University of North Carolina at Asheville
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Title |
William and Dorothy Hussey Oral History |
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Creator |
Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection |
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Subject |
LCSH: |
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Subject |
Keyword: UNC Asheville ; Botanical Gardens ; Cradle of Forestry ; Habitat for Humanity ; Appalachian Trail ; Asheville-Biltmore Botanical Gardens, Inc. ; Colburn Mineral Museum |
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Description |
Abstract: The Husseys discuss their experience working to develop the Botanical Gardens on the grounds of UNC Asheville. They describe their efforts to make use of public land, to save endangered plants and transplant them into the gardens, and to raise money as well as the interest of the community. They discuss several different kinds of plants that are in the gardens and various garden clubs that have been involved. The difference between native plants and imported plants is also discussed. Dorothy describes her involvement with abused children and Head Start, and various activities to help the poor and the elderly. William describes his involvement with maintaining the Appalachian Trail, and with Habitat for Humanity. They both describe changes that have occurred in the city over the years. |
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Publisher |
D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804 |
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Contributor |
William and Dorothy Hussey |
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Date |
Electronic Record Issued: 2002-05-13 |
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Type |
Sound ; Text ; Image |
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Format |
Physical Description: 34-page abstract ; 2 90-minute audiocassettes and 2 copies ; 43 color photographs ; newspaper articles and brochures |
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Identifier |
http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/oralhistory/VOA/D_H/Hussey_W&D.html |
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Source |
OH-VOA H87 Wi |
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Language |
English |
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Relation |
References: SHRC Dr. William Justice Oral History ; |
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Coverage |
1960's-1995 ; Asheville, NC |
| Rights | No restrictions: Copyright retained by the authors of certain items in the collection or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law. |
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Acquisition |
Donor number: 146 ; Date of acquisition: 1998 |
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Processed By |
Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff |
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Interview Date |
1995-07-04 |
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Interview Location |
Botanical Gardens, UNC Asheville, Asheville, NC |
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Biography |
Both Dorothy and William Hussey have been involved for many years in the development of the University Botanical Gardens, a project which has grown through efforts to save endangered plants and create a garden of native plants for the public. Twelve acres were allotted for their project in 1960 by UNCA (then Asheville-Biltmore College), Volunteers worked to save plants and flowers that were being destroyed by the construction of buildings and roads. They got the community involved and traveled all over the area to collect and transport plants to the gardens. Dorothy runs a bake sale every year in order to raise funds for the project, and has recruited several garden clubs to help with the project. She has also been involved with Family Services, working to counsel girls who were sexually abused. William has worked as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and has helped with maintenance of parts of the Appalachian Trail. |
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List of names |
[II/1/301] Austin,
Deborah |
