An Unusual Southern Town

Badin, North Carolina, is a charming little town with an interesting history. In 1913, L'Aluminum Francais, a French aluminum company, started to construct a dam at the narrows of the Yadkin River just before it joins with the Pee Dee. They planned to use it to provide power for a smelter and wanted a town close to it to house their workers. Adrien Badin was the company's president at the time, so they named the new town "Badin."

When World War I broke out, the company redirected its credit lines to the war effort and ended work on the Badin project. In 1915, The Mellon Company in Pittsburg with its aluminum monopoly, the Aluminum Company of America (better known as ALOCA after 1929), bought the town, which was about half finished.

The French had completed a few buildings on the factory site, a club house for single males, a manager's home, and some single family housing on Henderson Street. In addition. work had been started on 150 apartments. The new owners continued construction, added bungalows on Tallassee Street, built cottages on Pine Street, and enlarged the clubhouse to include an annex for females.

For years ALCOA produced aluminum at its Badin plant and dominated the town. The dam became a recreation spot for Stanly County residents. However, the company decided to curtail production in 2002, although the Badin plant continued to make anodes and high-quality aluminum until 2007. ALCOA completely shut down its operations and closed in 2010.

Today, Badin is a quaint town with decided appeal. Its original French influence can still be seen from sidewalk cafes, to duplexes and apartments, and even small drainage canals with footbridges. There's small museums to explore, a beautiful old school, shops, post office, churches, town offices, and a golf course and country club open to the public. The downtown is tiny enough to stroll through and enjoy its unique character. 

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Alaskan Lumberjack Competitions

One of the tourist attractions in Alaska is the competition between teams of lumberjacks. The timber industry has long been important to Alaska. My father's family were timber men also. My grandfather owned a sawmill operation in the Appalachians. There they used horses and mules to move the logs, but in Alaska, they're often floated down streams and rivers.

With so much timber being cut each year, there's concern that conservation and reforestation practices weren't started early enough, but Alaska has been blessed with conditions that foster growth. Much of Southeastern Alaska makes up part of the Tongass National Forest, which is really a nearly 17 million acre rainforest. There's also the Chugach of almost 5 million acres, making it the United States' second largest national forest. These are part of what make Alaska so beautiful.

Lumberjacking was even more necessary before the days of heavy equipment. The competitions include things like sawing, chopping, climbing, log rolling, etc. The shows are fast paced, and the feats look easier than they are. To watch the games is almost like being transported to an old-fashioned lumber camp.

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Do You Really Know Jesus?

Read Luke 24: 13 - 31. Two of the disciples were on the road to Emmaus, when Jesus came up and walked beside them, but they didn't recognize Him. They saw Him as a stranger. They'd been following Him, so why didn't they recognize Him? Perhaps it was because they thought He was dead. They hadn't really yet understood what he'd been trying to teach them, but they will.

It is possible for us to recognize what Jesus did on the cross, accept Him as our Savior, and still not really know Him. We can know the truth about Jesus, and still not know Him personally. It is like when a student thoroughly researches someone for an assignment. The student may know a lot about the person, but he or she hasn't met them on a personal level. I'm afraid too many have approached Jesus in this same way. They've been saved, studied about Him, but have never claimed Him as their friend. Remember the old song, "What a Friend We have in Jesus." It should be true.

Jesus wants a personal relationship with you. If you pray for Him to show you how, He will.  You'll be a much stronger Christian and a stronger witness when this happens.There is no greater peace and joy!

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A Case for Poetry

In our hurry-up, fast-paced, instant society, I don't understand why poetry isn't more favored. I know of no other medium that says so much in such few words. In fact, that's why I returned to writing poetry when I started writing novels. It hones my writing skills and forces me to use precise, succinct words with a wealth of meaning.

I wonder if those English teachers who have caused students to dissect a poem almost word by word haven't caused irreparable harm. Poetry is like a fine painting. Unless you want to learn to paint, you shouldn't look at each individual brush stroke to judge it's worth. It must be experienced - the whole of it. Each reader comes to a poem with different experiences and different traits, and there's nothing wrong with them interrupting it differently, according to what it means to them. In fact, that's what I think we should do. That's what breathes life and longevity into a poem.

