ahgs.org

Do you have Terry Choate memories or photos to share with us for our exhibit? Did you work with him in Nashville, TN, WCOK in Alleghany, or go to school with him in Sparta, NC?

Give us a call, send a message, or stop by the Museum. We would love to hear from you! (336) 372-2115

Good news! The AHGS decided to extend our Quilt Raffle to April 4th. Those of you who couldn’t get to the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce to buy your tickets due to the ice and snow, still have a chance! Thank you for supporting the Alleghany Historical Museum.

We will have 100 Raffle Baskets, BBQ chicken sandwiches and hotdogs by Cookie’s Catering, a bake sale, a 50/50 drawing and more. Come enjoy a fun day out with friends.

11am, Saturday, August 16 at the Sparta VFW Hall

Donors and sponsors will be listed here – please support those who support our fundraiser.

GENERAL Raffle Baskets

1. Aaron Brown– Handmade Wooden butter board with wooden spreader. ($20 value)
2. Aaron Brown– Handmade Wooden butter board with wooden spreader. ($20 value)
3. Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce– $10 Gift Certificate
4. Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce– $25 Gift Certificate
5. Alleghany High Country Realty– 2 coffee mugs, Black Rifle Coffee, candles and a T-shirt.($50 value)
6. Alleghany Jubilee
7. Alleghany Lives!– 2 Unity in the Community T-shirts, UITC water bottle, mood tracker, 988 pin, safe space pin, There is Hope nylon bag, Adult coloring books, You Matter luggage tag, 2 Diamond painting kits, fidget keychain, community mental health information packet, and Alleghany Lives! Self Care bag. ($60 value)
8. Linda Annas – Raffle basket- Handmade Autumn Crochet Poncho
9. Ashley Flowers Dental– Gorgeous handmade pottery Wall sconce. ($35 value)
10. Appalachian Fresh Farms
11. A Touch of Grace– Sunflower garden flag, Floral Tea towel, Crystal flower decor, and Faux succulent in a decorative pot. ($65 value)
12. Books N Friends– A Collection of 12 Danielle Steel books. ($70 value)
13. Books N Friends– A Collection of 10 Patricia Cornwell books. ($50 value)
14. Brandt Arnold Dental– Oral B Smart 1500 Electric Toothbrush ($125 Value)
15. Butterfields Candies– (Historic N.C. Company) -Butterfields Peach Buds 100 years anniversary Tin, Lemon Buds, Key Lime Buds, Muscadine Buds, Watermelon Buds, Ginger Buds, Cherry Buds, and Orange Buds. (($60 value)
16. Crave Restaurant– $25 Gift card
17. The Cutting Corner– $25 Gift Certificate paired with a Teddy Bear ($35 value)
18. Mae Evans – Raffle basket- Handmade Diamond dots 6 pc Dog Coasters with stand
19. Mae Evans Raffle basket- Handmade Diamond dots 4 pc Butterfly Coasters.
20. First Community Bank– Insulated bag, an Umbrella, and a plush bear ($35 value)
21. Flower House– a gift certificate and a small bouquet ($60 value)
22. Food Lion– Movie night basket containing a $15 gift card and a variety of snack
23. Food Lion-Movie night basket containing a $15 gift card and a variety of snacks. ($50 value)
24. The Gathering Place– Country Hippie Co. Maple Brown Sugar candle and Pinky Up ceramic tea mug and infuser. ($55 value)
25. Gill’s Jeans & Things– Peace Love Pray T-shirt ($15 value)
26. Gill’s Jeans & Things & the Atwood family– NASCAR hat and “Driving With the Devil” by Neil Thompson. ($70 value)
27. The Hubbard Family– Black and Decker Toaster Oven ($75 value
28. Huntress by Sea– Canvas photo print Sunset in Aguadilla, PR ($80 value)
29. Jamie’s Auto Solutions– Gift certificate for an all wheel alignment paired with a faux succulent in a sheep ceramic pot. ($95 value)
30. Jamie’s Auto Solutions– Gift certificate for an all wheel alignment paired with a faux succulent in a sheep ceramic pot. ($95 value
31. JB’s – Gift Certificate for a Large Pepperoni Pizza paired with a Plush Pony ($30 value)
32. Karon’s Crafts & Creations– Large floral door wreath. ($75 value)
33. Lance-(Historic N.C. Company) Toasty Cheddar sandwich crackers, Toasty Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, Captain’s Wafers Cream Cheese and Chives sandwich crackers, Nekot Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, and Nekot Fudge sandwich crackers. ($10 value)
