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Discover the unique history of Brevard, North Carolina through the lens of over 200 vintage images in this volume authored by Susan M. Lefler

Brevard, North Carolina, land of waterfalls, is tucked into a lush valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brevard was founded as the county seat of Transylvania County in 1861, the year that North Carolina seceded from the Union. Wealthy families from South Carolina's Lowcountry had long summered in the mountains and, even after the war, the region maintained its powerful pull. The arrival of the railroads brought tourists to Brevard from all over the country-including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone-and the logging industry attracted entrepreneurs who made their fortunes here. Brevard reveals the city's rich heritage through a gallery of images: baptism in an icy river, an ostrich race on Main Street, a moonshine still. In these pages, the reader can visit grist mills, waterfalls, and exquisite hotels, explore the booming logging industry, relive parades and downtown scenes, and read the intriguing stories of local folks.

In the eighteenth century, stalwart pioneers began to establish settlements in the rough and varied landscape of the region that was one day to become Harnett County. Traveling along old Native American trails or following the watery highways of the Cape Fear River and its tributaries, these mainly European settlers-including a large influx of Highland Scots-made their way into the remote interior of the province, where they constructed modest cabins and set about farming the land. Through the years, the people of Harnett joined in the struggles to win freedom from England, to defend the South, and to battle the forces of evil on the other side of the world, but they also fought to build strong communities, such as Erwin, Lillington, and Dunn, and to enhance the daily lives of all county residents. Plank roads and canals, mills and iron works, railroads and academies, all served to connect citizens to the world beyond their doors and to advance the growing prosperity. Situated between the metropolitan cities of Raleigh and Fayetteville, the county begins the new century with a focus on developing industry and fostering the pride so deeply felt by all who call Harnett County home.

With over 100 black-and-white illustrations and photographs, Guilford County: Heart of the Piedmont traces the fascinating story of one of North Carolina's most historic piedmont counties, from small backcountry settlements to the large industrial complexes scattered across today's landscape. Within this work, readers will experience the dramatic changes to the county traditions and practices as modes of transportation evolve and industry expands to provide new luxuries and new opportunities. Putting a human face on the county's past, this illustrated history recalls memorable county luminaries such as former governor John Motley Morehead, cotton mill magnate Henry Humphries, and Vick's VapoRub entrepreneur Lunsford Richardson Sr. and allows today's generation to see their contributions to Guilford County's culture and commerce over the decades.

Author and naturalist Marci Spencer reveals the history and splendor of the Nantahala National Forest.

The 500,000-acre Nantahala National Forest dominates the rugged southwestern corner of North Carolina. Rivers such as the Cheoah, Cullasaja, and Tuckasegee carve deep gorges, making the region one of the wettest in the nation. The Whitewater River tumbles over the highest waterfall in the eastern United States. Power companies dammed local rivers, creating some of North Carolina's most scenic recreational mountain lakes. The high peaks, secluded coves and forested woodlands of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Panthertown Valley and Buck Creek Serpentine Pine Barrens and other areas hold cultural and natural history secrets.

Images of America: Granville County is a pictorial retrospective illustrating many of the county's achievements, both large and small. Vintage photographs, highlighted by informative captions, relay the arrival of the railroad and the towns of Creedmoor, Stem, and Stovall, which grew up along the tracks; the development of Oxford, the county seat; the construction and usage of Camp Butner; and various other events from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Images also feature past residents, offering longtime families the chance to see loved ones and newcomers the opportunity to connect faces with local names.

A unique blend of visionaries, risk takers and creative souls lends energy to Asheville's historic streets. Author Marla Milling traces the people and places that make her hometown a truly unique city.

Today, bohemian street performers, funky shops, exquisite art galleries, restaurants and craft breweries blend in among some of the most revered vintage architecture in the country. Discover quirky figures like a nun named Sister Bad Habit, who entertains passengers on the LaZoom bus; the Man in White living statue; and Asheville's Village Witch. Be inspired by innovative dreamers such as Julian Price, who invested millions in the once-desolate downtown Asheville, giving money to an eclectic mix of restaurateurs and shop owners.

Although much of New Bern's architecture has existed for decades, paved streets, cars, and power lines offer a much different feel than did the dusty roads traveled by horses in days gone by. Then and Now: New Bern revisits historic locations in the city and offers comparative photographs of the location in both past and present times. Caleb Bradham's original pharmacy, where Pepsi-Cola originated, is depicted along with the location today, where a store exists that is dedicated to the drink's origin. Also illustrated are many of the town's most beloved landmarks and historic homes, all of which retain an old-fashioned flair that characterizes New Bern. In addition, the book offers the beautiful Tryon Palace during its restoration as well as today.

