The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road) will celebrate Black History Month with a program every Saturday during the month of February called “Behind the Big House”, which explores the lives of slaves on plantations.  Dates and times are February 6 at 10 a.m., February 13 at 11 a.m., February 20 at 1 p.m., and February 27 at 2 p.m.  The program is free but space is limited and advance reservations are required. Call 645-6706 to reserve.

More about it in this Citizen-Times article.

For Black History Month the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street) presents “Forgotten Genius” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010:

The Friends of the Weaverville Library will screen the documentary “Forgotten Genius” about the life and work of American chemist Percy Julian on Tuesday, February 9 at 7 p.m. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Julian met with every possible barrier in a deeply segregated America. He won worldwide acclaim for his work in organic chemistry, and as the first black director of an industrial chemical research lab.  For more information, call the Library at 250-6482.

Sheila Kay Adams, nationally known storyteller, ballad singer, musician and Sodom, North Carolina native will perform at the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street) on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 3 p.m. Come and enjoy a holiday program of Appalachian songs and stories by one of our local and national treasures. Sponsored by the Friends of the Weaverville Library. Come early, as seating is limited! For more information, call the Library at 250-6482.

The annual Christmas Candlelight Tours at Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road) are happening Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The guided tours give visitors a taste of what Christmas in Reems Creek was like in the early 19th century.  If you haven’t been before take a look at these photos from last year’s tour, taken by Asheville Citizen-Times photographer Steve Dixon.  More details:

1830s Christmas Featured at Vance Birthplace

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, guided tours will provide visitors to Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace a glimpse of Christmas past as it may have been celebrated in the Southern Appalachian mountains.

From 4-7 p.m., the site will hold its annual Christmas Candelight Tours. The two-story reconstructed log house, decorated in the style of the 1830’s, will be opened for guided tours.

Throughout the house, decorations made of native greenery such as holly, boxwood, pine boughs, galax, rhododendron, will be placed. As the groups, guided by costumed guides, move through the house, they will experience Christmas as it may have been celebrated in the early 19th century.

Throughout the evening, acoustic Christmas music will be performed in the Visitor Center by Primrose. Primrose is an eclectic blend of musicians that love music of various styles. Additional activities will be offered for visitors in the Visitor Center by members of the newly formed Tar Heel Jr. Historians Club.

For more information, call Vance Birthplace State Historic Site at (828) 645-6706.

The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road) presents the Annual Fall Militia Encampment on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. Admission is free both days. Here’s the info about the weekend’s events:

Once again, history will come alive on the weekend of September 26.  Vance Birthplace State Historic Site will be hosting the annual Fall Militia Encampment, Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m .and Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Admission is free.

This event will highlight the early years of our country’s history, when citizens banded together to form local militias to protect their lives and property.  Periodically, the militia’s officers would call a muster (a gathering of the members) for training, such as small arms drills.  The Catawba Militia, a group that portrays an early American citizens’ militia, will be encamped at Vance Birthplace throughout the weekend.  The group will demonstrate common camplife activities, drill routines and tell visitors what it was like to serve in the militia.  Members of the group will also provide some hands-on activities for children.

In addition to the Catawba Militia, the site will be receiving volunteer assistance for the two day event from the members of the site’s newly organized Tar Heel Jr. Historian Club. The club members will be providing assistance with the hands-on activities and with site tours and demonstrations.

Also, for 2009, the event will be highlighted as one of the events included in the Smithsonian magazine’s 5th annual Museum Day. On September 26th, the Fall Militia Encampment will be participating in a national program sponsored by Smithsonian magazine.  Details on the program are available at www.Smithsonian.com/museumday.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, the childhood home of Zebulon B. Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor, was settled in 1795 by David Vance, a Revolutionary war veteran.  The farm was the family’s home until the early 1830s.  Both David Vance and his son were officers in the Buncombe Militia during the early 1800s.  The site includes a visitor center, a reconstructed log house and six outbuildings.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, is located 12 miles northeast of Asheville on Reems Creek Road.  For more information call (828) 645-6706.

Program at the Dry Ridge Museum on Tuesday features Dr. Betty Smith. Details:

Friends of the Weaverville Library and Dry Ridge Museum, in conjunction with the “Road Scholars” program of the North Carolina Humanities Council, proudly present:Award winning author and performer, Dr. Betty Smith, showcasing Jane Hicks Gentry, most prolific writer of ballads, songs, stories and riddles of the southern mountains.

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Community Room (enter through museum on lower level of Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street ).)
No charge; refreshments following program

For more information contact Jill Totman, 250-6482 or Jan Lawrence, 658-3934

If you’re been to Art Accents (1 South Main Street ) recently, you’ve probably seen their new aerial photo of Weaverville. It was taken this year by Art Accents owner and photographer Robert Mitchell, and closely matches an aerial photo of the town taken in 1939.  One of the most striking differences between the two photos – the number of trees (it shows we haven’t been named Tree City USA 19 years in a row for nothing). Art Accents has each print available for purchase – 12×16 prints are $35 each.