34. Line M Up Barbershop– Gift certificate for one free haircut ( $35 value)
35. Macy’s– Micro Flannel® battery operated hand warmer ($50 value)
36. Macy’s-Micro Flannel® battery operated hand warmer ($50 value)
37. Macy’s– Lybra 32-Piece Lightweight Stainless Steel Cookware Combo Set ($110 value)
38. Macy’s– On 34th silver tone hoop earrings ($35 value)
39. Macy’s– Giani Bernini Sterling Silver Circle Dangle Hoop Drop Earrings ($50 value)
40. Macy’s-Boughs of holly gold tone stretch bracelet from Holiday Lane ($30 value)
41. Macy’s-Boughs of holly gold tone stretch bracelet from Holiday Lane ($30 value)
42. Macy’s-Boughs of holly gold tone stretch bracelet from Holiday Lane ($30 value)
43. Macy’s– Holiday Lane Gold-Tone 2-Pc. Set Red Ornament & Green Pavé Tree Stud Earrings. ($25 value)
44. Mangum Cater on Main– Exquisite handmade pottery bowl by Robin Cater ($36 value)
45. Margaret Crouse– 1995 Collector’s Edition Budweiser Christmas beer stein ($30 value)
46. Medi Home Care– 4 Note Pads, 2 pens, and a women’s watch. ($20 value)
47. Medi Home Care– 4 Cups, 4 Note Pads, 4 pens, and a plush pig ($10value)
48. Mis Arados Restaurant– $15 gift certificate
49. Mountain Patriot Company
50. Mt Olive Pickle Company-(Historic N.C. Company) – Mt Olive Pickle fork, Mt Olive jar opener, Mt Olive “That’s Picklelicious” towel, Potholder, and oven mitt, Mt Olive coffee mug, Mt Olive insulated cup, Mt Olive Kosher Dills 128oz jar, Mt Olive New Sweet Heat Bread & Butter Pickle Spears 24 oz jar, and Mt Olive Kosher Petite Dills 46 oz jar. ($100 value)
51. Muddy Creek Cafe– $25 gift card, Chad’s Chai tea Misty Mountain, Anchored Northwest Campground candle, and a hand made Muddy Creek Music Hall Ornament. ($70 value)
52. Muddy Creek Cafe– $25 gift card, Chad’s Chai tea Jamie’s Grey, Anchored Northwest Cabin Fever candle, and a hand made Muddy Creek Music Hall Ornament. ($70 value)
53. NAPA Auto Parts– Fuel Additive Super Octane Boost 16 oz Gold Eagle and CATACLEAN® Fuel & Exhaust System Cleaner – 16 oz ($35 value)
54. New River Country Club– Gift Certificate for 18 hole round of golf with cart for one. ($50 value)
55. Ofelia’s on Main– Summer Love Beach Bag, C & F floral Kitchen towel, and All Things With Love Gift set. ($75 Value)
56. Olde Beau Resort and Golf Course– Gift Certificate for One round of Golf with Cart rental and Green fees. ($89 value)
57. Olde Beau Resort and Golf Course– Gift Certificate for One round of Golf with Cart rental and Green fees. ($89 value)
58. O’Reilly Auto Parts– car wash bucket ($25 value)
59. Parker’s Hardware of Sparta– Genesis 7 1/4” circular saw 13 amps ($80 value)
60. Patriotic Basket– Flag wind hanger, Land of the Free Home of the Brave wooden sign, Star glasses, light up bracelet, and eagle decor. ($10 value)
61. Pines Restaurant– $25 Gift certificate and a ceramic sugar and creamer set ($40 value)
62. Red Dog Bistro of Piney Creek– $50 Gift Card paired with a plush bear. ($60 value)
63. Scott’s Landscaping– A half bushel basket containing an Alleghany, NC garden flag, socks, gardening gloves, 2 tea towels, hand trowel, hand rake, 2 pieces of wall art, thermometer, wooden and stainless steel Sparta, NC shot glass, and a Grill Master hat. ($125 value)
64. Sparta Candle Co.– Peaches & Cream Candle and New River soap ($40 value)
65. Sprinkle’s Salt of the Earth
66. Studio Roxie– Photo Print of Mabry Mill on the BRP ($30 value)
67. Texas Pete (Historic N.C. Company) Texas Pete Original, Texas Pete Hotter Hot, Texas Pete Sautéed Garlic Hot Sauce, and Texas Pete Pepper Sauce. ($12 value)
68. Three Crows Metalworks– Dragonfly Earrings ($50 value)
69. Twin Oaks Store and Cafe– $25 gift certificate and a plush Golden Retriever ($35 value)
70. Twin Oaks Store and Cafe– $25 gift certificate and a plush Kitty Cat ($35 value)
71. Village Vintage Antique’s & Collectibles– $50 gift certificate paired with an antique hand painted plate. ($70 value)
72. Waggin’ Train Sparta– $25 gift Certificate, large bag of dog treats, a pork bone, and a yellow chicken dog toy. ($50 value)