Charlotte has entered a golden age of craft brewing. Join author Daniel Hartis for a journey into the center of this of the Queen City’s beer scene.

While the fermented frenzy of Charlotte’s craft brewing fans may feel altogether new, it evokes a forgotten heritage that dates back to colonial days. Beginning with Captain James Jack, whose tavern was a Patriot haven burned by the British during the American Revolution.

Local beer writer, and founder of charlottebeer.com, author Daniel Hartis follows a frothy trail through the highs and lows of this sudsy story. Grab a pint and discover how Prohibition took hold of Charlotteans. Ruminate over odes to beer by the Brew Pub Poets Society, and sample the personality and spirit on tap today around this North Carolina city. Charlotte Beer includes photos and a foreword by the Executive Director of the North American Guild of Beer Writers, Win Bassett.

Beloved storyteller and chronicler of Henderson County heritage Louise Howe Bailey (1915, 2009) lives on through her edifying anecdotes.

This new collection of Bailey's ruminations maintains her work of preserving earlier Henderson County history with its abundant assortment of characters, landmarks and natural wonders. Discover why Hendersonville was called the dancingest town in America and how a troop of young rapscallions rubbed a bar of Octagon soap on the railroad tracks so trains couldn't climb from Melrose to Saluda. Bring your pickaxe up to the top of Glassy Mountain to unearth the buried treasure hidden during the Civil War, and experience the hummingbirds, katydids, Carolina wrens and bullfrogs of the North Carolina countryside as you meander through Bailey's magnetic prose.

DO YOU KNOW…WHAT special museum floats at the port of Wilmington? (Hint: It used to be a city at sea!)

HOW pine trees contributed to the state's nickname? (Hint: The nickname really started to "stick" after the Civil War!) Find these answers and more in the North Carolina edition of What's So Great About This State?

Father-daughter team K. Randell and Caitlin D. Jones think not, and to cure your curiosity, to supply you with clever quips at cocktail parties or to convince your teachers that you really have studied, they have gathered a wonderful collection of stories originally written by lauded North Carolina historian Dr. H.G. Jones for his long-standing In Light of History series.

This revised and updated edition contains ten additional accounts of Tar Heel history, accompanied by archival images from the lifetime collection of Dr. Jones and a map highlighting each story's geographic interest area.

Images of America: Topsail Island celebrates the history of a timeless treasure that has long been known as one of North Carolina's best-kept secrets.

Topsail Island is a 26-mile barrier island, its pristine shores constantly shifting with the ebb and flow of the tides. This family-friendly beach - the kind we all loved as children and want our children's children to fondly remember, has always had a love affair with everything fishy - from piers to boats to businesses. In the late 1940s, the face of Topsail changed forever when the government seized the island for Operation Bumblebee, a top-secret mission to develop a supersonic missile. After the project ended, the three towns of Surf City, Topsail Beach, and North Topsail Beach grew and prospered. Bridges have played a huge part in Topsail's development, providing links to the rest of the world.

Henderson County is known for its country inns, houses of worship and picturesque landscapes.

Behind all the beautiful scenery is a colorful history that runs deeper than any creek or holler. Revel in the family and farming heritage of Edneyville, Clear Creek, Green River Township, Hoopers Creek and Fruitland. Relive the resort era when the region boomed as a tourist destination. Learn how the wee population center of Goodluck came by its name, and inhale the sweet fragrance of apple blossoms that bloom every springtime. Drawing from interviews, documents and a gallery of both contemporary and time-honored photography, author and researcher Terry Ruscin renders his adopted Henderson County in vivid detail.

See how the African-American community has played a vital role in the development and success of Vance County, North Carolina.

The African-American community has been an integral part of Vance County's history over the years. From antebellum times, to Reconstruction, to the Civil Rights era, to the present, this community has been through it all. Making a difference in all walks of life—educational, spiritual, commercial, and civic—the black citizens of this historic Tar Heel county share an impressive story, one marked by a determination and undeniable will to succeed through economic hardships and social challenges.

The black-and-white images in Chowan College trace the vast history of the school's existence, while also capturing the natural beauty of the campus. Through the vintage photographs and accompanying narrative, Chowan College's tradition unfolds-providing a detailed glimpse of the institution's athletic, extracurricular, social, and aesthetic history. This pictorial chronicle also showcases the architecture of the campus and displays the familiar faces of Chowan's past.

