French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-07-06

ROCK HAS
B|GFOURTH

A happy day to the promoters was
realized July, 4th at Chimney Rock
when "Old Glory was hoisted and a
large crowd tourneyed thither to witt
ness the ceremonies attendant. The
dreams, the visions, the plans, the
work that led up to the proud hour
makes a story we'll worth reading.
The whole Chimney Rock section is a
wild, rugged country which has been
almost totally inaccessible to vehicles
OF any kind until the last few years
when a splendid highway has been
built across it which is daily traverS-
ed, in summer, by hundreds of automo-
biles carrying throngs of visitors to
admire the wonderful and awe-inspir-
Ing scenery. The chiefest of the won
ders of the section is the Chimney
Rock itself which is huge mass of
solid rock. 23O feet from base to sum-
nit, and can not be described with ad-
jectives or measured by line and which
rises majestically in chimney-like
proudness, over many towering peaks.
1t has been visited every year by
thousands of visitors who had to weary
body and limb in hard climb and pull
to reach its top and be able to say
boastingly, "I climbed Chimney Rock
and beheld the wonders of God" In
recent years. the Morse broIhers-Dr.
L. B. Morse. of Hendersonville, H. B.
Morse, of st. Louis and A. q. Morse,
OF Kansas City-became the owners OF
the greatest stretch of rock, ledge and
rugged grandeur and vision was
caught of the possibility of the reali-
zation of the dreams of Jerome B.
Freeman, the former owner of the
property. Plans were made and work
was begun a few months ago on a
road to lead from the highway in the
valley of Broad river right up
to the base of the rock. The survey of
this road is the work of master hand
and is marvel to all visitors. The
road is three miles in length and
winds in and out and around, ever up
ward with an average grade Of only
20 29d grade being maintained on
all chair pin" curves. The entire
road is a double track and at all switch
back curves rs it. width is given. At
the end Of the road which is at the
very base of the Chimney" Is park
ing place which will accommodate
many cars and which was at no time
taxed at the opening on July 4th. even
with the 1000 or more people who
visited the top of the Rock on that
date.
1t was most fitting that the compile
ton of this wonderful road should be
celebrated on July 4th, the day when
all true Americans love to show pride
in their country and its developments.
Az exactly 1920 o'clock the immense
flag 25x15 feet, of stars and stripes
was hoisted to the top of so foot
pole and "Old Glory" was stetched
out in the air by the mountains never
dying breezes amidst the reverent
cheering of the thronSs and the rever-
beratiOns of the mountains. TO Mr..
Jerome Freeman, a veteran of pro-
gress. born under the shadow of the
Rock, first owner, and who first con-
ceived the idea that such road could
he built. was accorded the honor of
raising the flag. In his speech which
followed he expressed his pleasure
that he had lived to the glad day when
his dreams of many years had been
fulfilled and he could not find words
to describe his happiness. Short pa
triotic speeches were then made by
J S. Sumner of Asheville. L. ]. Led
better of Bat Cave and B. H. DePriest
of Shelby. The Hendersonville band
closed the exercises with, ''My Country.
'Tis of Thee and the crowds adjourn
ed to picnic dinners in groups over
the mountain sides. The remainder of
the day was spent in visiting the bot
tomless pools, the cave. the Appian
Way which is a cut out, way in the
face of solid rock leading to the head
of a falls many hundred feet high and
other places of interest.
Fire works from the top of Chimney