In Search of Mayberry Has Moved!!!

We're now located here: www.insearchofmayberry.wordpress.com.

Visit www.insearchofmayberry.com for more info on the book

Mount Olive To Benefit From Small Town Revitalization

The spirit of small town life sure does appear to be catching on.....finally!!!

Mount Olive Small Town group looking for more input, members

By Steve HerringPublished in News on December 7, 2008 2:00 AM

MOUNT OLIVE -- The revitalization of the west side of the 200 block of North Center Street is the most visible sign of the Small Town Main Street group's support of efforts to help spark a renewed life and interest in downtown.
However, there are other, less obvious and mostly free advantages to being one of the four initial towns in the program -- advantages chairman Stephanie Kornegay and the group are working to promote.
Complementing those efforts is the group's desire to find out what downtown merchants, as well as the public, want it to pursue in its vision for the town.

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Article in "Today's Dietician" mentions In Search of Mayberry

I promptly emailed the publisher of Today's Dietician and thanked her for kindly mentioning my book in their article on small town living. See below...

Armchair Guide to Discovering Small-Town Dining
Best Food in Town: The Restaurant Lover’s Guide to Comfort Food in the Midwest by Dawn Simonds (Emmis Books, 2004)

In Search Of Mayberry: A Guide To North Carolina’s Favorite Small Towns by Scott Dickson (Parkway Publishers, 2004)

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Ron Howard Answers Questions

Q: You seem to have been one of the very few famous child stars who survived without any disorders. How did you do it? Mark Flowers, LOGANVILLE, GA.

A: I can't take a lot of credit for it. My parents did a fantastic job. The way my father described it to me as a kid, being on television is a career choice. It's a way of working, and you want to do that with integrity, but everybody works. I think that his common sense wore off on me a little bit.

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Christmas in Davidson

Davidson is one of the prettiest small towns in North Carolina, especially during Christmas.

It definitely brings to mind The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry.

Barney's first car would fit right in at the parade.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 1 p.m., downtown Davidson to downtown Cornelius - 26th annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade with fire trucks, floats, marching bands, old cars and more. Sponsored by Davidson Fire Department, Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Department, Davidson Lions Club. Note that Main Street and many other streets along the route will be closed for the event. Details on the Cornelius Parks & Recreation website, http://www.corneliuspr.org/

Click HERE for Christmas fun in Davidson, NC.

Christmas in Mayberry

Before you start in on me about Mount Airy not being Mayberry just save your breath. I know it's not Mayberry, but it's just as close as any other small town in NC. The fact that it's Andy Griffith's hometown and that The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry was modeled after Mount Airy, North Carolina just makes it even more authentic and reputable. Griffith now acknowledges that he use alot of Mount Airy on the show, but he always denied until just recently.

Christmas in Mount Airy is special. Check out all the cool Christmas fun to be had in Mount Airy this year by clicking HERE.

Christmas in Dillsboro

Everyone knows that Dillsboro is an incredible small town down in the western corner of NC. But, not everyone knows that during Chrismas time the town is like a picture by Currier and Ives.....literally. The shops, the streets, the sidewalks, the train...yes, the train (http://www.gsmr.com/) is even decorated for Christmas.

Dillsboro's Christmas event is called "Lights and Luminaires" and takes place over the first two weekends in December. Barney Fife would be in heaven.

Lights and Luminaires, First Two Fridays & Saturdays in December - December 5-6 & 12-13, 20085:00 pm to 9:00 pmAdapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers hold "Open House" and serve coffee, warm cider, hot chocolate and home baked goodies and stay open late to accommodate holiday shoppers. Even Santa Clause fits a trip to Dillsboro into his busy schedule to listen to the children's gift requests.

http://www.dillsboronc.info/events.html

West Jefferson Christmas Tree Lighting - from VisitNC.com

11/28/2008

This old-fashioned event draws upon the community spirit of Ashe County residents, neighbors, friends and visitors to come together on the Back Street of West Jefferson and participate in a ceremony that culminates in the lighting of the community Christmas Tree. Santa arrives in an old-time fire truck with goodies for all the good girls and boys, hot chocolate is served and carols are sung during the festivities! Come join us during this most meaningful of ceremonies during the Holiday season.


