The University of Queensland, Australia has developed Fez, a world-leading user-interface and management system for Fedora-based institutional repositories, which bridges the gap between a repository and users. Christiaan Kortekaas, Andrew Bennett and Keith Webster will review this open source software that gives institutions the power to create a comprehensive repository solution without the hassle.
Andrew Webster charts his own journey from a severe mental breakdown and the loss of a successful career to running a totally new business in the non‐profit sector, creating employment for people like himself.</jats:p
Historic Webster is a newsletter of the Webster Historical Society, Inc., created at the Society’s founding in 1974. The publication helped to serve the Society's mission of collecting and preserving the history of Webster, North Carolina. Webster, established in 1851, was the original county seat for Jackson County.VOLUME I· NUMBER I
History of t6e
Historical Society
Webster is changing, not so much in appearance but
in attitudes toward toe small town. People who remember
or have learned about Webster's rich heritage are putting
its great potential all together - people, history, education,
recreation, preservation. Webster might have
became a plush new development, a commercial campground,
or nearly anything which would have changed the
character of its environment. Instead, Webster is to be
preserved as it is, with only adaptive restoration changes
that will maintain the present atmosphere and preserve
the spirit and quality of a charming historic village.
These changes began last year on February 15 when a
few interested townspeople met with Webster Town Coun.
cil members at Mayor Ray Baker's house. Betty Price
suggested appointing an Historic Sites Commission to study
the possibility of having Webster designated a State Historic
Site. The Town Council members - Roy Baker, Margie
Penland, Claude Cowan, Goldman Monteith, Louise Davis,
and Joe Rhinehart - approved the idea and appointed
Mildred Cowan chairman of the new Commission. Others
named were Louise Davis, Mary Morris, Kate Rhinehart,
Jack Morris, Jim Allman, Claude Cowan, and Betty
Price. Due to the efforts of this Commission Webster
is now on a list of proposed historic sites in North Carolina.
On March 5, six persons representing the Webster Town
Council and the Historic Sites Commission met with the
Jackson County Board of Education to ask for the Webster
Elementary School (which was vacated in December 1973'
as a result of consolidation of schools) to use as a community
center and town office building. They were told
they would be kept informed of progress toward that possibility.
The Webster Historical Society, Inc. was chartered
April lith as a fund-raising and promotional organization
for the preservation and restoration of Webster.
The first public interest meeting was held on Friday·
the thirteenth of April at the Webster Elementary School
sponsored by Southwestern Technical Institute and the
Webster Historic Sites Commission. Nearly 200 persons
attended the meeting to discuss the possibility of a preservation
- restoration project in the Town of Webster.
The Webster Elementary School cloggers opened the
evening with an exhibition of buck dancing. Exhibits
included an old-fashioned kitchen scene, Jack Hoyle splitting
boards, and pottery-making with Brant Barnes.
Sugar cookies and pound cakes from Historic Webster
recipes and lemonade were refreshments. At the churn,
homemade bread and Hattie Cowan's butter were available.
After a media presentation by Dorris Beck and Arlene
Stewart, the decision was made to undertake a preservation
project in Webster.
When the society organized in the tall, Betty Price
was elected president; Marilyn Jody, vice president;
Mary Morris, secretary; and Jim Simpson, treasurer.
Joe Rhinehart, Spencer Clark, !tichard Iobst, and John
Parris were elected to the Board of Directors. Members
of the Webster Town Council and of the Historical Society
met with representatives of Wachovia and First Union
National Banks of Sylva: Bruce Wike; chairman of the
Jackson County Board of Commissioners; and Jim Allman
·, Board of Education member for a buffet luncheon
at Canterbury Inn on December 10. The purpose of the
luncheon was to inform the county commissioners and
the Sylva banks of the fund raising plans of the society.
On December 3 and January 7, representatives of the
Historical Society and Town Council met with the Jackson
County School Board about purchasing the Webster school.
The School Board accepted an offer of ll5,000fortheschoolattheJanuary7thmeeting.A1,500 option will
be paid at the Board's February 4th meeting, the remainder
to be paid on or before July 10.
~
"If only we are faithful to our past, we shall not have to
fear our future." -John Foster Dulles
Webster, North Carolina
THE JACKSON COUNTY Courthouse in Webster
was the center of all county business until 1913.
This picture, taken in 1932, shows Ann Cowan in
the doorway.
Origins of ~ackson County
The history of Webster is the history of Jackson County,
for Webster served as the county seat from 1853 to 1913.
During that 60 year period, all official Jackson County
functions occured in Webster.
Jackson County came into being on January 29, 1851.
It was formed from parts of Haywood and Macon Counties,
which, before that date, were divided by the Tuckaseigee
River. Two Haywood County men, Michael Francis,
who served in the State Senate, and R.G.A. Love, who
served in the House, were largely responsible for the birth
of the county.
In 1850, the population of Haywood and Macon was
divided between Whig and Democrat factions. In order
to please both groups the county was named Jackson after
the popular Democrat . hero Andrew Jackson, and the
county seat was called Webster after the famous Whig
orator, Daniel Webster.
As Edgar H. Stillwell writes in "The Conquest of the
Carolina Frontier ,t' "the name of the new county was
to keep alive the memory of 'Old Hickory,' father and
founder of our Jacksonian Democracy; while the seat of
government for the new county was to honor that great
champion- of the Union of States - Daniel Webster."