August 2009 events at the Weaverville Library (41 North Main Street ).  For information on these or any other program at the Weaverville Library, call the library at 250-6482 or email weaverville.library@buncombecounty.org.

Weaverville Evening Book Club
Tuesday, August 4, 7 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “Blue Highways” by William Least Heat Moon. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

Weaverville Afternoon Book Club
Wednesday, August 5, 12:30 p.m.
The book to be discussed it this year’s Together We Read selection, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver. All interested readers are welcome to attend

The Life and Times of Jane Hicks Gentry by Betty Smith
Tuesday, August 11, 7 p.m.
Local ballad singer, historian and author Betty Smith will present a program at the Weaverville Library on Tuesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. on the life and times of famous Madison County resident Jane Hicks Gentry.  The program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Weaverville Library and the Dry Ridge Museum as part of the North Carolina Humanities Lecture series.

Job Search Strategies
Tuesday, August 18, 6 p.m.
Ellen Westbrook of Mountain Area Joblink will present a program at the Weaverville Library on Tuesday, August 18 at 6 p.m. on job search strategies.  Need to polish up your resume?  Need help accessing job information on the internet?  Come and get lots of tips!

Several area World War II veterans left this morning for Washington, DC on a chartered jet to tour various sites, including their memorial (pictured above) and Arlington National Cemetery, as part of the HonorAir program. The Weaverville Rotary Club, along with other area Rotary clubs, is providing this opportunity, at no charge to the veterans, to honor these individuals for their service. Funds for the 9 WWII veterans and 3 guardians sponsored by Weaverville came from the Rotary Club’s flag program.  The Asheville Regional Airport (708 Airport Road, Fletcher ) has invited everyone to meet these Veterans at the airport to welcome them back home. Visitors may park in Short-Term parking (the first 20 minutes are free) and greet the Veterans in the main airport terminal. Estimated arrival time is 7-7:15 p.m.

The Asheville Citizen-Times‘ Steve Dixon was on hand Sunday at Vance Birthplace for their Annual Candlelight Christmas Tour.  You can view his photo slideshow here.

Vance Birthplace (911 Reems Creek Road ) is hosting their annual Christmas Candlelight Tours on Sunday, December 14. Here’s the details:

On Sunday, December 14, guided tours will provide visitors to the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace a glimpse of Christmas past as it may have been celebrated in the southern Appalachian mountains.

From 4-7 p.m., the site will hold its annual Christmas Candlelight Tours.  The two-story reconstructed log house, decorated in the style of the 1830’s, will be opened for guided tours.

Throughout the house decorations, made of native greenery such as holly, boxwood, pine boughs, galax, and rhododendron, will be placed.  As the groups, guided by costumed guides, move through the house, they will experience Christmas as it may have been celebrated in the early 19th century. Throughout the evening, acoustic Christmas music will be performed in the Visitor Center by Primrose.  Primrose is an eclectic blend of musicians that love music of various styles. 

The Vance Birthplace Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road ) presents the Annual Fall Militia Encampment the weekend of September 20, 2008.  Here’s the details:

Once again, history will come alive on the weekend of September 20.  Vance Birthplace State Historic Site will be hosting the annual Fall Militia Encampment, Saturday, September 20, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 21, 1-3 p.m.  Admission is free.

This event will highlight the early years of our country’s history, when citizens banded together to form local militias to protect their lives and property.  Periodically, the militia’s officers would call a muster (a gathering of the members) for training, such as small arms drills.  The Catawba Militia, a group that portrays an early American citizens’ militia, will be encamped at Vance Birthplace throughout the weekend.  The group will demonstrate common camplife activities, drill routines and tell visitors what it was like to serve in the militia.  Members of the group will also provide some hands-on activities for children.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, the childhood home of Zebulon B. Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor, was settled in 1795 by David Vance, a Revolutionary war veteran.  The farm was the family’s home until the early 1830s.  Both David Vance and his son were officers in the Buncombe Militia during the early 1800s.  The site includes a visitor center, a reconstructed log house and six outbuildings.

For more information call 645-6706.

The Vance Birthplace Historic Site (911 Reems Creek Road) presents an 1860’s Civil War Soldiers encampment August 16-17. All demonstrations and activities are free. Here’s the press release:

Travel back in time to the 1860s through an authentic and colorful Civil War soldiers encampment presented at Vance Birthplace near Weaverville Saturday, August 16-Sunday, August 17. On both days, reenactors dressed in Confederate uniforms will present demonstrations and activities evoking what mountain boys would have experienced as volunteer soldiers during the early days of the bloody Civil War. From 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1-3 p.m. Sunday, members of the North State Rifles will portray a typical group of troops recruited from North Carolina’s mountain counties. This program is free and open to the public.