Time:
5:15 PM - 7:00 PM

http://www.visitwestjefferson.org

Downtown Clayton's Decorating Contests

Once again, two holiday decorating contests are being organized by the Clayton Downtown Development Association (DDA) for the upcoming holiday season. One of the main purposes of the decorating contests, according to DDA Chair, Joyce Blackley, is for downtown Clayton to acquire a reputation as a “must see” decoration destination for people and families who travel around enjoying holiday decorations. Ms. Blackley said, “There was nearly 100% participation last year and our downtown merchants showed their creativity and the storefronts and window displays were magical.” Downtown businesses are encouraged to keep their decorations up through the holiday.

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Christmas Show in Selma!

American Music Jubilee - Christmas Show

Nov 7 - Dec 23, 2008 -

Take a nostalgic trip back in time with the American Music Jubilee Christmas Show - you will be dreaming of a White Christmas and listening for Silver Bells following the show as it will surely put you in the Christmas spirit. All of Selma will be decorated for Christmas and shoppers will delight in the abundant selection of unique gifts, antiques and collectibles.The 2008 Christmas Season show starts November 7th and runs through December 23rd. The comedy pre-show starts at 7:40pm and music at 8:00pm, with matinees at 1:40pm (Mon-Sat) and 2:10pm (Sunday only). Admission charges are: Adult $22.50 and children (12 and under) $17.50. Group discounts are available with 20 adult tickets, reservations and deposit. The Rudy Theatre is located at 300 N. Raiford St. in Selma.

Visit www.amjubilee.com for more information on the show or for more information on the Johnston County area visit www.johnstoncountync.org.

Sailors from Baltimore....sailing through small town NC

Found an awesome blog by a couple of sailors from Baltimore, MD. Skip and Harriet Hardy regularly sail the Chesapeake Bay on “Moondance”, a 1994 Sabre 38. Recently retired....they are venturing South.

Accompanying them is "Bailey" is a 3 year old Sheltie

Read their latest posts on some of my favorite coastal small towns in NC, including Washington, Bath and Oriental.

Visit: Moondance38’s Weblog

Beaufort Ghost Walk!

The Beaufort Ghost Walk is a Guided Walking Tour through the Historic District of Beaufort, North Carolina. Founded in 1709, Beaufort is the 3rd oldest town in NC, and the 12th oldest town in North America. On the Ghost Walk, you will be entertained by your Pirate Guides, as they regale you with an enjoyable assortment of haunted tales, ghost stories, and interesting histories of the Beaufort area. In addition, you will hear about some of the amazing unexplainable encounters experienced by both our guests and guides during Ghost Walks of the past.

Visit their Official Site!

My Beloved Mayberry - Now Tainted With The Stains of Politics

Click HERE to watch the video on Funny or Die...



OK, so I understand that this election is critical. But, why did Ron Howard have to bring Mayberry into it? I watch the show to escape and now I'm being forced to associate it with the election. You certainly got plenty of mileage with all the publicity. But, why Andy? Why Ron? You even brought back the characters from the show. Funny? Well, I guess kinda. But why?

Why bring Mayberry into it?

Here's a lively forum discussion on city-data.com on "mayberry like" towns. Not only do the people in this forum reference many of the towns from In Search of Mayberry, but they also reference several that are being worked on for Volume 2, Mayberry in the Mountains.

This discussion is fun to read and learn about small towns in North Carolina.

Click HERE for the discussion.

Andy in Twilight

The recent Brad Paisley video featuring Andy Griffith made me realize that the Andy I know from the TV show is not immortal. With the exception of Andy, many of my favorite characters from The Andy Griffith Show have passed on. Don Knotts, Howard Morris, Hal Smith, Howard McNear and countless others are no longer with us. However, Andy lingers on...and how interesting that is. The man who started it all is all that is left. Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou is living in Mount Airy and there are several smaller characters who are still alive. But, for the most part, Andy carries on....alone.

Being a fairly staunch supporter of conservative politics, it's been difficult for me to realize that Andy Griffith's politics are very different from mine. His visible support for the democratic party disappoints me. I find it hard to believe that the person who portrayed the conservative father, Andy Taylor, is actually a proud liberal.