On the third Monday in March, 1953, the final step
in the creation of Jackson County took place in a log
cabin built by the piontier Daniel Bryson in what is now
the Beta community. Here the first court ever held in
Jackson County convened with Judge John W. Ellis, later
Governor of North Carolina, presiding. At this meeting
the wheels of the new county were set in motion.
The commissioners who were appointed to select a
suitable place for the county buildings at first considered
locating the county seat where the second county court
was held, on the old Love farm near the County Home.
However, the hill just west of this place, on the right
bank of the Tuckaseigee River, was chosen to be the site
of the county seat.
A brick courthouse was built on this site in Webster
in 1854. Later a larger brick building was erected on
the site of the first one. This latter building, which
was made of bricks formed from Webster clay, wa"
used until 1913 when the county seat was moved to Sylva.
The building stood until the 1930's when it was torn down.
February 197 4
A fetter
3rom t6e President
Dear Preservationist Friends,
It was once the county seat. Nothing put on - a real,
living, breathing, working town that is simply making
history its industry. Historic Webster is the result of
a giant effort by the people of Jackson County who visualize
its ootential. The reclaimers are as heterogeneous
as a group of people you would ever hope to
meet- old and young, members of pioneer families who
have a strong heritage to share and newcomers attracted
by the quiet and gentle life of t~?e m?untains. . .
The Webster Historical SoCiety IS a non-prof1t orgamzation
supported principally by contributions and memberships.
Besides sponsoring preservation and adaptive
restoration, the Society is planning an oral history
collection. Think of it - tape-recordings of interviews
with senior citizens in Jackson County recalling the day
when Thon.as Edison and Henry Ford ·visited here; reminiscences
of the debate about moving the public buildings
from Webster to Sylva; tape-recordings of long-time
residents talking about the changes over the years;
school teachers discussing the changes in education.
One day-maybe soon-it will be possible to walk through
Historic Webster and see a fire in the blacksmith shop,
to see herb gardens and orchards; to visit the Museum
and Archives where you can push a button and see and
hear instant history.
All of this is possible because you are taking up
the challenge now. We've got to hurry and capture the
oral history we have left. Join today! Send your contribution
to Historic Webster for its 1-year, tax deductible
campaign to raise 200,000.P.S.Hurry!Ehthusiastically,BettyPriceFebruary15IsBigDayAtWebsterSchoolThemembershipdriveandfund−raisingcampaignfortheWebsterHistoricalSocietywillbeginofficiallyatapublicmeetingtobeheldattheWebsterSchoolonFebruary15at7:30p.m.ThoseattendingwillseethevideotaoefilmedbystudentsatCampLabSchool,featuringinter⋅viewswiththeoldestresidentsofWebster,ThedocumentaryalsoincludesscenicshotsoftheareaandoftheinteriorsofrestoredhomesinWebster..⋅Me.mbershipswillbeacceptedbeforethemeeting.MemberswillthenhaveanopportunitytovoteontheproposedbylawsfortheSocietyandtoelectaslateofofficersandidrectorsfortheyear.FollowingareportonthestatusoftheWebsterprojectandtheestablishingofcommittees,oldfashionedrefreshmentswillbeserved.BecomeaCharterMemberYoucanhelptomakeHistoricWebsterarealitybyjoiningtheWebsterHistoricalSocietybeforeJulyI,1974,andbecomingachartermember,Theclassesofmembershipandduesforeachareasfollows:Active(residentofWesternN.C.):5.00 yearly
Associate (outside Western N.C.): 5.00yearlyContributing:10.00 yearly
Supporting: 20.00yearlySustaining:30.00 yearly
Life: $100.00
All contributions are income tax deductible.
Page 2 HISTORIC WEBSTER February 1974
A Guide To The Map Of Webster
This drawing of Webster at the turn of the century
has been compiled by Betty Price, Through records,
ne·wspaper articles, and with the help of Claude Cowan,
Lily (Nanniehart) Rhinehart, Arthur Allman and Mildred
Cowarr,-the-JI'ap-has beefnlrawn up to simula:te Webster
around 1900.
The town well across from the Court House is the one
depicted in the HISTORIC WEBSTER banner. The well,
according to Nanniehart, was a gathering place for thirsty
travelers and their horses. Though the well has been
filled in, its cornerstones can still be seen next to the
Webster Post Office. ·
'!be Court House was built with red bricks from the
clay mine and brick plant across the river. The Webster
clay mine also supplied clay for dolls' heads and fine
china made in New Jersey,
The Wilde store, the two mills, and the homes on the
river were washed away in the flood of 1940, and the road
was rebuilt closer to the river, on the site of these
buildings.
Prize Given For Design
The Historic Webster bannerhead was designed and
drawn by Karen Moscowitz, a sophomore art student
at Western Carolina University, Prof. Ray Menze's
two-dimensional drawing classes took the newsletter bannerhead
as a class project, and the work of each student
was submitted to the Historical Society for review, Members
of the Historical Society Executive Committee chose
Moscowitz's work out of approximately 30 entries.
Moscowitz, who comes from Leona, New Jersey, will
be awarded five dollars by the Historical Society for her
efforts,
The Mountain View Hotel, ~athan Coward Hotel, drug
store, Tuckaseigee Bank, and Allison home were destroyed
in the fire of 1910. The Allison home has since been rebuilt
in its original style,
The map was drawn by Julie Blankenship, a student
at Southwestern Technical Institute.
If you have any additions or corrections to the map,
or if you can narrow down the date to a more specific
year, please write Betty Price, Drawer w, Webster, N.C.
