Bad Mitchell County History

    As many of you know, from time to time I make comments on interesting things I find on the internet. This is not one I found, but it was emailed to the general staff of a place where I work. If you must, you can see the original here, although I have copied the whole thing below. After talking it over with a couple of friends (including people at the Mitchell County Historical Society), we believe that this is AI- generated. The saddest thing, or the one thing that induces anger, is that people are going to stumble across this on a general internet search and believe it! It is on the internet, so it has to be true, correct? My comments are red.

 7 Pieces Of History Near Spruce Pine, NC

 Spruce Pine, North Carolina is a small mountain town located in the western part of the state. This picturesque town has a rich history that spans a range of significant events, including Native American settlements,  battles during the Civil War, and mining booms. Here are seven historical events and landmarks that have taken place near Spruce Pine:

1. Native American settlements – Before European settlers arrived in the western part of North Carolina, Native American tribes inhabited the region, including the Cherokee, Catawba, and the Creek. Arrowheads and other artifacts have been discovered in the area, indicating a rich and complex history of indigenous people nearby.

Kind of true, except, the artifacts found in these areas date back hundreds of years, not at the time of European settlement in the mountains. The area was frequented by hunting parties but was kind of an in-between land of the Catawba and Cherokee.

2. Battle of McDowell - During the Civil War, Spruce Pine was the site of a significant clash between Union and Confederate forces. On May 9, 1862, in nearby McDowell, Union General John C. Fremont led his forces into battle against Confederate forces under General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The Confederates ultimately won the battle, which was one of the first major engagements of the Civil War in western North Carolina.

Um, this would be the battle of McDowell, Virginia. This battlefield site is about 350 miles from Spruce Pine.

3. Roan Mountain Massacre - In 1863, Confederate soldiers from the 64th North Carolina Regiment carried out a massacre near Roan Mountain, located a few miles from Spruce Pine. The soldiers killed nine Union sympathizers, including elderly men and women, children, and a baby.

No, there was never a “Roan Mountain Massacre,” although Roan Mountain did have a couple of deserter and bushwhacker camps. I wonder if this is trying to connect the Shelton Laurel Massacre in Madison County in January 1863? It is a couple of counties to the west. People in other parts of Madison County got tired of being robbed by those in Shelton Laurel. They got the 64^th North Carolina involved, and thirteen were executed, including a couple of teenage boys. One article from the time period went as far as to say that a gang of 10-15 year olds was worse than the adults.

4. Spruce Pine Tobacco Barn Murals- In the 1980s, artist Brenda Councill created a series of large-scale murals on the sides of tobacco barns in Spruce Pine. The murals depict scenes from the town's history, including the Battle of McDowell, the town's mining history, and the area's Native American past.

Um… (how many times can I say that?) I asked Brenda Council, a wonderful artist who does murals, if she had ever worked on barn murals in Mitchell County. Nope. She never has. As far as I can remember, there are no murals in Spruce Pine that deal with the battle in Virginia, the town’s mining history, or their Native American past.

5. Mining Boom- In the late 1800s, Spruce Pine became a hub for mica mining. The area's rich deposits of high-quality mica attracted miners from all over the world. In the early 1900s, the mining industry expanded to include feldspar, quartz, and other minerals. Today, the mining industry remains an important part of the local economy, with many companies still working in the area.

This one is almost true. Spruce Pine was a hub for mica, feldspar, quarts, and other mineral mining in the late 1800s into the mid-20^th century. Except for a couple of mines, that industry has pretty much dried up as of 2023.

6. Flood of 1940- In July 1940, Spruce Pine was hit by a devastating flood that killed 29 people and caused extensive damage to the town. The flood was caused by heavy rains that caused rivers to overflow their banks. Many buildings and homes were destroyed or damaged, and the cleanup and recovery efforts lasted for several weeks.

The flood of 1940 was bad, but I’ve never seen where 29 Spruce Pine residents were killed.

7. Little Switzerland- Located a few miles from Spruce Pine, Little Switzerland is a quaint mountain town that has been a popular tourist destination since the early 1900s. The town was named by a group of Swiss immigrants who settled in the area in the late 1800s. Today, Little Switzerland is known for its scenic beauty, charming shops and restaurants, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Nope. No Swiss immigrants. The community was founded in 1910 by Charlotte Judge Heriot Clarkson. It was so named due to the fact that the mountains resembled the mountains of Switzerland.  

Spruce Pine, NC is a town with a rich and varied history that spans centuries. From Native American settlements to the Civil War clashes, mining booms, and devastating floods, the town has witnessed many significant events that have shaped its character and identity. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about this beautiful part of the country, Spruce Pine has plenty to offer visitors seeking a deeper understanding of its past.

Yes, Spruce Pine has plenty to offer visitors seeking a deeper understanding of the past, but not from articles like this one! What do you think? AI generated? Or just a dupe pulling material off web searches?