However, that doesn't change the fact that The Andy Griffith Show is timeless. Timeless in its appeal and timeless in the lessons it teaches.

When Andy does pass on it will be an incredibly sad day. Liberal or not....I believe the man is a Christian, which means I'll see him again one glorious day and I can ask him all the many questions I have for him about the greatest television show ever, The Andy Griffith Show.

Appalachian State's Head Coach, Jerry Moore...Discusses His Faith

OK, so it's true that this has very little to do with small towns, Mayberry or The Andy Griffith Show. However, this video was so inspiring to me I had to share it. Being an ASU grad, it means even more. Coach Moore's path and story is inspirational on many levels and his story certainly speaks to the small town values and integrity we're all searching for in life.

Click on the picture to play the video.

Pilot Mountain and Mount Pilot....confused yet?

Confused over the difference between Pilot Mountain, the mountain/town and Mount Pilot, the town mentioned repeatedly on The Andy Griffith Show.

Here is Bill Leslie from WRAL's article on his interpretation:

Pilot Mountain
Posted: Sep. 30, 2008
The first brush of fall is sweeping across North Carolina. I encountered autumn's early scarlet glow at Pilot Mountain 30 miles north of Winston-Salem Sunday. I see Pilot Mountain everytime I go to my cabin off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Glade Valley. Well, I see it everytime the weather is clear. But I had never stopped to see Pilot Mountain up close. What was I waiting for?The state park here is beautiful with lots of great trails and beautiful scenery. The area offers a two for one deal. You’ve got Hanging Rock State Park just a few miles south of Pilot Mountain off Highway 52.

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Don't tell me Mayberry is just a myth!

Here's just one example of a person who loves their small town living:
_____________________________________________________

Audrey in Utah

Right after I moved here, my parents came to visit. One evening my mom was out on the back porch, and one of my neighbors stepped out the front door and called his son's name. A second later you could hear the son's call back from another part of the 'hood. The dad then told him it was time for dinner. Shortly afterward, we saw the son running up to the house.

My mother looked at me and informed me that I had moved into Mayberry. My thought was, "yeah, isn't it cool?!"So, I have been sick these last few weeks (read FOREVER). One of my neighbors read my blog and sent her daughter over with some homemade creamy chicken noodle soup. Isn't that one of the nicest things you've ever heard? I put it in the fridge, and when I got home from school tonight I heated up some of it. All I can say is, "YUMMY!!" I think even the noodles are homemade! Oh so delightful!

Click HERE to read more!

Bethabara Park - Apple Festival 2008

Come and celebrate the harvest at Apple Festival 2008. Unique crafts, traditional music and food fill Historic Bethabara Park. Local orchards, handicraft demonstrations, and colonial re-enactors highlight this festival, as do horse-drawn wagon rides and colonial games.

When Moravians arrived in Bethabara in 1753, they almost immediately set about planting apple trees from seeds brought from Europe. According to records, it was recommended to plant six apple trees for every family member.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

Click HERE for more on Bethabara Park and the Apple Festival!

Liberty Antiques Festival

One of the biggest festivals of the year in Randolph County, NC....the Liberty Antiques Festival celebrates with more than 400 dealers from over 25 states as they converge on this quaint small town in North Carolina.

Liberty Antiques Festival

The Town Of Liberty, NC

Facts About North Carolina's Small Towns

Ours is a state of small towns. There are 478 towns in North Carolina with fewer than 10,000 people. In fact, 437 towns have fewer than 5,000 people. Thousands of North Carolinians choose to live in small towns. More than 900,000 live in towns with fewer than 10,000 people.

Most small towns are located in rural counties. Nearly half are in the East. The eastern third of the state has 253 municipalities, most of which have fewer than 5,000 people. Small town residents are likely to be native-born. More than 65% of the population in small towns is native to North Carolina. Small town residents tend to be older and to have limited education. Forty percent are over 45 years of age. One in five small town residents has less than a high school education.

