Day 25

Robert Murray, Curator at the Foxfire Museum, was something of a character but deeply passionate about his heritage and roots in Appalachia. Our journey to Sylva, North Carolina took us through Mountain City, Georgia and to the Foxfire Museum. We took a windy, mostly one lane and sometimes gravel, road to get up to the hollow where the Foxfire property stood. Marie, who watched over the gift shop, greeted us warmly and mentioned we should browse around while waiting for Robert and Lee (Lee was a nice gentleman who was there to get some information for the Foxfire Newsletter, but had his hand in helping during our tour) to drive down the hill to meet us.
Robert and Lee, Marie and Ann (Ann Moore, the Director of the Foxfire fund who was not able to meet us, but who we did catch at the end of our visit) all signified men and women passionate about their heritage and seeing that others not forget the past and in particular, the Appalachian people.
Robert was very happy that representatives from Berea College came because he understood the shared interest in Appalachia and in bettering the lives of all people, "mountain people" included. He knew personally of Berea alumni and spoke very highly of the labor and service of Berea College.
As we toured the Museum and observed the authentic Appalachian artifacts, we really got a sense of the people and stories, the laughter and tears of those who, by all accounts, were very ingenious at surviving and living in the "backwoods." Robert showed us gadgets, games, instruments that made farming easier, building easier and made the lives of Appalachians better off in many ways. This is not to say that life wasn't hard up in the hills and "hollers," in fact it could be extremely difficult, but that there were ways to use creativity and brains combined with necessity, to make a job easier, or more efficient, or even better.
It was a time in history that won't be forgotten, not as long as entities like Foxfire buses children in from miles around for tours, and Berea College continues their commitment to educating and celebrating the heritage, of the unique Appalachian people. --Eric