Alleghany County has a rich tradition of old-time and bluegrass music. The music is more shared than performed with an unspoken expectation that audiences are active participants. Whether the audience dances, claps or simply pats their feet, everyone take a role.
This Saturday night, June 20th at 5:00 pm, The Crooked Road Ramblers will take the stage at Crouse Park in Sparta, NC. This event is part of the Summer Jamboree. These are family friendly events where neighbors spend time with neighbors and visitors are treated neighborly.
The Crooked Road Ramblers are one of the region’s premier old-time bands. Kilby Spencer furnishes a driving fiddle that is played in the tradition of Thornton Spencer and Albert Hash . Last year the Ramblers garnered 1st place titles at the Ashe County and Fries Fiddlers Conventions. They came in 2nd in Alleghany County and Galax.
Their competitive success is overshadowed by their pure passion for music. While they may call some of the outlying areas of Grayson and Ashe Counties home, the Crooked Road Ramblers will bring a spirit to Sparta this Saturday that is Absolutely Alleghany.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
For more information on summertime events in Alleghany County visit the Chamber of Commerce’s events calendar here or call 800-472-5473
Culture is a term that is sometimes difficult to define. A dictionary definition would focus on the collective beliefs, customs, and arts of a particular group of people. A more layman definition is “the way we do things – most of the time.”
In Alleghany County, the arts culture stretches along a lengthy continuum. Locally raised country music star Del Reeves and Bill Monroe’s fiddler, Art Wooten, anchor spots along that continuum. A variety of old-time and bluegrass musicians are scattered up and down that line. Visual artists craft beautiful pottery, baskets, quilts, paintings and stained glass panels. Writers and poets craft prose that stirs our imaginations. Local farmers add to the arts culture with symmetrical rows of Christmas trees, fields of pumpkins, and acres of rolling pastureland.
Reflective of that arts culture is an overall way of life that is self-reliant and self-sufficient. Yet, we understand the necessity and value in coming together to accomplish things that can’t be accomplished alone. On the surface it seems to be an odd mixture of independence and interdependence. But, in fact, the mixture makes perfect sense.
A group of diverse, county women are working together to bring the symphony to Alleghany County. Suzanne Mellow-Irwin, Rita Woodruff, Frances Huber, and Una Lindh have deep roots in the community and a strong desire to deepen the arts culture of the county.
Rita Woodruff, Una Lindh and Frances Huber
This isn’t a new idea. Some 60 plus years ago, Gene and Margaret Motsinger brought the North Carolina Symphony to Sparta. Before settling in Alleghany permanently, France Huber recalls being invited to the symphony by the Motsingers in 1994. When she returned to Atlanta, her city friend asked what exactly she did when in Alleghany County. Conscious of the subtle accusation, Frances answered rather smugly, “I attended the symphony.”
Native residents recall the buildup during their school days leading up to the symphony’s arrival in town. They listened to recordings and learned about the various instruments. They remember a presentation in which a group of children sang along with the performance.
But somewhere along the way, the symphony stopped coming to Sparta. Three years ago, this dedicated group of women decided it was time to bring classical music back up the mountain. With the help of Charlie Scott of Alleghany Community Television, the group was put in touch with Western Piedmont Symphony. Based in Hickory, NC, the company has brought their musical talents to Sparta for the past two years.
The mission of this endeavor is very much the same as when the Motsingers began this journey years ago: to expose school aged children to the symphony (grades 3-8 will experience a special afternoon concert); to reinforce the love of all music throughout the community; and to generate broad appeal for all artistic mediums.
It has been said that music bridges perceived gaps that separate individuals and brings people together. Classical cellist Yo Yo Ma, bassist Edgar Meyer and bluegrass fiddler Mark O’Conner teamed together to blend classical and traditional mountain music, exhibiting how the two genres aren’t so far apart.
Here in Sparta, this group has set out to do the same. Their desire is to see a full house of happy people leave the concert eager to experience the vast array of Alleghany culture -the way we do things around here (at least most of the time). Taken collectively, it is all Absolutely Alleghany.
The Western Piedmont Symphony will perform at the Alleghany Community Auditorium on August 27, 2015. The pubic performance begins at 7:00 pm. Seating is priced from $20.00 to a very affordable $5.00.
“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children’s memories, the adventures we’ve had together in nature will always exist.”