Tape I, Side 1:The gardens started when Tom Shinn rescued flowers from the right-of-way of the Carolina Power and Light Company. They had a house on Rosewood Avenue off Pearson Drive. They outgrew this and moved to a place on Spivey Mountain near Leicester, where they built a garden, now deeded to the university and opened to the public on the first weekend in May. [Thomas and Bruce Shinn] [12] They were looking for a place to build a garden for the public. Bruce Shinn went to the college and talked with the biology teacher, Cornelia Ann Serota, and chancellor, Dr. Glenn Bushey. A meeting was held in 1960 in Seeley’s Castle, the University had just bought its present property, and 12 acres were allowed for the project. [Two were later given back]. Several articles appeared in the paper urging people to save flowers and shrubs that were being destroyed with the construction of roads and buildings. Weaver Boulevard was not there yet, but Verne Rhoades donated the land in memory of his grandfather (W. T. Weaver). [Cornelia Ann Serota, Dr. Glenn Bushey, W. T. Weaver, Verne Rhoades] [48] Bruce was convinced wild flowers could be cultivated, encouraged garden clubs to participate and "safaris" went out to collect and plant. [63] Study groups were held in St. Mary’s church social hall once a week. People learned together and enjoyed the fellowship. She (Dorothy Hussey) thinks the wall was paid for by Paul Seal. The Asheville Men’s Club participated and she, a member of the Beaverdam Home and Garden Club, gave a $100 check to the new organization. She got involved, got her whole family involved and found it gratifying. [Paul Seal] [81] One day, after working all day and hoping to rest, she was asked to tour some children. The group of black youngsters were well-behaved and shared lunch with her. One child said, "I saw a jack-in-the-pulpit, and it looked just like the picture." It was all worthwhile. (See enclosure) [92] Marjorie McCracken worked in the garden every day. She went up and down Mt. Mitchell to get the orchids growing there, only to discover that, because there was no mist in the garden, they would not thrive. She had slick tires on her car and despite warning from her friends, went around the mountain curve and, with the car stacked with plants, had a flat tire. Spencer Chaplin’s husband Paul, rector of St. Mary’s said, "Let’s pray for help and have our lunch." A Forest Ranger came by, gave her a spare, and made her promise to get 4 new tires. She did. [Marjorie McCracken, Spencer Chaplin, Rev. Paul Chaplin] [124] The volunteer gardeners were told of a place on the Parkway where the land was going to be sprayed and they should remove the wildflowers. The Forest Service gave their permission and 10 cars were filled with plants. To save time they decided to return via the Parkway though they were concerned about being questioned. When they arrived at the Botanical gardens they found themselves surrounded by Police who had been watching them on Broadway. They were suspected of hauling liquor or "making a little chippie" in the back of the car as the trunk lid kept going up and down! They opened the trunk, which was full of plants and shrubs, and said they were with the Asheville Biltmore Botanical Gardens, to which the policeman replied, "I didn’t know you were with the Biltmore Estate." He was urged to keep his eyes on the gardens because there has been a great deal of vandalism! [168] They had one other brush with the law when a group was out digging trilliums. They were stopped and showed their license which was issued by Pete Hanlon some time previously but were told they needed to get a new one in Burnsville. They showed him the three cars full of wild flowers. The police said that he thought they were digging ramps. (see enclosed.) [Pete Hanlon] [190] Ramps look like a lily, are pungent and "make garlic taste like a cucumber." Politicians love them for, when Waynesville and Burnsville have a ramp festival, people come from all around and speeches can be made. They are collected in crates and people will walk 7 miles to gather 4 bushels. They are protected because the gatherers destroy everything else in the search. She has planted some at her home and has cooked them with eggs. [235] Ginseng is another sought-after plant. Mountain people made their living growing, drying, and selling it to China where it is believed to be an aphrodisiac. It has a root that looks like a human body (so does the mandrake which is poisonous) and is sold in health food stores as a refreshing tea. The natives, when they harvest it, know to put the berries back but the uninformed destroy the beds and the galax plant as well. [264] They have gardens behind their house and in the woods. Wild flowers are hard to dig. They have gone all over to find the wild orchid. (see enclosure) [284] Teachers used to have school children go out, pull and press flowers. The Garden clubs now go to schools and show how to get a sample and to explain about the plant. Letters to the editor appear often to educate the public about plant protection. [303] Regarding the discussion about land needed by UNCA to build a new parking lot. (see letters to editor) There has been no agreement with the University. The land belongs to them and two of the 12 acres have, in the past, been returned, as they were needed for dormitory construction. Parking is a big problem. Legally they can take the land if they want. [332] Bill Hussey is more involved with growing vegetables but works at the Botanical Garden. The men painted the bridge (see them in photo at the end of the bridge) the wrong color - it should have been green. Verne Rhoades gave a bridge. Arch and Zeffie Nichols got the Boy Scouts and/or the Job Core