Hurricane Helene: Appalachian History

Founded on honesty, hard work, conservative management, and family commitment, Carolina Tractor & Equipment Company was established in 1926 by L.M. Weisiger. "Mr. Les," as he was known, became an engineer for the South Carolina State Highway Department after serving in the US Army during World War I. To meet the growing demand for new roads during the mid-1920s, he formed Weisiger Paving Company and later, in 1930, purchased the controlling interest of Carolina Tractor. Under his leadership, Carolina Tractor & Equipment Company experienced great success and growth. Weathering the Depression and expanding across the state of North Carolina, the company opened additional offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Hickory, and Greensboro. In 1965, Mr. Les turned the company over to his son, Ed I. Weisiger Sr. Mr. Les chaired the company board until his death in 1980; his wife, Katharine, then took over. True to its historical roots, Carolina Tractor & Equipment Company remains a local, family-owned company aligned with the interests of the customers it serves throughout North Carolina.

DuPont Forest protects thousands of acres of trees, five lakes and more than one hundred miles of multiuse trails. It attracts hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers from all over the United States, and its six waterfalls have been featured in movies like The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans. All of this natural beauty is easily accessible, increasing its appeal. It took not only the generosity of a multinational company but also Southern Appalachian grit and self-reliance and local activism to make these benefits available to all. DuPont Forest is young, and its future is still unfolding. Author and hiker Danny Bernstein traces the past of DuPont State Recreational Forest and shows its potential.

Johnson City's growth was transformed through development of transportation in East Tennessee. Trails first blazed by migrating buffalo and Native Americans evolved into trails for stagecoaches, tracks for rail lines, and paved roads for automobiles. Henry Johnson realized the potential for the area and took a risk in 1854 when he bought a parcel from Abraham Jobe at the junction of the proposed East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad and the stage road to build a home, store, and depot. The community that arose around this complex was known by many names in its early days, including Blue Plum, Haynesville, and Johnson's Depot. However, on December 1, 1869, Johnson City received its first charter of incorporation from the State of Tennessee. As Johnson City approaches the 2019 sesquicentennial of the city's incorporation, this collection of postcards provides a look back at the people, places, and scenery around Johnson City.

Over the past two hundred years, Western North Carolina has evolved from a mountainous frontier known for illicit moonshine production into a renowned destination for craft beer. Follow its story from the wild days of saloons and the first breweries of the 1870s through one of the longest Prohibitions in the nation. Eventually, a few bold entrepreneurs started the first modern breweries in Asheville, and formerly dry towns and counties throughout the region started to embrace the industry. The business of beer attracts jobs, tourists and dollars, as well as mixed emotions, legal conundrums and entrepreneurial challenges. Join award-winning beer writer Anne Fitten Glenn as she narrates the storied history of brewing in Western North Carolina.