Planned Boys' Camp Becomes Lake Sega Properties

During the 1920s real estate was a booming business in Transylvania County.  Properties were being developed for business and residential use.  Residential development ranged from farm land and acreages to construction of subdivisions and new homes within the town of Brevard.

A 50-acre property two miles west of Brevard was originally planned as a boy’s summer camp.  In September 1924, Robert Lawrence began construction of a lake and planned to build cabins as well.

The following June, Lawrence announced a prize of $5.00 gold for the best name for the camp.  The name Sega, meaning welcome, was chosen but had not been suggested by anyone so the $5.00 gold was giving away at a July Fourth celebration at the lake. 

Although the camp itself never can to be, the lake was open to swimmers.  Tennis courts and boats were furnished to visitors and picnic parties were welcome.  Lake Sega became a popular picnic spot for school, church and other groups.

Lawrence had served as the first Transylvania County Farm Agent from 1917 until 1920 and then as the Cleveland County Farm Agent 1920-1925.  He returned to Brevard in late 1925 and opened a real estate and insurance company with business partner, Jim Mallory.  At that time they began to develop the Lake Sega property into a residential subdivision.  Work included grading roads, installing water and sewer lines and electrical and telephone service. 

Lot prices ranged from $450 to $1000.  The lots, which sold quickly, were purchased by people from outside of the county looking to build summer homes. 

North Carolina State College head football coach, Gus Tebell had a home at Lake Sega.  The Wolfpack team used the facility as a training ground in September 1926.

Community house at Lake Sega.

In 1928 Lawrence and his family moved to Canton where he was an insurance agent but he continued to own and operate Lake Sega cottages and recreational area.  The Lawrences returned to Brevard in 1941.

Cabin rentals were available at Lake Sega until at least 1965.  The property included a community house, badminton, croquet and shuffleboard courts along with swimming and boating at the lake.

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 828-884-1820.

Civil War Letters Were Written To Lover Ones

The Local History Collection at the Transylvania County Library includes several letters written during the Civil War that express the struggles and fears of people trying to make a living and raise a family in troubled times.

On the day before the newly created Transylvania County was to hold its first official meeting and elect county leaders, Amanda Lankford wrote to her brother, “This week is to be court & it is raining now. I think they will hold court at the camp ground. It is said there is to be a flag hoisted & a cannon fired on Tuesday next & a speech by Jordan to make up a company in this part of the state as hard times are here and worse coming I fear.”  The following day, May 20, 1861, North Carolina declared its secession from the U.S.

In March 1862 Addie Duckworth wrote, “You say my dear cousin for me to give Mr. Duckworth up. Cousin Mollie, I never can. He is so ill able to endure hardships that I can never bear to say farewell. God help me if he is ever called off, for I will despair of ever seeing him alive again. No I cannot give him up. I love my country but I love my own dear husband better.” 

Joseph Duckworth did serve for the Confederacy and survived the Civil War.  However, Addie died in April 1863, leaving seven young children.  Duckworth married Addie’s cousin, Mollie in December 1863 and they had thirteen more children.

James Adolphus Bagwell, was buried at Chicago City
Cemetery.  After the war his remains were exhumed and
re-interred in the Confederate Mound (mass grave) at
Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

Before leaving for duty James Bagwell addressed a letter to his children, “There are dangers abroad and dangers at home and life is uncertain and death is sure. It seems as if the time has come for me to leave home.  It seems necessary that I should leave on record some remarks for instruction to my family. They will need my labor, but will need my instruction worse. I want you all to live uprightly if you die by it.  I want you to live with your heads up, be ashamed of nothing but sin and consider yourselves as good as anybody if you behave yourselves as well. Never pass an insult without just provocation. Never make sport of anybody. Don’t tell a lie, don’t swear, don’t steal. Pay all your just contracts. Take no advantage of anybody and keep them from taking advantage of you…Be faithful and industrious…get all the education you can. Get all the religious instruction you can. Remember that all these things are my desire and will and prayer to Almighty God.” 

Bagwell served in the 62nd NC Infantry for less than six months before being captured.  He died at Camp Douglas Prisoner Camp in Chicago on December 20, 1864. Three of Bagwell’s seven children died of illness in late 1864, as well.

On a lighter note, 19-year-old Martin Orr wrote to his cousin, Julia Mackey on October 10, 1861 describing his first visit to the “Atlantick Ocian.”  Orr continued with a plea, “I want you to write to me soon and let me know how the girls are coming on in Transylvania. I have not heard from any of them since I left Asheville.”  He concludes by filling the back page with a variation of an old English folk song, “To the Girls I Left Behind Me” that was popular among Confederate soldiers.

