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The Mother Vine

By  E. Bishop

On a recent trip to the Outer Banks, we rented an airnb for our stay.  This beautifully decorated 1930s home called Historic Lennon Cottage at the Mother Vine was right across from this historical feature with the Roanoke Sound also across the street (with a dock for fishing).  We could not have picked a better place to stay with all the amenities and local activities available.  May be getting too old to ride the roller coaster ride we took to see the wild horses at Corolla but what fun it was anyway holding on for dear life at times!  The first farm settlement, the Elizabethan Gardens, walking on the beach, Jockey’s Ridge, art museums, and the best fresh caught seafood you could ask for at O’Neal’s in Wanchese made that long drive worthwhile.  But, the most intriguing was the The Mother Vine.

Believed to be the oldest grape vine (400 years old) in North America, the “mother” of all vines for scuppernong grapes, North Carolina’s state fruit.  No one is exactly sure of course of its origin but speculation is that it could have been planted by either Croatan Native Americans or settlers of the Lost Colony.  As one article I read stated, if the Mother Vine could talk, she would tell you a long, long story.  A story of birth and growth, running wild and free in the sunshine along the banks of Roanoke Island.  And, of many mishaps along the way that could have led to her demise.

While my daughter and I were out walking one evening, a friendly lady walking her dog stopped for a chat to welcome us to the area and was very gracious in telling us some history of the Vine.  She explained the neighborhood helps keep up the grounds, etc. and told of an incident when it was almost lost just a few years ago when someone from the power company came through spraying chemicals.  Fortunately, due to the quick action of vintners, etc. from all over, disaster was averted.

In 1957, Jack and Estelle Wilson bought the property that the Vine sits on.  It occupied two acres at that time; they were initially unaware of just how important this site might be and trimmed it down extensively to build a house.  They began to appreciate its history and sought to share it with others and cared for the Vine for the remainder of their lives.  Their son, John  Wilson IV inherited the property and stated “She wanted dogs and children to always have access to Roanoke Sound at Mother Vineyard because throughout her childhood, and all the way through mine, that was where all children rode their bikes, walked their dogs, and went swimming.”  According to The Coastland Times, Mr. Wilson is in the process of turning the property over to the Outer Banks Conservationists (OBC), a non-profit that manages Island Farm and Currituck Beach Lighthouse.  Their intent is to make Outer Banks’ history accessible and open to the public.  Mother Vine will continue to be  protected in perpetuity with this action.

Crouching beneath the trellis of outstretched vines, down to where the gnarly original roots come from the ground, it’s just a little scary (someone said akin to Stranger Things) but at the same time awesome to see a massive twisted piece of art that is the “mother” of all vines.  Don’t expect to get wine made from these grapes though; we tried.  You’ll have to check out the “children” vineyards that came from her cuttings.

Judaculla

By Linda H. Barnette

There is a curious rock not far from Western Carolina University near Sylva. It sits on an area of almost one acre, which is owned by Jackson County. The surface of this rock is covered with petroglyphs which were probably carved by people in that area thousands of years ago. Scientists who have studied this rock have been able to find over 1,000 cup marks, 10 bowl-shaped marks, stick figures, deer tracks, and winged shapes.

Judaculla Rock is still important to the Cherokee. Although most of them were removed to Oklahoma in 1838 in the infamous “Trail of Tears,” both the tribes there and the ones in our mountains continue to teach their oral history, of which this rock is likely a part. It is located on an old Indian trail. Today the federally recognized Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians is based in Jackson and Swain counties, where the rock is located. These people regard this boulder as spiritually significant and associate it with the slant-eyed giant of Cherokee legend.

The rock contains more petroglyphs than any boulder west of the Mississippi River. It’s also important because it appears to be a picture map of where it is located. This particular rock appears to be a physical representation of the Cherokee landscape in the area.

A collaboration between the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Western Carolina University, the owners of the property, and others resulted in the building of an elevated platform around the area so that Judaculla will always be protected. Since 2013 it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Information from Wikipedia and photograph credit to my son, a graduate of Western Carolina.

How We Spend Time

By Stephanie Williams Dean

I applaud anyone who tries to make our world a better place.

Every so often, I get a white envelope in the mail. My address has been handwritten. In the upper right-hand corner is a stamp and postmark. In the upper left-hand corner is a handwritten return name and local address of a woman named Mary Wood. Consider that Ms. Wood took the time to hand address these envelopes, stuff the envelopes, and buy stamps and attach them. I wonder how many letters she mails?

Inside the letter is a pamphlet inviting me to a 2024 spiritual convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The featured drama for the convention was to be presented on June 14, 2024. That date has already passed.

Nevertheless, I read over the program highlights; Consider the evidence that the good news about Jesus in the Gospels are accurate records of his life and how these Biblical accounts can benefit us today. What was prophesied about Jesus’ birth and childhood and how those prophecies came true.  And why so many folks have reasons to feel secure and confident in today’s world.

My point in referring to this letter is not to focus on the program highlights although they are all important aspects to consider. But what grabbed my attention was more about the sender, Ms. Wood – she’s one person spending her time doing her part to make the world a better place.

In her own way, Ms. Wood is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in hopes of winning souls to Jesus. She is following what Jesus instructed us all to do in what’s known as The Great Commission – to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that He has commanded of us.  As Christians, we have been sent out into the world to proclaim what Christ has done and call people to have faith in him.

Now, I don’t know Ms. Wood, but I have to admire her work. She’s doing what she can to evangelize locally and support the instruction to bring the gospel to our end of the earth. She hopes to save people – and that’s worth writing about.