Cashiers Valley, enveloped in the Blue Ridge Mountains with craggy stone faces, thundering waterfalls, majestic forests, and wilderness areas of unique flora and fauna, has always drawn visitors.Its moderate climate, slower pace, and friendly people have encouraged visitors to stay and, increasingly, to relocate. The residents have preserved a strong sense of place as they embraced the bonds of kinship and community through the years. This is all connected to a powerful religious base and a strong cultural heritage tradition. Today Cashiers Valley retains the charm of an isolated mountain village that welcomes guests. The photographs in this volume were gathered from manylocal scrapbooks, long forgotten and yellowing with age. Community residents are eager to share their photographs and memories of days gone by.
Jane Gibson Nardy, descendant of early Cashiers settler Col. John Zachary, is the historian for the Cashiers Historical Society. A professional genealogist for over 30 years, she is an accomplished regional speaker and writes a monthly column for Laurel Magazine. Jan Blair Wyatt founded the Cashiers Symposium. She is editor of the 26-county Museum in Partnership newsletter and board member of the North Carolina Federation of Historical Societies. Both authors are past presidents of the Cashiers Historical Society and share their knowledge and enthusiasm for Cashiers Valley.