With the new director of the Cashiers Historical Society
Words by Emily Davis
Photography by Courtney Snyder
Confucius once advised his disciples, “Study the past if you would define the future.” The Cashiers Historical Society, long a staple of education, preservation, and outreach on the Plateau, embraces that philosophy wholeheartedly. With the addition of a new Executive Director in May 2023, the Society has poised itself to take center stage in the community next year and well into the future.
Those who record history today leave an invaluable legacy for the researchers of tomorrow. To deepen public understanding of life in Cashiers, the Historical Society seeks to engage the community in ongoing outreach and research projects. Executive Director Amelia Golcheski, a historian with a view toward the future, shares her plans for the organization in 2024 and beyond.
Tell us about your background. How did you find yourself in a leadership role with the Historical Society?
“Growing up near Lynchburg, Virginia, I was surrounded by a rich history. With all the Civil War battlefields and popular destinations like Colonial Williamsburg, I had so many opportunities to learn about the past. I fell in love with history as a child. Now I’m finishing my dissertation to earn a PhD in Appalachian Women’s History.
One of my primary interests as a historian is to make history as accessible to as wide an audience as possible. I previously worked at Monticello and the National Museum of American History. Then, the Cashiers Historical Society reached out to me and offered this job. I felt it was the perfect intersection of my specialization in Appalachian history and my personal dream of working closely with the public in a museum setting.”
Were you familiar with the area before moving here?
“I traveled to this region plenty of times as a student in Atlanta, seeking to escape the city. So, I already loved the mountains of North Carolina. It’s easy to see why people in Atlanta, Charleston, and Florida want to flee the heat and humidity by vacationing here! When I received the job offer, I was thrilled to take it because Appalachian history and particularly the lives and contributions of women in this region are the focus of my research.”
How are you liking life on the Plateau?
“The main thing I love about Cashiers is the small-town vibe. I can walk into a local restaurant and wave to my neighbors or get to know the workers at the grocery store by name. Everywhere you go, everyone is so warm and welcoming. There’s such a feeling of connection here.
I also just love being in the mountains. I spend as much time as possible hiking, kayaking, and searching for waterfalls. Especially in the summer, it’s so easy to spend all day outside here.”
As you’ve delved into our local history, what caught your interest so far? Do you have any compelling stories to share?
“Cashiers, or any small town, essentially serves as a microcosm through which we can view regional and even national history. How did the famous events that we all learn about in school impact the average person? And what role did the average person play in those circumstances?
For example, we’ve always heard the Civil War described as “brother against brother” in terms of how it divided the nation. But that was quite literally true here. One of the area’s founding families, the Zachary family, was torn apart by the war. Part of the family sided with the North, and the other part with the South. Those divisions lasted the rest of their lives, and they were deliberately buried apart from one another. You can visit their graves at the Upper and Lower Zachary Cemeteries.
That’s the type of history that I love. We think it’s all about the big names, like Washington and Jefferson, but regular people make up most of society. They participate just as much in the creation of history, and it’s fascinating to view it through the lens of their individual perspectives.”
Rumor has it that you’re taking the Historical Society in some new directions in 2024. Can you tell us more about what you have planned?
“We’re still holding the traditional events, like Airing of the Quilts in the spring. Every year, we celebrate this old Appalachian custom when women would bring the family’s quilts outside in the spring and air them out after a long winter stuck indoors. This is such a great chance to explore the daily lives of women in this region and how they participated in and shaped their communities.
Our Summer Symposium is in June and will focus on the history of tourism in the area. Tourism, of course, is one of our big industries here, but it’s changed quite a bit over the years. In fact, the Zachary Tolbert house here on our property was originally a boarding house for weary visitors trekking through the mountains. Now, people come here for the prestigious golf courses and resorts. It’s interesting to reflect on the history of tourism on the Plateau and ask ourselves what direction it will take next.
We also plan to become more visible at local events, like Groovin' on the Green, throughout the summer and The Leaf Festival in October. You’ll see our booths in the park, and we’ll interact directly with residents and visitors.
Perhaps our most exciting endeavor is the oral history project we plan to introduce next year. As the community’s historical society, our goal is to document the lives of Plateau residents. We’ll do this through personal interviews, asking locals to tell their stories. We don’t often think about it, but we’re all actively forming our culture and history every day. Everything we do impacts one another and even influences the shape of the future. In fifty years, we can examine these interviews and understand what life was like in Cashiers in 2023.”
You make such a great point about our shared history. Have you ever noticed that futuristic, dystopian novels like 1984 and Brave New World, which are so popular right now, feature a theme of erasing history?
“Oh, absolutely. Those worlds are built around the concept that a people’s history and culture have been stolen from them. That’s part of the horror of those stories. We should always strive to protect our knowledge of the past because it belongs to us all. We can learn from it and use those lessons moving forward.”
As an avid history buff, what have you been reading lately? Do you have any favorite authors?
“I’ve been fascinated by the Gilded Age lately, so a recent favorite has been Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune, by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. It chronicles the Astor family and how they built their empire. I never knew beaver fur was such a hot commodity back then! And the job sounds like such a brutal way to earn a living.
Emily Wilson’s translation of the Iliad, which would normally be a difficult read, flows like an action movie. It’s an entirely different experience that I strongly recommend. Also, Ron Rash, whom I believe still teaches at Western Carolina University, writes quite a lot about regional history. His novel, Serena, portrays the reality of the logging industry in the 1930s. He also published a wonderful collection of short stories, Nothing Gold Can Stay, which features settings throughout our area, like the casino over in Cherokee. His work made me want to become a writer.”
How can the Cashiers community best support the Historical Society?
“We always need volunteers to work as tour guides, help organize our archives, and run our events. But next year, I hope the community will come out to take part in the oral history project. Each of our residents is actively participating in and creating local history right now, and I want to document their experiences and perspectives. Everyone plays an important role in this community, and every voice matters.
As we shape the present and past, we also help to determine the future. Therefore, everything we do today impacts our town and even the world. Our local history deserves to be recognized and preserved.”
Whether participating in cultural events, attending the Summer Symposium, or donating time to the Historical Society, both full-time and part-time residents of Cashiers stand to gain valuable education and interaction from the organization in 2024. Perhaps more importantly, we’re presented with the opportunity to leave a piece of our own legacy to future generations. The participation of all community members is vital to preserving traditional Appalachian heritage, documenting local current events, and even shaping the future of tourism on the Plateau.
Many decades from now, future researchers and schoolchildren will reap the benefits of the Society’s efforts today. For more information on the Historical Society’s upcoming programming, remember to refer to our NC Living events schedules throughout the year.
The Cashiers Historical Society is located at 1940 Highway 107S, Cashiers, NC. For more information, call 828-743-7710 or visit cashiershistoricalsociety.org.