WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

October 6, 2024

Vol. 2, No. 40

WHAT WAS

One of my favorite college trips was to Western North Carolina. Words cannot fully describe the beauty, the food, and the people. From the elderly man bent over the oven in the small bakery outside of Asheville to the history within the mountains, villages, and trails, the rustic warmth was the respite I needed. Images of what was now swirl in endless piles of debris, mud, and destruction left by Hurricane Helene. And yet, something tells me that the resilience of people within and outside of Western North Carolina will do what they can to rebuild, restore, and renew.

The area’s history dates back centuries and is rich with tribal and Spanish artifacts.[2] From the base of the mountains known as the Catawba River Valley, Catawba is named after the Native American tribe who formed alliances with early European colonists. Throughout the centuries, the tribe was significantly impacted by smallpox, war, and competition from other tribes. Although the tribe was terminated in 1959, it later reorganized and eventually gained sovereignty and treaty rights. The tribe’s headquarters are now in Rock Hill, South Carolina, approximately 25 miles south of Charlotte. Rock Hill is also home to three colleges, including Winthrop University.

The Catawba River is 220 miles in length, running from the Blue Ridge Mountains into South Carolina. With more than 8,900 miles of waterways through the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, plants and wildlife are abundant, including more than 40 species of fish and deer, snakes, beavers, otters, and bald eagles. It is home to the Linville Gorge National Wilderness Area and Congaree National Park.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Consider ways you can help the people and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Even if you cannot send money or directly lend a hand, contact local organizations to see whether notes of support or books or journals would be helpful.

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[1] Copyright October 6, 2024. Winston Weekly is a weekly newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles available at www.baylesconnect.com or by e-mail at baylesconnect@gmail.com. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Western North Carolina: A Visual History Through Stereo Views and Photographs by Stephen E. Massengill; www.ashevillehistory.org; www.catawbariverkeeper.org.