Tag Archives: Dahlia Festival

Dazzling Dahlias!

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by Wiley Sloan

Dazzling Dahlias! Highlands first annual Dahlia Festival will be held Saturday, September 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Historical Society’s Historic Village located at 524 N. Fourth Street.  

Dahlia enthusiasts from throughout the region are excitedly planning for this event. The Historic Village will be abuzz as the public strolls the grounds and reviews these spectacular flowers. The Festival is free to the public. The Exhibitor fee of $10 is for hobbyist and amateur Dahlia growers. Bring your flowers and let us all enjoy their beauty. Registration forms are available in various locations throughout Highlands and Cashiers or by calling the Highlands Historical Society at (828) 787-1050. Judging of the many beautiful dahlias will include five categories with prizes awarded for each.

The proceeds from this exciting event will benefit the Highlands Historical Society whose mission is to “Preserve and protect the rich heritage of Highlands for present and future generations.”  The Historic Village consists of three of Highlands’ oldest buildings: the Museum which is housed in Highlands’ first library (the second oldest library in N.C.); The Prince House, Highlands’ oldest home circa 1878; and a Sanatorium Tent commonly called “a Bug Hill Cottage” which was used by Dr. Mary Lapham in her treatment of tuberculosis at the turn of the twentieth century.  Monies raised for the Historical Society go to the preservation and maintenance of these buildings, education throughout the community, preservation of donated archival materials and more. The Museum houses permanent as well as rotating exhibits. 

Music and refreshments will be served. The Museum and The Prince House will be open for touring. Joyce Franklin is the chairperson of this event and can be reached at (828) 526-9418 for more information and registration. Information is also available at Highlandshistory@nctv.com  

A Patron Party for the Dazzling Dahlias! Event will occur on Friday, September 16th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Dr. and Mrs. Ernest Franklin, III will host the party at their historic home, the former home of Dr. Henry Martin Bascom. Dr. Bascom came to Highlands with his family in 1881. He built his first home on East Main Street (the Franklin home) in the summer and fall of that year. Many of you will recognize the Bascom name since Dr. Bascom was a prominent businessman who served as Highlands Mayor for many years. Our beautiful Art Center is named for Bascom’s daughter, Louise. Come enjoy Dr. Franklin’s manicured gardens and grounds. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.     

Historical Happenings

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Highlands Historical Society Board members are pleased to announce two new events at the Historic Village during the month of September.

A new exhibit titled “Golf on the Highlands Plateau” will open on August 13th.  This exhibit will feature early golf courses including the first golf course in Highlands, a 3-hole one ca. 1900 at the northwest corner of First and Main, where the Citgo Station is now. The second was a 9-hole course ca. 1905 at Pierson Inn, which included a lake and boat for retrieving balls that fell short of the green. Both were built by George Inglesby. Also included will be the ten-hole course built at the Hall House, a Country Inn, now known as the Highlands Manor on Fifth Street. Hall House had their 10-hole golf course ca. 1906, which Margaret Hall remembered for the last hole, which crossed a lake; so many would-be golfers just skipped it.

From there visitors will be led through pictures and articles depicting the public’s exploding interest in golf.  The development of courses sprang up throughout the area beginning with the Highlands Estates.  We know it now as the Highlands Country Club, started by Scott Hudson in 1929 with the help of Bobby Jones.  Other courses that followed are the Tom Thumb Golf course on Main Street in 1930; the first miniature golf course near Highlands School Theatre building in 1956; the Putt-Putt golf course near Helen’s Barn; Sky Lake Golf Course in 1963, now known as Highlands Falls Country Club, created by Gordon and Lloyd Gibson of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; an 18-hole golf course at Wildcat Cliffs in the early 60s, and The Cullasaja Club in 1987.  As you can see, golf is a very popular sport on the Highlands Plateau and continues to bring seasonal residents and visitors to these beautiful mountains.  The Historical Society will welcome any memorabilia regarding golf in Highlands that anyone would like to share for this exhibit. Items may be received for temporary use by putting items “On Loan” or may be offered for perpetuity. Please call the Museum at (828) 787-1050 or email highlandshistory@nctv.com if you have anything to contribute.

Dazzling Dahlias! Highlands 1st Annual Dahlia Festival will be held on September 17th, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Historic Village 524 N. Fourth Street.  This festival is for hobbyist and serious Dahlia growers as well.  The exhibitor fee is $10.  Registration forms will be available in and around Highlands and Cashiers at various locations.  Judging will take place with eight categories.  Prizes will be offered. Joyce Franklin is the chairperson of this event and can be reached at (828) 526-9418 for more information and registration.  The festival is open free to the public to browse and enjoy these spectacular flowers.   The Museum, The Prince House, and The Bug Hill Cottage will be open for touring.  Music and refreshments will be served.