to get the rocks out of the stream and rip-rap the sides. [Verne Rhoades, Ottis Green, Arch and Zeffie Nichols] [363] The Hussey family often came to the gardens after church. There were no sheds for tools in the beginning and they kept hoses and shovels in the back of the car. During dry weather, they would water 2-3 times a week. [382] She tells the story of the lost flowers of the Appalachians: André Micheaux came in the 1700’s, climbed to the top of the Roan and declared this was the "Cradle of Forestry" (in Hussey's write up "cradle of botany") He carried cuttings and seeds back to Versailles, France. He had pressed flowers and Aza Gray went there and saw a leaf similar to the galax. He started looking for it - this was 90 to 100 years later. Finally, after much searching, great patches of it were found in Highlands and Cashiers. It was called the "Lost Plant of the Carolinas." [André Micheaux, Aza Gray] [416] Martina Haggard’s husband William, a weather consultant, learned that Duke Power was going to flood an area. She was able to get in touch with the interested group and they gathered to travel to the area. They went in cars, transferred to a jeep and walked a mile to get the plants. They rolled them up and put them into sacks. The beds in the garden were prepared ahead of time with peat moss. They planted all over the garden and watered all summer. [William Haggard, Martina Haggard (daughter of Dr. Martin Waterwitz)] [429] She belongs to the Beaverdam Garden Club, which didn’t do much about the Botanical Garden. Representatives from the various garden clubs would go out on Safaris, bring plants back to put in their own gardens and also to the Botanical Gardens. [450] In 1960, corporation papers and bylaws were drawn up before the University, then Asheville-Biltmore College, moved off the Mountain. Most members were gardeners. It was a well-organized group. Members are responsible for the desk here. Bruce Shinn had a bag garden that she took into schools. Some of the plants preserved were on the endangered list. She was on six boards at one time. She was bringing up boys and helping with two ailing parents and had to curtail her activities. She works in the background now. (See enclosure.) [Bruce Shinn] [474] They had a gardener who was raking up plants and destroyed her area of shortia she had carefully planted. Some people thought that working in the garden meant digging up plants and selling them to make money for the gardens but this, according to Bill, was working against the gardens. Wild flowers don’t grow in bare ground, they die down and come up again. She told her gardener that if he pulled her carefully planted plants up again she would quit - and she did! [516] Lowell Orbison, a retired pathologist, moved here because of his love of trees. He is head of the horticulture committee and was asked to catalogue all the trees in the area by the city. [Lowell Orbison] [529] She has the bake sale every year at the Day in the Gardens and contacted 25 garden clubs. There is a council of Garden clubs that meets regularly. (see enclosure.) [533] Some of the older women did not want to involve the college students. She and Jim Perry, the head of UNCA Biology Dept, think this is a mistake. He felt students could get involved and learn in the process. He would give one unit of credit for their participation. [Jim Perry] [554] The greenhouse which is behind the cabin was a gift. It has been vandalized. A college student was, however, caretaker for a year. [575] Chancellor William Highsmith, deeply involved with campus building, was concerned about the murder of a girl near the garden. Doris Demmon, who had suffered a stroke, was not enthusiastic about the gardens until the National Garden Club of America gave an award. (See enclosure) [William Highsmith, Doris Demmon, Ginger Olson] [590] The National Garden Club of America in 1963(?) gave an award to the Botanical Garden. The French Broad Garden Club fixed lunches, invited the University Board, Dr. C. Ritchie Bell, (who with Dr. William Justice wrote "The Wild Flowers of North Carolina,") from Chapel Hill came and raved about what the group had done. Dr. Highsmith perked up and said, "I didn’t know you had done so much." [Dr. C. Ritchie Bell, Dr. William Justice] Tape I, Side 2:Dot tells about seeing a man lying on his stomach taking photos of shortia. (Dr. William Justice) Most of the pictures he took for the book, which had descriptions by Dr. C. Ritchie Bell, were taken in the gardens. All of his slides were given to the Gardens. Many interesting people took pictures. Dr. Joseph Schandler has pictures from one end of the garden to the other. [Dr. C. Ritchie Bell, Dr. William Justice, Dr. Joseph Schandler] [2/28] Doan Ogden planned where the trees and flowers would be planted (See enclosure). At first it was decided to have large beds of one kind of plant, however, the chipmunks would destroy a whole bed. It was decided to scatter them around. [Doan Ogden] [2/39] The first building on the