June
Jun
4
Thursday
Thu
“John Carson: The Patriot Who Took Protection”
On Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Historic Marion Train Depot, local historian and Carson House authority Doug Swaim will give a talk entitled “John Carson: The Patriot Who Took Protection.” This is the final installment in the McDowell County America 250 Committee’s year-long speaker series leading up to the July 4 celebration, when America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“There’s always been a whiff of controversy around John Carson’s role in the Revolution,” says speaker Swaim. “Was Carson a true Patriot, or–as claimed by some–a ‘skulker’? Come out on June 4 and we’ll do our best to get to the heart of the matter–answer the question for good–and in the process, we’ll delve into a fair amount of McDowell County Revolutionary history.”
This event, and all the events sponsored by the McDowell County America 250 Committee are free and open to the public. Anyone with an interest in McDowell County or early American history is encouraged to attend.
John Carson was the builder of the Carson house, a McDowell County landmark which served as the first seat of county government after the county was formed in 1842. Today it is operated as a house museum, Historic Carson House. Work is being completed on a visitors center that will house a genealogical archive and permanent exhibits.
Mr. Swaim is a North Carolina native with deep roots in this area. He had a first career doing historic preservation work and edited two books on historic architecture, including Cabins & Castles: The History and Architecture of Buncombe County. He served on the Carson house nonprofit board for more than 40 years before stepping aside last fall. He currently lives in Little Switzerland.
On Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Historic Marion Train Depot, local historian and Carson House authority Doug Swaim will give a talk entitled “John Carson: The Patriot Who Took Protection.” This is the final installment in the McDowell County America 250 Committee’s year-long speaker series leading up to the July 4 celebration, when America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“There’s always been a whiff of controversy around John Carson’s role in the Revolution,” says speaker Swaim. “Was Carson a true Patriot, or–as claimed by some–a ‘skulker’? Come out on June 4 and we’ll do our best to get to the heart of the matter–answer the question for good–and in the process, we’ll delve into a fair amount of McDowell County Revolutionary history.”
This event, and all the events sponsored by the McDowell County America 250 Committee are free and open to the public. Anyone with an interest in McDowell County or early American history is encouraged to attend.
John Carson was the builder of the Carson house, a McDowell County landmark which served as the first seat of county government after the county was formed in 1842. Today it is operated as a house museum, Historic Carson House. Work is being completed on a visitors center that will house a genealogical archive and permanent exhibits.
Mr. Swaim is a North Carolina native with deep roots in this area. He had a first career doing historic preservation work and edited two books on historic architecture, including Cabins & Castles: The History and Architecture of Buncombe County. He served on the Carson house nonprofit board for more than 40 years before stepping aside last fall. He currently lives in Little Switzerland.