GOLDEN TICKET Raffle Baskets

1. Adam’s Jewelers (Golden Ticket) – A gorgeous Sterling Silver and Diamond Heart Pendant on an 18” Sterling Silver box chain as well as a Sterling Silver Blue Agate Bracelet. ($160 value)
2. Alleghany Chiropractic Center– (Golden Ticket) Gift Certificate for one exam, X-ray, and treatment. ($250 value)
3. Atkinson Milling Company– (Historic N.C. Company)(Golden Ticket) 2lb bag Funnel Cake mix, 2lb bag Butter Flake Biscuit mix, 2lb bag Cinnamon Flake Biscuit mix, 2lb bag Grits, 2lb bag, Yellow Corn Muffin mix, 2lb bag Chicken Breader, 2 lb bag Seafood Breader, 2 lb bag Cornmeal. Paired with Macy’s- 6.5” cast iron skillet, 8” cast iron skillet, 2 Cuisinart wooden spoons, 2 Aichoof spatulas, 2 muffin pans, and 2 baking racks. ($150 value)
4. Cheerwine– (Historic N.C. Company) (Golden Ticket)12 pack Cheerwine, Bumper sticker, License plate, Cell phone accessory, Packable shopping bag, Plush dog, Beach towel, Socks, and Hat. ($150 value)
5. Dr. Grabow– (Historic N.C. Company) “Golden Ticket”- This basket contains a Dr. Grabow “Savoy” pipe, a Dr. Grabow “Freehand” pipe, a Dr. Grabow “Redwood” pipe, 20 packs of Dill’s Premium pipe cleaners, 20 packs of Dill’s Bristle Premium pipe cleaners, and 30 packs of Dr. Grabow pipe filters. ($350 value)
6. Gary Atwood-(Golden Ticket)Handmade Solid Wormy Chestnut table. Measurements: 33 1/2”long x 16” wide x 28” tall. (Priceless!)
7. Home Town Oil– (Golden Ticket) $100 gift certificate paired with Twin Oaks Store and Cafe $25 gift certificate, a teddy bear and God Bless America decoration.($150 value)
8. Imaging Specialists Inc. – (Golden Ticket) two sets of note cards and the following Star Route books: Brinegar Cabin, An Historic Resource, Family Favorites Cookbook, Foot Prints in the Sands of Time, The New River Atlas, Paths and Passages, Sacred Spaces, Special Places, and The Spirit of the Mountains. ($187 value)
9. Macy’s– (Golden Ticket) T-Fal 18 pc nonstick cookware set ($180 value)
10. Macy’s-(Golden Ticket) Beam Hover Drone with Camera. Paired with $25 Alleghany Chamber Bucks ($155 value)
11. Macy’s-(Golden Ticket) Beam Hover Drone with Camera. Paired with $25 Alleghany Chamber Bucks ($155 value)
12. Macy’s– (Golden Ticket)Giani Bernini 16” + 2” extender necklace and 7 1/2” bracelet set 18k gold-plated sterling silver with coral enamel beads ($150 value)
13. Macy’s– (Golden Ticket)Rachel Glauber 14k Gold Plated with Rainbow Cubic Zirconia Dome Ring size 8 ($200 value)
14. Macy’s-(Golden Ticket) Genevive Sterling Silver Rhodium Plated Blue Cubic Zirconia Band Ring size 8 ($230 value)
15. Mountain Dreams Realty-Dream Coca Cola cooler filled with gifts and gift cards (Over $800 value)
16. New River Golf Club-(Golden Ticket) Four rounds of Golf plus Cart and Green fees paired with four golf towels, and four sleeves of golf balls. ($225 value)
17. Pender County Historical Society and Pender County Museum Chocolate covered blueberries, blueberry yogurt covered pretzels, blueberry themed oyster shell dish, 2 drink koozies, blueberry earrings, blueberry bracelet, Blueberry Festival Cookbook, blueberry drink thermos, Blueberry Festival T-shirt, blueberry towel, blueberry washcloth, blueberry napkins, blueberry jam, 2 blueberry squeeze balls, and 2 hand knitted dish cloths. ($175 value)
18. Studio & Vine– (Golden Ticket) One night stay paired with The Cellar on Evergreen- 1 Gota de Arena Tempranillo, 1 Hana Sake, 1 Aveleda Fonte Vino Verde, 1 Port City Optimal Wit, 1 Narragansett Lager, and a Cellar koozie. ($225 value)
19. Vick’s -(Historic N.C. Company) (Golden Ticket)- Vicks VapoRub original, Vicks VapoRub lavender, Vicks VapoRub children’s, Sinex severe, Vapo Stick, Vapo Pads, Vapo Inhaler, Vapo Cool throat drops, Formula 44 cough drops, DayQuil NyQuil cold and flu 2 pack and “H. Smith Richardson: Ideas into Action” book. ($180 value)
20. Vickey Blegen– (Golden Ticket) handmade quilt by Vickey Belgen. Measurements: 88”x68” (Priceless!)
21. Wolfe Ridge Pet Supplies-(Golden Ticket)- Sleep Zone Luxe Medium dog bed pillow, Fromm Crunch O’s dog treats, Hill’s grain free soft treats, Elephant soft cuddle toy, and 2 stainless steel dog bowls. ($175 value)
    