It is easy to complain. We all have a tendency to fall in to the “should” trap, especially when it comes to kids.
“Kids should turn off the TV and go play outside.”
“Kids should learn to respect nature.”
On and on it goes. Should traps.
Locally, the 13 member Hunters Helping Kids – Blue Ridge Chapter aren’t falling into those traps. They have committed to exposing kids and their parents to the natural beauty of Alleghany and surrounding counties. While hunting and fishing may seem to be the chapter’s focus, John Davis, points out that just getting kids outdoors where they can learn to appreciate nature is their primary motivation.
John Davis
John considers himself fortunate to have grown up in Alleghany County and to have had someone who taught him to hunt and fish. Because of that he feels an obligation to pass his passion for the outdoors on to the next generation of sportsmen.
In addition to being president of the local chapter, John serves on the national board of directors for Hunters Helping Kids. His national position led to Alleghany County hosting the Ultimate Kids Hunt. This hunt is open to five boys and five girls between the ages of 10 and 15. In addition, at least one special needs child is selected. The young hunters are given a rifle, camouflage clothing, boots and other accessories. They must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Alleghany Inn supports the hunt and assists with housing the hunters and their parents. Kids from across the eastern United States have attended this hunt.
John points out that the local chapter has one fundraiser, a banquet, each year. Each local chapter of Hunters Helping Kids keeps at least 50% of their funds to use for local projects (the other 50% covers insurance and administrative expenses). The Blue Ridge Chapter has used their funds to buy youth bows and targets to introduce kids to archery, sponsored two $1000 scholarships to a male and female Alleghany High School student, supported a youth hunt for Alleghany County kids, and will offer an all-girls hunt this fall in neighboring Ashe County.
On June 11, 2016 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, the Blue Ridge Chapter will host a free fishing event behind the Cherry Lane Community building on Hwy 21 South. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will stock trout in Brush Creek for this event. The NCWRC has also waived license requirements for adults who are assisting the kids. In addition to fishing, the event will include a mobile pellet rifle range supervised by local wildlife officers and the archery equipment purchased with banquet funds. A drawing for a lifetime hunting and fishing license will be held for the participating kids. Last year, 65 young anglers participated and there is hope for an even higher number this year. This one of 35 similar events held across North Carolina as part of National Fishing and Boating Week.
Some question exposing kids to hunting and fishing. John has been asked that question many times. He views it as an opportunity to explain the role of hunting and fishing in the conservation of wildlife resources, and to describe how hunters and anglers were the first wildlife conservationists. Most importantly, the chapter members are well aware that there is more to fishing than catching fish. Luther Standing Bear (1868-1939) may have summed it up best when he said, “Man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; [the Lakota] knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too.”
On June 11th, a group of Alleghany County conservationists will set out to soften kids’ hearts and deepen their respect for the natural world. They encourage anyone with children to bring them to this event.
There are many things that define our sense of self. We adorn our cars and trucks with decals signifying our allegiance to various colleges, teams or organizations. For much of our lives we are someone’s kid and later someone’s husband or wife. For the past 25 years, Benita Hampton was known simply as Jeramiah, Luke and Jake’s mom. Drumming up support for Little League equipment, yelling encouragement from the stands during wrestling matches, and staffing the concession stand at ball games all reinforced that identity. But Benita’s identity goes much deeper that “those Hampton boys’ mama.”
Drawing by Benita Hampton
Benita’s family was from Ashe County. But as a military brat, she traveled the world. As is the case with military families, they moved often. Benita spent her school years in Hawaii, Virginia, Germany, Kentucky and New Jersey before moving back to Hawaii. She jokes that when someone asks what school she attended that her response is, “Many.” She counts her 2nd-4th grades in Germany as her favorites and most memorable. She tells of visiting the Black Forest and castles. She recalls a rich community of artists and craftsmen that fueled her interest in art.
By her freshman year of high school, Benita’s family was back in Hawaii. Episodes of the original television series Hawaii Five-O were filmed at her high school in Honolulu. She hung out at one of the largest malls in the U.S. She spent much time on the beach and attended luaus. Her dad retired as she started her senior year and the family moved to Galax, Virginia.
Bentia laughingly describes the move from Honolulu to Galax as, “A bit of culture shock.” She asked her new classmates what they did for fun and they told her they rode around. Benita asked a logical question – “Ride to where?”
