OVTA has lost a giant. Masters and Heroes...

 It is a Sad day for the OVTA. Blair Keller of Virginia has passed away. He was active in the OVTA from its beginning.  We think his funeral will be Friday. I will not be able to go so I will honor him here.

I enjoyed talking with him.  He was a charter member of the organization. In our last conversation, he told me he was born in a cabin and spent his early childhood there. You could see through the cracks in the walls he said.  For the most part, that kind of house has disappeared too.  I cannot imagine.   But time passes quickly.   Blair lived a very full life I think and he was an inspirational member.

Oh, one other note.  One time when I was dreaming big, I introduced an idea to the OVTA that we should fund raise to add a fresco of a scene from this incredible story painted by world renown NC artist Benjamin F. Long.  Elkin is a perfect fit for this fresco on the already recognized Ben Long Fresco Trail.  This is expensive and a labor of time -months or years- and love.   Peoples mouths dropped open, but Blair was enthusiastic and recalled seeing the frescos in Ashe county.  We passed a resolution to think about it.  Rescued me.

I had the good fortune to meet Benjamin F. Long in Wilkesboro at an arts reception for the fresco there.  RG was playing music for the meet and greet so I was introduced.  Later in the evening Ben was more or less chased around the table of food by two blondes in pursuit.   He caught my eye, I smiled and he came running more or less to visit with me again. Rescued.

Later RG and made a special trip to Asheville to see an exhibit at the Benjamin F. Long School of Fine Arts.   I had a video about the OVTA to give him and I asked him about the idea of a fresco for Elkin.    I reminded him of the "rescue from Wilkesboro" and he knew exactly who I was.   

Heroes are important.  Timing is important. Encouragement and leadership are important. Blair was, and had, all these things to teach us.  He was funny, he was wise, and he was neither humble or proud. He was a great man. They named the OVTA visitors center in Abingdon after him.

Maybe one day we will have a visitors center in Elkin with a Benjamin F. Long Fresco in it. He told me he really wants to do a fresco for Camp Lejuene and the Marines. So if you know anybody there... Please get them crack in'.  Frescos are forever and take time.   If Ben retires before this can happen, maybe his students can carry on, but there is nothing as great as a master artist so I'd like to encourage this again.

Speaking of Italian heritage arts and Masters of Arts, Gino Vannelli's song for heroes continues to speak to me and you must hear it-None so Beautiful As The Brave.   If you are a Marine in California, you can hear him IN PERSON on February 28th at the Saban Theater.  I know you know that, but for new readers, I repeat... Www.ginov.com for ticket information.

And if you already listened to that one, this one reminds me to live like Blair today. There's No Time is one of Gino's first published songs.  Time passes quickly.   

 Please excuse all the fonts.  I'm still learning to operate this software.  it's (past) 1:00 am and I'm a little spacey... But Blair Keller deserves your attention so I wanted to tell you about him.

Gino Vannelli Collected, Charlotte History and vinyl

Gino Vannelli Collected. Gino comments on the value of the vinyl vintage technology in this link. It is a fashion with 20 years olds.  I hear him...

Ok, you must wonder what I have done this morning.  I am collecting too. I found drafts of posts that did not appear in my blog from the past. Some are still great.  I want to put them out there.  I published them. So you are getting some older things without the fancy links.

Also I bought this new 3CD set of Gino Vannelli songs from all ages including international ones and one never published. It is wonderful!!!  It is called Gino Vannelli Collected as you see also.  Sometimes you regroup to examine the past and see what you have left undone.  You edit and clear space for new ideas and inspiration.  You find the mementos so precious to recall your past experiences and relive them, then go forward and have new experiences.  I SO hope this is what Gino is doing with this collection of beautiful music, and that he will return to NC some day soon.

Meanwhile, there is a famous vinyl record shop in Charlotte, NC called The Wax Museum. 
(Charlotte is FULL of revolutionary war tales being the center of the hornets nest. ) Maybe they have some of these Gino Vannelli records.   They are also known for their love of Beach Music.  Such a great fit - blue-eyed soul and Gino, if they don't have them, maybe this will alert them.