land was a shed for tools by the blind garden (see photo). This was broken into many times. Then the shelter on the trail was built. A roof was added made of shingles by Jack Davis and covered with creosote. A bunch of workers were having lunch there when a woman who was easily shocked said, "There’s a couple on top of the shelter making love." Dr. Martin Waterwitz, in his thick German accent said: "Well, I guess we’ll have to put more creosote on it." [2/53] The shelter at the head of sunshine garden was given in the memory of Reuben Robertson, who was head of Champion Paper Co in Canton. [Reuben Robertson] [2/57] Picnics used to be allowed in the gardens, but trash was left behind and volunteers had to pick up after them. [2/63] The group wanted a cabin for the garden (See enclosure). A donation was made which turned out to be two cabins - one with marking and the other without. Labor was donated and it was decided to make old-fashioned shingles out of a poplar tree nearby. In Mars Hill one can learn about shingle making. A cousin of Marge McCracken’s from Marion brought a lot of plants for the Garden. When he saw the shingles he said, "Them shingles are going to curl up. You have to do that in the dark of the moon" and they did. He had 14 children, all of them could read, but he couldn’t. [Leona Hayes, Marge McCracken] [2/82] Two cabins were put up with a dog trot between and, despite the fact that it wasn’t authentic, a bathroom was added. [2/97] Only native plants go into the gardens - no imported trees or shrubs. There is a discussion about this, as some things are considered native but in reality are not. Lowell Orbison believes that weeds should be left, but she says that if you leave weeds, that’s all you get. Some poison ivy is left - people need to learn. Some good-smelling plants have been added to the blind garden even though they are not native. There is a discussion about removing them. Sometimes a request is made to plant a rose garden in someone’s memory, but this can’t be allowed. [Lowell Orbison] [2/128] Commemorative plaques are put up and there is one for William Knight whose whole garden was moved here. The Crayton trail was named for Frank Crayton, a nurseryman who knew plants. He (see enclosure) worked with Chauncey Beadle and William Knight, connected with the Biltmore Estate. John Bartron took seeds of the Franklinian tree to Philadelphia from Northern Georgia where it was named in memory of Benjamin Franklin. It has not since been found in the wild, but there is one in the meadow. [William Knight, Frank Crayton, Chauncey Beadle, John Bartron] [2/145] There is another rare tree in the bog garden, it doesn’t even have a common name. The manager here tries to take some rare plants home to propagate. [Ed Caldwell] [2/163] She took some shortia home and wanted to spread it around so it wouldn’t die. She took some to Bonnie Dykeman, the author, Wilma Dykeman's [Stokely] mother. Wilma used to write an article once or twice a week for the Knoxville Journal and a woman, having read it, drove to see it. [Wilma Dykeman (Stokely), Bonnie Dykeman (Wilma's mother)] [2/191] The Botany Building, where we are taping, was a dream Doris Demmon talked about for years. Bob Kemp, a retired science teacher moved here and was interested in the gardens. A different group, some from the Biltmore Forest, got involved and they got in a fundraiser. They raised over $150,000. She wasn't keen on it but thinks it was a good idea now. Garden clubs send people over to work in the office. [Doris Demmon, Bob Kemp][2/210] Space is rented out to groups such as the Rhododendron Club, Bonsai Society, and Audubon Society. The Sierra Club put up birdhouses. [2/220] He became involved with the Tuesday Group through John Trump who was active with the garden and a hiking group, before his death. The group is not organized but meets to paint and are now working on a rail fence. On Friday he works on the Appalachian Trail. [John (Jack) Trump] [2/231] The Men's Garden Club takes care of flowers at the Main Library, Boy Scout Council and the Asheville Community Theatre. (photos). [2/263] We became the "Tree City" and people were encouraged to plant dogwood along Merrimon Ave. (see Tony Lord tape). [2/271] They discuss the Ridge Law (the first following a building in Boone) and indicate that inspectors have been easily paid off. Some of the houses are going to be washed off the hills because of construction. (see John Cort and Mary Lloyd Frank tapes). [2/303] On this property there is the cabin, a greenhouse, and a little shed where lawn mowers are kept. A bathroom was put in. People would come to work and sit on the porch having lunch. There was a wonderful feeling of camaraderie - some with doctors' degrees, some who couldn't read. [2/314] The log cabin was furnished with primitives. She bought 2 quilts for 25 cents each from women on Merrimon Ave. who had used them in their homes. There was a rope bed and a straw-tick mattress, tables and chairs. Vandalism is a