28788. Any information about specific homes or buildings
will be welcomed.
In "Jackson County: Its Climate :and Natural Resources,"
a column in THE TUCKASEIGE DEMOCRAT, this siatement
appeared each week:
... "The water is pure, cool and sweet, and for household
purposes is taken from springs with which the county
abounds."
olie 'Oown of We6ster
around 1900
OJokbook
<.oll'hw...,
(_()\l)o."\
L...woH:
Will Provide
- Good Reading
A forthcoming Webster recipe book promises to provide
not only a cpllection of Webster's oldest and most
delicious dishes but also interesting reading and browsing
material.
The cookbook, which is currently being compiled by
Flossie and Joe Parker Rhinehart, will feature original
pen and ink drawings of people and places in Webster.
Character sketches of the donating cooks will accompany
some of the mouth-watering recipes, and Joe Parker is
compiling a series of "Growing Up In Webster" stories
written by Webster women of several generations. Mildred
Cowan, Mary Morris and other women who grew up in
Webster have been asked to contribute their accounts.
The recipes in the book were collected from cooks
in the area by Joe's mother, Kate Rhinehart. Flossie
Rhinehart will draw the pen and ink sketches.
The Rhineharts hope to have the cookbook completed
and on sale by mid-April. The recipe book is a fund
raising project of the Webster Historical Society, Inc,
Joe Parker Rhinehart, who grew up in Webster, and his
wife Flossie, who comes from Georgetown, Kentucky,
now live and teach school in Bethesda, Maryland, They
have worked with the historic preservation and restoration
of Murfreesboro, N.C., where they are restoring a home,
HISTORIC WEBSTER February 1974 Page 3
Nanniehart Recounts
Her Memories Of Webster
NANNIEHART in her earlier years. This photograph
was taken when she was about eighteen or
twenty years old.
Arthur Allman
Nanniehart was born Lily Cagle on August.
13, 1881. She and her husband, J. W. Rhinehart,
used to run the Mountam View Hotel
until it burned down in 1910. After that,
the Rhineharts managed hotels in Sylva and
Bryson City before they came home to Webster
and opened up the country store across
from the Court House.
Nanniehart got her nickname 34 years ago
when her grandson, Joe Parker Rhinehart,
was a baby whose ver sion of " Granny Rhinehart,
came out "Nanniehart/' Now there's
not a person in Webster who calls her
anything else.
As the oldest resident of Webster, Nanniehart
tells some colorful stories of the town
in its younger days. Of her school days,
she says, "I was raised out on a farm about
two miles from here, When I first went
to school I didn't come in to town. I went
to a country school. That was four months'
school. Later on they changed us to the
Baptist Church at the top of the river hill,
we'd go .ill_ven monthLout of the year.
in the summer, thy'd have what they
subscription school and I went to that.
That was when a teacher would come wantin'
to work in the summer and he'd char ge either
50¢ a week or 50¢amonth,Ican't remember .
But I went to school every chance I could
get up until I was 18. I would have kept
on then but my mother go~ sick and I had to
stay home."
Is Prize Storyteller
Arthur Allman has a story to tell about
practically every person or event he can
remember throughout his 89 years in Webster.
And he's even got some tales about
times he can't remember - like being born
on March 17, 1884.
His parents, Polk and Betty Allman lived
on the George Penland place at that time.
Dr. Candler was the doctor then, and he
was going to come deliver the baby, but,
as Arthur relates. "there come the awfullest
snow storm you ever saw. We had
a picket fence then, and the snow was banked
up all around it. I was born, my mother
said, at 5:00 in the morning, and of course
nobody could get there so the girl that was
staying with us and my father were the only
ones there when I was borno
"Now old llln Boone (no kin to lllniel
Boone) lived up in the house right above
us, When they shoveled out a trail, his
mother came lookin' around, and she saw
me and said, 'why, this baby's about froze
to death. ' Now her son llln wasn't much
older than I was, so she took me home and
nursed both of us until my mother could
take care of me. And it took three weeks
for my mother to get strong enough to take
me home.
"So, I had it rough from the time I come
into the world; I've had it rough and I'm
still having it rough."
Arthur describes Webster during his childhood
as ''a nice clean country town with
lots of nice people. The (Tuckaseigee)
River was a beautiful river then, clear as
a crystal, just as pure as any spring water
you could find. You could drink out of it
then, and now it's not even clean enough to
take a bath in. It was bigger in those days,
about four times as big as it is now. And
fish--that river was just loaded with fish."
The covered bridge in Webster was a
gather ing spot during rainstorms until sometime
in the nineteen-teens when it was torn
down. It, too, sparks a story by Arthur.
"That old bridge was covered and had
two windows on either side. It sheltered
many a person on a rainy day. Hunters would
go there to kill ducks. Back then there were
no lakes on the river, so there were lots
of ducks. Well, one bad rainy day when
Bill Henson was sheriff, old Henry Norman
and I wer e going to go hun tin ' and we were
standing under there because of the rain.
Henry had a new double-barrel gun and he
was mighty proud of that gun. Now they
were strict about taxes then; it's not like
it is now; if you didn't pay your taxes
they'd just come and take something you
owned until you did pay.
