appalachian Teachers College (Now ASU) and would later combine her early memories of dance with Cherokee buck dancing to create her precision clogging. After a brief stay in New York City, Wilkins came back to Avery and taught physical fitness at the old Cranberry School. There she formed her first dance team in 1948 to compete at Bascom Lamar Lunsford’s Appalachian Music Festival. Over the next three and a half decades her dance teams won more state and national championships than any other and performed in Europe, California, and for president Gerald Ford. She was inducted into the Clogging Hall of Fame in 1994. It is almost single handedly due to Wilkins that square dancing was kept alive in the younger generations. She still dances today and coaches an adult team the Katydids. Contact the Avery Arts Council R/I/D/P Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 9 ARTIST The Wiseman Family The Wiseman Family is a collection of musicians from that musical family of southern Avery County descended from Scotty and Lulu Belle. The lineup depends on who is in the area, but usually includes database members Lawerence, Lois, Bill Constable, and Larry Wiseman Lawrence’s son, who lives off the mountain. Jimmie Wiseman Jimmie Wiseman has lived a long and colorful life. As a young man he was part of the first generation of Avery bluegrass musicians who left the area to make a living on the road. During his travels all over the country he homesteaded in Alaska, shared the stage with Bob Wills and picked up countless stories along the way. Lawrence Wiseman Lawrence remembers his father playing old time fiddle by the light of an oil lamp on their farm in the Toe River Valley. Lawrence took up the fiddle himself at an early age and, inspired by early recording artists such as Fiddling Arthur Smith, combined the older local tunes he learned with blues, popular music, swing, jazz, and country. During the Depression he left the county to play on the radio in Asheville and was immersed in the larger hillbilly music scene that would eventually become Country and Bluegrass music. There he met the Rouse Brothers and recorded one of the first versions of their composition, The Orange Blossom Special, in 1938. Like many in his generation and his family Lawrence spent much of his life playing in bluegrass and country bands around the East Coast before settling for a time in Virginia. He moved back after his retirement to be around the land and people he loved. He can be heard playing and singing at Jim and Jennie’s Music Barn, The Riverside Music Park and Young’s Mountain Music in Spruce Pine. Deborah Young plays the guitar and sings bluegrass, gospel, country and folk music. She learned from many local elders and is a resource for the history of music in the county particularly around Crossnore. She runs the Crossnore Jam on the first and third Friday of the month and plays with the Hit or Miss Band. CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Lois Wiseman (828) 765 5484 P Contact Avery Arts Council or Lois Wiseman R (828) 765 5803 P/S/R (828) 733 7607 172 Middle Street Crossnore NC 28616 P/W/S/R Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 10 Avery County Heritage Events & Organzations EVENT / ORGANZATION Avery Arts Council The Avery Arts Council is a non profit organization with the mission of promoting the arts in Avery County. The Arts Council organizes community events, sponsors arts education programs in the local schools, and serves as a resource for the community. CONTACT INFORMATION (828) 898 4292 PO Box 2505 Banner Elk NC 28604 www.averycountyartscouncil.org info@averycountyartscouncil.org The Avery Quilt Trail The Quilt Trail is a community art project where quilt patterns are painted onto signboard and then mounted onto barns and buildings around the county. A series of driving trail maps will be developed to direct people to the sites. Originally made possible by a grant from Handmade in America and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the Quilt Trail project is currently sponsored in part by funds from the Banner Elk Tourism Development Authority and support from interested individuals. Contact Avery Arts Council Qu ickTi me™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompresso r are nee ded to see this p icture. Avery County Agricultural Extension Office The Ag Center is the source for information about local agriculture. The office conducts a Farmer’s Market starting in June at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. Their Avery Heritage Apple Project is part of a statewide push to preserve and propagate local heirloom apple varieties such as the Limbertwig, Banana and Virginia Beauty. The Avery Heritage Festival Organized by the Avery Historical Society, the festival is hosted by a different Avery County community each year. It features local music, craft vendors, genealogical services, historical recreation and lectures. (828) 733-8270 805 Cranberry Street Newland, NC 28657 www.avery.ces.ncsu.edu/ Location Varies First Weekend in June See Avery Historical Society Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 11 EVENT / ORGANZATION The Avery Historical Society and Museum The Society and Museum are housed in the historic jailhouse building in Newland. It is a volunteer organization that helps preserve local historical sites and artifacts. The museum contains permanent and traveling exhibits on the Weaving Room, local musicians, the Tweetsie Railroad, Civil War and Revolutionary History. Books by local authors