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Thomas G. Harbison: Highlands History
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2021/04 – April
Professor Harbison recognized the precious nature of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, a particular genius that resonates with Earth Day 2021.
Photograph of Satulah Mountain in 1910 by Henry Scadin, courtesy of the Highlands Historical Society.
Professor Thomas G. Harbison is one of Highlands’ finest. He was a no-nonsense botanist/teacher/researcher genius in the late 1800s through early 1900s. He rubbed shoulders and shovels with the big guys, among them George Vanderbilt, who hired him as botanical collector for the Biltmore Herbarium.
Harvard University contracted his service for 18 years as researcher for Southern trees and shrubs. Many botanical discoveries he made while collecting material for Charles Sargent’s Manual of Trees of North America now bear his name.
He felt a kinship, if not protective ownership, with his Southern forests and finds. He was determined to identify all the flora of the Highlands plateau.
For tourists and explorers who didn’t value the beauty and importance of its trees, shrubs, and wildflowers he had this to say, “I believe in keeping hogs from the woods.” He said it with a twinkle in his eye, but my guess he was capable of kicking butt and taking names.
And, if you doubt me, read this Harbison quote, noted right after the Highlands Improvement Society purchased the top of Satulah as a gift to all. Harbison took genuine pride in its purchase as he said, “(Satulah) is ours, ours to keep forever. No money-grubbing skinflint without any soul can ever acquire this top and then put up a tollgate to charge admission to what he the same as stole from God. I mean just what I say. No man has a right or can acquire a right to charge his fellow man a toll to visit the top of God’s mountains.”
The takeaway from that statement is don’t mess with God … furthermore, don’t mess with Thomas G. Harbison.
To dig deeper into Harbison’s colorful past, refer to Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge. Visit highlandshistory.com or email [email protected].