We have to go there.

Meanwhile, RIP Lesley Gore.  This song fits the Revolutionary theme, You Don't Own Me.

John Atkins

John Atkins of the County of Fayette and state of Virginia that I was in the
revolutionary war with him I think in the year 1779 we were stationed at Osburns Mill in Surry County State of North Carolina. he was under the command of captain David Harrison and I was under the command of Captain David Humphries I do not now recollect whether there was a regiment or what number of men or companys were there or what the army at that place was called we had the place aforesaid as a place of rendezvous where we continued near six months to guard against the depredations of the tories and Indians which time I know that the said John Atkins was in the service of the united states. after we continued here the term as aforesaid we were marched to a place called Salsberry where I last saw him during the war I enlisted there under Capt James Shepherd and the said John Atkins I was informed enlisted under Capt Thomas Henderson.

Pension of William Carter...had its head quarters at Osborne mill on Loving’s creek [sic: now Lovills Creek] in the said County of Surry – While the said company and the applicant of course were engaged in this service some of the North Carolina light Horse took some of the tories prisoners and committed [several words illegible] to the Jail of Surry Cty aforesaid the applicant was directed to take some of the rest and escort them to the Head quarters above mentioned, where they were kept awhile, and then taken in charge of the applicant and some horsemen to the Jail of Henry County Virginia. While in this tour the applicant and fifteen or twenty of the troops pursued the Tories who had robbed a whig Daniel Carlin while said Carlin was in [word illegible],) some distance over the mountain dispersed them and recovered the property

Quick!!! A virtual revolution toward good, real, heart-bending music...

Quick!!!  Stevie Wonder is on TV at nine tonight!  It's a total resurgence of great music and somehow I feel it is all connected to Gino Vannelli. Gino's big break came when Stevie asked him to fill in when Chaka Khan was unable to tour. It is a virtual revolution of good, real, heart bending music.

How does this connect to NC and the revolution?  I'll find out.

My encounters with revolutionary NC stories today include a you-tube from the outdoor drama The Sword of Peace.   Gino wrote a whole suite of music concerning war with the London Philharmonic way back in the seventies.  It was the beginning of artistic differences. Gino began to break again from mainstream mass music business and followed his own conscience to music as art and self expression. FREEDOM. 

Last year, when my sister and I saw Gino Vannelli in Augusta, we came home by Kings Mountain, NC and saw a brand new play called "Liberty Mountain" written by Bob Inman. I immediately thought Gino and his brothers Ross and Joe should score a movie of my favorite NC revolutionary story and posted this on the international shamelessly devoted fans site of. Barend and Trees in Holland.

Lastly, Gino supports our troops. This is my favorite - None So Beautiful As the Brave.   You can own it on the CD or DVD from the concert  Live In LA huzza!

Revolutionary Significance, Gino Vannelli and SNL

I have been remiss for years now -discouraged by the handling of the bill in Congress.  However, I hear an opportunity exists for it to rebound.  Also, out of the blue, unexpectedly, encouragement appeared for me to continue writing here in 2015 from a fan on twitter. Finally, today on Meet The Press Dana Carvey pronounced he was "keeping his powder dry" about SNL s 40th Anniversary show so I knew every day continues to have revolutionary significance. Every Day Matters.

This is the deal. This blog exists to encourage the establishment of a National Heritage Area around the events of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.  I stay in tune with the culture to hear references to the great divide as the United States pulled away from Great Britain.  I research counties in NC to include their history and if I find some fun things to do there for visitors, I note that and add links. 

In addition, I am employed. I have found my calling again in textiles thanks to encouragement from a song by Gino Vannelli called "Something Tells Me".  No!  I'm getting this wrong!!!  I rediscovered Gino and thought about giving him information about music in NC, but I didn't do it until I found this song...   I'll find the interview he gave that encouraged me to look for my better job on another night...