"Now the sheriff walked in and saw Henry
there with that gun, and asked him, 'Henry,
is that a good gun?' Of course, Henry was
proud of it and told him it was, and the
sheriff said, 'well, Henry,Inoticeyouhaven't
paid your taxes, so I'll just take the gun
until you pay it. • Poor Henry had to give
him the gun, and he didn't get to go huntin'
that day,"
~oin tfie Historical Society 'Godayl . "e The mailing list has been compiled from the Webster
township tax listings, the Sylva Herald out-of-county subscription
list, a list of Jackson County public school
teachers, the Western North Carolina Historical Society
membership list, WCU faculty and staff directory; the
Appalachian Consortium Board of Directors list and personal
lists from members of the Webster Historical
Society.
0
D
I want to be a Charter Member ~
If you know of anyone who would like to receive the
newsletter , please send the name and address to Drawer W,
Webster, North Carolina, 28788·.
The first three issues of HISTORIC WEBSTER will
be sent free to anyone interested in receiving them.
Further issues of the newsletter will be sent to all
members of the Webster Historical Society at no cost
other than membership dues.
D
My dues are enclosed
510
2030
100ActiveorAssociateContributingSupporti.ngSustainingLifeIamsendingadonationAmount.c""NanniehartandherhusbandJoewereworkingatthehotelthenightofthebigfirein1910,whenanentireblockofWebsterwasdestroyed.Hereisheraccountofthefire:"Iwasinthehotelthatnight.JoewaslatecominginfromSy!vaandeverybodyhadhadsupperexcepthim.IgaveJoehissupperandwenttoputthebabytosleep,whenIheard!!noisebackinthepantry.Isaid′Joe,′Isaid,′something′swrongbackthere.There′ssomebodystealing.•That′swhatIthought.Hewentbackthereandholleredfire.Hewentonout.Weallwentrunningout,andMr.Gribble,whowastheretogetsomemedicineforhiswife,hesaidtome,′Thebaby!′Isaid,′Yesthebaby,I′llgoback.′Iwascrazy,Ididn′thaveanysense.IwentbacktogetthebabyandIcouldn′tfindanythingtowraphimupin.Icouldhaveusedacomforterorsomething,butIdidn′tthinkofthatthen.Igotmycoat.Itwascold,thewindablowing.Iwentoutside⋅through−thediningroomandranacrossthestreettothebank.PeoplewerethrowingthingsoutoftheroomsupstairsoutatMrsoCowarct•sboardinghouseoWewentondownthestreet.MissAllison′shousewasonfire,andshecameonoutandsaid,′Mrs.Rhinehart,don′tcometome.Keepongoingandtakeyourbabysomewhereelse.•SoIkeptongoinguntilIsawthepreacher′swife.Shetoldmetocomeonovertoherhouseandwaittillthefirewasout.Anditwas3:00inthemorningbeforetheygotitout.Thatfireburnedupourhotel,thedrugstore,thebank,Mr.AndyAllison′shouseandMrs.Coward′sBoardingHouseo"NanniehartremembersthefirstautomobilethatcamethroughWebster."Itbelongedtotheelectriclightmaker,Mr.ThomasEdison.HecametoWebsterlookingforamineral,cobalt.HedroverightuptothesoterwhereIwasworking.Everybodycrowdedaroundthecarlookingatit.Hedidn′tstaylong;hejustpickedupMr.LeeWildesandtheywentoutlookin′forcobalt.ThatwasthefirstcarIeversaw."ThenextoneIrememberwasLittleDocNichols′.HewasadoctorinSylva,andhe′ddrivethroughtownandblowthathorn,andeverybodywouldgetexcitedandrunoutsideandwave,Theroadwassobadthoughthatcarscouldn′talwaysgethere.OnestretchoftheroadbetweenhereandSy!vausedtogetkneedeepinmudsometimes,andit′dtakefourhorsestopullabuggythroughit."ARTHURALLMANtalkswithBettyPriceaboutgrowingupinWebster,Page4HISTORICWEBSTERFebruary1974TheEmptyWebsterSchoolWillSoonBecomeBusyCenterTheWebsterHistoricalSocietyhasbigplansfortheasavotingplaceandcommunitycenterforrecreationalWebsterSchQql,a36year.oldstonebuildingreentlyactivitiesforallages,vacatedasaresultofconsolidationofseveralelementaryTheschool,whichincludesaooroximately9acresofschoolsintheJacksonCountySchoolSystem,land,hasbeenpromisedtotheTownofWebsterforll5,000
Plans call for the building to house the Webster Town payable on or before July 10. The Jackson County Board
Council offices, Historical Society Offices, a museum and of Education on January 9 agreed to accept the offer made
archives, a restaurant, a community theater, an
Entries include brief biographical information, a typed letter introducing Webster to the Maine Author collection, and a typed letter from the Maine State Library on receipt of his historical novel Pentagoet for the Maine Author Collection with notice that a description of the book would appear in the Maine Library Association Bulletin
Historic Webster is a newsletter of the Webster Historical Society, Inc., created at the Society’s founding in 1974. The publication helped to serve the Society's mission of collecting and preserving the history of Webster, North Carolina. Webster, established in 1851, was the original county seat for Jackson County.'VOLUME I NUMBER 3
Cook6ook Will Be
Ready 9n o lie :Jall
A cookbook containing mouthwatering local recipes,
pen and ink drawings of Webster, and "Growing Up
in Webster" sketches will be on sale in the fall.
Tho rocipe book1 which is being compiled by Florence
and Joe Parker Rhinehart , will have a hard
cover with a color picture of Webster as the dust
jacket. Joe Parker estimates that it will have approximately
200 pages, The book will be printed
in brown ink on off white paper, and will have a brown
cloth cover with a sketch of the former Jackson County
courthouse,
Original sketches of people and places in Webster
will be featured at the beginning of each of the II
divisions of the book, as well a throughout the 250
odd recipes.
