A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-09-05....North Carolina, The Tar Heel State

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, Dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine,

We're
"On the Road Again"...

Please join "A Few of FR's Finest" as we make a cyber-visit to another state in this great Union of ours.

Over the past year each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state for the Finest Thread. The remaining states are being presented, about one a month, in random order. We hope you are enjoying these visits to our beautiful United States. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your Fine state. I would appreciate your ideas and suggestions on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states
we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia 10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan 11-04-03 South Dakota

11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming 04-13-04 Mississippi 04-27-04 Missouri 05-25-04 Indiana 07-21-04 Virginia 08-18-04 Colorado 09-29-04 Idaho 10-20-04 New Hampshire 12-07-04 Hawaii 02-09-05 Maine

Today we are visiting the
"Old North" state!

"Esse Quam Videri"
("to be rather than to seem.")

The Tar Heel State
Origin: In North Carolina's early years, tar was one of the state's major products. There are two contradictory stories about the origin of this nickname. Both stories concern Civil War battles in which North Carolina troops were involved. More here.

The Old North State
Origin: In 1710, Carolina was divided into northern and southern sections. The southern section was called South Carolina and the northern section was called North Carolina. "The Old North State" is a reference to the northern section.

North Carolina's official flag was adopted in 1885. The upper date, May 20th, 1775, commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (named for Mecklenburg County, where North Carolina citizens met to declare their freedom from Great Britain, although the original document was destroyed and some people have questioned its existence). The lower date, April 12th, 1776, commemorates the adoption of the Halifax Resolves (this was the first official action by a colony calling for independence from Britain).

A Brief History of North Carolina

English colonists, sent by Sir Walter Raleigh, unsuccessfully attempted to settle Roanoke Island in 1585 and 1587. Virginia Dare, born there in 1587, was the first child of English parentage born in America.

In 1653 the first permanent settlements were established by English colonists from Virginia near the Roanoke and Chowan rivers. The region was established as an English proprietary colony in 1663–1665 and in its early history was the scene of Culpepper's Rebellion (1677), the Quaker-led Cary Rebellion (1708), the Tuscarora Indian War (1711–1713), and many pirate raids.

During the American Revolution, there was relatively little fighting within the state, but many North Carolinians saw action elsewhere. Despite considerable pro-Union, antislavery sentiment, North Carolina joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. Some 40,000 North Carolinians were killed over the course of the war. North Carolina was admitted back into the Union on July 4th 1868.

Read more about North Carolina's History HERE

North Carolina's state capitol rises majestically on Union Square in downtown Raleigh, a city specifically created in 1792 to serve as North Carolina's permanent capital. Built between 1833-40, the granite building is one of the finest and best preserved examples of civic Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Relatively small in comparison to many other state capitols, this impressive structure has stood as a symbol of pride to North Carolinians for more than 150 years.

North Carolina is divided into three distinct topographical regions: the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont Plateau, and the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains.

The Coastal Plain, bordered on the east by many beaches, offers opportunities for farming, recreation, and manufacturing. The North Carolina coast is protected by a slender chain of islands known as the Outer Banks.

The Appalachian Mountains--including Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in Eastern North America (6,684 feet)-- add to the variety which is apparent in the state's topography. More than 200 mountains rise 5,000 feet or more. In this area, widely acclaimed for its beauty, tourism is an outstanding business.

The Piedmont Plateau, though dotted with many small rolling farms, is primarily a manufacturing area in which the chief industries are furniture, tobacco, and textiles.

North Carolina is a state that embraces you with gorgeous mountains and hills, hundreds of lakes and rivers, waterfalls, and a very desirable climate.

Scubachick, a resident of Charlotte, told me that there are three things I must not forget to cover in my presentation of this state; they are:

North Carolina's Notorious Pirate,
"Blackbeard"

Click on Blackbeard's flag to learn more...


