Day 4 : Wednesday, July 9th In Boone, North Carolina began as a very sunny , cool breeze, comfortable sort of day. Perhaps 75 degrees, though a brief afternoon rain storm would pass over our campus later in the day.
The NEH Workshop participants attended two morning lectures given in the Belk Library. The first presentation was by Dr. Bruce Stewart, an Appalachian historian. His discussion was based on our reading of Ted Olsen’s article Public Interest? The social and cultural impact of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a depression-era ‘public works’ project. Dr. Stewart explained why the BRP was constructed where it was and why it took over fifty years for both the Federal
Model of the Linn Cove Viaduct, Grandfather Mountain
and State Governments to build it. In 1899, the Appalachian National Parks Service Association in Blue Ridge saw a need to create a parks -to-park road system in the East. By 1910, people were purchasing cars and needed smooth, paved roads to drive over. A good roads campaign was launched to create a paved road infrastructure. Problems that labourers and engineers faced during construction as well as who benefited from the BRP was discussed. Other major historical events played a part in delaying the construction project: WWI and WWII diverted funds towards the war efforts as well as fewer men to labour in North Carolina instead were serving in military theaters in Europe and in the Pacific. The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 and Public Works Administration (Title II) deed a goal to employ local people through such infrastructure improvement programs. Initially 3.3$ million was set aside to get poverty stricken areas of America back to work as a means to combat the negative economic impact of the Depression in America. The BRP was constructed in sections, though not consecutive sections from point A to point B. This piece meal method provide jobs to the areas most impoverished first, also conflicts in obtaining land from current land owners (many farmers were hesitant to sell portions of their fertile land because they were not benefiting by selling off a swath of the land. This division of their property into two, and not being granted a right of way access to the park way was a serious source of conflict.By 1935, unemployment in America was nearing 25% of the population. In September 1935, BRP construction began, finishing in 1987 with the Linn Cove Viaduct (Section 2H).
Sarah Potwin, Belk Library, Appalachian State University
During break time, I browsed the shelves in the children’s collection of the library. I located a copy of the Smoky Mountain Rose: an Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder , as well as Gloria Houston’s Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree. I am thinking about how these two children’s novels can be incorporated into my lesson plan at the end of the workshop.
Our second morning presentation was by Dr. Fred Hay, Director of the Appalachian Collection. He presented a brief introduction to the Appalachian Collection and Oral History. An origins of the Appalachian Studies and the construction of its accompanying archival collection was explored. Workshop participants were given a tour of the fourth floor facility located in the new Belk Library building. Dr. Hay also demonstrated a few of the Archives on line tools to help researchers.
After lunch, Ms. Rebecca Baird, an instructor in the Appalachian Studies Department presented a lecture on the topic of diversity and class in Blue Ridge Parkway’s Appalachia. Ms. Baird discussed the culture of poverty and various stereo types many Appalachian peoples have been labelled with.
Today’s discussions have buttressed the topic of the BRP’s construction. Without looking at the people who live in this area, their culture and their society, one cannot fully understand the need for the BRP’s placement in this area. By looking at the culture of the Appalachian Mountains, the need for the BRP is clarified.
After another short break, our Master Teachers presented several web sites to assist participants in planning their Appalachian themed lessons. We broke off into discussion groups according to the likeness of our area of teaching and shared a few best practices.
After a 90 minute free time break, participants ate supper then watched Where the Lilies Bloom , a 1972 movie filmed in Appalachia.
