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Helen's Barn, 1932
Helen’s Barn was built in 1932 on four acres of land bought with the $2,000 received from the Carnegie Institute for the bravery of her husband, Charlie Wright. After his death in 1927, his widow—left with five children—decided to open a square dance hall. The barn was located in the heart of Highlands, on the corner of 1st and Main Streets, but burned suspiciously in 1934. Apparently, not everyone in Highlands appreciated the music, dance, and beer. -
Helen's Barn, 1934
Re-built in 1934, the new barn was constructed in the center of Helen’s four acre plot. For 50 years, the site served as a venue for local exhibition teams who danced several times a week at the request of summer visitors. Because there were no other public buildings, roller skating, auctions, plays, craft shows, and reunions were booked into the barn. -
Don Green Band
The Don Green Band was a typical Mountain String Band with a guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin. Siblings Donald, Dixie, and Mel played at Helen’s Barn along with an unknown mandolin player. Proprietor Helen Wright Wilson can be seen standing at the far right in this photograph. The fiddler in the color photograph is Don Green, accompanied by his brother on guitar.
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Square Dancing
A caller would call out the steps to keep dancers together. All three types of dances are done to fiddle music and are common throughout the southern Appalachians. -
Clogging at Helen's Barn
Clogging is a type of step dance in which the dancer strikes the floor to create a rhythm. While clogging is sometimes called Buck Dancing, in the latter dance, performers keep their bodies immobile and their steps low to the floor. -
Fool's Rock
“Fool’s Rock,” less than five feet wide, juts out over the valley floor, 2,000 feet below. Rock outcropping that Gus Baty fell off precipitating the Charlie Wright rescue. Today, a guardrail protects visitors from the sheer drop. -
Random Thoughts and the Musings of a Mountaineer by Judge Felix E. Alley
Random Thoughts and the Musings of a Mountaineer by Judge Felix E. Alley. -
Dancing at Helen's Barn, 1940-50s
A crowd of white dancers square dancing at Helen's Barn. A Group of six individuals, three males, and three females are facing the camera while people in the background dance in groups. -
Helen's Barn, 1980s
Color image of Helen's Barn taken in the 1980s. During this decade Helen's Barn would celebrate its 50th anniversary and close its doors for good. -
Kelsay trail
The trail that was used when Gus Baty fell from Fool's Rock. When Highlands was founded in 1875, there was no road to Whiteside Mountain. So in 1881 Samuel Kelsey began work on a wagon road that began at the north end of 5th Street and ended a quarter-mile from the top of Whiteside Mountain. Completed in 1883, the trail wound for 4½ miles through a forest lined with huge hemlocks. Photograph courtesy of Tammy Lowe.