A short history of the town accompanied by a
sketch of the courthouse will begin the book, Then,
in addition to the delicious recipes, the cookbook will
feature character sketches of some of the donating
cooks and several "growing Up in Webster" stories
written by Webster women of different generations,
Mildred Cowan, Mary Morris and other women who
grew up in Webster will be contributing their accounts ~
The book will conclude with a feature menu for
Christmas dinner with recipes, accompanied by a
story about Old Webster at Christmastime,
The recipes in the book were collected from cooks
in the area by Joe's mother, Kate Rhinehart, Florence
Rhinehart will draw the pen and ink sketches.
The price of the book has not yet been determined,
but it is estimated at 5orless,Ifyouwanttoreservecopies,pleasesendanotetotheHistoricalSocietystatinghowmanycopiesyouwouldlike,Thiswillaidusindetermininghowmanycopestoprint.TheRhinehartshopetohavethecookbookcompletedbyOctoberorNovember,TherecipebookisafundraisingprojectoftheWebsterHistoricalSociety,Inc,JoeParkerRhinehart,whogrewupinWebster,andhiswifeFlorence,whocomesfromGeorgetown,Kentucky,nowliveandteachschoolinBethesda,Maryland,TheyhaveworkedwiththehistoricpreservationandrestorationofMurfreesboro,N.C.wheretheyarerestoringahome..MustachesAndOldClothesAttentionmen!Don′tforgettoforgettoshavetmmediatelyprecedingJuly41Andwomen!Digoutthoseo.˜−timeyclothesormakenewoldclothesfortheFounh!TheFourthofJulypromisestoholdbigexcitementforWebster,AbigIndependenceDaycelebrationisbeingplannedbytheHistroicalSociety,whichwillbeheldonthegroundsoftheWebsterSchoolJuly1,5,and6,Everymanattendingtheeventmustwearamustacheorbeard,Everywomanmustcomeinahistoriccostumefromthe19thcentury,Violatorsofthis"law"willbefined5 or be placed in a makeshift
"jail" on the school grounds, .
other harpenings at the July event will include
board splitt'ng lessons, booths of all sorts, sales of
cookies and cakes, old fashioned bonnets, a varied
display of mountain cr afts, and of course entertainment.
If you have suggestions for additional activities at
the Independence Day fest, contact Paul and Linda
Cowan, co-chairmen of the Special Events. and Projects
Comm ;:tee,
Webster, North Carolina
EDD DOUGLAS DAVIS
olie :Jirst Sheriff
of ~ackson County
Edd Doug Davis, known as Doog Davis, became in
1853 the first sheriff of Jackson County, With the
exce~ti.on of the period he lived, while sheriff, in
the Jail at Webster, he spent his adult life on his
large farm located between Webster and Cullowhee
Today this area is called Rolling Green, '
Sher iff ~Alvi s and his wife Nancy Allen, daughter
of Nathan Allen of Webster, were the parents of
seve~ sons and two daughters" Mro Davis, who died
at h~s home August 25, 1911, is buried in the family
P!ot m Webster Cemetery along with his sife, two of
his sons, Nathan A, and Joe W, and other members
of later generations of llivises,
The copy of the JACKSON COUNTY JOURNAL
from which the article is reprinted, and the tin-type
picture of Mr , ~Alvis reproduced here ar e are owned
by Cather ine ~Alvis of Big Ridge, Catherine is a
granddaughter of Sheriff Doug ~Alvis,
The following article was taken from THE JACKSON
COUNTY JOURNAL dated January 29 1906 - Webster
N,C, - Mr, E, D, ~Alvis ' '
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
The author of this article was born in Buncombe
County <now Transylvania) Sept, 4, 1827, My father
lived where the late George C, Neil lived to the time
of his death, on what was then known as Lamb's Cr rek
which was a tributary of Fr ench Broad river, It~
head waters were near where llividson's river has
its source, with which it ran parallel, but being much
smaller, It was then known as Ben llividson's river
but of late years the "Ben" has been dropped,
Ther e has been a postoffice at this place for more
than seventy years" Davidson's River postmaster,
Ben .lli vidson, was my great-grandfather.
When I attended school the course embraced
reading, writing, and arithmetic, My teachers were
Turn to page four , , , •
~ ·'We6ster 9s ~ackson County's Hometown"
April 1974
A fetter
:Jrom the President
Dear Friends,
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one
step" and that step in compiling and collecting the
history of Jackson County has resulted in 5,000 copies
each of three newsletters of the Webster Historic
Society; nearly 300 members and 4,000inmembershipfunds;countlessinterviews;donationsofitemstotheMuseumforJacksonCounty′shistory,AbigthanksisdueMarilynJodyandAliceHarrill.MarilyninitiatedtheproposalforandreceivedagrantthroughWesternCarolinaUniversityfromtheAppalachianConsortiumtopublishthenewsletter,establishamuseumandarchives,andproduceaslide−soundnarrativeprogram.AliceHarrillundertheCommunityInternshipprogramatWesternCarolinaUniversityreceivedfullacademiccreditforthewinterquarteraseditoroftheHistoricWebsternewsletter.SheandMarilynarelargelyresponsibleforspreadingaverycontagiousdiseasecalledenthusiasm.Theyhavespenthundredsofhoursontheroad,onthetelephone,inthenewspaperlayouto!tices,gatheringmaterialandputtingmanyJacksonCountyresidentstowork.Thegrantisspent;theWebsterprojectisonitsown,Thecommitteescontinuegatheringoralhistory,givingprogramsforcivicclubsandschoolsandperpetuatingtheideathatNOWisthetimetosetdownthehistoryofJacksonCounty−andwherebetterthanWebster,whichisJacksonCounty′shometown.OnJulylOththeHistoricalSocietywillpayll3,500 to the Jackson County Board of Education
for the old Webster Elementary School because an
an idea whose time has come can't help but succeed.