  Gino is a passion of mine from my youth when I met him in NYC in 1977 by sneaking into the line with the press after a concert to gain an audience with him in his dressing room. I had chaperones.  In fact, I did not even know who he was at the time, but he made a big impression on me first by his exceptional music and secondly by his beautiful eyes and gallant manners.

I have a lot of stories to tell you about the revolution, but everyone will also include a moment from my GinoMania these days. And we will visit the remaining counties even though they have already advertised their links to the Revolution for some time.

It is important to tell our stories and watch them take hold in the minds of others. Understanding, inventiveness and bonds between generations form when we tell our stories.  For example, since I started my blog, the OVTA has grown more important as a leader in trails, and the Revolution has emerged in popular TV everywhere. I am so taking credit for whispering in the ears of the universe for all of that. I give you Sleepy Hollow, The Sons of Liberty, and that marvelous Fiat commercial "The Italians are Coming".    I just rewatched The Sons of Liberty on the History Channel from my recorded list. This is fantastic. Sleepy Hollow until recently has been filmed in Wilmington, NC.  We are all loving the tension between Abby and Ichabod Crane.  The Fiat commercial was filmed in Winston-Salem, NC and two acting friends were in it.  And this is exactly what happens especially to women when we hear Gino Vannelli is in concert. People Gotta Move.  See how this all works?

I have to relearn how to make links. I'm going to see Gino again in #Annapolis, Maryland.  Www.ginov.com is his site and has tour info.  Catch him in #california. FEB 27 and 28.  Note the word 

"SUPERNOVA" beside him here? I kid you not. He is Revolutionary Significance.

It's good to be King

I'm working hard on a new website for the Yadkin Valley Craft Guild.  It's almost ready.  Calling all artists in the YVCG,  I  need images!  You can join us if you live in one of the 18 counties in the Yadkin River Watershed.
And, of course, I am so looking forward to the Royal Wedding at the end of the month.  It's a positive thing. I'm taking off from Merlefest to watch it. I wonder if they will put it on the big screen live in the very early morning. Now, that would be cool. And Prince William is George III's ggggggrandson, plus or minus a "g".  We can still be friends.

Goodbye, Elizabeth

There are no words I can add to that.  I am so sorry to see her go so fast. She did not deserve all the terrible circumstances she found herself in.  My love to the children.

Thank-YOU!! Congressman Spratt!!!

I am pleased to report the bill establishing the Carolina Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area has been introduced in this session of Congress and we are off and running again!! Yay!

Why didn't I think to just call him up during this lame duck session. But, thank-you Blog readers, Facebook friends and others for delivering this dispatch. I think we can carry on from here.

Meanwhile, I had an inquiry from a CEO in eastern NC for a designing position and I am waiting with my fingers crossed for the HR people to schedule my interview. I would be sourcing and designing and traveling. I have always wanted to see India so I am interested in this very much. However, I am also interested in the Heritage arts and crafts of our great land. I wonder with designers in the offices of former customers if we might find ways to source unique textiles back in this country. My economic eyes will be open.

The Carolina Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area.

I can't believe I haven't talked to you since July. I really thought life would be a little empty as I am taking only one graduate course and still job-hunting. But, a lot has happened.

The Yadkin Valley Craft Guild has determined its relationship with Surry Community College and as in my experience with automotive interior concepts, it is "refined" until the innovation part of the idea is bearly visible. That has taken a lot of time, but we do have a path with the college and I am pleased with that.

Meanwhile the Overmountain Victory Trail Association reenactment for 2010 was another success even without my Pepsi Refresh dreams. We could only host Elkin students again this year, but we did expand the day to include a public morning with the OVTA in the Elkin Municipal Park on Saturday. The best part was the children. The teachers dressed out in Revolutionary period dress!!! The kids walked the 4 miles again! We got thank-you notes from many of them and the consenus is this is the BEST FIELD TRIP ever!! In the notes, EVERY station we had was mentioned by at least one child as their favorite. The Winston Salem Journal did a fantastic story for us in the paper. The children wove a rug on old hand-made looms, saw a wagon of the type from the Great Wagon Road, captured escaping Tories and then reprieved them to be patriots, saw up close and personal a deer hide from a long-hunter, and thrilled to the thunder clap of black powder firing.

