The following teaser is from an article published in the August 12, 2012 edition of the Citizen Times.
ASHEVILLE — Western North Carolina residents who have an interest in the region’s culture and history no longer have to drive to Raleigh to see relics from the past.
Beginning today, the public is invited to enjoy the resources of the Western Regional Archives, the long-awaited facility that houses photographs, documents, maps, scrapbooks, art work and other historic properties — right here in Asheville.
“It’s been a longtime dream, and a lot of hard work and planning has gone on to get us here,” Heather South, archivist at the new facility, said before a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and local officials along with history buffs, artists and others associated with cultural arts.
Archives related to mountain history and culture have always existed, but WNC residents have had to make the trek to the State Archives office in Raleigh to view them.
Plans for a facility in the mountain region have been on the books for years, but that dream was never realized until Friday.
