folkways

This 1897 photograph of the David Miller family
depicts life on a typical mountain farm.

After the United States gained its independence from Great Britain the mountains of Western North Carolina and what would become Tennessee were opened for settlement.  The majority of the early settlers were English, Scotch-Irish and German.  They came seeking land and independence.

The land was inexpensive and the climate was relatively mild.  Many settled in the fertile river valleys, while others ventured further into the mountains.

Travel in the region was difficult though.  The first roads were steep, rough, muddy and often impassable.  The area was isolated and for many decades economic and political conditions were poor.

 

Families survived by being self-sufficient and hard-working.  They cleared small areas for planting grains, vegetables and fruit.   They raised hogs, chickens and cattle.  They hunted and fished and gathered native plants to meet their needs.  From their harvests they produced what was needed, including medicine, moonshine, molasses and much more.

A mountain moonshine still set-up on Diamond Creek, ca. 1940.

Turpentine, yellow root, catnip, black snake root and many more cured all that ailed the early settlers.  Old-timers recommended wild cherry-bark juice mixed with corn whiskey as a spring tonic or sassafras tea for those who preferred a non-alcoholic tonic.  Golden seal was used for stomach problems, sore eyes, kidney trouble and tonsillitis.  Flaxseed and honey helped with whooping cough.

In addition to the personal needs, medicinal or otherwise, distilled alcohol provided much needed cash income.  Jugs of liquor were easier to haul to market and to sell, plus it was more profitable then selling grain. 

In the early 1960s the congregation at Oak Grove Methodist Church in Brevard
raised can and made molasses to raise money for their new church,
St. Timothy United Methodist.

Another crop that was boiled down to liquid form was sorghum.  Sorghum is a grass with a high sugar content.  It is relatively easy to grow, even in poor soils.  The sorghum cane was cut, boil, squeezed and strained to produce molasses.  For many mountain families molasses was their primary type of sweetener.  They poured it on corn bread or hot cakes, used it to make cookies or cakes and seasoned foods with it. 

Folkways, the traditional practice of a particular community were passed down from generation to generation.  While many of these have disappeared over the years as it became easier to purchase goods and technology advanced, others continued well into the 20^th century and in various forms survive today.

To learn more about North Carolina folkways and folklore try one of John Parris’ books on mountain life or North Carolina Folklore by Frank C. Brown.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.

Miss Hattie Collected Holiday Postcards

Hattie Aiken was born on September 7, 1886. The daughter of William and Mary Lankford Aiken and the granddaughter of B.C. and Amanda Morris Lankford, Hattie spent most of her life in the family home located on East Main St.  Her father had built the house in 1893.

Hattie taught at Brevard Institute from about 1915-1920.  She continued her teaching career in North Wilkesboro and Mt. Airy for the next 29 years.  She was the principal at Rockford Street School in Mt. Airy.

After retirement Miss Hattie returned full-time to the family home in Brevard.  To supplement her retirement she took in boarders.  In a 1977 interview, Miss Hattie stated, “I really enjoyed having people in the house, I have four rooms upstairs and three down that I rented.”  Her guests included summer tourists and working men with Ecusta, DuPont and American Thread.

In 1977 Miss Hattie sold the property to First State Savings and Loan.  She felt that she could no longer care for old home and had decided to move to the Brevard Residential Care Center (now the Brian Center).

Miss Hattie died at the age of 96 on Christmas Day, 1982.  Many of her mementos, including an autograph album, photographs, greeting cards, postcards and personal correspondence are now in the Family Collection in the Local History Room at the Library. 

Christmas and New Year’s postcards from Miss Hattie collection dating from 1906 to 1935 will be on display on the 2^nd floor for a couple of more weeks.

The old Aiken house was torn down in 1977 for the new bank building.  Today the bank is the home of the Chamber of Commerce and Heart of Brevard.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.

Smathers Was Household Business Name

Paul Smathers worked in the automotive and machine business in Transylvania and Buncombe counties.  In 1913 he started an auto transfer business in Brevard with his father-in-law, T.W. Whitmire.  Together they also co-founded Whitmire-Smathers Motor Company in Asheville.  

Walk behind gas mower.

Smathers and Whitmire operated automotive businesses in both Asheville and Brevard until the mid-1930s.  In 1937 Smathers went into the machinery business in Brevard.

Acme riding tractor with cultivator.

On March 24, 1943 Paul Smathers purchased the Cash & Carry Grocery building on the corner of North Broad and East French Broad streets.  Smathers Manufacturing Company designed, built and distributed small utility tractors and equipment.  World War II had led to a large shortage of machinery.  Smathers was able to use old, discarded machinery to build farm equipment that was in big demand.  

For a couple of years in the early 1950s Smathers became a stockholder with the Acme Manufacturing Company and operated as a Southern representative for the Wisconsin based company.  He later sold his Acme interests and return to operating his own machine and welding shop.

The shop operated under the name Power Equipment Company into the mid-1950s.  By 1957 Brevard Auto had moved to the location.  Brevard Auto built a new building behind the old Smather’s building around 1970.

Smathers Manufacturing located in the former Cash and Carry

on N. Broad and E. French Broad streets,

Photographs of Smather’s business and machinery sometimes carry the Smathers name and at other time the Acme name. 

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.

During The Acme Manufacturing Co. period, 1951-52.

Stamps, Victory Gardens Helped War Effort

World War II had a big impact on the availability of goods in the United States.  As mentioned last week, citizens helped with the war effort at home by collecting scrap metal to be recycled into materials needed by the military.

The government also placed rations on food items.  A large amount of canned, package and processed foods were being used to feed the troops.  As foods became scarcer, prices increased.  To aid in the demand for food people across the country grew Victory Gardens.

Locally businesses, club and schools were encouraged to grow their own Victory Gardens.  County farm agents recommended a tenth of an acre per family member.  Ten or more different vegetables that matured at different times from spring to fall were advised.  Gardeners were also encouraged to grow berries and other fruits.

A variety of stamps were issued to buy rationed items.

Harry Straus provided a garden plot for any employee who didn't have a garden at home.  In 1943 it was reported that 1095 Ecusta employees planned to have Victory Gardens, 95 of those were on Ecusta property.

The Ecusta Echo carried a monthly column offering planting advice and gardening tips.  In the fall, Ecusta held an exhibition showcasing fresh fruits and vegetables, canned products and flowers from employee’s gardens.  Prizes were awarded for quantity, quality and display. 

In 1945 Ecusta won the national Victory Garden Award Plaque for outstanding participation with 90% of employees having gardens.  The program was in place for three years during the war.  Victory Gardens were another way for people to aid in the war efforts at home.

Cash & Carry Super Market on North Broad St. operated in the early 1940s.

Food rationing and increases in gardening did have a negative impact on some businesses.  In April 1943 Cash & Carry, a popular Brevard grocery store closed after just over two years of business.  It was believed that effects of the war were partly responsible for its closing.

Next week Picturing the Past will look at the business that replaced Cash & Carry.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 x 242.

Below:  Book 4 stamps had military symbols on them.  When using Book 4 stamps customers were able to receive "change" for purchases that were less than the value of the stamp.  Previously they forfeited any extra value.  The "change" consisted of red and blue cardboard tokens, valued at one-point each.