The mother vine

From E. Bishop

On a recent trip to the Outer Banks, we rented an Airbnb for our stay. This beautifully decorated 1930s home, called the Historic Lennon Cottage at the Mother Vine, was directly across the street from this historic landmark and also across the street from Roanoke Sound (with a fishing dock). We couldn’t have chosen a better place to stay with all the amenities and local activities available. Maybe I’m too old for the roller coaster ride we took to see the wild horses in Corolla, but it was still a lot of fun as we held on for dear life at times! The first farming settlement, Elizabethan gardens, beach walks, Jockey’s Ridge, art museums and the best freshly caught seafood you could ask for at O’Neal’s in Wanchese made the long drive worthwhile. But the most fascinating was The Mother Vine.

It is believed to be the oldest grapevine (400 years old) in North America, the “mother” of all vines for Scuppernong grapes, the state fruit of North Carolina. Of course, no one is entirely sure of its origin, but it is speculated that it could have been planted either by Croatan Indians or by settlers of the “Lost Colony”. An article I read said: If the mother vine could talk, it would tell you a long, long story. A story of birth and growth, romping wild and free in the sunshine along the shores of Roanoke Island. And of the many mishaps along the way that could have led to her death.

One evening, as my daughter and I were out for a walk, a friendly lady with her dog stopped to chat with us, welcome us, and very kindly tell us a little about the history of the vine. She explained that the neighborhood helps maintain the site, etc., and told of an incident a few years ago when the site was almost lost because someone from the power company came by and sprayed chemicals. Fortunately, thanks to the rapid intervention of winemakers etc. from all over the world, a catastrophe was averted.

In 1957, Jack and Estelle Wilson purchased the property on which The Vine is located. It covered two acres at the time; at first people were not aware of how important this land could be and it was extensively cleared to build a house. They began to appreciate its history, tried to share it with others, and cared for the vine for the rest of their lives. Her son John Wilson IV inherited the property and stated, “She always wanted dogs and children to have access to Roanoke Sound at Mother Vineyard because throughout her childhood and throughout my childhood, all the kids rode their bikes there, walked their dogs, and went swimming.” According to The Coastland Times, Mr. Wilson is in the process of turning the property over to the Outer Banks Conservationists (OBC), a nonprofit organization that manages Island Farm and Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Their intention is to make the history of the Outer Banks accessible and accessible to the public. Mother Vine will continue With this action, your data is protected permanently.

Crouching beneath the trellis of outstretched vines, down to where the original gnarled roots emerge from the ground, it’s a little spooky (someone said it was similar to Stranger Things), but at the same time awe-inspiring to see a giant, twisted work of art that is the “mother” of all vines. Don’t expect to make wine from these grapes, though; we tried. You must see the “child” vineyards that have been created from their cuttings.

Judas

By Linda H. Barnette

There is a strange rock near Western Carolina University near Sylva. It is located on a nearly three-acre site owned by Jackson County. The surface of this rock is covered with petroglyphs that were probably carved thousands of years ago by people from this area. Scientists who have studied this rock have found over 1,000 shell impressions, 10 bowl-shaped impressions, stick figures, deer tracks and winged shapes.

Judaculla Rock is still important to the Cherokee. Although most of them were relocated to Oklahoma in 1838 along the infamous “Trail of Tears,” both the tribes there and those in our mountains continue to teach their oral history, of which this stone is likely a part. It is located on an ancient Indian trail. Today, the federally recognized Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians reside in Jackson and Swain counties, where the stone is located. These people consider this boulder to be spiritually significant and associate it with the slit-eyed giant from Cherokee legend.

The stone contains more petroglyphs than any other boulder west of the Mississippi. It is also important because it looks like a pictorial map of its location. This particular stone appears to be a physical representation of the Cherokee landscape in the area.

A collaboration between the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Western Carolina University, the property owners, and others resulted in the construction of a raised platform around the area so Judaculla would always be protected. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013.

Information from Wikipedia and photo credit: my son, a graduate of Western Carolina.

How we spend our time

By Stephanie Williams Dean

I applaud anyone who tries to make our world a better place.

Every now and then I get a white envelope in the mail. My address is handwritten on it. In the upper right corner is a stamp and postmark. In the upper left corner is the handwritten sender’s name and local address of a woman named Mary Wood. Remember, Mrs. Wood took the time to hand-address these envelopes, stuff them, buy stamps, and affix them. I wonder how many letters she mails?

In the letter is a brochure inviting me to a spiritual convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2024. The drama scheduled for the convention was to be performed on June 14, 2024. That date has already passed.

Still, I read through the highlights of the program. Consider that the good news about Jesus in the Gospels are accurate records of his life and how these Bible accounts can help us today. What was prophesied about Jesus’ birth and childhood, and how did these prophecies come true? And why so many people in today’s world have reasons to feel safe and confident.

I don’t want to focus on the program highlights in this letter, although these are all important aspects to consider. What really caught my attention, however, was the sender, Ms. Wood – she is a person who spends her time doing her part to make the world a better place.

In her own way, Mrs. Wood spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the hope of winning souls for Jesus. She follows what Jesus commanded us all to do in what he called the Great Commission: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us. As Christians, we have been sent out into the world to proclaim the works of Christ and to call people to believe in him.

Now, I don’t know Mrs. Wood, but I have to admire her work. She is doing what she can to evangelize locally and support the mission of bringing the gospel to our part of the world. She hopes to save people – and that should be written about.