Browse Items (28 total)
Sort by:
-
Kids at Helen's Barn
Kids at Helen's Barn, part of Susan Clarkson's family photos -
-
Highlands Patio Concert -- Jessica Allossery
Jessica Allossery, musician on patio stage at Foor residence in Highlands, NC playing a guitar and singing. -
Nitrograss--Highlands Patios
Nitrograss performing at a Highlands patio concert on August 27, 2021. -
Helen Cabe Wright Wilson
Helen Cabe Wright Wilson and her children hosted more than 50 summers of square dancing and brought visitors and local residents together to enjoy traditional music and dance. After Helen’s death in 1959, her children managed Helen’s Barn until 1984.
-
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.
-
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.