and genealogical material are available for purchase. CONTACT INFORMATION (828) 733 7111 www.averymuseum.com Museum located next to the Avery County Courthouse in Newland. Open Saturdays and throughout the week seasonally. The Banner House and Greater Banner Elk Heritage Foundation The Banner House is a 19 century home in Banner Elk housing a museum and the GBEHF, an organization promoting historical preservation and education in the Banner Elk area. The museum contains both temporary and permanent exhibits on the lives of early residents of the area, and holds walking tours and living history events. The Brown Mountain Lights Festival This festival celebrates the mysterious and unexplained lights visible from the edge of the Linville Gorge and other high vantage points over Brown Mountain. The festival takes place in the Linville Falls Community and features music, craft vendors, local authors and lectures on the science, history and folklore of the phenomenon going back to the legends from Cherokee. Carolina Barbecue and Pickin’ Parlor Located in Newland, Carolina Barbecue serves homemade BBQ. During some evenings local musicians give concerts including bluegrass and old time groups. th (828) 898 3634 7990 Hickory Nut Gap Road Banner Elk NC www.bannerhousemuseum.com Open seasonally Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm Located in and around the Linville Falls Community Center in autumn. Check www.linvillefallsvillage.com for dates contact Chris Blake blackecd@interlink-cafe.com Open year round for lunch and dinner. Call for music schedule. Catering available. (828) 737 0700 500 Pinola Street Newland NC 28657 Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 12 Sunday Dinners at the Cranberry School If you want to enjoy a home cooked Southern meal for a good cause check out the Cranberry School on Sunday evenings. Cranberry High School closed down in the 1970s and the beautiful brick building built in the 1920s has fallen into disrepair. Recently a group of alumni have gotten together to try to renovate and find new uses for the building. The menu varies and includes a main course, sides and dessert. At the corner of NC 194 and 19E between Newland and Elk Park Contact Cranberry Corporation: (828) 733 5854 5215 Elk Park Highway Elk Park NC Crossnore Jam If you are a musician looking for people to play with or just a listener come down to The Crossnore Jam. Most of the music is Bluegrass, with some country, blues and rock-n-roll thrown in. Musicians sit in a circle and take turns picking the songs. Lots of friendly people, music and dancing. First and Third Friday night of Every Month runs from around 7p-10p in the Town Meeting Hall across from the Fire Department in downtown Crossnore NC Contact: Deborah Young (828) 733 7607 Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 13 EVENT / ORGANZATION Famous Louise’s Rockhouse Restaurant The stone building where Famous Louise’s Rockhouse Restaurant stands was built in 1936 and originally housed a roadhouse tavern. It straddles three counties; you can sit in whichever one you want. Before the building existed it was a meeting place for moonshiners. Today it’s more of a family atmosphere, and the fare is friendly service and authentic southern food, much of which is made from scratch from local recipes. Louise, who bought the restaurant in the 1980s, still cooks in the back and makes all of the preserves and apple butter herself, which are also for sale. CONTACT INFORMATION Hours vary with the season, Open all week in the summer for breakfast lunch and dinner. (828)765 2702 Located on US 221 in Linville Falls Fay’s Store in Linville is a general and hardware store and a meeting place for local fishermen and hunters. They sell locally tied fishing flies and regional pottery. Floyd Gragg’s Fruit Stand The stand has stood in the same place since 1957 selling locally and regionally produced honey, molasses, apple butter, preserves and local crafts. Floyd, who grew up on the mountain, can play just about anything with strings, and sells CDs of his Grandfather Mountain Bluegrass Band. See Floyd Gragg The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games The Grandfather Highland Games is one of the largest and longest running events of its kind. It features Scottish music performances, traditional physical competitions, clan displays, vendors, and food. This is the largest annual event in the county and is set in picturesque McRae Meadows. Camping is available. Open Seasonally Hemingway Road Linville NC US 221 between the Grandfather Mountain Gate and the Blue Ridge Parkway Saturdays and Sundays weather permitting, May-October In McRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain 2nd Weekend in July (828) 733-1333 PO Box 1095 Linville, NC, 28646 www.gmhg.com nature@grandfathermountain.com Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 14 EVENT / ORGANZATION Grandfather Mountain Singing in the Meadows The “Singing” on Grandfather Mountain is the oldest traditional gospel music festival in the Appalachians, dating back to 1924. The event features local and nationally known performers (including in the past Earl Scruggs and Johnny Cash). Camping is available on the grounds. CONTACT INFORMATION Fourth Sunday in June. (828) 733 2013 www.grandfather.com/planning_your_visit/events/si nging.php nature@grandfathermountain.com Jim and Jennie’s Music Barn and Campground Jim and Jennie Vance (see individual entry) founded and with the help of their friends and family built Jim and Jennie’s Music Barn