Anniversary celebrations conclude with another historic chapter in Robbinsville
Robbinsville – Graham County proved its resilience during a kickoff event Friday, and its love of community during a daylong celebration Saturday observing the county’s 150th anniversary.
Events for the sesquicentennial event started the prior weekend in Fontana Dam and Stecoah, but the main events were in Robbinsville on Friday and Saturday, where the entire county was invited to come together to celebrate Graham County history and traditions.
The homespun event included the rare activation of the Bemis Lumber Company whistle to open the event, comments by elected local and state dignitaries, a community photo in front of the county’s historic courthouse, a Graham County Sports Trivia Game, and an Apron and Jelly/Jam Contest.
Inside the Graham County Courthouse, visitors learned about about county history from historian and event Grand Marshal Marshall McClung and about the Nantahala National Forest, a key driver of the local economy that encompasses about ⅔ of Graham County’s territory, by historian Marci Spencer – who literally wrote the book about the forest.
The event was held on Main Street from Ford Street/Moose Branch Road to the cemetery on South Main Street. Up and down the street, posters told Graham County’s story.
The old Snider’s Department Store at Main Street and Snider Hill – future home to the Graham County Historical Association museum – was opened for a very rare public showing. The old Masonic Lodge/Robbinsville High School building – now privately owned and used to store antiques – was also open to the public. All up and down Main Street were booths offering treats, tidbits and information about local community groups.
Lynn’s Place restaurant offered a special limited menu of either pot roast or pork chops, sides and special dessert selections.
A history tour included stops at the courthouse, Ingrams Drug Store, Snider’s Department Store, Shuler Bed & Breakfast, Collins Dime Store, the Millsaps Building, the cemetery off South Main Street, the old school Masonic Lodge, the old Post Office, the Crwford Hotel, the old library, barber shop, and Blue Beacon — only some of which still exist in their original form.
The Phillips & Jordan building was also open to the public and showed a documentary about the company. Phillips & Jordan, a large construction company headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with 3,000 employees and annual revenue of $570 million, was founded in 1952 in Robbinsville as a land clearing company.
Opening night
It was hot and muggy on Saturday, but on Friday night, about 50 people endured rain to attend a celebration in honor of the late Billy Ed Queen, a Graham County man who attended Robbinsville High School football games and supported the team by offering members a refreshing wet towel that he would throw into the air every time the team scored.
As an homage, white terrycloth towels were distributed to attendees, who lovingly tossed their towels into the air. The towel toss occurred at 7:26 p.m., about 33 minutes before Robbinsville High School scored the first touchdown of the game against Asheville High School.
Queen died in 2008 at the age of 68. His brother Larry Queen led Friday night’s celebration.
“Whenever you talk about Graham County, you have to talk about football,” said County Commissioner Jacob Nelms, who played football for Robbinsville High School and remembers the refreshing face wipes that Queen provided. “Whenever you talk about football, you have to talk about Billy Ed.”
Nelms said that amid the sweat, dirt and sometimes blood, Queen’s face towels were a “relief, exhilarating – a lifesaver.”
Moreover, opposing coaches came to know Billy Ed Queen, as well.
“One thing they despised most is that towel suspended motionless for a moment, in the fall air,” Nelms said.
The event was moved off the square and underneath the overhang at Millsaps Store amid driving rain. Town workers brought out tents to shelter attendees and the event went on as scheduled.
Event winners
Saturday’s festivities were packed with a slew of activities and contests for the public to participate in.
Winners are as follows:
* Apron Contest: Iva Lee Dula. The apron was 100 years old and brought to the event by Jimmie Holder. Dula wore the apron. The Robbinsville cheerleaders helped host the apron contest and the squad’s choice was Aynsley Clifford’s apron, which was brought by Clifford’s daughter Lynn Brown;
* Essay Contest: Daphne Barlow;
* Jelly/Jam Contest: People’s Choice was awarded to Janice Leopold (cherry jam); Eastern Star Choice was Sue Clark (nectarine); Shriners Choice, Audie Phillips (cherry jelly); Beginner’s Award, Ashley Burchfield (peach jam).
* Oldest Preacher: Max Turpin;
* Sports Trivia Contest: Coy Adams.
Publisher/editor Kevin Hensley also contributed to this report.