By the way, the NPS Environmental assessment of the proposed headquarters for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail is released. It appears Morganton, NC is recommended spot. This is an appropriate spot since the eastern and western patriots gathered at Quaker Meadows.

Now is now. The election of 2010 has passed. We lost the primary sponsor of the bill requesting the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Area, Rep. Spratt , D-SC. So I was very sad. I have researched a bit however. I noticed that in the Senate, Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-SC, sponsored a similar bill and it was co-sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC. Both of them remain and I saw Sen. DeMint's picture on the front of a magazine my mother gets with indications that his star has risen in the Congress. SO- I propose that we all write to these two senators and request that they reintroduce the bill in the new 111st Congress and examine the recent study. We have spent a lot of money and time on it. Let's complete it. The name of the Heritage Area has changed to The Carolina Revolutionary Road National Heritage Area.

So- has this already been done??? I don't know. I'm just thinking it never hurts to voice support. And remember, this is NOT about the Tea Party. This is a diversity story in the western Carolinas that needs to be spotlighted and it will be good for North Carolina as a whole in any case because almost every one of the 100 counties has valuable Revolutionary stories to tell.

Congratulations to Prince William and Miss Middleton! by the way. I've been following the Prince since he was born. Time FLIES! His bride to be is beautiful and they seem very suited to each other. IT is so important to share common interests and experiences. Marriages have ups and downs and it is important to have some good times to remember. Perhaps when they settle down and this bill finally passes Congress; when we are all ready to open our Heritage Area to guests, they will visit. Its good to put away differences and celebrate.

Okay, he's back. He played the fiddle on the Giant's Causeway as predicted. Sigh. But I am having a good time with my sister in law in Lynchburg. I have facebook friends searching for my son's ancestor's grave in Gaston County. The BBC is coming to North Carolina at least for one day it appears.

The BBC called my house!!

It's true. Some weeks ago the British Broadcasting Company called my house! We thought we were on our way to Northern Ireland for July. That is a very long story I'll let you in on at a later date. For now, just so you will know,
********** RG is on his way to Northern Ireland tonight***********
with other OVTA members to bring the story of the American Revolution in the south to the Scots-Irish in Ulster.

In 2004, we went to the Republic of Ireland and to England during Christmas. It was wonderful, but I did not consider going to N. Ireland at the time. I was afraid of it. By the time the trip arrived, I had learned a lot and less afraid, but you can't get there from there. Those were long roads! I planned to go back as I told Rick Steves. I learned especially that Many Many of the Overmountain men were from Ulster or their fathers and mothers were from there. You already know my son has a direct relative who fought at Kings Mountain and before that in the French and Indian War. Captain Martin born in county Tyrone, NI., lived to be 104 years old and is buried in Belmont, NC.

In fact, before we weren't going to N. Ireland, we were going and I corresponded with a producer there about our genealogy. They were very interested in my son and RG. I even found one possible Irish ancestor for myself a little closer in time than the 1400s... 1740 to be exact. We were going to be detectives searching out our genealogy, see the linen areas, see the giant's causeway, see Belfast, Londonderry and Donegal in the Republic... sigh. RG is going to get to play his fiddle on the great rocks of the Giant's Causeway, march in parades, sing in pubs and visit with people.

We can only hope that he brings Brendan Hughes back to North Carolina. AND no ! it 's not that one, its the history producer/director/ famous BBC one altogether different one. Brendan Hughes must be to the Irish of both lands as John Smith is the England or American. .. A classic name.

Anyway, I told him to invite Mr. Hughes over. We would have a "pickin" session like we did for his mid-century birthday and I will take him with my son to the heart of the hornet's nest in Gaston County and find the grave of the Revolutionary hero Samuel Martin.

Meanwhile! Happy 4th of July. Look what my friend Andy Matthews did with the East Bend celebration. Isn't it cool?!?! You can follow Andy and happens in the Yadkin Valley on his new e-newspaper. Maybe we can survive the loss of the Messenger with this new media.