The school will become the Jackson County Museum
of Living History. The fund-raising committee needs
your help with the Webster idea. If you know wher e
money is a·.11ilable - from individuals, corporations
foundations, etc. - tell us - we'll contact theU.:'
Many grants have already been applied for from foundations
and other sour ces such as the Bicentennial
Commission in N.C. and the America the Beautiful
Fund,
We are hopeful that the County budget for the
1974-75 fiscal year will include a generous donation
toward the effort to preserve Jackson County's History,
But for many of these potential grants we need
non-federal matching funds, '
Th.e next newsletter will be sent only to the membership
of the Webster Historical Society, If you
have not joined but are "infected by the contagious
~n?'usiasm" as the honorable Hamilton Hayes wrote,
JOm. no:v, Send 5,00andcontinuereceivingthispublication,ThensendagenerousdonationtowardthepurchaseoftheWebsterschool,wherewecanhousethehistoryofJacksonCountyandenhancethefutureofthismountainworldwecallhomeThankingyouinadvance′Cordially,BettyPriceBecomeaCharterMemberYoucanhelptomakeHistoricWebsterarealitybyjoiningtheWebsterHistoricalSocietybeforeJulyI,1974,andbecomingachartermember,Theclassesofmembershipandduesforeachareasfollows:Active<residentofWesternN.C.):5.00 yearly
Associate (outside Western N.C.): 5.00yearlyContributing:10.00 yearly
Supporting: 20,00yearlySustaining:30.00 yearly
Life: 100.00Allcontributionsareincometaxdeductible.Page2HISTORICWEBSTERApril1974TheTownofWebster:Then⋅AndNowForonehundreddollarsthetownsiteofwhatlaterbecameWebster,thecountyseatofJackson,wasboughtinApril,1853,The⋅indenturesweremadebythecountywithNathanAllenwholivedontheeighteenacretractdesired.Aboutfiveyearslater,anacttoincorporatethetownofWebsterwaspassedbytheGeneralAssembly,BelowisafacsimileofthisactasitappearsintheSessionLawsof1858−1859,SECTIONI.BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofNorthCarolina,anditisherebyenactedbytheauthorityofthesame,thatthetownofWebsterinthecountyofJackson,beandthesameisherebyincorporatedbythenameandstyleofthe"TownofWebster,"andshallbesubjecttoalltheprovisionscontainedintheonehundredandeleventhchapteroftheRevisedCode,SEC.2,Beitfurtherenacted,thatthecorporatelimitsofsaidtownshallbeasfollows,viz:Beg−,inningatthemouthofLove′smillcreek,thenceupsaidcreektoLove′smill,thencenorthonehalfmiletoastake,thencewesttoTuckasegeeriver,thenceupthemeandersofsaidrivertothebeginningpoint.SEC.3.Beitfurtherenacted,thatthisactshallbeinforcefromandafteritsratification.(Ratifiedthe16thdayofFebruary,1859,)Fromtheoriginalsquaremilecorporatelimits,theboundaries,overtheyears,weresomewhatchanged.TheninMarch1913,theGeneralAssemblyadoptedanacttoamendthecorporatelimitsoftheTownofWebster.Itisasfollows:"SectionI.ThatsectiontwoofchaptersixofthePrivateLawsoftheExtraSessionof1908beandthesameisherebyrepealed,andthereshallbeinsertedinlieutherofthefollowing:"Beginningat⋅themouthofMingus′MillCreelatthesoutheastcornerofJamesDillard′sfarmandrunswithhisbeastlinetoJ.W.Lavis′eastline,thecornerofthecountyhomefarm;thencewiththecountyhomefarmandtheJ.W.Lavis′linetothebendoftheroadatasmallbranchnearthetownofWebsterandbetweenthetownofWebsterandthetownofSylva,thenceupsaidbranchtoabridgeontheSherrillandGribblelands;thencea⋅northwestcoursetotheforksoftheroadbelowTylerBuchanan′shousethencewiththewagonroadtoLUnFrizzellandLaurenceBuchanan′sroadtothepointoftheridgebelowLaurenceBuchanan′sbarn;thencetoF.H.Leatherwood′sbacklinetoA.W.Lavis′line′thencewithA.w.Lavis′backlinetotheTuckasegeeRiver;thenceupthesaidriverwithitsmeanderstothe⋅beginning."Section2.ThattheorderoftheBoardofCommissionersofthetownofWebster,madeandenteredatameetingheldinthetownofWebsterthe23rddayofMarch,1912,establishedtheaboveboundaryastothecorporatelimitsofthesaidtownofWebster,1tobeheld,andheldonthefirstSaturdayinMay,1912,withinsaidboundary,thetaxlevymadeinpursuanceofsaidelection,andallotheractsdoneandcommittedbythesaidBoardofCommissionersinpursuancethereof,beandthesameareherebydeclaredtobelegalandvalid."Section3.Thatthisactshallbeinforcefromandafteritsratification."aratifiedMarch5,1913.