May 19, 2012

The Real Old Drover’s Road (part 1)

Eastern side of French Broad River near previous site of Smith’s Bridge, 1883.

North Carolina was likely the poorest state in the south. It had no great rivers that ships could navigate. The state had a few minor port cities, but none of those had a good harbor. Compared to all … [Read more...]

Captain Edmund Sams, Part 2

Nancy Foster Alexander (1797–1862), grand daughter of Captain Edmund Sams.

Captain Edmund Sams settled on North Hominy Creek when he first moved to what is now Buncombe County. He lived near his brother-in-law John Webb (1765–1825). John Webb had married Stacy Young … [Read more...]

Captain Edmund Sams, Part 1

The 1903 court house replaced the 1876 court house but it was moved. The new building faced College Street, near the present court house, and was on four acres donated by G.W. Pack. The 1903 court house remained until 1928 when the present County Court House was constructed and the 1903 Court House was torn down. Just above and to the left of the pediment on the building front, the top of the new City Building designed by Douglas Ellington may be seen.

Captain Edmund William Sams was born in 1750 in what was then Lundenberg County, VA. The section his parents lived in became Halifax County in 1752, Pittsylvania County in 1767 and Henry County in … [Read more...]

Cane Creek Cemetery— The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly News

Cemetery vandalized

Well, this is very ugly news. The Town Crier generally does not publicize news about crimes or bad deeds but this is important. On August 15, on the heels of our article on Cane Creek Cemetery last … [Read more...]

Cane Creek Cemetery Needs Your Help

A community workday at Cane Creek (Fairview) Cemetery.

Cane Creek Cemetery was started May 10, 1795. The cemetery was 216 years old this spring. To the best of my knowledge it is the oldest cemetery in Buncombe County. I am sure quite a few people died … [Read more...]