Scheduled presentations include 19th century infantry drills, camp life demonstrations, and discussions about the equipment, clothing, and experiences common to the men recruited from western N.C. to serve the Confederacy.

Vance Birthplace is where Zebulon B. Vance, colonel of the 26 th N.C. Regiment, governor of North Carolina during the Civil War and U.S. Senator, grew up in the early 1800s. Its mission is to preserve and interpret the birthplace and history of Governor Zebulon B. Vance.

For more information, call 645-6706.

The Dry Ridge Historical Museum is presenting a program from 11 a.m.-Noon on Saturday, July 26 at the museum (41 North Main Street, located in the lower level of the Weaverville Library). Here’s the details:

The Dry Ridge Historical Museum presents father and daughter Hugh & Regina Hamilton in

“An Historical Perspective: The Harens of The Reems Creek Township.
The Sixth and Seventh Generations on the Same Land”

Saturday, July 26
11 a.m.-Noon
Dry Ridge Museum
Lower Level of the Weaverville Library

Light refreshments will be available.

For information, call Jan Lawrence at 658-3934.

Special events scheduled for June 2008 at the Vance Birthplace on 911 Reems Creek Road.  For more information about any event, call  645-6706.

Saturday, June 7, 1-4 p.m.
Quilting Program
Learn all about quilting from local Artisan Nancy Baker. Baker is an experienced quilter with extensive knowledge of quilting traditions in antebellum and post antebellum Western North Carolina.

Saturday, June 14, 1-4 p.m.
Weaving Demonstration
Explore the world of late 18th and early 19th century textile production, with Buncombe County Native Mandy Maude. Mandy will be demonstrating the art of weaving using a 200 year old foot-powered loom from the Watauga Region of the state.

Saturday, June 21, 1-4 p.m.
Lye Soap Making
Join tradition bearer Carolyn Rice, a native of Madison County, to learn the art of Lye Soap Making. This unique demonstration will show folks how to make soap, the old- fashioned way, using a cast iron pot over the open fire. (*In the event of rain the demonstration will be moved to the porch of the main house).

Mountain Music Program
Join Tony Thomas, a legendary old-time/mountain bluegrass musician from Tennessee, for an afternoon of pickin’ and grinin’! Thomas plays a traditional style of music he learned growing up in the coal mining towns of the Cumberland Mountains. In addition to performing, Thomas will give a short history describing the traditional instruments and songs he will be performing.

“Living History Saturdays” will be held Saturdays at the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site from April through June. All activities begin at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Here’s the May schedule:

May 10—Appalachian Music Program
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with an afternoon of melodic acoustic music. Primrose, a group of life-long musicians interested in preserving and sharing Appalachian and other styles of traditional music, will be performing.

May 17—Old-time Music and Dance Frolic celebrating Zeb Vance’s Birthday
Lace up your dancing shoes or bring out your lawn chair and help us celebrate Governor Zebulon Vance’s birthday with an evening of good ol’ mountain music and dance. Peter Gott will be calling dances and music be provided by legendary fiddler Roger Howell and the Carolina Old-timers. Festivities will begin around 5 p.m.

May 24—Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration
Meet Madison County Native Carolyn Rice in the kitchen of the Vance Birthplace, and learn how the Vance Family might have prepared “supper”. Rice has been demonstrating the art of cooking over the open fire for many years at the historic site and many returning visitors fondly remember her cooking!

May 31—Confederate Money and Appalachian Basketry
Join expert Larry Allison at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the Vance Birthplace auditorium for a glimpse into the Confederate currency system during the Civil War. Participants will be able to view some of Allison’s collection and learn about Zebulon Vance’s role in issuing Confederate money and bonds. At 2:30 p.m., local crafter Alma Lambert will present a program on Appalachian basketry. She will reflect on the Cherokee influences on basketry in this region and display several pieces of her work.

For more information, call 645-6706. The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site is located at 911 Reems Creek Road.

“Living History Saturdays” will be held Saturdays at the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site from April through June. All activities begin at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Here’s the April schedule:

• April 5 — Fiber and Dye Pot Demonstration
  Explore the world of late 18th and early 19th century textile production, with two of the most skilled mountain weavers in our area. Artisans Ann and David Allison will be looking at two fundamental steps in the production of fabrics.
• April 12 — Appalachian Music featuring: Primrose
  Enjoy an afternoon of traditional mountain music with Primrose, a group of life-long musicians interested in preserving and sharing Appalachian roots music. Primrose performs with a variety of traditional instruments.
• April 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Long Hunter Encampment
  Join historian and artist Steve Ricker as he teaches about the men who made “long hunts” into the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee and the necessary skills they needed for survival.
• April 26 — Gunsmithing
  Meet Homer Sales, a native of the Fairview section of Buncombe County and observe him combine woodworking and metalworking to construct an authentic 19th century hunting rifle.

For more information, call 645-6706. The Vance Birthplace State Historic Site is located at 911 Reems Creek Road.