Editorials - 12/07/00

McRorie's book shows value of newspapers

McRorie's book is a collection of columns he wrote between 1956, when he arrived in Sylva with his brand-new journalism degree from Chapel Hill, and 1993, when he retired from his first and only writing job.

The 63 newspaper pieces were chosen as the inaugural volume in a series of paperbacks to be published by the Jackson County Historical Association. Judging by the interest the book has already generated, the association picked a winner.

In so doing, the association did something else: It recognized the inherent value of newspapers and their role in chronicling a community's history.

Just as one of the columns in J.D.'s book sheds light on the formation of our county, today's front page brings news of a major change to our county government structure - what may be the final chapter in a story we've been telling since a 1992 referendum on the matter.

Those of us in the newspaper business write history every week. We may not have time to reflect on all the events or notice sweeping trends, but we get the information down on paper. We leave it to others to come behind us, read all the stories, and provide the overview and historical context. While one week's edition may be forgotten as soon as the next appears, each newspaper is microfilmed and archived in area libraries to become a primary source for future historians.

J.D.'s book provides a perfect illustration. If not for deadline pressure, and the need to get out a paper every week, most of the wonderful stories it contains would never have been written. Creating a book is a far more daunting task than filling up 50 or so column inches a week. By doing the latter, J.D. arrived at the former. Writing one week at a time, he produced a volume full of enough facts, figures and personalities to give his readers a pretty good idea of what life was like around here in days gone by.

Because he needed a column every week, J.D. took the time to seek out the older people who remembered places and events, and he wrote down their stories while they were alive to tell them. As a result, we all have his book to enjoy and cherish.

Thanks, J.D. We admire your commitment to the recording of Jackson County's past, and we're honored to follow in your footsteps. We're proud of you.

J.D. will sign copies of "Knowing Jackson County" Saturday afternoon at City Lights from 4 until 6 p.m.

We hope we see you there.

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