(ThisboundaryinformationhasbecomeavailablethroughresearcheffortsofJ.D.McRorie,)TheseboundariesarestillfollowedasWebster′scorporatelimits.TheHistoricWebsterbannerheadwasdesignedanddrawnbyKarenMoscowitz,asophomoreartstudentatWesternCarolinaUniversity.StudentsinProfessorRayMenze′stwo−dimensionaldrawingclassestookthenewsletterbannerheadas⋅aclassproject,usingasanemblemahousemarkerwithalittleboyonahorseatthewell,designedbyMrs,MarthaTaylorofLayton,Ohio.Mrs,Taylormadeasketchoftheboyatthewell,whichwascutoutofmetalbyherfatherandmountedonwood.AccordingtomanyWebsterresidents,thiswellverymuchresembledtheoneinthecenterofWebsterUsingMrs•.Taylor:shousemarkerasa.guide,•M1ssMoscow1tzdes1gnedthewinningbannerhead.MembersoftheHistoricalSocietyExecutiveCommitteechoseKaren′sworkoutofapproximately30entries.Karen,whocomesfromLeona,NewJerseyhasbeenawardedfivedollarsbytheHistoricalSoietyforherefforts.AfterthecountyseatwasremovedtoSylvain1913,Websterbecameaquietresidentialcommunitywithonlyaschool,apostoffice,twosmallgrocerystores,andtwochurches,Therewasnofunctioningmunicipalgovernment.⋅In1954,agroupofWebstercitizensrealizedthatthetown,withanactivemunicipalboard,couldprovidethetownspeoplewithwaterandotherfacilities.ThisgroupaskedstateSenatorLUvidHall,Jr.,thenresidinginWebster,tointroduceintothelegislatureabillreactivatingthetown′scharter.Thisbillwouldalsoprovidefortheappointmentofmunicipalofficialswhowouldserveuntiltheirsuccessorswereelectedandqualified.TheactwasdulyratifiedApril4,1955.(SessionLaws,Chapter423,1955).⋅ErnestPenland,Sr.wasappointedmayorofWebster,andJoeRhinehart,D,DougLavis,GoldmanMonteith,LewisCannon,andClaudeCowanwereappointedcommissioners.InMarch,1957,theActof1955wasamendedtoextendtheofficesofthemunicipalofficialsto1968.Theamendmentalsoprovidedforsuccessorstothoseofficialstobeelectedeverytwoyearsatthestate′sregularelectionperiod,(Chapter60,SessionLaws,1957).AtthedeathofErnestPenland,Sr.,DougLavisbecamemayorandMargiePenlandtookhisplaceAT0NALascommissioner.LavisservedasmayoruntilhewassucceededbyRoyBakerin1966.Becauseofachangeinthestate′selectionlaws,municipalelectionsarenowheldin"off−year"periods,Webster′smostrecentwasNovember,1973,AtthattimeRoyBakerwaschosenmayorandClaudeCowan,LouiseLavis,GoldmanMonteith,MargiePenland,andJoeRhinehart,commissioners.Allwereincumbents.IreneQueenremainedtownclerk,ThepopulationofthetownofWebsterwas166atthelastcount.Approximately104oftheseareeligibletovoteinmunicipalaffairs.NotaxesareleviedandnosalariesarepaidinWebster.Streetlightshavebeenprovidedforsomeyearsandthewatersystemhasrecentlybeenvastlyimproved.Theschool,throughconsolidation,hasbeenremovedandthestoresdisappearedseveralyearsago,Butthepostoffice,recentlymadethirdclass,hasremained.ItandtheMethodistandtheBaptistChurchesarethefocalpointsofcommunitylife,However,inthepastfewmonths,athirdlocaleforinterestinWebsterandbeyondhasmaterialized.TheemptyWebsterElementarySchoolbuildinghasbecometheheadquarters(permanently,aspireitsfounders)oftheWebsterHistoricalSociety,Inc.Thereonoccasion,things−reatJy⋅f0RES⋅..,•.ss•lPostmasterFor34YearsEUGENIAMOOREALLISONbyEsabelAllisonCarltonWhenIwaseightyearsoldandmymotherwasthirty−five,therewasagreatdealofdiscussionatourhousebetweenmymother<Mrs,EugeniaMooreAllison)andmygrandfather,UlnielKillianMoore,abouttheupcomingcivilserviceexaminationinWaynesville,aprerequisiteforthoseaspiringtosecurethe.appointmentaspostmasteratWebster,N,C,Theydec1dedthatsheshouldconferwithmyUncleAndy(AndrewBascombAllison)regardingthismatter.Soasusual,IwastrailingalongwithherwhenshwalkeddowntotheAndyAllisonhome(presentlyownedbytheJ.W.Simpsons)wherethematterwasthoroughlydiscussedandagreedupon,andIpromisedtohelpherifshegottheappointment.MotherwentbybuggytoSylvaandfromtherebytraintoWaynesvillewhereshevisitedinthehomeofcousinMamieGreenwood,sisterofcousinWalterE,Mooreandthewifeofamedicaldoctor,Motherstayedtherewhileshewastotaketheexamination.MygrandfatherkeptRuth,Ulnandme,andgreatwasourdisappointmentwhencousinMamiecalledtoWalterMoorehome(whichhadtheonlytelephoneinWebsteratthattime)tosaythatduetoanextensivebuggyridesightseeingintheWaynesvillearea,mymotherhadmissedthetrainandwouldbethereanextranight.ThiswasherlongesttimeawayfromherlittlebroodsincemyfatherdiedwhenIwassixmonthsold,Anyway,therewasgreatrejoicingwhenshereturnedhomeandevenmoresowhenweheardthatshehadpassedtheexaminationwiththehighestgrade,outdoingmeninthegroup,Hertimeinschool(includingAshevilleFemaleCollegewhileshelivedinthehomeofherbrother,JudgeFredMoore)plushernaturalabilityhadpaidoffandshestartedmakingaliving(1.00 a day to begin with) for her little family,
During the thirty-four years that mother was postmaster
the Post Office was in three locations: first,
in a little building where Mr. Baker's shop and apartment
are now located; next in the old Masonic build·
ing between our place and the home of Mrs, Nancy
Ensley Potts; then back to the Baker Upholstery Shop
location; and last to the little building in the corner
of her yard across the lane from the Monteith home.