and Campground in the 1970s to provide the community and visitors with a venue for Bluegrass music. It is currently available to lease or for private functions. Special events such as the fiddler’s competition and Homecoming are still planned. Tent and RV camping with hookups is available year round. Special Events/Available for Leasing/Camping all year Dianne Vance (828) 733 0682 677 Hashaw Firetower Road Crossnore NC 28616 Lees-McRae College The John B. Stephenson Center for Appalachian and Comparative Highland Studies seeks to “further the understanding of Appalachia and Highland regions worldwide.” Apart from the university program, the center hosts lectures and exhibits. The Alice B Stirling Collection at the Lees-McRae library specializes in publications and local documents about Appalachia. (828) 898 2488 184 Evans Way Hemlock Village Banner Elk, NC 28604 www.lmc.edu/sites/StephensonCenter/Default.htm Little Bear Rock Shop Doris Bliss (see entry) runs this rock shop out of her home in the Matney Community on the back side of Beech Mountain. Rock hunting is popular in the area and the Little Bear Rock shop has a fine selection of local rocks and minerals, as well as jewelry made by Bliss, who is also a goldsmith. (828) 963 8898 412 Rominger Road Banner Elk NC 28604 Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 15 EVENT / ORGANZATION The Market At Crossnore The Market began as a produce stand and gas station in the 1950s. Today it sells produce and preserves. Wild foods such as ramps and branch lettuce can also be purchased in season. The Old Hampton Store and 87 Ruffin Street Gallery Established in 1920 to serve the lumber camp and the ET&WNC (Tweetsie) Railroad. Today it sells crafts, preserves, souvenirs, BBQ and other refreshments, and is a functioning grist mill. The adjacent 87 Ruffin Street Gallery features local and regional fine crafts. Local bluegrass and old time groups perform on Saturday afternoons from May-October. Check website or call for hours. CONTACT INFORMATION Located on US 221 in Crossnore Contact Angel Thompson 828 733 0974 828-733-5213 77 Ruffin Street, Linville (just off Hwy. 221) www.oldhamptonstore.com The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail The OCT traces the 330 miles of the route followed by frontiersmen from Tennessee and Kentucky who crossed the mountains to defeat the British at the Battle of King’s Mountain in 1780, turning the tide of the southern campaign. Today portions of the trail are foot paths, others follow roads. The section in Avery County begins above the Roaring Creek community in the Roan Mountain Highland Area. See the website for maps and information www.nps.gov/ovvi/ (864) 936-3477 Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 16 EVENT / ORGANZATION The Plumtree Festival The Plumtree Festival is a music, craft and local history event held in the picturesque community of Plumtree, located in the in the Toe River Valley. CONTACT INFORMATION Route 19E in Plumtree 3 weekend in July rd The Riverside Music Park The Park is in its second year providing Bluegrass and Gospel music and a family atmosphere in a beautiful outdoor setting. Admission is free but donations are encouraged to cover expenses. The Riverwalk Quilt Guild The Guild meets at the Newland Senior Center every 2nd Thursday at 6 pm to quilt, exchange material and techniques and socialize. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Roger’s Fruit Stand Roger’s sells produce, crafts, and locally grown Christmas Trees. On Saturday and Sunday evenings they host a Bluegrass/Country/Folk jam. Friday and Saturday Nights May-October weather permitting. Tent camping on premises. Located on Riverside Lane, off of Route 19E south of Plumtree 2nd Thursday of Every Month 6pm Newland Senior Center or contact Rebecca Trivette 430rgtrivet@bellsouth.net Saturday and Sunday 5pm Located on US 221 between Linville and Pineola Roger Gragg (828) 733 4742 Time Square Diner The Time Square Diner serves up southern Appalachian fare in the same location since the 1940s. Open throughout the year, call for hours. (828) 733 4257 6460 Banner Elk Highway Elk Park NC Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource 17 EVENT / ORGANZATION Weaving Room and Museum at the Crossnore School The Weaving Room is one of the oldest functioning traditional weaving facilities in the South. (see larger article above) Visitors can watch a weaver practicing their craft, browse through the finished product in the shop, and learn about the history of weaving and the Crossnore School in the newly completed museum. The school offers weaving courses during the summer. Call for details. Located on the Grounds of the Crossnore School in downtown Crossnore. CONTACT INFORMATION (828) 733 3250 M-Sat 9am-5pm www.crossnoreweavers.org Thomas Webb Pottery and Rockshop Located in Linville, Webb’s store sells traditional pottery from Seagrove, the Catawba Valley and Alabama and a variety of gems and rocks. Information on the potters is available. (828) 733 2185 93 Hemmingway Rd Linville NC 28646 Open Seasonally or by Appointment WECR Bluegrass Program If you happen to be driving through the county on a Sunday, The WECR Bluegrass program hosted by Jim Greene broadcasts out of Newland on 1130 AM Sundays between 10 am and 2 pm. The show sometimes spotlights local musicians. (828) 733 0188 1281 Newland Highway Newland NC 28657 jimg@wecr1130.com Artist Classification Codes: P=Performances; W=Workshops; D=Demonstrations; I=Instruction; S=Sells crafts or recordings; R=Resource