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How the Blue Ridge Parkway Took Shape

History Feature: The Blue Ridge Parkway and a Mouse Trap

Story by John Turk

One of a number of National Parkways constructed during the middle years of the 20th century, The Blue Ridge Parkway was built to connect the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western North Carolina. In its early years, it was promoted as a highway “built by nature.” And as you motor along its two-lane road (obviously not built for speed) you just might believe the hype. Its bridges, tunnels, fences, and service buildings were all designed to present a “united parkway.”

The only exception was the massive Linn Cove Viaduct, whose 153 segments of reinforced concrete (weighing 50 tons each) were impossible to fit architecturally into the “united parkway.” It can be seen from miles away and, even today, is one of the parkway’s most photographed features.

However, the parkway was entirely man-made. In fact, this complex construction project was a federal jobs program. During the height of the Great Depression of the 1930s, this and other “make-work” projects created by the Roosevelt Administration helped to bring the economic hard times to a close.

As with many large government projects, politics and money played a major role in the Parkway’s creation. They even affected the route that the Parkway would follow. Kentucky wanted it to meander into its southwest, while Asheville, trying to develop a more robust tourist industry, wanted it nearby. In the end, Kentucky lost and the much smaller city of Asheville won.

By 1935 the route had been finalized. However, within its crosshairs stood hundreds of family homesteads—some going back five and six generations!

Using the right of eminent domain, the state of North Carolina began the process of removal. The well healed and/or politically connected received top dollar for their property. But when it came to the poor, it was a different story. While some fought the eviction, most simply took their government checks, packed their personal possessions, left everything else and moved on.

The touring Blue Ridge Parkway Exhibit is currently on display through mid-November at the Asheville History Center at the Smith-McDowell House, 283 Victoria Road. The display has been augmented with domestic items and furniture that came from these displaced homes. Many are fascinating examples of what today is usually dubbed as folk art.

In recent years, the folk art market has been red hot. Furniture made by nonprofessionals during the closing years of the 1800s and the opening years of the 1900s—and in original condition—continues to be avidly sought after by serious collectors. These are pieces with stories to tell.

To my eye, the one piece in our collection that exhibits all these qualities is the homemade mousetrap that was created in the 1930s. While crudely made, it is in fact an extremely effective snare—perhaps a simple answer to a complex problem. Some handwriting in pencil along one of the sides hints at the original ownership.

The exhibit also features glorious works of art that were inspired by views along the Parkway created by Asheville artist Jeff Pittman. For more information about the exhibit contact the Asheville History Center at 828.253.9231.

John Turk, Professor Emeritus, Youngstown State University, leads city walking and bus tours with history-at-hand.com. He can be reached at jrturk@ysu.edu.

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