Annual Glenville history tour, July 19

From a press release:

Annual Glenville history tour, July 19

Each year the Glenville Area Historical Society’s History Tour takes on a different theme or flavor. The 2014 Tour is no different and the headline reference to power is no mistake! This year’s tour includes the Duke Energy Thorpe Powerhouse on Highway 107 North.

Anyone familiar with Glenville knows that Lake Glenville, a dominating feature in the Glenville/Cashiers area, is what is known as a power lake. Water from Lake Glenville is released to flow down huge pipes…you can see them on the left when traveling on Highway 107 north from Glenville….to the 1940’s style brick building where the Lake Glenville water generates power for electricity near and far. The facade of the deco building belies what is inside which is what tour-goers will see on Saturday, July 19th the date of the 4th annual Glenville History Tour.
Tour-goers should know that closed toe shoes are required for touring the inside of the powerhouse and there are some stair steps.

Those more interested in old homes, historic stories, photos and documents will not be disappointed. Sites more typical of GAHS previous tours……the Norton Community in 2012 and Big Ridge in 2013……. are also included in this year’s itinerary. Tour-goers will travel along Highway 107 stopping at sites from the historic Trout Creek Baptist Church and Emory Mc Coys General Store, to rarely-open-to-the-public homes and cabins along Highway 107 and Bee Tree roads. Genealogical, family and house history for all sites is offered via hand-outs, a brochure and story boards.  Traditionally along the way and at the final stop bluegrass and dulcimer musical treats add to a very fulfilling day for tour-goers and volunteers.

The approximately 2 – 2 ½  hour Tour is self- guided with the help of a Tour brochure that includes the basic story of each site, an excellent map and photos.  Plenty of directional signage will be placed on the roads leading to all of the sites.

The Tour opens at 10 AM and tickets will be sold until 2 PM on Tour day at the Thorpe Powerhouse and the site of the McCoy General Store at the corner of Glenville School Road and Highway 107 North.  Advance tickets can be purchased now at the Carolina Cottage in Glenville and at the Glenville Community Development Club during the tour week.

This fourth annual GAHS History Tour has been in the planning stages for one year.  Members of the GAHS tour committee have carefully researched family histories, documents and public records to assure this 2014 tour offers, once again, remarkable sites with fascinating histories and stories. A great deal of the discoveries are narrated by site hosts and often owners and descendants who can offer “inside” information, anecdotes and intriguing details about the
original family or building.

The GAHS mission is to preserve the rich history of the Glenville area. Members interview elderly residents, conduct map research, collect documents and research history. Ultimately, after co-coordinating written material, photos and documents, the result will be a comprehensive historical publication, about the greater Glenville area and Hamburg Township.  The annual History Tour is a fundraiser to raise seed money for the publication while offering a historical event opportunity for young and old alike.

For more information call the Glenville Area Historical Society at 828 743-1658, 828 743-6744 or email historicalsocietyglenvillearea@yahoo.com.