Who can't appreciate -

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.  
("Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost)

or be entertained by -

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore --
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door --
Only this and nothing more."
("The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe)

or picture -

Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are as strong as iron bands.
("The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

There really is poetry out there that will speak to each one of us. Why do we tune it out. Songs are just poems set to music. I rest my case.

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A Touch of Scotland

Some of the early immigrants coming to America came from Scotland, but records are sketchy, since ship's captains were not required to keep such information prior to 1820.  The Scotch-Irish seemed to settle in all the colonies, as well as in Canada. The majority of those claiming Scottish descent eventually ended up in the southern states, especially North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas.

The early immigrants tried to recreate some of the culture and lifestyle they'd been familiar with, but they had to adapt it to their new environment. First, homes in places like Canada resembled those they'd known in Europe, but this soon changed, due to the influence of other nationalities and available materials. The New World had ample supplies of timber, and log or wooden structures became more feasible.

Those coming from the highlands tended to look for a similar area in the colonies. In Canada they settled the mountainous region of Nova Scotia. In the South, they liked the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. In colder climates, the highland cattle and Soay sheep did well. 

Clans were more important in the beginning, but as groups became more scattered, they didn't have the same influence. However the tartan plaids were still favored, and weavers continued to fashion cloth in the family patterns. If many of us looked carefully into our family tree, we'd likely find a few leaves from the Scots.

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Queen Anne's Lace

The pretty, delicate looking flower originally came from Europe with the colonists, but it has become a common wildflower across much of America. It prefers sunny places, like open fields and roadsides. Some people consider it an invasive weed, while others order seeds and grow it around their homes. It normally blooms from May into October. The wildflowers can be used in quick, temporary flower arrangements, but they tend to shed, and may leave residue behind.

Some of the plants grow up to four feet tall and have feathery, fern-like leaves. The white flowers may grow as large as a fist, but many are almost flat on top when fully opened. They're made up of a cluster of tiny flowers, giving it the lacy appearance. The plant is a biennial, meaning it has a two-year life span. It grows the first year and blooms the second year.

Queen Anne's Lace is also known as wild carrot, and the carrot we eat today was cultivated from this plant. The taproot, or carrot, on Queen Anne's Lace is edible, but it's leaves are toxic and can even irritate the skin of some people.

A few insects have come to depend on the wildflower. For example, the caterpillar of the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly likes to eat the leaves. Bees and other insects also drink the nectar. Whether they're considered a blessing or a curse depends on one's perspective.

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The Colonial Courthouse in Edenton

Built in 1767, the colonial courthouse in Edenton, North Carolina, is said to be the most original one still this much intact in America. Joseph Hewes, later a signer of the Declaration of Independence, had been appointed as one of the commissioners to secure funds to build it. Patriot supporters James Iredell and Samuel Johnston heard cases here when they sat as judges. The building is a fine example of the Georgian architecture favored in the South at the time. Today it is a National Historic Landmark.

The town itself was formed toward the end of the 1600's and incorporated in 1722. It was a hotbed of political activity around the Revolution, including the Edenton Tea Party, where a group of 51 women gathered to encourage the push for independence. Despite the title of the event, I don't think any tea was served.  In fact, they sent a letter to King George declaring they would drink no more tea or wear dresses made of British fabrics until the unreasonable taxation was repealed. The men in Boston had disguised themselves when they threw the tea overboard into the Boston Harbor, but these women boldly signed their names. This political action by a group of women shocked much of the western world, especially those in England.

Today the Edenton Courthouse is one of the colonial buildings visitors can tour. Go to the visitor's center, and you can schedule a walking tour of the main historic sites. It's open from 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Guided tour packages range from $1.00 to $9.00 per person. Children 12 and under are free. I found the tour informative and well-worth the price.

Historic Edenton
108 Broad Street
Edenton, ND 27932
252-482-2637
Email:  edenton@ncdcr.gov

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Off the Beaten Path

When I was growing up, my family often went for a Sunday afternoon drive after church and dinner. I loved to see new sights and discover signs of the past. People don't do that much anymore. For one thing, gas has gotten too expensive, and, for another, we don't seem to have as much leisure time.

