For years, the Blue Ridge
Mountains were not a vantage point, but rather a barrier separating
Alleghany from the rest of the state. Commerce and society were
inclined into Ashe County and northward into Virginia such that
Alleghany was dismissed as one of the state's "Lost Provinces."
The development of the Blue Ridge
Parkway in the 1930s and modern paved roads now make
Alleghany easily accessible to everyone. However, that
earlier isolation allowed the county to escape some of the
mixed blessings of the Twentieth Century -- strip malls and
freeways -- such that it claims the title "Unspoiled
Province." Today, it is a modern bustling rural community
where its rich
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mountain heritage is revealed in the people
and the peaks and valleys of the countryside.
The word "Alleghany" is
said to be derived from the Indian name meaning "fine stream," a
suitable name for these scenic hills drained by the New River, the
second oldest river in the world. Legend has it that the New River
was discovered by Peter Jefferson, relative of Thomas Jefferson.
Leading a party of surveyors, he was surprised to come upon a "new"
river behind the mountains. Tools and artifacts have been found in
the New River Valley dating back to the Paleo-Indian culture. Native
American tribes that have occupied the area include the Cherokee and
Shawnee.
Many well-known citizens claim Alleghany County as their home. These
include Robert Doughton, U.S. Representative from 1910 to 1953. Mr.
Doughton was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from
1933 to 1953 and was the major force in the establishment of Social
Security and in promoting the construction of the Blue Ridge
Parkway.
Just a few
miles from Doughton Park, his namesake attraction along the Parkway,
his home is preserved as the Doughton-Hall Bed and Breakfast in Laurel
Springs.
In all, 35 Alleghany
citizens have served as state representatives, and 13 have served as
state senators in the NC General Assembly -- a remarkable record for a
small, rural mountain county.
Historic area attractions listed in the
National Register include the Brinegar Cabin on the Blue Ridge
Parkway; the Fred Weaver home on the New River; the Alleghany County
Courthouse in Sparta; the R.L. Doughton homeplace mentioned above; and
the Elbert Crouse home near the Parkway. |
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