John Dilbeck Musings

I’d like to welcome Appalachian Heritage Crafters as the latest Gold Member at the new Murphy, NC Business site.

Appalachian Heritage Crafters are having a 10% Off sale on everything in their crafts store from December 26-31, 2004. Then, they’ll be closing the store in January and February and will reopen in March, 2005.

Thank you for all your business and your support in 2004.

Appalachian Heritage Crafters, a non-profit arts and crafts cooperative, is holding a yardsale on Saturday, November 20, 2004, starting at 8:00 am and going most of the day.

A wide variety of items will be available, some at bargain prices.

The members will be selling snacks, coffee and hot chocolate.

Proceeds go to the cooperative to help offset expenses.

Appalachian Heritage Crafters, founded by craftspeople in and around Cherokee County, North Carolina, is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Appalachian crafts and heritage.

The specific purpose of the corporation is to preserve and promote the Appalachian heritage of quality hand-made crafts. This goal is achieved through training programs, educational programs in the schools and senior centers, programs providing outreach to youth and homebound seniors, and programs enabling crafter members to create, market, and sell handmade Appalachian crafts.

You are invited to our yard sale, which will be held at our crafts store, located a couple of miles west of Murphy at 2016 Highway 64 West, Murphy, NC 28906. While you’re there, browse through the items in our store to find great gifts for the holidays.

For more information, visit their website at AHCcrafts.com or call 828-835-3500.

Admission Is Free To September 4 Heritage Walk and Festival in Murphy, NC

What began in 2001 with fewer than 100 souls braving the pouring rain to take a “heritage walk” through historic Murphy has blossomed into a 4th annual series of events coming Saturday, September 4, 2004.

Last year over 3,000 people turned out for a day long celebration of traditional mountain music, arts and crafts, blue ribbon memories of the county fair, and the heritage walking tours with characters from times past. Produced by Heritage Partners of Cherokee County in collaboration with a host of volunteers and sponsoring organizations, this year’s Heritage Walk and Festival features:

• The Heritage Walk — historic trade and commerce tours departing at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.; pyramid tours departing at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. from the Old LandN Depot

• The Cherokee County Heritage Fair — blue ribbon competitions in the traditional home survival skills, special events and community exhibits on display at the Old L and N Depot and outdoor county fair tent (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• The Appalachian Heritage Crafters Show — area artists and crafters on the Railroad Street festival grounds, behind the Old LandN Depot and Hackney Warehouse (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Mountain Song — all day live stage performances feature traditional bluegrass, old-time and more on the Railroad Street festival grounds, behind the Old Hackney Warehouse (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Becky and the Robber of Buckhorn Ridge — one act play performances by the Murphy High drama students, based on Jean Bravick’s story of pioneer life in Cherokee County’s 1840 Valleytown (First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 1:00 p.m.)
• Cherokee County Historical Museum’s Heritage Day — a celebration of pioneering history and Cherokee Indian culture, on Peachtree Street
• Farmers Market
• Food Vendors
• Pocket Parks Collectibles Fair
• rides and activities for children
• and more.

And, it’s all free.

The public is invited to come out, and all festival guests are encouraged to park in town and walk to all events. Visit heritagepartners.org for more information.

The one day event will be held on Saturday, September 4 from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm at the Old L&N Depot, Railroad Street Park and the Pocket Parks in the historic town center of Murphy.

Produced by Heritage Partners of Cherokee County, the annual event began in 2001 with the Heritage Walk and a group of 100 enthusiastic walking tour guests. Last year’s festival events drew more than 3,000 people and organizers are gearing up for an even larger crowd on September 4.

More information is available online at:

http://www.heritagepartners.org/hwf.htm

and in Murphy at the Appalachian Heritage Crafters shop on Hwy 64 West, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce on Hwy 64 West, and The Pickled Parrot in town on Valley River Avenue.

For more information, artists and crafters may contact Claire Groff at 828-837-9636 or by email at clairepg@aol.com; all other vendors and exhibitors may contact Barbara Darling at 828-837-9636 or by email at daraff@dnet.net

“Our volunteers and sponsors are looking forward to the big day. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy this celebration of our local history and heritage of music, artistry, craftsmanship and traditional home survival skills,” said event director and Heritage Partners president Barbara Hughes.

Community clubs and individuals interested in entering the products of their home canning, baking, quilting, vegetable and flower gardening skills in this year’s Heritage County Fair blue ribbon competitions and exhibits may contact Jessica Roberson at the Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service at 828-837-2210 or by email at jessica_roberson@ncsu.edu for more information and registration details.

This year’s Heritage Walk & Festival includes the Heritage Walk tours, the Appalachian Heritage Crafters Show, the Heritage Music Festival, the Heritage County Fair, produce and plant growers, food vendors, and special fun for children.

Admission to all events remains free of charge and open to the public.

Heritage Partners is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization building on the heritage of Cherokee County — North Carolina’s first, last, and finest place to be.

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of seeing Ben Utley, owner of the NC Mountain Made website, again. It’s always fun being around Ben, who has a cheerful and optimistic personality.

NC Mountain Made is a heritage database of authentic music, authors, storytellers, and handmade arts & crafts of western North Carolina. In the not-too-distant-future, Ben will be helping artisans in western North Carolina sell their products over the Internet.

He came to the monthly meeting of Appalachian Heritage Crafters and updated us on the progress he is making getting his new venture organized.

A number of our members expressed interest in working with Ben and we’ll probably see some of their art on his site, soon.

Ben’s added a calendar covering Western North Carolina Heritage and Cultural Events. Be sure to check it out!

Don’t forget. If you’re interested in what he’s doing to promote and preserve our Appalachian heritage, you can sign up for his announcements list and he’ll keep you informed.

I hope you have great success with this, Ben!