History (almost) complete

It is no secret that yours truly is on a quest to complete the archives of The Graham Star. When I arrived for duty in August 2019, I was 30 pounds lighter, one hair color darker and without the first nine years of our publication in our bound volumes. As a history buff, this irked me.

Moral confusion, or self-centered cowardice?

Debates and arguments over morality will continue as long as fallen human beings live around each other. We all have blind spots and need clarity to live in this fallen world.

Hangover hike was Sunday ritual

A favorite Sunday tradition of Hoot Gibbs and several young boys back in the 1970s was to hike to the Hangover.  This was no ordinary Sunday stroll, as this is a mountain rising 5,160 feet in elevation, located on the dividing ridge between Big Santeetlah and Slickrock.

The Sacred Harp

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God" (Colossians 3:16). I was serving in Jackson County when I first heard someone sound out a hymn by shaped-note singing.

Legends of gold, silver linger

Stories about lost gold and silver mines continue today in Graham County, with some dating as far back as the 1800s.  There seems to be more evidence that they existed than not, but yet no one has ever found them.

Awake America

The First Great Awakening was a time of revivals that swept the American colonies around 1720 and continued through the 1740s.  The Rev. George Whitfield and others preached for people to “Flee the wrath to come.

God's gift of children

Life in this world is a place where we experience love and heartbreak; it’s a world full of joy and trials.   We tend to live our lives as though we deserve all the joys; hence, we get angry when adversity comes our way – just note how many people reject God because of suffering they’ve endured.

History of locomotive lights

One fact has always stood out to me while doing research on logging and railroads in Graham County: Little Snowbird temporarily had electricity before the city of Asheville. Kanawha Lumber Company came to Graham County in 1899.

We have a Pope!

After the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican firefighters placed a smokestack on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in preparation for the election of a new pope.  After each vote for the Pope, if there is not an election the ballots are burned and the smoke billows black.

Reflecting on a mother's love

I appreciate Mother’s Day more as time passes, especially since it inspires nostalgic memories of a day when men couldn’t have babies and everyone could define a woman – and honor her.