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 828-884-1820.

World War I On the Transylvania Home Front

Handwritten letters were the leading means of communication for hundreds of years.  Correspondence of well-known historical figures have long been used for research, however letters of everyday people are typically undervalued.

Nora Ross with family and friends.  The man to her right is
unidentified, Rufus Barton is to her left.  The photo also includes
Nora's sisters, Emma and Addie and brothers, Ed and
Boyd (in front of Emma and Addie).

On October 13, 1918 Nora Ross of the Selica community wrote to her “true friend till death”, Lester Wilson who was serving in the U.S. Army in France.  In her letter she states, “Several more of the boys have got their war papers.  Joe Lance, Rufus Barton, Frank Turner and Odd Bryson.  A lot of people here think the war will soon end and I hope and trust it will.”  She shares that, “Chester is still at Camp Severe.  Bud is still at Augusta, GA.”

She mentions other newsworthy events, including a fire that destroyed Toxaway Tanning and several thousand pounds of leather ready for shipment on Friday afternoon, October 11.  Apparently the blaze did not have much significance to her personally as she only briefly mentioned, “Last Monday night the Tannery at Rosman was burned down,” getting the day incorrect.

Of much more importance to her was a recent outbreak of illness.  Nora writes, “There is a new disease here now called influenza.  There is a good many cases at Brevard and several at Cherryfield.”  Later in the letter she adds, “Geneva is at home now.  Her school has stopped two weeks on account of the influenza.” 

In between Nora told of a chestnut gathering party on Kuykendall Creek and her disappointment over not receiving a letter from Wilson this past week.  Her letter shows the effects of major events like WWI and the influenza outbreak in a personal way not found in official or news accounts.

Just five days after writing this letter, Nora would learn that her brother Boyd had died of pneumonia at the hospital at Camp Hancock near Augusta, Georgia.  His obituary states, “Owing to the epidemic of influenza only the family and a few friends were present at the interment.”

Nora Ross and Lester Wilson were married on December 25, 1919.  The Wilsons had three children.  Nora was also a beloved aunt to her sister’s ten children, ages 2 weeks to 23 years at the time of the death of their mother.  Lester died in 1936 but Nora lived another 62 years to the age of 101. 

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 828-884-1820.

Bridal Veil Falls

Early postcard of Bridal Veil Falls.

Like High Falls featured in last week’s Picturing the Past article, Bridal Veil Falls on the Little River in present day DuPont State Forest has long been a popular destination for sightseers.

As the Little River approaches the falls it flows down a granite slope, then drops over a projecting ledge which leaves a relatively dry space behind the top of the falls.  It immediately spreads out and continues down a long curving slope, becoming steeper before plunging down to small pools and rock slabs.  From a distance, the entire stretch gives the appearance of a bride’s long veil, with the tumbling water representing billowing lace giving it the name of Bridal Veil Falls.

This illustration from Reid's novel, "The Land of the Sky" shows
the danger of wandering behind Bridal Veil Falls.

In her 1876 novel, “The Land of the Sky”, Christian Reid promotes the mountains of western North Carolina.  The story is formulaic fiction of the time with damsels in distress and gallant rescues in romantic mountain landscapes.  The narrative, although overly descriptive, paints a vivid picture of the scenery. 

When the adventurers visit Bridal Veil Falls Reid writes, “It is a trying operation, this passing behind the falls.  The space for passage is very narrow, the wet stones are exceedingly slippery, the rock above shelves in a manner which makes it necessary to bend nearly double, the tumult of the falling water is almost deafening, and the spray fairly blinding.  We draw a breath of relief when we emerge on the other side.”

Other early accounts promoted Bridal Veil Falls as a destination for travelers as well.  “Azure-Lure: A Romance of the Mountains”, a 1924 guide to Western North Carolina states that, “They stopped at the trail leading to Bridal Veil Falls, climbed under and across the fall, and strolled along the ‘veil’ for a few hundred yards.  The name comes from the resemblance to the flowing, filmy veil of a bride, but this veil is between a quarter and half mile long.”

Although these writing promote venturing behind the falls, today walking along the side of the waterfall is not permitted due to the risk of injury.  Bridal Veil Falls is best viewed from the safety of the observation deck or the flat rocks at the base of the waterfall.  Learn more about waterfall safety at waterfallsafety.com.

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 828-884-1820.