Happy 4th!!

And the Beat Goes On.....

National Trails Day was a WONDERFUL day in Elkin on Saturday, June 5th. Duke Energy donated land which we were able to get paved as a road-side pull off, with Stimulus funds if I am not mistaken, so that tourists have "someplace to go" to see the Surry Muster Ground and the wayside exhibit on the trailhead of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.


Check out this video from one of our OVTA members.

It was just a great day!! This is all made possible by funding via the National Parks Foundation 2009 Active Trails grant from the support of The Coca-Cola Company.

We were also supported in our efforts to dedicate the space by Boy and Girl Scouts groups coming from Allegheny to Yadkin counties. They came from all over the backcountry just like the patriots of 1780 to help patrol and clean-up the National Trail in Surry county. They earned National Historic Trail patches by their efforts and walked a tremendous number of miles in the 3 hours between 8 and 11 am.

We were SO grateful too for the support from Greg Jones from Ft.Dobbs who led the Blackpowder exhibition and dressed out in 1780 militia wear instead of his normal Provincial Soldier from the French and Indian War.

The National Parks Service brought us the Guilford Fife and Drum Corps from Greensboro. Senator Jim Broyhill from Winston-Salem told the scouts and public the story of establishing the historic trail and why it was meaningful. Mrs. Broyhill came too!

The town of Elkin did a tremendous job of preparing the landscape, red, white and blue ribbon and giant sissors to cut the ribbon.

The SAR presented the colors, the DAR cheered us on and the public came out to give us support.

Great, great day!!

More River News

Comedy: Jeanne Robertson "Don't go rafting without a Baptist in the boat."

More fun in the River with funny and famous, a former Miss North Carolina and our Friend Jeanne Robertson.

I have to say I like these too. Jeanne opens the show in Burlington and at another she takes a vacation in Canada. Lastly, this trip to the grocery store can't be beat.

Tour de Yadkin

Everywhere up and down the Yadkin River, people are beginning to take about our Revolutionary story including people I don't even know yet. That is a good thing. There was a meeting in Elkin recently and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail was discussed as an INCREDIBLE asset for Elkin by the invited speaker and as far as I know no one from our area was even there.



We are bound to the river, the first trail. The Yadkin Riverkeepers are sponsored a month long canoe trip from the beginning of the Yadkin River to ... I'll have to look it up. Anyway, the Tour de Yadkin is coming through Elkin soon. They will be at W. Kerr Scott on Thursday. The river dumps into the lake. The canoeist will have to trek around the dam and resume. Soon he will pass the roundabout at Ronda and the hanging tree still leaning over the river.



WFDD is following the Yadkin Riverkeeper. They have this great blog and a film with our friend Montie Hamby. He is the original Riverkeeper.

Easter

The Moravians had a beautiful service today. I heard this on the news. I was hoping there was a video for you, but I'm still looking. They have been in the Winston-Salem area since the mid-1700s. This sunrise Easter service has been presented and attended by people from all over the world.

We had a lovely day today too. We had a church-wide Breakfast, Sunday School was packed and with new members, the choir had beautiful music - When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, In the Seed There is A Flower, and the Hallelujah Chorus at the very end. The pastor's message was great about community and Christ's sacrifices so we could have that community. We had communion and ended after the benediction with Charles-Marie Widor's Toccata from the 5th Symphony. Wow, another year- passes fast. But it is warm and it is spring here again.

Our church youth remove the "sackcloth" covering the furniture and replace it. They bring in a seven foot tall cross decorated with greenery and flowers all over it to signal the start of the Easter service. We all bring flowers from our yard. It is just a beautiful day.

Enjoy this version of the Hallelujah chorus from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in New York. We at least felt like this today and our singing was almost as powerful.