More Blackbeard links:

Twenty Seven Months Reign of Terror, Treachery and Theatrics
Blackbeard, the Man and the Myth

---

North Carolina Barbecue -
AKA - "Pig Pickin'"

"Perhaps North Carolina's finest contribution to international cuisine, the peculiar institution known as Barbecue is one of those Tarheel hotspots that is often misunderstood by folks outside our borders. Barbecue enjoys a long and distinguished history in North Carolina, and has come to be synonymous with political campaigns, church fund-raisers, and any celebration of merit. It has been celebrated itself in song, story, poetry, literature and electronic media. It enjoys as much a prominent place and regional distinctiveness as a 'state dish' as Steamed Crabs do in Maryland, Baked Beans do in Boston, and Salmon does in Seattle. Barbecuing is so competitive in North Carolina that the state boasts no fewer than twenty five annual cook-offs.

"There are two different styles of North Carolina Barbecue, Eastern and Western. In both cases the sauce is a vinegar-based concoction, heavily seasoned; the largest difference is that the Western, or Lexington style of barbecue adds a small amount of tomato-base to the sauce, and also roasts pork shoulders in preference to the whole hog. That's it. That's the difference. Yet these tiny differences have caused near blood feuds between proponents of the two different styles." - Terry Mancour.

North Carolina Barbecue - A Primer
The Barbecue Festival
Barbecue of the Carolinas

Thanks, Aquamarine, for your help researching NC Barbecue.
(It sure flung a cravin' on me, too!)

---

and, last but not least.......

State lawmakers in both chambers unanimously approved a resolution as part of their effort to protect a $1.5 billion racing industry that employs about 10,000 people in North Carolina. As the sport increases in popularity, so does the competition from other states to lure it away.

But lawmakers and others say North Carolina is the best place for a museum. Stock car racing started there and a few hundred race teams - NASCAR and otherwise - are located around Charlotte....

Lowes Motor Speedway

Yes, North Carolinians love racing
(almost as much as pig pickin')!

Click HERE for a list of North Carolina race tracks.

• The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the oldest State University in the United States.
   
• In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates their achievement.
   
• High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World.
   
• Know as "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs, in 1722.
   
• The Outer Banks of NC hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
   
• Whitewater Falls in Transylvania County is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States.
   
• Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse ever to be moved due to erosion problems.
   
• The University of North Carolina's mascot, the Tarheels, is also a nickname for North Carolinians.
   
• Charles Karault was born and raised in Wilmington.
   
• Havelock is home of Marine Base "Cherry Point." It is the largest air base in the Marine Corps.
   
• Harker's Island hosts the annual Core Sound Decoy Festival in December.
   
• Morehead City is home to the North Carolina Seafood Festival, held the first weekend in October every year.
   
• The World War II battleship 'North Carolina' is permanently berthed on the Cape Fear River at Wilmington. She was saved from the scrap heap in the 1960's by public subscription, including donations of dimes by schoolchildren.
   
• The first English colony in America, "The Lost Colony", was located on Roanoke Island. Walter Raleigh founded it. The colony mysteriously vanished with no trace except for the word "Croatoan" scrawled on a nearby tree.
   
• The first miniature golf course was built in Fayetteville.
   
• The Biltmore Estate in Ashville is America's largest home, and includes a 255-room chateau, an award-winning winery and extensive gardens.
   
• The Mile-High Swinging Bridge near Linville is 5,305 feet above sea level. The bridge actually hangs about 80 feet above the ground.
   
• Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States, was born in the Waxsaws area on the border of North and South Carolina.
   
• James K. Polk, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, was the eleventh President of the United States.
   
• Hiram Rhoades Revels, born in Fayetteville in 1822, was the first African-American member of the United States Congress.
   
• The oldest town in the state is Bath, incorporated in 1705.
   

If we hurry we can all meet on the Outer Banks for the
Saint Patrick's Day and
Polar Plunge Weekend!

