Title from accompanying documentation, see file 204/17/00075.; Condition: Good.; Part of collection: Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Australian Ballet rehearsing "Rites", 1997
Title from accompanying documentation, see file 204/17/00075.; Condition: Good.; Part of collection: Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Australian Ballet rehearsing "Rites", 1997
Title from accompanying documentation, see file 204/17/00075.; Condition: Good.; Part of collection: Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Australian Ballet rehearsing "Rites", 1997
tag=1 data=Reducing firearm injuries. by Daniel W. Webster et al.
tag=2 data=Webster, Daniel W.%Chauld, C. Patrick%Teret, Stephen P.%Wintemute, Garen J.
tag=3 data=Issues in Science and Technology,
tag=6 data=Spring 1991
tag=7 data=73-79.
tag=8 data=FIREARMS
tag=10 data=In the United States, guns now constitute a public health crisis. Their design should be regulated and their availability limited.
tag=11 data=1991/3/9
tag=12 data=91/0782
tag=13 data=CABIn the United States, guns now constitute a public health crisis. Their design should be regulated and their availability limited
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
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