, 10·900·b (Rev. 8/2002) OMS No. 1024·0018 (Expires 1·31·2009) ~tates Department of the Interior Park Service .Itional Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form I his fann is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instrucllons in How to Complete the Multiple Properly Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 168). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor. or computer to complete all items. _X_ New Submission Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing H istOlic and Architectural Resources of Ashe County, North Carolina, c.1799 - 1955 B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, Identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Topography, Geography, Prehistory and Settlement of Ashe County Through 1860 Slavery, the Civil War, and the Age of the Yeoman Farmer: 1860 - 1915 ~-hange Comes with a Full Head of Steam: 1915-1929 '\ ational Crisis, Local Impact: 1930 - 1955 "'she County After 1955 :::. Form Prepared by 1a me/title __S",lccle""n.c.·yLJ""o",i""ne",s,-W-'-'-.ly",a",tt",a""n""d",L",o,,,r!...i T"-,,,o I""h",,' v-"el!...'-",J o"'n"'e"'s _______________ ;tl'eet & number 21 E. Main Street, Suite 202 telephone (540) 381-3336 ity or town _-,=C",lll=·i=st",ia",l""ls",b-"Ul,",·g~ __________s.tate VA zip code 24073 ). Certification 5 the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National egis!sf documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission eets the procedural and profess/onal reqUirements set forth In 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interiors Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and storie Preservation. _ See continuation sheet for additional comments.} 9 nature and title of certifying official Date J\Olth Carolina Department of Cultural Resources ate or Federal Agency or Tribal government ereby certify that this multiple property documentation fonn has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related propertIes for listing :he National Register. )nature of the Keeper Date of Action · Architectural Resources of Ashe County. North Carolina. c.1799-1955 North Carolina .v1ultiple Property Listing State Jie of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following Information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheets in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill In page numbers for each section In the space below. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts (If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) Topography, Geography, Prehistory and Settlement of Ashe County Through 1860 E2 Slavery, the Civil War, and the Age of the Yeoman Fmmer: 1860-1915 E16 Change Comes With a Full Head of Steam: 1915-1929 E35 l'i ationai Crisis, Local Impact: 1930 - 1955 E46 Ashe County After 1955 E57 F. Associated Property Types (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements.) Type 1: Agricultural Properties F64 Type 2: Houses F76 A. Log F77 B. Frame F78 C. Masonry F83 fype 3: Institutional Properties F87 A. Churches and Cemeteries F87 B. Schools F92 C. Government Buildings F93 D. Medical Buildings F94 E. Transportation Resources F95 fype 4: Commercial Buildings F97 A. Stores, StoreslPost Offices, and Gas Stations F97 B. Recreational Properties F99 'ype 5: Industrial Buildings FlOI ;. Geographical Data G104 I. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods HI05 )iscuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) Major Bibliographical References Il07 is! major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, her State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) 3.perwork Reduction Act Statement: This infonnaUon Is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for ling or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit In accordance til the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 at seq.).1 A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person Is not required to sp~nd to a collection of Infonnatlon unless It displays a valid OMS control number. itimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this fonn Is estimated to average 120 hours per response IncludIng the time for reviewing "tructlons, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the tonn. Direct comments regardIng this burden estimate or any aspect of this form the Nallonal Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 1849 CSt.. NW. Washington. DC 20240. tiPS FORM 10-900-A OM8AppffmJNo.l024.oo18 (6-88) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Historic and Architectural Resources of Section number E Page __1'-----_ Ashe County, North Carolina, c. 1799 -1955 SECTION E - STATEMENT OF HISTORIC CONTEXTS Introduction Dr. Elisha Mitchell, for whom Mount Mitchell, the state's highest peak, is named, visited Ashe County and much of westel1l NOith Carolina during the early nineteenth century. At times derogatOly and at other times glowing, Mitchell's diary of his visit to Ashe County in 1828 tells much about the character of the place. From his vantage point atop Mount Jefferson, Mitchell exclaimed: "Nearly the whole county of Ashe lay at our feet, the Merryanders of the river could be traced as on a map. Some of the plantation in view also presented a noble appearance, but oh, what an ocean of mountains."! Mitchell's description still has meaning for the Ashe County of today. The place is organized by its geography of mountains and the winding routes of the New River and its many tributaries. FOimed in 1799, the county seat of Jefferson and the outlying community of North Fork tlu'ived during the nineteenth century, but were superseded by the growth of the railroad town of West Jefferson after the completion of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad in 1915. The early settlers were farmers and agrarian life dominated the county well into the twentieth centllly. Even today the county is rural with the modest farm complex 11'0m the late nineteenth or early twentieth century being the most numerous propelty type. These farms were served by decentralized communities with general stores, post offices, schools, and churches. Many examples of each of these building types are still found in the county. Once described as a "Lost Province" because of its remoteness, the county was never cut off or isolated from trade. Although difficult transpOitation routes are part of the county's history, there were thriving stores and businesses by the 1830-1850 period and the Ore Knob Copper Mine flourishing during the 1870s. The timber indusuy boomed during the 1915-1930 period after the construction of the Virginia­ Carolina Railroad into the county in 1914. Many of these enterprises are illusu'ated by the county's extant historic buildings. Elisha Mitchell, Dimy ofa Geological Tour by Dr. Elisha Mitchell in 1827 alld 1828 with Illtroductioll and Notes by Dr. Kemp P. Battle, LL.D., (Chapel Hill: James Spmnt Historical Monograph No.6, by the University of North Carolina, 1905), accessed via New River Valley Notes website <http://www.newrivernotes.comlnrvlfoot.htm>. NPS FORM II).900-A OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 (6-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Historic and Architectural Resources of Section number E Page _--'-2'-----_ Ashe County, North Carolina, c. 1799 -1955 AN "OCEAN OF MOUNTAINS": THE TOPOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, PREHISTORY, AND SETTLEMENT OF ASHE COUNTY THROUGH 1860 Topography alld Geography The landscape of western North Carolina has inspired artisans, naturalists, tourism promoters, and residents alike with its rolling hills, clear rivers and streams, and endless mountains. The complex geology of westem NOJ1h Carolina also helped define settlement pattems and the cultnre ofthis mountainous region. The distinct mountains, ridges, and valleys are part of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain that lUns diagonally from Alabama to eastem Canada. In western NOJ1h Carolina, this chain consists of parallel ranges. The Great Smokey Mountains and Unaka ranges define the westem edge, while the Blue Ridge creates the eastern boundary at the edge of the Piedmont. The west side of the Blue Ridge lies at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, creating a plateau reaching westward to the Stone Mountains and penetrated by several passable gaps. The Blue Ridge forms the Eastern Continental Divide, defining the watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Between these parallel mountain ranges are many cross ridges and valleys that separate basins defined by the New, Watauga, Toe, Nolichucky, French Broad, Pigeon, Little Telmessee, and Hiwassee rivers. The New River drains into the Ohio River Basin and is remarkable for its northward flow from east to west across the Appalachian Mountains. The river is also noted for its ancient history. Although unproven, many argne that the New River is second only to the Nile as the oldest river in the world.2 The New River and its tributaries provided access to the nOJ1hwestern-most comer ofN0J1h Carolina, the area eventnally settled as Ashe County. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Stone Mountains, the north and south forks of the New River created rich river valleys surrounded by the beauty of large, symmetrical hills.