St. Patrick's Day & OBX Polar Plunge Weekend, March 11-13, 2005, promises to be fun for all. The 8th Annual Polar Plunge, which raises funds for the "We Build People" scholarship fund that benefits children and families in need on The Outer Banks will be held Saturday, March 12th on the beach in Kill Devil Hills. Check-in time begins at 12:30pm. Prizes will be awarded in several categories with the Grand Prize for the "Out of Town Team" being a week's stay on The Outer Banks. So get your family and friends together and plan on making the plunge!

March 13th begins the St. Patrick's Day Weekend. Rain or shine comes the 16th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, the largest parade in the State of North Carolina with over 1,000 people participating in the parade's 85-100 units, will take place in Nags Head. Be one of the 7,000 to 10,000 people that line the streets of Nags Head cheering an array of Outer Banks entertainment. Perhaps you would like to participate; well there is still time to secure a spot!

---

The following websites provided information
and graphics for this presentation.

The Insider - NC History
Chimney Rock Park
The 50 States
FOX News NASCAR

From the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains, and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the coast and the fragile islands of the Outer Banks, North Carolina has plenty to offer. And with her mild winters and comfortable summers, North Carolina is a great place to live, and a very attractive place to visit again and again.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-7-05 Military Monday 03-8-05 UP With Carbs!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel
or .45Man at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

Hall of Fame #10 ~ 12-29-04

[Mama_Bear]

Love your tagline! That's one of the funniest I've seen.

I sure like that first mountain picture. I think I will make a closing graphic out of it for the thread. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Found this in google.....

Sliding Rock is a popular destination for families and individuals alike. Easy accessible by car or foot, Sliding Rock is a large swimming hole, equipped with a natural water slide. A sheet of water cascades down a shallow granite slope, delivering the swimmer into a cold, mountain-water pool. Sliding Rock offers full picnic facilities.

YIKES.......It looks scary! And it is safe for kids? Not this kid. I think I'm not up for a plunge into ice cold water, but I'd sure like to watch others doing it. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Marvelous trip throught the Tarheel State.

Thank you! And thanks for coming along with us on our cyber-tour today.

Hope that signs of spring are starting to pop up around you. I know how welcome it must be after a long cold winter. But I heard that they are having a blizzard 'somewhere' back east, so spring may still be a bit far off for you.

[Mama_Bear]

Asheville was just beautiful when went there last summer. We visited a few antique stores and had dinner there, but there wasn't time to see or do much since we got there late in the day. Still, I really appreciated that my niece took the time to drive us up there, it was well worth the trip. The scenery on the drive up from Charolotte was breathtaking......so green and lush.

[Mama_Bear]

Us on Chimney Rock. :-)

[Dubya]

Great thread.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you, Dubya. Glad you enjoyed it.

[jwfiv]

Mrs. Bear ... an elegant and beautiful presentation you give us today.

Thank you ... )

I had to draw a map of the Tarheel State last week ... pretty good timing.

I didn't know about Blackbeard. Arrrrrgh.

[Mama_Bear]

I didn't know about Blackbeard. Arrrrrgh.

According to my niece, North Carolina schools teach kids about Blackbeard before they teach about the Constitution....but surely she is exaggerating about that. ;-)

Mrs. Bear ... an elegant and beautiful presentation you give us today.

Thank you kindly, jwfiv. :-)

[DollyCali]

Just back in.. wow.. love all the additional pictures.. Sliding rock had lots of good memories. The last time I was there it was my hubby's family reunion.. 5 days that we planned in NC. They came from Cinti, Fla, & New mexico.. we took them all over the Western part of NC... when we got to this event all the kids wanted to go down the slide.. BUT NONE OF THE ADULTS.. It was fall & a little coolish, but I didn't want the kids to miss it , so I speent a couple hours sliding down & climbing back up so they would have an adult with them. IT WAS COLD

Love the pix of you & family at Chimmeny. Mama. last time I was there was pre=digital (same with sliding rock)..