Because of the necessity of having the office convieniently
close to our home, the location changed as we
moved, The family moved from our old home (built
by Dr. C.Z. Candler's father at about the time of
the civil war) to Uncle Andy's house , then to the
Aunt Hicks Wilson house <now owned by the Potts)
later to the old jail <Mrs, Margie Penland's place)
which was the principal's home when my sister ,
Mrs. Ruth Allison Morris, was principal of Webster
High School, and finally to mother 's new home, built
after the old Candler house was torn down , on the
same lot which she had owned since my father's
dea.th,
When my mother was postmaster she loved her
work (though it did get aggravating at times she said)
and it enable her to make a living in her own yard
for the most part. She could keep an eye on Ruth,
Uln and me as we grew up, and grandpa too when
he was sick, while she looked after the post office
which was the social, as well as news center for the
community. Sometimes when we all gathered to watch
little Oscar Coward buck dance in the post office
vestibule things would get too noisy and we would
all be sent outside so my mother could do her work,
She wrote and read letters and orders for a few of
the patrons who could neither r ead nor write, and in
emergencies would open up the post offic e at night
and on holidays to better ser ve the community, Service,
honesty, integrity and independence wer e virtues of
great value to her, as they had been to her Godfearing
pioneering ancestors,
During the thirty-four years that my mother
was postmaster she was assisted to some extent
by the following : George Self, grandpa Moor e, my
sister Ruth, Mrs, Margie Penland, Mrs, Evelyn McKee,
Mr. Dan Cowan. When I became old enough I was
officially made assistant, or r eplacement, so I could
substitute occasionally when she was sick or away,
Dear to all of our hearts was the mail carrier, Arthur
Allman, who was always kind, cheerful, accomodating
and generous with rides to and fr om Sylva in his
truck for all of us.
HISTORIC WEJ~STER April 1974 Page 3
The Webster "Mail Box"
Some people have called the Webster Post Office
the "Mail Box" and frequently someone laughingly
remarks that it is surely the smallest post office
in the United States, They seem disappointed when we
tell them there are other smaller. We enjoy our
rather unique building, However, the size of the
building does not designate the size of the Post Office
housed therein.
The Webster Post Office is the oldest office in Jackson
County, It was established as Scott's Creek
(Haywood County) April 5, 1828. Jackson County
had not been established at that time, The Haywood
County and Macon County line was at that time the
Tuckaseigee River at Webster, The first postmaster
was Ulniel Brisson, appointed April 5, 1828, He
was succeeded by Samuel B, -Bragg December 17,
1828, The office was later discontinued for a brief
time and reestablished May 24, 1832 as Scott's Creek.
At that time William Thomas was installed as
postmaster serving till January 27, 1843, Thomas
was succeded by Allan Fisher.
When Mr. Fisher took the office he had a store
in Lovesfield, said to have been located near the
intersection of what is now highway 107 and ll6,
Presumable the post office was operated in his store,
The name of the post office was changed to Webster
on November 28, 1857 while Mr, Fisher was still
postmaster, He ser ved the office for 22 years which
was the longest time any postmaster served until
Mr s, Eugenia M. Allison was the postmaster in later
years. The second court held in Jackson County
was held also in this store. A great-grandson of his,
Mr. Allen Bergin Fisher, Sr .. , now lives in Addie
Community, Route I, Sylva, N, C.
On September 21, 1865 a Mr. George w. Stake
became postmaster and served until April 15, 1873,
Postmaster Cannon was the father of the late Lewis
Cannon of Webster . He was the grandfather of James
~ann?n of Cannon Brothers Gas and Oil Company
m Dillsboro and other descendents of Dillsboro and
the state of Washington,
Succeeding Mr, Cannon was Martin H. Lovelady
who ser ved thre
7 x 5 photograph, bust of a man, the word "Carnegie" is on the standPersons Venners - Wyckoff P70 Divider "W" Accordion Folder "W" P70 Original Index 3. Webster H. Daniel Envelope Webster H. Daniel -Sculptor & his works P70 "W" 16 photosAndrew Carnegie by H. D. Webster 1906 New York Bust is 22' high and 12 1/2 wide through the shoulders [Photographer stamp] The Miller Studio Pierre, S. Dak. Aug - 9 196
Andrew Webster is a regular contributor to A Life in the Day. His personal reflections concern his changing understanding of the relationship between his own alcoholism and mental health problems over the last five years. He suggests that physicians need to understand why both conditions need to be treated for either to improve.</jats:p
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
No full text