Corporate Donors
Gold-$500
NAPCO

Silver-$250
Adam’s & Ivey PLLC
Anonymous Alleghany Merchant
Ray “The Cornbread Man” Wheeler
First Community Bank

Bronze-$100
Alleghany High Country Realty
Alleghany Inn
Anonymous Sparta Merchant
B & T Tire and Automotive
Bartlett Home Repair
Billings Heating & Cooling
Blue Ridge Energy of Sparta
Bottomley Farms
CarQuest Auto Parts of Alleghany
Foxfire Realty
The Gathering Place
Grandview Funeral Home
The Landings at Chestnut Grove
Miles Realty
Virginia Van Hampton

Friend->$100
Alleghany Beauty Shop
New River Insurance

New T-shirts have arrived!!! They are so soft and comfy. Available now at the Museum Gift Shop in Navy, Minty Green, and Burgundy. Sizes S-XL in stock.

(Special order available the color of your choice in sizes S-5X.)

Thank you to our Main Street neighbor, Gill’s Jeans & Things, the shirts turned out beautiful.

Steven J. Rash just shared this with us – A 52 page guide to Alleghany County, in The State Magazine from July 1962. (The State became Our State in the late ’90s.)

Check it out, here.

Have a Happy Independence Day Everyone!

Save the Date! August 16th, 11-2 at the Sparta VFW Hall. Join us for our 3rd Annual “Saturday Afternoon Social” to benefit the Alleghany Historical Museum. Enjoy a fun day out with friends. 100 Raffle baskets, barbecue chicken sandwiches & hotdogs by Cookie’s Catering, 50/50 drawing, bake sale, and more.

Thank you for your support! (If you have a donation for our fundraiser, please stop by the museum Thur.-Sat. 11-3 or contact Heather Fernandez (336) 657-7176)

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Unity In The Community yesterday. Especially Alleghany Lives director, Lynda Simmons for Inviting us to the event. Cliff, Cindy, and Ivan, who helped serve hotdogs and run the Bake Sale. Also a huge thanks to Sharon, JoAnne, Jane, and Cindy who provided the yummy treats for our bake sale.

It was a very special event. It was very humbling and truly heartbreaking to hear people speak about their loved ones and their experiences. The AHGS was honored to attend this important community event.

Remembering our Protectors. Our Heroes. Our Fallen. Our Family.

The Museum opens today for the 2025 Season!

Come see our exhibit, Mountain Air: Weather along the Blue Ridge, which features historic weather events in Alleghany County, including:

– The Great Flood of 1916
– The Great Sparta Fire of 1933
– Lightning Striking the Courthouse, 1937
– The 1940 Flood
– The Great Blizzard of 1960
– The Main Street Fire Winter of 1986
– Hurricane Hugo, 1989
– The Sparta Earthquake, 2020
– Hurricane Helene, 2024

(Remember, we’re in the First Community Building, at 45 North Main Street, in Sparta. We’re open 11-3 on Thursdays-Saturdays, and admission is free.)

Here are some Christmas greeting ads from the Alleghany News files archived at DigitalNC:

See all the Alleghany News files in the archive, here.

From Mara Taylor, this hand-made, child’s dulcimer (or trapezoidal zither) by Art Wooten in 1980.

Alleghany native, Arthur James Wooten (1906–1986) was called by many, “The First Fiddler of Bluegrass”

See more about Mr. Wooten’s musical career, here:

http://www.ahgs.org/first-fiddler-of-bluegrass-was-from…/

We’re open at the Museum tonight, for Trunk Or Treat… come see us and show off your costumes!

Here is one of the newest additions to the Alleghany Historical Museum. It’s a single page (now in three parts due to its age) bearing a handwritten song lyric that fills both sides of the sheet. It is undated and unsigned except for the name W.B. Estep, which is written, upside-down, at the top of side one.

I say “unsigned,” because, although Mr. Estep might have written it, I don’t think he was the author. Wilborn Berry Estep (1874-1941) lived at Whitehead, North Carolina. His granddaughter was Irene Richardson Wagner. Irene was a charter member of the Alleghany Historical – Genealogical Society, and she passed away in 2019. Her son, Ross Wagner, donated his great-grandfather’s manuscript to the museum.

Continue reading