Rosman, NC - April 2025

 Five years ago today, April 13th, we were awakened at 3: 13 am   by a "take shelter NOW" tornado alert.  Our property vista changed overnight, but our house, vehicles, boat and most importantly, ourselves, were spared.  Today we are going on a 3 night camp stay at the Lazy J in Rosman, NC, approximately 45 miles from us and another 45 to Asheville.  We camped here many years ago, and were glad it was still in operation after Helen. 

The entry to the camp is across an old trestle-like bridge over the Broad River.  This was one of the rivers that flooded as a result of Hurricane Helen and caused extensive damage to North Carolina.

The campground is in a wooded area.  Our spot isn't very big, but we will be spending most of our two 

days sightseeing.

 

The next day we drove to the Pisgah National Forest, noted for its many waterfalls.  Most of them require a hike to reach, but Looking Glass was right along the road.

If we were more adventurous (translate "younger"), we would have walked down the long stairway and maybe even gone into the water.  But, we were content to have a closer view through the zoom lens of the camera.  

Along the river throughout the forest, downed trees still remain from the flood...

Hard to imagine how much damaged was caused considering how low and calm the river is now.

And this is just one of many piles of dead timber that was cleared away.

Tuesday, we drove into the town of Brevard, about 15 miles east of Rosman.

We drove onto the campus of Brevard College, probably most noted for its white squirrels.  However, none were in sight today.

Perhaps they were on their way to visit the cows.  The folks here don't have to wait for the cows to come home!!!

In another part of town is Silvermont Park and Mansion.  The house, built in 1917, was owned by a prosperous tanner and lumberman, Joseph Silverstein, who willed the estate to the county in 1972.  The downstairs is now a Senior Center.  Upstairs still has a few rooms that typify the early life there, but it wasn't opened while we were at the park.

There is a playground and garden on the property, and an oak tree that grew from the propagation of the original Charter Oak in Connecticut.  Acorns from the original tree were preserved and planted in various states, and cuttings made from these were distributed for planting elsewhere, such as here.

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The town folk are blessed to have such a beautiful park, as were we to visit it.