Hundreds of ornately decorated rooms, gardens and greenery and more--Walk through the history of the Biltmore Estate, one of America's many displays of personal wealth and decadence.

In the spring of 1888, George Washington Vanderbilt returned to New York after spending weeks exploring the countryside near Asheville, North Carolina. Thinking it was the perfect place to build his home, Vanderbilt promptly sent his agent to begin quietly buying contiguous tracts of land until he had several thousand acres. Soon, he began constructing what would become America's largest private residence. He commissioned two of America's preeminent designers, architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, to collaborate with him in planning his estate, which he named Biltmore. To complement the 250-room French Renaissance-style chateau, Olmsted worked closely with Hunt to create a vast landscape of pleasure gardens and grounds with miles of scenic drives through parklands, productive farms, and the country's first scientifically managed forest. Today, Biltmore is a National Historic Landmark privately owned by Vanderbilt's descendants.

Over 100 years ago, George W. Vanderbilt, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Richard Morris joined forces to turn an unsuspecting mountain town into a model village of elegance and prosperity.

More than a century ago, George W. Vanderbilt transformed the sleepy crossroads settlement known as Best, or Asheville Junction, on the Swannanoa River into an idyllic model village near the entrance to his vast Biltmore Estate near Asheville. The initial concepts and design for Biltmore Village were the collaborative efforts of Vanderbilt, architect Richard Morris Hunt, and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The finished village included more than 40 residences, a business district, a church, a school, and a hospital. It was centrally located among the developing towns of Victoria, Kenilworth, South Biltmore, and later Biltmore Forest. It characterized the elegance and prosperity of the building booms that flourished in the south Asheville area before and after both world wars.

April 1861 marked the beginning of America’s darkest trial, and nowhere was its shadow more immediate than the waters of Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks. As President Lincoln faced the chaos of rebellion, Southern secessionists seized forts, arsenals, and naval yards throughout the South. Yet one stronghold refused to fall: Fortress Monroe, the “Gibraltar of the Chesapeake.” From this powerful bastion on Virginia’s coast, Union forces launched bold campaigns that would define the early course of the war. Their presence threatened Confederate supply lines and opened the way to North Carolina’s vulnerable shoreline. Across both regions, two vital canals linked the Confederate heartland to the coast, transforming Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks into a single, high-stakes theater of war. Historian Matthew Ericson unites these interconnected battles into one compelling narrative. Witness the Union buildup at Fortress Monroe, General Ambrose Burnside’s daring victories along the Carolina coast, and the legendary clash of ironclads that changed naval warfare forever. Richly detailed and deeply researched, these stories reveal how these coastal conflicts shaped the Union’s early strategy and turned the tide in a war for the nation’s very survival—a forgotten front that deserves its place in Civil War history.

He Put It on the Map

Long before the Outer Banks became a premier vacation destination lined with rental palaces, boutique hotels and upscale eateries, it was something entirely different—wild, remote, windswept, and largely unknown. Picture miles of open dunes, a few hardy family-run motels, and barely a phone in sight beyond the payphones outside small stores. A few thousand visitors came each year. Most of America had barely heard of the place.

So how did the Banks transform from an isolated stretch of sand into a world-class getaway that now welcomes more than five million visitors annually? The answer begins with one remarkable, nearly forgotten man.

Aycock Brown—slight in build, enormous in heart—was the visionary who almost singlehandedly introduced the Outer Banks to the world. From his wartime work during the World War II U-boat attacks just offshore to the vivid images he captured through the 1980s, Brown shaped the national imagination of what the Banks could be. His photographs didn’t just document the region—they sold its magic.

Veteran Outer Banks authors Nancy Beach Gray and John Railey bring Brown’s story to life using intimate interviews with those who knew him, his personal papers, and—most importantly—his vast archive of thousands of photographs. Their work offers the first in-depth portrait of the man who turned a remote coastal frontier into an iconic American destination.

National award-winning essayist and historian Julia Hans has assembled nearly 200 vintage postcards unique to Southern Pines. Thanks to the efforts of the Moore County Historical Association, thousands of these postcards have been digitally preserved for future generations.

Established in 1887 by industrialist John T. Patrick, Southern Pines was first a seasonal health resort and winter escape for Northerners. But at the turn of the 20th century, thousands of people flocked to the Sandhills for golf, riding, and other outdoor activities. Hotels and boardinghouses were built to accommodate the influx of visitors. This collection of historic postcards chronicles the bygone era of grand hotels, steam railroads, Model T Fords, and virgin pine forests. Included are vintage postcards of the town’s Blue and Gray Picnic, one-room jailhouse, downtown theaters, and early health sanitarium. The postcards capture the evolution of Broad and Bennett Streets and chronicle the people and places that make Southern Pines special.