constant problem. [2/346] They built a spring house and Gladstone McDowell put up a sign saying "Margie's Spring House." (for Margie McCracken) Lee Jainer called to say that her garden club had put up $125 for that spring house and Margie had nothing to do with it. This is one of the problems in writing a history. [Gladstone McDowell, Margie McCracken, Lee Jainer] [2/378] The fern garden was donated by the Captain Cromwell Murray Family and Gila Murray said she had planted the Crayton trail herself. Bob Kent is interested in history and Glenn Palmer asked Dot Hussey to write the history of this building, the Botany Center. She is gathering material for it. [Gila Murray, Captain Cromwell Murray, Bob Kent, Glenn Palmer] [2/382] She is also doing a history of the mineral museum. [2/391] One of her sons died at age 22. The other, Bill Hussey, Jr., is 40 something. They enjoyed coming over to the gardens and working. [Bill Hussey, Jr.] [2/397] Jim Perry is head of the Biology Dept. at the University and has worked with the gardens since he came here about 1960. She thinks it is good for everybody if the students get involved. Chapel Hill started their garden later than Asheville and they had 75 volunteers right away. The students are given one credit. Dr. C. Ritchie Bell thinks they made a mistake in not encouraging student involvement. [ Jim Perry, Dr. C. Ritchie Bell] [2/421] Wildflowers in the gardens are not to be picked. Some are potted and sold. In order to get a plant from the National Forest a permit must be obtained in Burnsville. When they were stopped some years ago the group had a permit from Pete Hanlon, however he had retired by that time. [Pete Hanlon] [2/440] see photos). Space in the buildings was rented to non-profit organizations. The buildings were later sold by the Methodist Church. (photo) [2/464] Brooks-Howell, 266 Merrimon Ave (photo) is a Methodist Retirement Home. It is built around the old T. C. Smith home, which is now used as a dining room. (photos). [2/466] T. . Smith had a pharmaceutical house on Broadway. Country people gathered plants and bark from trees which were sold by the pound to the company. They nearly wiped out the birch tree for wintergreen and also sold bark from the wild cherry. Synthetics for these plants were developed (enclosure). [T. C. Smith][2/502] Dr. Arnold Krochmal wrote a book on the medicinal use of plants, and plants that could be used for survival. He traveled to South America and Russia to show people how they could live off the land. His wife, Connie Bright Krochmal, living in Haw Creek, experimented with dyes. [Dr. Arnold Krochmal, Connie Bright Krochmal] [2/543] She volunteered at Family Service before Head Start was begun. She worked with 30-year-old grandmothers in housing projects. When she was told that the city promised a playground that never developed, she gave advice on how they could do it themselves--they had never thought of that. She helped them grow vegetables and put on rummage sales (photo of playground at Pisgah View). The men at Central Methodist built a playground (photo). [2/605] She likes to teach about "what's out there." Bill Miller talked to the Mineral Society about the lava formation visible in the cut. [Bill Miller] Tape II, Side 1:Bill became involved with the Appalachian Trail through John (Jack) Trump, who also worked at the garden. There were half-day and full-day trails, some strenuous. The trail from here runs along the Tennessee and North Carolina line. The volunteers are supposed to be responsible for a 5-mile section. They cut weeds and remove trees that fall across the path. The area around Bald Mountain will be relocated because of erosion, which is the biggest problem. The people from here would drive in to Wolf Laurel (the area was protected against vandals and the workers had to be let in) and park within 100 feet of the trail. They would walk up 3 or 4 miles or down 3 or 4 miles where the trail crosses I-40, and are supposed to pick up beer cans and trash. [John (Jack) Trump] [II/1/36] This is like the "adopt a highway" program but the weeds are mowed by the State. [II/1/40] They built shelters and put in water bars, dropped by the Forest Service helicopter, to divert water from the trails and control erosion. [II/1/47] Shelters were built close to a spring and a toilet was installed so that campers could spend a night. There was also a place provided for building a fire. He was quite proud of his section. [II/1/58] Work on the trails is coordinated in Hendersonville by the Federal Government. The hiking club holds an annual meeting to elect officers. There are 4-5 hundred members. [II/1/74] The Forest Service and Parkway want to keep the trails open. There will be a trail from the Mountain to the Sea when additional land is purchased. [II/1/82] The public finds out about the trails and the hikes through the Chambers of Commerce. John (Jack) Trump would leave off circulars for the trail and for the Botanical Gardens. The Mineral Society also left flyers