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Benson One Of Six Towns Picked For Main Street Program

David Anderson, Jr.
Reporter for The Daily Record -

- Benson is one of only six towns in North Carolina accepted this year into the Small Town Main Street program. Nearby Roseboro was also selected.Since the program started in 2003, 22 towns, all with populations of less than 7,500, have participated in the program. Angier was inducted in 2007."This is an exciting step for us," said Ben Murphrey, Benson's downtown revitalization coordinator. "(Small Town Main Street Community) is an important title to have when you're a town of this size."The program, although offering no money, helps towns promote and preserve historic business areas, while, at the same time dragging them full force into the 21st century.

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Small Towns Keep North Carolina's Heritage, Culture Alive - VisitNC.com

Across North Carolina you can find bustling Main Streets like Salisbury’s alive with tourists and shoppers. This picturesque Heartland town hums with activity now as it has since Colonial times when potters, hatters and weavers plied their trades in the commercial district. For some it is the antique dealers and specialty shops that bring them here.

But for most tourists to North Carolina’s Main Streets, the draw is the heritage and culture they preserve."There’s plenty to interest and entertain visitors in our small towns. In fact, about 25 percent of North Carolina’s visitors say they come just to experience the kind of state culture and heritage that is abundant in a town like Salisbury," says Lynn Minges, executive director of the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

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How We Know Mayberry Was Created With Mount Airy In Mind

Many of Mayberry’s fictional people and places have real-life counterparts in Mount Airy, N.C. All of the following were mentioned on "The Andy Griffith Show" and actually exist in or around Mount Airy:

Fancy Gap-Bannertown-Rockford Street-Haymore Street-Oak Street-Elm Street-Orchard Street-Maple Street-Willow Street -
River Road-Blue-Vue Motel-Moravian Church (actually Grace Moravian Church)-Grand Theatre-Doyle Perkings, clothier Frank Smith-Rachel Smith-Evan Moore-Blue Bird Café-Snappy Lunch-Wiener Burger-Earlie Gilley’s Service Station-Mount Pilot (true name Pilot Mountain)-Nelson Funeral Home (true name Moody’s Funeral, but Roy Nelson worked there)

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North Carolina's Best Festivals

Bill Leslie from WRAL in Raleigh shares his thoughts on NC Festivals. The comments below the article are from people sharing their favorites....

Hillsborough hugs the hog. Wilson is wowed by whirligigs. Benson embraces the mule. Enfield praises the humble peanut. And Lexington's love affair with barbecue is legendary. Passion for products, creatures, crops, traditions and music has spawned dozen of colorful festivals across North Carolina. With the cooler weather of autumn coming soon we are entering the heart of festival season statewide.

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List of Small Towns in North Carolina

One the things I just realized I need to do on here is to post a list of the small towns in North Carolina that I picked for my book, "In Search of Mayberry."

To learn more about the book, "In Search of Mayberry" visit www.insearchofmayberry.com!

Here they are with detailed info on each to follow.

1. Dillsboro
2. Black Mountain
3. West Jefferson
4. Mount Airy
5. Elkin
6. Davidson
7. Hillsborough
8. Liberty
9. Mount Olive
10. Beaufort
11. Swansboro
12. Southport

Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith

I've always been a big fan of Brad Paisley and his music. He seems like such a genuine guy and his music speaks to me personally. One thing many don't realize is that he's an amazing guitarist and songwriter. He's not a cookie-cutter country singer. So, when I saw his new video for his song "Waitin' on a Woman" I was thrilled to see one of my heroes, Andy Griffith, in the video. What's more...it was filmed down east in North Carolina.

Here's a great story on HamptonRoads.com.

Watch the video for "Waitin' on a Woman"

Mayberry Days! Only a month away!

Can you believe we're less than a month away from the 2008 Mayberry Days Celebration in Mount Airy, NC?

No...I can't either.

Equally amazing to me is that this is the 18th year for The Andy Griffith Show fans who keep coming back year after year to Andy's hometown. Most are there to celebrate the show, but many are also in town to celebrate Small Town, USA and the feeling they get while in Mount Airy.....which, needless to say, is very much like the feeling you get while watching The Andy Griffith Show.

18th Annual MAYBERRY DAYSThursday - Sunday, September 25-28, 2008

Check out VisitMayberry.com for more info!