A Bit of Buncombe and Beyond by Mary McPhail Standaert
January 3, 2023 “The Back Story”
Asheville began acquiring land in the upper North Fork Valley to provide water for its growing population in 1903, purchasing 4,700 acres from William Patton. The original trail to Mt. Mitchell was closed and rerouted through Montreat. The watershed lands are now approximately 15,000 acres. Some families sold willingly, others were forced to sell and to leave their ancestral homes which dated back to the 1790s. Some chose to put their money into the bank only to lose both land and money when the banks failed in 1930. Others refused to deposit the money, unwilling to acknowledge the right of the city of Asheville to take their property. The Mountain View Baptist Church and cemetery was relocated to higher grounds by church members. To this day, there are members of the original North Fork Valley settlers who speak of Asheville as the "Evil Empire." During the 1920s, families were expelled and forbidden to return, leaving generational memories behind. The Burnett Dam was not constructed until the early 1950s, three decades later.
The North Fork (of the Swannanoa River) Valley Watershed, Circa 1960s (Standaert Collection)
And here's a lovely song/music video
Today's quote:
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am sure the people were sad to lose their land, the government can still take land as a right of way.
The reservoirs are important for cities nearby. Have a great day!
We may have that happen to some neighbors again since an interstate exit is being planned for our own road...so I'm sure some homes will have to be destroyed. But they have already seen their neighbors disappear when the interstate highway was built back in the 60s.
Delete...the common good or individual rights?
ReplyDeleteI think there are efforts to make adequate monetary compensation. I'm glad the cemetery and church were moved. I've been by that cemetery and the newer church...on very high ground now.
DeleteIt is so interesting and enlightening to read the history of where we live these days.
ReplyDeleteI may be in trouble because I didn't ask the author permission to reprint here. I was so glad to see this information, and appalled that it took 30 years before the reservoir was built.
DeleteIt's interesting to read about the places we live or know about. I always liked history in school.
ReplyDeleteI liked history, I didn't like History Tests...memorizing names, dates, especially related to wars. I was already feeling like a pacifist I guess!
DeleteOne place takes from another for its needs. LA should have never been more than a sleepy coastal town, but it grew beyond its water supply and schemed for more.
ReplyDeleteThe Owens Valley suffered for that.
Yes, another case of urban development demanding the water.
DeleteThat 'taking' by the government would be awfully hard to deal with if it was your own beloved land that was being seized 'for the greater good."
ReplyDeleteI know at least one member of that Baptist Church that had to be moved, along with all the graves. He can certainly share the opinions of those who were forced from their land.
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