Discover the South's Most Notorious Murders, Mysteries, and Criminal Masterminds

Journey from Texas to Virginia in this gripping collection of haunting criminal cases. Follow a relentless serial killer as he leaves a bloody trail across Louisiana and beyond, witness a cunning lonely-hearts swindler terrorize Texas, and uncover Arkansas's bizarre wave of strychnine poisonings that baffled investigators. Experience the supernatural when a West Virginia murder is revealed through dreams and meet a one-armed conjure-man whose murder-for-hire schemes shocked North Carolina.

Watch forensic science evolve as crimefighters expand their arsenal of detection tools in this compelling tour of the South's most notorious crimes, where fact proves stranger than fiction.

Crime writer Cathy Pickens brings a novelist’s eye to the sinister South and its defining—and quirky—crime stories.

Preserving Appalachian Heritage Through Traditional Crafts

Explore the heart of Southern Appalachia through its master artisans. The Artistic Preservation of Tradition highlights a tight-knit community of craftspeople, ages 32 to 92, who keep centuries-old techniques alive. From woodworking and pottery to music and storytelling, their work honors Appalachian history and culture. Meet legends like Willard Watson and Stanley Hicks, and discover modern innovators like Cory Plott and William Ritter. Author and artist Bob Plott brings these powerful stories to life in a heartfelt tribute to tradition and creativity. Perfect for readers who love local history, folk art, and handmade heritage, this book is a must-read for anyone drawn to the spirit of the mountains.

Bursting with delightful colors and bright illustrations, Local Baby: Outer Banks engages babies’ attention and encourages families to explore what makes this region so great.

Visit the shops in Duck, go fishing at the Oregon Inlet, hang glide in Nag's Head, and learn about the Wright Brother's in Kitty Hawk. Climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and eat some ice cream as you watch the sunset. Explore the Outer Banks with this joyfully grabbable and wonderfully local board book that is sure to bring generations together.

Nicknamed "Twin City'?, Winston-Salem is a city full of dualities.

The city of Winston-Salem is the product of the merging of two neighboring towns: the industrial, business-orientated town of Winston, and the religious, historical town of Salem. When the city of Winston-Salem formed in 1913, the combination pooled the strengths of both towns, defining the character of this city. Today, Winston-Salem is the fifth most-populous cities in North Carolina, and has been listed among the top ten cities to retire in the United States.

Sedalia and the Palmer Memorial Institute traces the growth and development of a rural Southern community that made an impact on the nation.

Sedalia, North Carolina, has a rich and diverse history. In 1901, the American Missionary Association hired a young woman, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, to teach at a small school in eastern Guilford County. The school closed in 1902, and at the request of the local residents, Brown remained and opened the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute, which in later years became a world renowned African-American preparatory school that educated children from the wealthiest families in the United States and six foreign nations.

Discover Wilmington’s enduring spirit in these images of past and present.

Since 1739, Wilmington has seen centuries of change along the banks of the Cape Fear River to the beaches of the Atlantic. Through the years much has been lost to war, neglect, and progress, but in many places the past is well preserved and still visible today.

Join authors David A. Otto and Richard Ellington as they bring the history of Carrboro, North Carolina to life through vintage images.

Although Scots-Irish immigrants settled this area in the 1740s, completion of a rail spur from Hillsborough to a point 1 mile west of Chapel Hill in 1882 was the critical event that spawned Carrboro. The rail line was built to transport ore from an iron mine that closed after a few years, but the spur provided a vital means to transport local goods to market. Thomas Lloyd realized the commercial potential and built a gristmill and cotton gin beside the rail head in 1883. These enterprises prospered, and in 1898 Lloyd built the Alberta Cotton Mill, establishing the mill town identity that persists today. In the century since its founding, Carrboro has evolved from mill town to a progressive and diverse community. Images of America: Carrboro provides a visual history of the transition of Carrboro from humble agrarian origins to an important center for innovation in the performing arts.

Raleigh and Wake County Firefighting, Volume II, depicts fires, fire equipment, and firefighters in over 200 images culled from newspapers, archives, and personal collections. Included in this second volume are rare, early photographs of the Six Forks Road, Western Boulevard, and Wake Forest #2 fire departments.