The Early Years In Bryson City

1
The Early Years In Bryson City

• By
• Andrew Watkins
• Josh Sauer
• Casey Gross

2
The Beginning
3
First Years

• Formed in 1871
• From Macon and Jackson counties
• Once named Bears Town
• The name Charleston was selected on June 26, 1871
• After 1889 Charleston was changed to Bryson City

4
Transportation
5
First Kinds of Transportation

• All first cars were Fords
• First Motor Company was established by W.M.
  Hughes and Robert Abbott

6
First Automobile

• Owned by A. E. Elmore
• 1914

7
Kelly E. Bennett

• Owned second automobile
• Served 14 years as mayor
• 4 years as alderman
• 20 years on board of education
• Chairman of National Park Development Commission

8
Train Systems

• Train started in 1884
• Before railroad all travel was stage, wagons, or
  horseback
• Before long it extended through Nantahala gorge
  to Murphy
• 4 passenger trains to each way

9
First Logging Railroad

• Built 1901
• Along Big Pigeon River

10
Religion
11
Churches

• Among first buildings in county
• Some served as schools
• The first Baptist Church was build in 1877

12
Schools
13
Start of Schools

• First Schools subscription, held in church
  buildings
• First building solely for schools, erected after
  the Civil War
• Tom Chambers hired for teaching(first teacher)

14
High Schools

• First high school 1907
• One high school served all county
• 1911 graduated first class from 3 year high
  school
• Named changed to swain county high school in 1930
• From 1944 through 1970s all students attended
  same school

15
Cont.

• 1978 new high school built

16
Jobs and Businesses
17
Doctors and Lawyers

• Doctor West first resident physician
• First 3 Lawyers were Fred Fisher, R.L.
  Leatherwood, A.M. Fry

18
First Telephone System

• R.L. Sandridge and Joel Gibson developed first
  telephone system in 1906
• In 1928 they sold the company to Western Carolina
  Telephone Company
• The early days of the company there was a toll
  line to Needmore, Almond, and Bushnell

19
Carolina Wood Turning

• Started in a small building in 1903
• Produced wood pumps, porch columns and other wood
  products
• Continued for 83 years and provided jobs for
  Swain County

20
Fun and Activities
21
Things To Do

• Being that Swain County is in a rural area there
  were not many things to do

22
Thus Ends The Show

• Donations to the production cast of this show
  will be greatly appreciated