Chimney Rock and Rutherford County

Located just north of the Carolinas' border, Rutherford County is widely known for its natural wonders, including Chimney Rock and the Bottomless Pools. However, its vast appeal includes much more: numerous listings on the National Register of Historic Places; developments that embrace the construction of Lake Lure; national titles, including Forest City's "One of America's Ten Most Beautiful Cities;" and small towns and hamlets, such as Rutherfordton, Spindale, Avondale, and Henrietta.

Chimney Rock and Rutherford County honors the accomplishments of one of North Carolina's most scenic counties. More than 200 vintage images, culled from postcards, newspapers, business files, and personal collections, offer a window into the county's past. Readers will learn of the county's defining moments, from its separation from Lincoln County to its supreme sacrifice during World War II of 149 young men, as well as the county's historic places, like Pine Gables (1700s), the Lake Lure Inn, and the Bechtler's Mint (1831). Readers also have the singular chance to meet well-known Rutherford County figures, including textile magnate Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, screenwriter Earl Owensby, radio announcer Jerrell Bedford, and Sheriff Damon Huskey, who served the county for 24 years.

Anita Price Davis is a Rutherford County native, a graduate of Appalachian State and Duke University, and a Converse College professor. Barry E. Hambright is a Gaston County resident and Gardner-Webb professor. Together, they have authored this pictorial retrospective, celebrating the life and times of Rutherford Countians and offering a new chapter in the county's flavorful history.