Few things intrigue me as much as old maps, and the 1886 chart of Catawba County is no exception. Recently I came upon the copy I purchased from the Museum of History in Newton. The poster-sized drawing was rendered by Rev. R. A. Yoder and sponsored by the county school board. They wanted a good visual of boundaries for new …
When you get that creepy feeling…
Some odd experiences have made me a wonder about the paranormal. One of my first ventures into creepiness was years ago at the Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia. We stopped for maybe an hour, but an hour was long enough. There’s something about a place where thousands have died in a short period that has residual energy. I didn’t …
Florence not our first zombie apocalypse
We’ve all heard about preppers who stock up on supplies in case something bad happens that puts them off the grid. Thanks to Hurricane Florence, most of us became preppers ourselves this past week, stocking up on water, nonperishable food, matches, batteries, medications and other supplies. I’m not a hoarder, but I do keep a full pantry. I learned to …
Looking back on the way I worked
If you’re like me, you’ve spent most of your working life in Catawba County. I hadn’t thought much about that until I attended docent training at the Museum of History on the Square in Newton. That’s where “The Way We Worked” will be exhibited from Aug. 10-Sept. 18. I will be one of the volunteers helping to guide visitors through …
If this isn’t a food desert, it sure feels gritty
Dare I say it? Newton is a food desert. It’s been that way since Harris Teeter left. A “food desert” is one of those trendy labels meant to shame corporations for pulling out of less-than profitable locations. It’s officially an area, especially one with low-income residents, that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food. As long as we have …
The curious tale of Isaac Wise
Recently my book club discussed A History of Catawba County by Charles Preslar. In 1954, Preslar, a local reporter, wrote the county’s story including the legend of a local patriot, Isaac Wise. The Wises are said to have lived at the head of the South Fork River. On a modern map, that’s near the intersection of Highway 10 and 321 …
Halloween in Cleaverville
Most adults remember a time when Halloween was a kids’ holiday. There were school carnivals with cake walks, and several evenings of trick or treating. Back then, kids traveled after dark with older kids in charge. They stopped at houses where they knew the people who would play along trying to guess which costumed character was who. It was the …
History repeats itself with Harvey
Most of us watching the Hurricane Harvey recovery are horrified by the destruction and misery. The few bright spots are seeing people and their pets brought to safety and Newton’s own Brock Long, the newly appointed FEMA administrator, in charge of recovery efforts. Meanw hile, breathless reporters claim this is a never-before-seen event. “Record-breaking,” “unprecedented,” “beyond anything experienced,” they say. …
Watts’ debut novel wows this reader
Stephanie Powell Watts is an author you need to know. She grew up in Caldwell County and has beaten the odds to land a major New York publishing deal. Her first novel, No One is Coming to Save Us, was released this spring, and last week I had the chance to read it. Wow! The book manuscript commanded six figures …
I found a stray cat. Then this happened.
Angels are preached about on Sunday, I know, but what I encountered this past Wednesday renews my faith in them. This story begins at the Newton Wal-Mart parking lot. I had stopped by for a few groceries and as I walked to the entrance, I heard a wailing sound—a cat in distress. I looked over along the edge of the …
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