Rebel.. you have added so much to mama's thread.. thanks.. I have truly enjoyed your pic & verbal contributions.

Mama.. I have received emails from 4 folks (non FReepers) who went to & enjoy this thread/ site. One lady mentioned she went to many of the archived references & asked me to let her know about future state threads. She is on my profile page (Karen & I are hugging).

Better cook dinner.. I am starved...

[Mama_Bear]

Mama.. I have received emails from 4 folks (non FReepers) who went to & enjoy this thread/ site. One lady mentioned she went to many of the archived references & asked me to let her know about future state threads. She is on my profile page (Karen & I are hugging).

Oh, that is nice to hear! I am so glad that people are enjoying these state threads. They do take a long time to put together, so it is encouraging to know that they are appreciated. Thank you for letting me know, Dolly.

[Dubya]

Mar 9, 2005
'Rockin' senior queens appear on PAX

Judy Kelley, Ms. N.C. Senior America 2000, and Thelma McGuire, Ms. N.C. Senior America 2003, went to High Point to tape a television show called Rockin Seniors to be aired at 5:30 p.m. Sunday and March 20 on PAX TV.
Ms. Kelley is the former state director for the N.C. Senior Pageant that has been held in Wilmington for the last four years and is a member of the Hi Steppers and Class Act Dance companies and a dance instructor at the New Hanover County Senior Center.

[DollyCali]

Loved that movie.. and Daniel didn't hurt the picture either did he??

:)

NC is a favored state for movie production.. down about wilmingotn there is a few studios that film frequently. IT can have a new england "look" at a much lower cost

[DollyCali]

I KNOW the work you do. When I have done the few , meager threads that Ihave done, I was a basket case.. and you & the others put out professional & wonderful threads each week.

That is why I do almost every day send out the treads to people who I think Might have an interest. I sent out Billie's thread to many also but didn't hear from any. But I do know tht a lot of people NEVER acknowledge anything I send.. I eventually drop them.. life is simpler that way.

Well, you did a great job & I like to spread the word
- not sure if you go to check the "traffic" count.. I was amazed with my "fine Mind " threads.. they were into the thousands ... and one into the 5000... but not that mamy posts.. maybe a couple hundred

BTW, I am saving the pix of you & the mr & girlchild.. I love it...

[Diver Dave]

Beautiful presentation, MB.

North Carolinans can rightfully boast pride in their beautiful state.

[DollyCali]

was that cute puppy on yesterday's pledge yours? I am in & out of threads so infrequently I am truly out of loop but for some reason got the idea it was your pooch.. It is a cutie.. I love my Oliver.. can't imagine life without him

[Mama_Bear]

Well, you did a great job & I like to spread the word

Well, I appreciate it. You are a Fine cheerleader for our thread. :-)

BTW, I am saving the pix of you & the mr & girlchild.. I love it...

Really? BTW, that girlchild is my (very most favorite) niece who is married to my (very most favorite) nephew. And, I bet you think you see only three people in that picture, but actually there was four. Her beautiful (and long awaited) baby girl was born five months later in November. :-)

Scubachick and daughter are visiting her mother here in California at the moment, so she is forced to use her mom's dial-up connection. She says it is painfully slooooooow and impossible to get graphic heavy threads open. Otherwise, I am sure she would be here today.

[Mama_Bear]

Beautiful presentation, MB.

Thank you, sir.

Nice weather we are having in the valley, isn't it. Could be just a tad warmer, but I am not complaining. The sun is shining and I am happy about that.

That photo of your new puppy that Billie used for the pledge yesterday is precious! Looking forward to more photos of him as he grows.

[Diver Dave]

Yep! He's starting to train me very well.

[Diver Dave]

You betcha! I love seein' the sun and feeling the warmth.
Lilacs are about to bloom and some of the tulips opened this morning.
Dug my short out of hiding - must work on my tan. :)