there. It is hard for organizations to keep up this service, despite its importance. [John (Jack) Trump] [II/1/98] During the 60's, when schools were forced to integrate, many whites moved to the county where there were few blacks. A woman who worked with him at the Weather Bureau lived on Huston St. She told him about "block busting" where blacks would pay a tremendous price for a house and then property values would go down. This happened all over in middle class housing areas. Redevelopment came later. With the cut some very nice houses had to be destroyed. They both feel that this is an admitted mistake. The area around the train depot, on Chicken Hill and Nasty Branch (see Marjorie McDowell tape) were cleaned out. There were fancy neighborhoods in this area. [II/1/149] The Allen Center was started by the Methodist Church. He thinks the small church had originally been for whites and was donated to the Blacks. (see enclosed Berry Chapel) [II/1/155] When Richard Nixon was President, it was decided to expand the tunnel, but when he went out of office plans were changed. He feels that money was passed under the table and that it was also political. People argued for over a year about the tunnel versus the cut. Letters were written to the editor. There was the same controversy and delay about placement of the Civic Center. Parking is terrible for the Civic Center and for Pack Place. The garages are inadequate. The other parking areas involve too much walking. [Richard Nixon] [II/1/180] They are foreclosing on Pack Place. Pack Place was paid for with private money. Pack Plaza wanted to incorporate Pack Place in their plans. She pointed out, as a member of Pack Place board, that this was not possible legally. Private and public funds cannot be mixed. If they had been successful, Pack Place would have gone under. [II/1/197] Before moving to Pack Place, the Gem and Art Museums were in the basement of the Civic Center. [II/1/211] Pack Place is located where the old Plaza Theatre was (along with the library). John Rogers, an architect, was going to renovate, but he said the only good thing about the building was the ceiling, which had been leaking for 10 years. She pointed out that this was not practical and the engineers, when people were about to move in, condemned the building. This took several years. The building was on the Historic Register, and it took several years to get it off. [John Rogers] [II/1/218] Vincent Marron was the director and the bulldozer pushed the building in. There was a night club upstairs, the Castle Loma. Some wanted to preserve it. Roger McGuire talked about what an asset this would be for the city. It was going to cost 9 million dollars and ended up costing 14 million. (see Roger McGuire tape) The city and the county are putting a lot of money in it now to keep it going. [Vincent Marron, Roger McGuire [II/1/261] The Community Arts Council, along with the Janirve Foundation and the Community Foundation, (see John Schell tape) contribute to Pack Place. The money from the Janirve Foundation came from one family and has more to contribute than the others. The Botanical Gardens puts money into the Community Foundation. Pat Smith is the administrator. (see enclosed) [Community Foundation, Janirve Foundation, Ray Poston, Pat Smith] [II/1/301] In 1969 the Mineral Museum was out of funds. At the request of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau, admissions had not been charged. James Parker, who was president of the Arts Council that year, appealed for funds, received them and has received them every year, though there is controversy as to whether or not minerals should be classified as "art." Deborah Austin has been chairman for years. The Council, which started about 25 years ago, and had an office in the Civic Center, has a fund drive every year, and publishes the Arts Journal monthly. (enclosed) [II/1/361] The city has been very good about art and culture. A practice room is donated in the Civic Center but charges for concerts. She has been secretary of the "Rock Club" (S.A.M.S.: Southern Appalachian Mineral Society) for years, secretary for the board of the Art Museum for years, and is presently corresponding secretary for the Botanical Gardens. [II/1/390] She feels that a lot of people have worked hard to develop downtown and have done well in several areas. She doesn't believe the center will come back to be a shopping center again, a situation shared with many other cities. Many consultants have been hired and the Mineral Museum paid $25,000 for 5 days to a consultant who knew nothing about the museum and his report was inadequate. Tape II, Side 2:Bill has been involved with Habitat for Humanity when a house was being built on Congress Street about ten years ago. Free lunches were served every day by Fine Friends, Peterson's Grill, church auxiliaries. The lot was given by a member of the Central Methodist Church. Churches take turns and different denominations assume responsibility for a building. Right