She came to Galax only needing one English credit for graduation. But, school guidelines called for her to take at least one other class. She settled for a spot on the yearbook staff. After graduation, she took her newly honed skills and worked with the Galax Gazette.
An instinct for home is an interesting phenomenon in the natural world. Birds and butterflies travel from continent to continent, returning to the same locations year after year. Fish leave small inland streams for the ocean only to return to that same stream in a later phase of life. To complete her personal migration, Benita went back to the family home place in Ashe County.
After working a stint in a blue jean factory in Troutdale, Virginia, she took a job with the NC Employment Security Commission in West Jefferson. When the shoe factory closed in Sparta, she was sent to help those displaced workers develop new skills for a changing job market. She spent even more time in Sparta as the sewing plants closed. During this period, she was offered a job with Wilkes Community College (WCC). At WCC, working through the Trade Allowance Act and Trade Readjustment Act, she continued to help workers develop new skills that would lead to new careers. Alleghany residents such as Carolyn Osborne still point to Benita as helping them through an extremely difficult time in their lives. In the midst of all that, she married Alleghany native Randy Hampton and began a family.
It is sometimes difficult to understand our purpose in life. We often seem to knock from one place to another with no specific feeling of direction. When we can’t see our purpose clearly, we have to lean on others for discernment. For Benita Hampton, her life has been defined by helping guide people through difficult transitions in life. Whether it is workers who have lost their jobs or her own son who suffered a tragic accident, Benita has always been there to steer them through the obstacles thrown their way with practical skills, a smile and an encouraging word.
It is always interesting to ask folks who move to Alleghany County – “What path brought you here?” For Laura Murden, owner of The Vintage Cottage on Main Street in Sparta, the short answer is that her family came each December to buy a Christmas tree and one year decided to stay. The long answer involves a bit more travel, tasty pastries, scented candles and organic soap.
The daughter of a cowboy, Laura was born on a working ranch in Montana. Her family lived there until she was three years old when they moved crossed country to Virginia. She spent her teenage years in Suffolk, Virginia before drifting south to North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX).
Guy Fieri and Laura Murden
On the Outer Banks, Laura went to work in one of the area’s oldest restaurants, Owens’ Restaurant, as a pastry chef. The demand for her desserts grew and she was soon furnishing pastries to another OBX culinary landmark, Big Al’s Soda Fountain and Grill. It was through Big Al’s that Laura was invited to spend the day off-shore tuna fishing on Big Al’s yacht with the Food Network’s star chef, Guy Fieri. She was the chef for the day for Guy and the Food Network crew. Yet even with that level of success, life isn’t simply filled with pastries, yachts and ocean winds.
It is an unfortunate fact that in areas such as coastal North Carolina, the core businesses – restaurants, retail, and real estate – are somewhat seasonal in nature. That leads residents to explore sources for supplemental income. For Laura, that took the form of homemade soaps and laundry detergents.
Using paraben and sulfate free ingredients, her soaps proved attractive to those concerned about the impact of chemicals on their health. She utilizes goat’s milk and also produces a vegan variety. Owens’ carried Laura’s soaps in their gift shop. As word of the quality of her products spread, she was soon wholesaling to 17 retail outlets.
The soap business led to candle making. Following her focus on producing a healthy alternative to commercial soaps, she uses nongmo vegetable oil wax and scents her candles with essential oils. She doesn’t use petroleum based paraffin wax which has been linked to health risks.
Once her family decided to trade the smell of suntan lotion for evergreen, she explored options for her soap and candle business. Moving into a shop on Main Street in July 2014, she added ice cream and smoothies (Laura managed two high traffic Dairy Queens for a while at OBX, giving her a good grasp of the ice cream business). She tagged the shop The Vintage Cottage.
The Vintage Cottage is moving toward only selling North Carolina produced products. As with her previous experience at the Outer Banks, retail business in Sparta has slow periods. So, Laura continues to sell her products wholesale and online at The Vintage Cottage Soap and Candle Co. She can be found throughout the summer at the recently renovated Alleghany County Farmers Market. As many small businesses have discovered, being adaptable and taking a multifaceted retail approach are key elements to success.
Laura and her family are committed to service and community. She and her husband have four children and are active in Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Sparta. Laura employs high school students in whom she seeks to instill business skills that they can use later in life. She believes in helping the students along the path to entrepreneurship. It is one of many ways she seeks to invest in her adopted home.
Absolutely Alleghany 