(Originally published in April 2015)
While the Watauga County Historical Society is committed to working with institutions, businesses, residents, and visitors to digitize the images, documents, and other materials that document our county's rich history, we also recognize that others have already done some of this work. The following is a list (with links) of various resources that residents, visitors, and scholars may find helpful in understanding and interpreting our history.
We welcome suggestions for additions to this list. If you are aware of additional Watauga County history resources that have already been digitized and are available online, please email us at wataugacohistsoc@gmail.com, and we'll add your link (and offer a tip of the hat to you personally for your suggestion).
The Cy Crumley Scrapbook: ET&WNC Railroad Historical Photo Collection: An outstanding collection of images and information about the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (colloquially known as "Tweetsie"), which ran from Johnson City to Boone during the first half of the 20th century.
John Preston Arthur's A History of Watauga County, North Carolina (1915) (H/T: Eric Plaag)
John Preston Arthur's Western North Carolina: A History, from 1730-1913 (1914) (H/T: Eric Plaag)
"The North Carolina Mountains," from Appleton's Journal, October 15, 1870, p. 465: This 1870 account of a traveler ("An Artist's Wife") describes a journey from Lenoir to Blowing Rock, then on to Grandfather Mountain. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"Mountain Scenery of North Carolina," from Debow's Review, November 1860, pp. 649-58: This 1860 account on the eve of the American Civil War describes a wide swath of the North Carolina mountains but includes discussion of the Watauga region. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
Interview with Sandra Hagler, November 12, 2010: In this interview conducted by Ethan Brooks-Livingston and archived at Archive.org, Sandra Hagler discusses her childhood and family background, along with Boone's African-American community. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
Interview with Amy Fisher Barrier, October 4, 1979: In this interview conducted by Jane Abernathy Plyler and archived at Archive.org, Amy Fisher Barrier describes her work as a public health worker and the Lutheran Watauga Parish Nurse in Boone during the first half of the 20th century. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
Orville Hicks: Mule Egg Seller and Appalachian Storyteller: In this collection of recorded tales, archived at Archive.org, Orville Hicks works his magic as a storyteller to convey a glimpse of life in western Watauga County. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
Music of the Watauga Region
"Fisher's Hornpipe," by the Hill Billies: Recorded during the 1920s, this performance includes musicians from Watauga County. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"The Lover's Farewell," performed by Mrs. Clarence Isaacs, August 2, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Sugar Grove, NC, as replicated in Miller's A Study of Folklore in Watauga County, North Carolina (1938), from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"The Little White Robe," performed by Mrs. Nancy Prather, August 16, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Sugar Grove, NC, as replicated in Miller's A Study of Folklore in Watauga County, North Carolina (1938), from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"Jimmy Ransome," performed August 21, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Sugar Grove, NC, as written down by Frank Proffitt, from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"Weevily Wheat," performed by Mrs. Alex Thomas, July 28, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Boone, NC, from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"Shady Grove," traditional song at dances in the mountains of Western North Carolina: Unattributed text of lyrics, from the work of Edna Lucille Miller, 1938. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"Johnson's Boys," performed by Mr. Nathan Hicks, July 30, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Beech Mountain, NC, from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)
"The Twelve Blessings of Mary," performed by Ruby Pearl Greene, September 10, 1937: Text of the lyrics of a performance at Laxon, NC, from the work of Edna Lucille Miller. (H/T: Nicole Holladay)