now a house is under construction on Caribou Road and two were built near the Irene Wortham Day Care Center (see Minnie Jones tape). Not all homes go to blacks, one has gone to a Korean family, another to a Russian. Plumbing, wiring and heating are done by contractors. The people getting the house put in 400 hours of work, either in the store (see photos) or working on the house. This is called "Sweat Equity." If a recipient is physically unable to work, they find someone to work for them. Habitat started under President Jimmy Carter and is headquartered in Americas, Georgia. (see enclosed) No More Shacks by Millard Fuller is a book about this. (enclosed) The Husseys have been on building teams in Central America and Bill has helped rebuild areas damaged by natural disasters. [Jimmy Carter, Millard Fuller] [II/2/78] They build churches, schools and a youth hostel in Panama. Her sister, Marjorie Clark, is a Baptist, but they got her involved and she has gone 4 times. [Marjorie Clark] [II/2/86] With this work one's viewpoint changes. People have so little but they are happy. When she went back to Jamaica, the people she had known from previous visits met her at the plane. A young girl came to her with a problem, and when it was learned that her father had been raping her, Dot drew on her experience here, and with the social worker and minister, was able to help establish a support group for this common problem. "The Lord puts you in funny places at funny times," she said. [II/2/120] He is wearing a Bele Chere T-shirt and said that he sold tickets and carried ice water to the stands. She, through Parks and Recreation and the Colburn Mineral Society, had a sand box containing minerals children could dig for. She would tell them what they had found, where it had come from and how it can be used. She also does this for Hey Day at the Nature Center. [II/2/135] The Colburn Mineral Society has tours. The Husseys go on a field trip once a month. [II/2/155] Jim (James) Parker was in on the beginning of the museum. Burnham Colburn, one of the developers of Biltmore Forest (see Jane Bingham tape), came here because of his interest in minerals. His son was in the Asheville School for boys. (see Webb tape) He discovered the Hiddenite mine in Statesville and had the largest collection which he shared with different museums (see enclosed). In 1955 he offered his collection to the city of Asheville, but it had no money or a place to display it, so he sold it to the University of South Carolina, keeping 200 specimens for himself. He died in 1969, and his son called Jim Parker, offering the collection, if it would be displayed. The Mineral Society was interested (the Society was founded by Colburn in 1931). An auto show room was converted into a museum and opened to the public in 1960. It then moved to the Civic Center in about 1976 and then to Pack Place. They had a paid curator (Ida Lee Wilson) for many years, but the rest of the work was done by volunteers who went into the schools giving programs. [James Parker, Burnham Colburn, Ida Lee Wilson] [II/2/197] They are starting a science project at the Eliada Home. (see Margaret Dowdle tape) [II/2/206] Because of Caroline Miller, the director, who is leaving at the end of this month, the auxiliary of the Mineral Society has not been working with the Museum. [Caroline Miller] [II/2/223] The Mineral Society built the Museum and ran it for 30 years, but the new director did not need the volunteers, so they launched out on their own projects. [II/2/230] The Mineral Society is affiliated with the South Eastern and the American Federations but have bylaws of their own. One of their members was a state representative. The group met here last year. She lists the minerals in the area. [II/2/253] Mica mines are used for silicon chips (see Robert Bunn) and vermiculite is used for insulation (see George Coggins tape). The quartz for Mt. Polomar Observatory came from here. [George Coggins] [II/2/295] The State Mineral Research Lab on Coxe Avenue (see photo) has revolutionized mining by developing a flotation process to separate minerals. [II/2/336] Regarding changes in the city over the years: he said that a lot of factories have closed, forcing workers into low paying jobs. The standard of living is therefore lower. Textile industries have moved to countries with cheaper labor and our country hasn't set limits on imports. It is very involved and is taking place all over the world. Retirement areas, such as Wolf Laurel, and retirement homes are a new phenomena. Many complexes are owned by out of state companies. However the Methodists, Episcopalians and Baptists have homes. [I think there is a Lutheran home also.] [II/2/400] He would like to see more people move down town. She would like to see a grocery store and dime store but doesn't feel the center will ever be the hub of trade again. She said that many studies have been made and we've had enough studies. (see enclosure) |
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