The History & Heritage of
Mitchell County, NC
The Mitchell County Historical Society is committed to the preservation of the history, heritage, and culture of Mitchell County, North Carolina. We hope you enjoy your visit and stop by often for updated stories, photos, and videos.
Donate to MCHS
The Mitchell County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which means your donations are tex-deductible under the limitations of tax law. Your contributions help us continue our work.
Please consider making an online donation by clicking the button below.
Penland Cemetery Project
MCHS is seeking help with an important project we have undertaken. The historic Penland Cemetery in Bakersville has suffered from years of neglect, with vandals overturning tombstones and the plot becoming grown-over with trees and underbrush. We have begun efforts to repair the road to the cemetery and restore it so visitors and researchers have easy access. Learn more about the Penland Cemetery project and how you can help..
Overmountain Men Radio Show & Podcast Wrapping Up
The radio broadcast from WTOE and WKYK of Footsteps for Freedom concluded October 11th with our 30th Episode. Thsnk you for joining us for the series!
BUT WE’RE NOT THROUGH! We have posted a roundtable discussion featuring Jonathan Bennett, David Biddix, and Rhonda Gunter, taking a look at the work behind the scenes to produce the episodes. We discuss the events and people involved with the battle and share opinions on our research and more. The final episode is podcast-only and is now online at our Overmountain Men page.
Speaking of that page, we have updated it with additional resources from the internet along with all 31 podcasts still available. You can listen online or download using the various podcatching software (Apple Music, Google Music, etc.). Check it out and catch up on anything you missed, or listen to the final program.
The 2019 Christmas Ornament
The 2019 Mitchell County Historical Society Christmas Ornament honors the Historic Mitchell County Courthouse, built in 1907. This historic building, built of cast stone and designed in the Classical Revival style. which is home to the MCHS offices on the first floor. The building was designed by H.L. Lewman and was constructed by the Falls City Construction Company. The Yancey County Courthouse, built in 1905, is almost a clone of the building. The ornament is glass and comes in a box to protect it during shipment and storage.
MCHS Membership & Newsletter
Big changes are coming soon for members of the Mitchell County Historical Society in 2020
Discounts on merchandise purchased from the MCHS store are but one of the many goodies for members of MCHS. In fact, we have a preview of one of the new features available right now: our redesigned newsletter, the Quarterly Review. Download a copy (PDF file – opens with the free Adobe Reader software) and see what members will be receiving beginning in the new year. Plus, you will get advance notice (and input) on our 2020 presentation series, opportunities to volunteer to help preserve our history, and access to online resources to research topics and genealogy in our office located in the Historic Mitchell County Courthouse.
Not a member? Join today!
What’s New on the Site
Here are our latest posts about Mitchell County’s history. We welcome suggestions for topics to add. Please use our contact page to submit your ideas to us!
Places
Interesting stories
Kilmichael Tower and Little Switzerland
Judge Heriot Clarkson of Charlotte and his family were the developers of the resort community of Little Switzerland in 1910. The community between Grassy Mountain and Chestnut Ridge had been settled by several generations of hardy pioneers by the time Clarkson arrived...
People
Significant Individuals
The Rev. George Washington Martin
The Rev. George Washington Martin The Bakersville United Methodist Church had its beginnings as “The Bakersville Methodist Society” in 1871. Early in the history of Methodism, John Wesley encouraged itinerant preachers he commissioned to establish Methodist societies...
History
Happenings of note
The First Episcopal Church in the Toe River Valley
The story of the Bakersville Episcopal Church begins with the story of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina on Roanoke Island in 1587, continues with its reunification after the Civil War by Bishop Thomas Atkinson, and moves closer with his efforts that resulted in...
Communities
Unique locales in Mitchell County
Kilmichael Tower and Little Switzerland
Judge Heriot Clarkson of Charlotte and his family were the developers of the resort community of Little Switzerland in 1910. The community between Grassy Mountain and Chestnut Ridge had been settled by several generations of hardy pioneers by the time Clarkson arrived...
Icons
These define Mitchell County
Helen McBee: Teacher, Philanthropist, and Woman of Some Mark
Helen McBee was born 1/10/1909 in Los Angeles, CA to John Calhoun and Margaret Chambers Thomas McBee. Her father served in Company B of the 16th Infantry and had spent most of the Philippines-American War in the islands where Helen’s brothers Paul Thomas (1905) and...
Economics
Making a living in Mitchell County
Oh, Christmas Tree!
In 2005 the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) was adopted as the official state Christmas tree of North Carolina. The idea came from eighth-graders in Mr. Chris Hollifield's North Carolina History Class at Spruce Pine’s Harris Middle School who petitioned legislators to...
Upcoming Events
Check out the upcoming events from the Mitchell County Historical Society. Click or tap on a date that is highlighted for information on what’s happening.
| SunSunday | MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday | ThuThursday | FriFriday | SatSaturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 29, 2019 | December 30, 2019 | December 31, 2019 | January 1, 2020 | January 2, 2020 | January 3, 2020 | January 4, 2020 |
| January 5, 2020 | January 6, 2020 | January 7, 2020 | January 8, 2020 | January 9, 2020 | January 10, 2020 | January 11, 2020 |
| January 12, 2020 | January 13, 2020 | January 14, 2020 | January 15, 2020 | January 16, 2020 | January 17, 2020 | January 18, 2020 |
| January 19, 2020 | January 20, 2020 | January 21, 2020 | January 22, 2020 | January 23, 2020 | January 24, 2020 | January 25, 2020 |
| January 26, 2020 | January 27, 2020 | January 28, 2020 | January 29, 2020 | January 30, 2020 | January 31, 2020 | February 1, 2020 |