Ft. Dobbs- plowed ground for the seeds of Revolution

I found this great video series for you from Ft. Dobbs. It discusses the French and Indian War which ended in 1763. At this time all soldiers and militia were English citizens. This war though gave the King of England an excuse to raise taxes in the 1760s-1770s. Corruption by officials in the colonies led to rebellion, particularly in Alamance. More people moved to the backcountry to escape the government of both the state and of England. More immigrants entered the backcountry from the Wagon Road during this time as well. Usually they were not so enamored of England anyway being Irish, Scots, Scots-Irish, German, Welsh or French. The King attempted to respect the rights of Native Americans at this time, but the animosity arising from the recent war led the newcomers to dismiss anything the English had to say about who could go to where. The seeds of Revolution were sewn here in the ground plowed by the French and Indian War.

This is a great place to remind you to see the reenactment of the War for Empire at Ft. Dobbs on April 10-11 in Statesville, NC, (home also of the Carolina Balloonfest.)

Pineapple Express

SxSW keeps coming up in the techsphere. I'm doing three papers. One on social networking, one on project management and one on 2nd generation biofuels. Oh, and the grants!!

So today, on my facebook came this link to a filmmaker, David Gordon Green who went to the NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem being interviewed at South by Southwest. He made George Washington and he made Pineapple Express.

I took my son to see Pineapple Express by accident last year. My jaw dropped watching it but there we were. I guess I have to say it was interesting. I would not suggest you take your sixteen year old to see it.

Green is making movies with the microscope instead of the more expensive, grand scale events.
Well, would he do the OVT story? I'm calling him. Can he make the movie around "all the little moments approached intimately rather than epically."

And George Washington was not about THE George Washington, but I thought it was when I started this blog and felt the need to confess about Pineapple Express.

Which Joseph is it?

OVTA will meet in Marion for the annual meeting on Mar. 27th. There the Pepsi Refresh Idea will likely be hacked to death. I am disturbed by this old thinking. Too much loyalty to Coke. To little willingness to communicate on-line about this unlike all the on-line communication about a book to be published...sigh. I don't know where I will get funding for October at this point and many re-enactors who are not my normal crew will be scheduled before it is safe to book them. Did I tell you I was disturbed by this?

Marion is in McDowell county where I left off looking for Rev. War. details months ago. OVTA will meet at the Joseph McDowell House. Note it has two front doors like the Robert Cleveland house. I don't quite understand why this is necessary except for escape. Maybe people didn't like the idea of only one way out. Joseph McDowell was the brother of Charles McDowell or the cousin. There were two Josephs and they were cousins. Both fought at Kings Mountain, they married sisters and later served in the NC general assembly. It still causes problems in the family. Oh my. Well, a mystery to be solved when we get there.

Here is the story of Charles McDowell battling Ferguson in the area of McDowell county. Start at
Patrick Ferguson at Gilbert Town and Vicinity .

Back to homework...

Two cool sites. Podcasts of readings from Thomas Jefferson's writing. and Stamp Act info from the western counties about Brunswick and the coast.

I'm keyed up about my Pepsi Refresh Project for OVTA . Please go vote to help us get to the roll over position. I've had trouble engaging the troops. It's not my war or I don't believe it can be done. Sigh. Same old Same old. But look! at the projects that got funded last month!! We absolutely can win this. Step across this line..........

And I have homework to finish. I'll be back to normal in a few weeks.

Feed Me Seymour!

We spent the afternoon at the Senior Play, Little Shop of Horrors. Those kids have lungs! It's good to have a great script and then even better when they sing on key. AND that plant!!! Great job on that.

Hey, and that is Steve Martin being the dentist in the movie!! I had forgotten that. He is coming to Merlefest the last weekend in April. I'm getting his autograph. Well, its a goal. I've always loved him. RG plays on the Cabin Stage with the Banknotes (the artists formerly known as RG Absher and Extra Measure) on Thursday night at 6:15pm just before Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.

This reminds me to point you to the NC coast to find some of those mini Audrey IIs. I don't think any of them have mutated yet, so don't be afraid. They are found primarily in the Green Swamp Preserve. This is in Brunswick County which is full of Revolutionary War history.