There was also a time, when I rode the backroads to take pictures. I was writing magazine articles then and took my own photographs for illustrations. In addition, I found I also liked photography. I don't do this in the same way anymore, either. Although I'm taking more photos again to post on my blogs, whenever possible, I tend to take them as I need to go somewhere else, instead of making a special trip. I find myself wishing I had all those slides I made for possible magazine use in a digital format now. Then, I'd really have plenty of subjects to blog about.

The fun thing about going off the main roads and driving the countrysides is you never know what you may find - old homes, an old country store, quirks of nature, buildings from days long gone, old farm equipment, the possibilities are unlimited. We just need to open our eyes to what's around us.

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Drifting Dunes

On the Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina provides a unique environment that brings droves of tourist, visitors, and summer residents each year. One of the changing scenes is the sand dunes. Winds and water shift the sand into different, ever-changing formations. The visitors may love it, but it provides headaches for those, like the road crews, who have to fight the dunes to keep roadways clear.

Jockey's Ridge

Jockey's Ridge at Nags Head is one of the most famous areas of sand. The state park is the largest sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Trails wind through the sands, and other activities include hang-gliding and sand-boarding. Permits may be required, so ask at the park.

A mountain of sand beside the highway on Hatteras

However, you won't need to go to the park to see sand dunes. A ride along the coast will usually suffice. The sand often piles up in long walls or high mountains, restricting the view of the ocean but offering it's own fascinating scenery. 

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A Threefold Cord

Read Exodus 17:8-13. As the Israelites traveled in the wilderness to flee Egypt, not everyone in the huge group (estimated from 110,000 to 3.5 million) moved at the same pace. Teachers find it hard to keep 25 students together, so you can image how difficult it was for Moses with a group that stretched for many miles. 

Some of the Jews had taken as much wealth with them as they could carry. The Amalekites began to attack the stragglers in order to steal and plunder. Moses sent Joshua to attack the enemy and put a stop to this. He, Aaron, and Hur climbed a hill to watch the battle.

As long as Moses held the "rod of God" up high, Joshua's soldiers triumphed, but he became tired, and when he lowered his arms, the enemy began to win. When it became too difficult for Moses to hold his arms and the rod high, Aaron got on one side of him and Hur on the other, and they supported his arms. The Israelites were victorious.

God's plan is for Christians to help and support each other. Whatever the need, we must be willing to give our prayers, encouragement, time, money, or other resources to help out brothers and sisters in Christ.

We should find two people we can trust to be our prayer partners and mentors, because the Bible tells us that "... a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 8:12). The cords could be seen as God, you, and Christian friends. Just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses in a time of need, we should accept help from and give support to each other.

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The Year of 1854

Sown in Dark Soil picks up in 1854, fifty years after the Cagle family first moved to the Appalachian mountains in Cleared for Planting. Astute observers can already see that the chasm between the North and the South is getting wider. Luke Moretz has gone to Anson County to visit a friend, and the conversations he hears lets him know that the compromising may soon be over. The big issue of 1854 was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the debates over the Kansas-Nebraska Act. What will that mean for the nation? Here are some of the things that were happening in 1854:

Stephen A. Douglas

Jan. 4 - Senator Stephen Douglas introduces bill to form Nebraska Territory, which evolves into a slavery debate 
Feb. 28 - Republican Party officially forms in Wisconsin
Mar. 20 - Boston Public Library opens
Mar. 28 - France and Great Britain declare war on Russia to begin the Crimean War
Mar. 31 - Commodore Matthew Perry signs trade agreement with Japan
May 30 - The Missouri Compromise (1820) was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would allow for all new states and territories to vote whether they would  be a slave or a free

Naval Academy

June 10 - The Naval Academy's first class graduates at Annapolis, Maryland
Jul. 6 - First Republican state convention is held in Jackson, Michigan
Aug. 8 - Smith and Weston patents metal bullet cartridges
Aug. 9 - Henry David Thoreau publishes Walden
Sep. 19 - Henry Meyer patents sleeping rail car

Oct. 4- Abraham Lincoln makes his first political speech at the Illinois State Fair
Oct. 21 - Florence Nightingale and 38 nurses are sent to help wounded soldiers in the Crimean War
Dec. 9 - Alfred Tennyson publishes "The Charge of the Light Brigade"

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