Little Switzerland

By Chris Hollifield and David Biddix

This is the place. As Heriot Clarkson sat on his mule atop Grassy Mountain in June 1909, he looked out over a sea of mountains extending to the horizon in every direction, his dreams before him. Here was the spot for a retreat from the summer heat of the piedmont and coastal plain where simple living and nature's beauty would combine to create an idyllic

community. But the story doesn't begin there. Hardy Scotch-Irish settlers moved into these same mountains some two centuries earlier, admiring the same views and putting down permanent roots. Images of America: Little Switzerland documents the unique interactions between native and summer residents in

working together to build this remarkable community. The social, economic, historical, and spiritual fabric that makes Little Switzerland unique among resort communities is presented, along with the personalities and places that provide its character.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439626337

Chris Hollifield

David Biddix is webmaster/coordinator of multimedia for Mayland Community College and has an avid interest in local history and preservation. Chris Hollifield is a history teacher at Harris Middle School and a historian who has collected materials on local history for several years. They previously authored Images of America: Spruce Pine.

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