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Burke County and the writings of Larry Clark
It certainly isn't news to anyone that Burke County is our neighbor and one of our parent counties. Their history is so closely tied with ours, that when a new book about that county comes along, those of us interested in the history of Caldwell County are compelled to read it. Larry R. Clark contributes history articles to the Morganton newspaper, and some of these articles have been compiled under the title “Burke County, North Carolina: Historic Tales from the Gateway to the Blue Ridge.” Included are several articles about the Spanish influence. The excavation of Fort Juan Pardo has created a great deal of interest to both historians and archeologists. The story of the “State of Franklin” is one of the best I've ever seen about that area. Two articles to which Caldwellians can relate concern the manufacture of textiles and the building of furniture. Since both counties share the Catawba River, the chapter on “Nature's Little Secrets along the Catawba River” is of interest to us as well as our Burke County friends. We also have an interest in the section about Bishop Spangenberg's diary and the Granville line. There are the obligatory stories about Thomas Burke for whom the county is named, and about General Daniel Morgan for whom the county-seat town is named. There's an interesting story “Waightstill Avery: Patriot and Gentleman.” And, of course, any book about Burke County must include a section on “Senator Sam.” Burke County has rubbed shoulders with some well-known people as well. Botanist Andre Michaux collected plants and seeds in the area, and Jules Verne, science-fiction writer used Morganton as the setting for one of his novels, “Master of the World.” Of course there are several stories that are primarily of interest to Burke County residents. One concerns the naming of Quaker Meadows, and another one is about the founding of the Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church. The Civil War era is the subject the destruction of Camp Vance by Kirk's raiders in 1864. Stoneman's raid into Caldwell County has been the subject of several articles by this writer, and Clark has covered the raid in Burke County. And, as any writer does, some of the columns are personal. Snipe hunting, motorcycling on Ripshin Ridge, and spring on Irish Creek give us some insight into the life of the writer. He even shares a bit of Americana when he writes about the Burke County fair. I've known Larry Clark, formerly a teacher at Western Piedmont Community College, for a few years, and he is certainly one of the most knowledgeable and one of the most personable people I know. But you won't find a word of boasting or a list of his credentials in the book. You just have to take him at his word. We have copies of the book for sale at the Caldwell Heritage Museum. The Museum, located at 112 Vaiden Street in Lenoir, is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 until 3. John O. Hawkins is a native of Caldwell County. He is the Director of the Caldwell Heritage Museum.
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