| Greetings!
This is our second official Friends of the Smokies e-newsletter. We hope that you enjoy knowing the latest happenings here at Friends!
Inside this issue, we offer a sneak peek of the limited edition 75th Anniversary artisan crafts created for the Park's benefit and for sale through the Great Smoky Mountains Association. You can own a timeless treasure created exclusively for the Park's 75th Anniversary celebration. Visit the terrific interactive website for the celebration at www.GreatSmokies75th.org
We also invite you to participate in the "Children's Festival- Then & Now" in Dandridge, TN on Sunday, October 26, 2008.
Friends of the Smokies' Fall edition of our print newsletter ShaConage should be in mailboxes by the end of the month.
Hopefully as the leaf colors change you'll have a chance to see them in the Smokies. Autumn is always a wonderful time to be in the Park!
Thank you for supporting Friends of the Smokies!
Sincerely,
Holly Burcham
Marketing Director
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Lost Art Survives-- Family Weaves Across Time
Commemorating the park's 75th Anniversary, Hope Reagan has woven a limited number of placemats that will make a very special table setting.
These beauties were woven by Hope on a loom built by her grandfather. Hope's mother and grandmother both wove for the Arrowcraft Shop in Gatlinburg.
The pattern, Whig Rose, is one of the most difficult to weave. These placemats are available in very limited numbers in red, blue, and naturals.
A small number of matching table runners are featured below.
For a fascinating look at Hope at work actually weaving the limited edition items, click here and watch a beautiful short film.
To learn more about the placemats, click here.
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| A Twirled Broom & More |
Available for a very limited time, this twirled broom
and hiking staff are made by David Ogle of the Arts and
Crafts Community near Gatlinburg.
David's family has been making brooms, staffs, and other
hand carved wooden crafts for three generations.
The broom is approximately 52" tall, made from solid
walnut with hand stitched broomcorn. It's fully
functional and extremely durable.
The traditional Smoky Mountain hiking stick is also
made of solid walnut. It's about 56" tall and plenty
stout enough to be an indispensable companion on
steep, rocky trails and slippery stream crossings.
Both items proudly bear the official 75th anniversary
stamped metal medallion.
Click here to see a short video of David making a broom! Click here to see more details about the brooms. Click here to check out the hiking staffs. |
| A Splendid Table |
 Table runners to match the placemats shown above!
Created by Hope Reagan- a very limited number of amazing 50" table runners.
Also woven in the extremely difficult Whig Rose pattern.
Available in red, blue, and natural -- in very limited
supply.
These are true Smoky Mountain treasures.
Click here to see more 75th Anniversary Handcrafts. |
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As you begin- or complete- your holiday shopping, remember that you can help sustain the Park by purchasing Friends of the Smokies' logo items (click here to see a full selection) or any of the 75th Anniversary commemorative items featured here from the Great Smoky Mountains Association!
Sincerely,
Holly Burcham
Friends of the Smokies |
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| Featured Article |
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Through the Generations -- An Heirloom Rocker
One of the Great Smoky Mountains' most remarkable residents was Aden Carver, born at Smokemont in 1844. Carver lived to be 101 years old. He was a farmer, craftsman, millwright, and deacon of the Oconaluftee Baptist Church.
He lived through 5 American Wars. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate Homeguard. He was rejected when he tried to enlist for World War I (at age 76). At the age of 90, however, he was allowed to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
At 92 he helped restore Mingus Mill, which he'd
helped build in 1885-86. The secret to a long life? "Staying on my feet and working hard," said Carver.
Here's a photo of Aden Carver, 1844-1945, with the rocking chair he built.  A rocker made by Aden is in the park's historical artifact collection. In honor of the Park's 75th, Randy Ogle has reproduced Aden's fine chair.
Randy's family has been making chairs for three
generations. Each rocker is made from solid maple with a hand-woven seat and is signed by Mr. Ogle.
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| Children's Festival- Then & Now |
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The Children's Festival- Then & Now honors the regional cultures and traditions of our beautiful Smoky Mountains. The date is October 26, 2008 from 2:00-5:00 pm.
The event will feature a show of children's fashions directed by renowed modeling/talent agent Betty Resnick.
Festival co-chairs Betty Resnick and Caroline Swann-Elliott invite you to join them on the beautiful grounds of historic Squirewood Hall in Dandridge, Tennessee.
Tickets are $5.00 per person, or $20.00 for a family. Proceeds will benefit Friends of the Smokies!
For more information and to make reservations, please call (865) 397-0218.
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| Smokies Photos to Enjoy!
(Courtesy of Friends' Member Samuel Hobbs) |
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