The MHA Newsletter comes out 4 times each year, in advance of the 4 meetings. It contains information about the upcoming meeting and other information of interest to the MHA membership.
The MHA Dandelion is the newsletter of the MHA Docents. It comes out 5 times each year, in January, March, May, September and November and contains news of the Docents, articles of interest to the history community and news of upcoming events at local historic sites.
Monday, November 19
Appalachia in the Trenches: German Internment in WWI America
Trinity Presbyterian Church. Dinner is as 6:30 followed by the program at 7:15. Those not having dinner may enjoy the program at no charge. To make a reservation for dinner use the order form in your MHA Newsletter or contact Barbara Taylor at 308 Braxton Dr., Indian Trail 28079, btaylor797@aol.com or 336-404-1751.
Please note that the Fellowship Hall at Trinity has been extensively renovated. It is no longer accessible from the parking lot at the rear of the building. The entrance is now at the front of the building; a the new, more accessible parking lot is located there.
When America declared war in April 1917, all German nationals visiting – or even already settled in – the United States suddenly found themselves re-labeled as “enemy aliens”. Amidst waves of anti-German hysteria and spy-mania, the federal government rounded up 2,200 of these newly labeled enemies and, after some searching, ultimately relocated them to a hastily constructed internment camp in the Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. There these civilians were imprisoned for some 18 months – months spent gardening, playing tennis, swimming – alternately charming and alienating the local residents of the fading resort town of Hot Springs. In this presentation our speaker Dr. Perry examines the social, economic, and political impacts of the WWI internment camp at Hot Springs, and demonstrates how global events occurring far from the Appalachian region could significantly impact the daily lives of an isolated mountain community.
Dr. Heather Perry is an adjunct professor of history at UNCC. She specializes in the history and culture of the First World War with an emphasis on how warfare has impacted society, culture, medicine, and science in modern times.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
A Moravian Christmas Tea and Luncheon
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall of Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church for the MHA Docents’ December Tea and Luncheon, our gift to the history community to share with friends both old and new. The business meeting is at 9:45 am; the program at 10 will be followed by the tea. This year we will again accept donations for the Toys for Tots program. To participate bring a new, unwrapped toy.
Our program featuring Moravian Christmas traditions will be presented by Joyce Vance. She will explain the historic context that gave rise to the Moravian star, candle, Candle Tea, love feasts, and the Putz. A Putz is the custom of telling a story through a scenic arrangement of figurines; the Nativity Scene that we are all familiar with is a form of Putz. Our Mecklenburg ancestors had close ties to the Moravian settlement of Salem, NC as many of their daughters were educated at the Salem Female Academy, probably the finest school of this type in the state. The village of Salem was also known for its fine craftsmen and as a good place to trade and shop. We will feature some of the Moravian traditions in our food and décor.
Joyce Vance is director of Christian Education at Peace Moravian Church, and will have a lot of information to share.