Editorials - 09/27/01

Celebrating Jackson County's heritage

Its existence represents many hours spent searching our early files, historical publications and the memories of longtime residents. It's a section we're proud to present, and we hope all of you find the information interesting and enjoyable.

As we researched and wrote, we were struck by the almost awesome responsibility of what we do here in the newsroom: We write history.

Reading through the Jackson County Historical Association's excellent "The History of Jackson County" (soon to be available once more), we couldn't help but notice the number of references to local newspapers. The Tuckaseigee Democrat, The Jackson County Journal, The Ruralite and The Sylva Herald are listed frequently as primary sources, and that's a niche we continue to fill. While other media often provide coverage of our county's "big stories," The Sylva Herald almost always provides the only published record of the town governments - Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster and Forest Hills - and the Board of Education.

On the eve of the official celebration of Jackson County's century and a half of progress, we feel a sense of accomplishment as we continue to document the weekly ups and downs of mountain life.

Saturday's Mountain Heritage Day, with its emphasis on traditional music, skills and crafts, will begin a month of events planned to mark our sesquicentennial year. The excitement will continue a week later during an Oct. 6 fish fry in Cashiers and an Oct. 7 parade of horse-drawn vehicles and horseback riders along Sylva's Main Street.

Music will be in the air Oct. 13, 14, and 21 with a showcase of youth talent in Sylva, brass band and bagpipe music at the park in Cullowhee, and a Stephen Foster program at Sylva's Presbyterian Church.

Downtown Sylva's Oct. 20 all-day festival will bring more music, another parade, student elected officials, 19th-century fashion show, heritage demonstrations, dramatic reading and craft and food vendors. Sylva Partners in Renewal's first fall pig roast will close out the day.

We hope the spirit that prompted Saturday's March for American Unity will continue to bring us together as we celebrate our county's storied past and promising future.

Back to Archive: 09/27/01.