When I asked them about 2022, Annika spoke of her new life and career in Spartanburg and the chance to nurture blossoming friendships. I turned to Chris and asked him if he thought 2022 would be a good year for him. He sat in silence for a moment and then flashed a smile that presaged the coming surprise.
Read MoreElaine Thompson loves Christmas. It was her mother’s favorite holiday and a decorating feast every year for her family. It is a tradition Elaine happily carries on at Dunroy, the historic home she and her husband, Michael, own in Flat Rock. Elaine’s mother had a saying in their childhood home when the Christmas season began: “If you don’t move quickly enough, you’ll be decorated too.”
Read MoreChristmas 1993 will always go down in history as one of the best in our family. The path that was set almost thirty years ago remains at the core of Christmas for all of us – out of hand, out of heart.
Read MoreAs it turns out, the onset of a pandemic can be an opportune time to launch a new ministry. When St. John in the Wilderness struggled to find ways for church members to stay connected during the lockdown, parish member Cynthia Easterling and Father Josh Stephens discussed the possibility of doing something outdoors. The result was an unconventional way to do church and to honor the historic church's wilderness legacy.
Read MoreA person’s true legacy is much more than the outward trappings of success traditionally celebrated in our culture. There is a case to be made for defining a person’s legacy as “acts of kindness done well, and without expectation of reward or recognition, that find a special place in people's hearts and that are the most important.”
By this latter definition, Mike Sollum and Don Hubbs left a legacy both impressive and transformational.
Read MoreSunday night, November 28, 2021 was a wake-up call for the Village of Flat Rock. A fire that erupted early that evening on one of the historic properties of the community could easily have destroyed the entire estate had it not been for neighbors and the prompt response of the Blue Ridge Fire Department.
Read MoreThanks to the dedication and passion of four women entrepreneurs, our small village of Flat Rock is blessed with unusually diverse and intriguing options for holiday shopping. Within the space of a short walk in downtown Flat Rock, shoppers will find an enchanting assortment of crafts, apparel, jewelry, gifts, fine art, and warm smiles as they seek out that perfect gift for the special people in their lives.
Read MoreMuch of the early religious significance of Thanksgiving has been lost and it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. Over the years most families have developed some traditions associated with Turkey Day, from the food served to the pre and post-feast activities. My personal favorite is the pine cone turkey with colored construction paper feathers … by Missy Izard Schenck
Read MoreThe community of East Flat Rock is east of the Flat Rock community; therefore, it was named East Flat Rock in the early 1900s. It is and was an area of bogs and wetlands, with numerous small creeks flowing into Bat Fork Creek. Bat Fork Creek then flows into Mud Creek. East Flat Rock was one of the earliest towns in the county.
The community was sparsely settled prior to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Until machinery was invented and purchased that could drain the bogs, making much of the area suitable for farming, early settlers found farming in the area difficult. In the first 100 or so years of county settlement, the community was considered a part of Flat Rock and the Upward community.
Read MoreWhen the antique beauty of Flat Rock was threatened in the 1960s with the demolition of two historic properties and the burning of another, a nonprofit organization was formed with the purpose of helping to protect as much as possible of the community’s unique character and the preservation of the area’s historic sites and values. This organization was named Historic Flat Rock, Inc.
Read MoreAlthough still a relatively young man, Michael Dages has managed to cram an impressive volume of experience with parks and outdoor activities into his 27 years. His latest adventure is his new job as Park Ranger for The Park at Flat Rock, and his experience and outgoing personality seem to be the perfect fit for overseeing one of the area’s favorite outdoor destinations.
Read MoreBorn to two musically talented parents, Nat Zagree’s earliest memories invariably involve music. In the Zegree home, music infused and informed almost everything the family did and was a priority for Nat, his older sister, and his parents. “Before I could even count my fingers,” recalls Nat, “My father had my fingers on the piano.”
Read MoreWhether it was by foot, stagecoach, train, or car, traveling to the mountains was always an exciting adventure and still is. It is hard to imagine a two-week journey by stagecoach with our 70 mph speed limit now that I-26 makes the trip from Charleston to the mountains a four-hour drive.
A further history of the evolution of transportation into Flat Rock, Henderson County, and western North Carolina.
By Missy Izard Schneck
Lisa Bryant, Artistic Director of Flat Rock Playhouse, walked into the spotlight at the center of Leiman Mainstage. Stepping up to the microphone, Lisa prepared to welcome the audience to the Playhouse and to introduce a new performance - as she’s done dozens of times before.
This time, however, was very different.
Read MoreOn Sunday, October 3rd at 4 p.m., Father Josh Stephens will preside over a Blessing of the Animals and he readily admits it will be a departure from the usual service at St. John in the Wilderness. “The service is always beautiful, but typically filled with a holy chaos,” he says with a grin.
Read MoreI have forgotten many things in my life, but there is one moment I will never forget. In my mind, I can still see pretty much every detail. It was the first time that I went to get groceries and something different happened at the checkout counter.
Tim Jones
Homily for 4th Sunday in Lent 2021
On October 17th, 2018, Roger Bass had a massive stroke. The neurosurgeon caring for the 66-year-old resident of Flat Rock told Roger’s family that if he didn’t die, he could very well be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
As it turns out, Roger Bass had a different plan for his future…
Read MoreIn the early 19th century, there were few roads in the North Carolina Mountains. More often than not, what qualified for a road was a single-track Native American footpath, a “trace,” or paths left by wildlife. Passible by nothing more than a horse and rider, these primitive roads were treacherous trails cutting through gorges and across mountain peaks. As time passed, many of these early pathways evolved into wagon roads, paved roads and even highways, some of which survive today, at least in part, along their original courses.
Read MoreLabor Day beckons those feelings that wash over me when another summer nears its end. I’ve tasted the saudade of life; the yearning for my childhood when the days would merge into one another and the passing of time was of no consequence. Labor Day reminds me that it’s time for school to begin and camp to be over. The Peter Pan in me is tormented by the exit from my favorite season that allows me to never grow up.
Read MoreSuzanne was in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service, and no idea on how to extricate her vehicle from the ditch. As she stood by the side of the road contemplating her dilemma, an emaciated brown puppy suddenly appeared out of the nearby woods. The young dog clearly needed help, and it seemed the puppy had decided that Suzanne was just the person for the job.
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