Back in March, we received an email from poet Louise Morgan Runyon that sent us down a rabbit hole of Western North Carolina history. Listen as we explore the founding of Macon County and listen to oral histories from Rufus Morgan and Louise.
While researching the Morgans and the Silers, we found this timeline helpful: nantahalahikingclub.org/history-of-the-nhc/
There’s also a great (albeit long) chapter on Rufus in Foxfire 4. This will also give you an idea of how much tape we had to sift through and how much we had to leave out for this podcast episode!
You can learn more about Louise and her work as a performer and writer here: louiserunyonperformance.com/poetry.php
Check out more of her poetry if you can!
Read the full transcript for this episode here.
Front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Cartoogechaye, North Carolina
Graveyard outside of St. John’s Episcopal Church
Rufus Morgan’s headstone
Bell tower at St. John’s
Back of St. John’s Episcopal Church
Kami, when he talks about his love of Macon county for generations, I’m sitting here weeping. Thank you for this!!
You’re so welcome Theresa! Thank you for listening.