Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, July 14-July 20, 2022 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 15 293 S Broadway St., Forest City 828-245-0434 Monday & Tuesday 8AM-5PM Thursday & Friday 8AM-5PM Sat. 8AM-12PM • Closed Wed. Not Just Oil, Pennzoil FAST FAST FAST FAST WAY WAY WAY WAY LET US DO YOUR DIRTY WORK! KIDS' CORNER BROUGHT TO YOU BY: In July 1946 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter of Georgia spent their honeymoon in Chimney Rock. Last Thursday, July 7, 2022 marked the 76th wedding anniversary of the Carters, making them the longest married presidential couple in history. Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park reminded us of their honeymoon days on social media recently. I was immediately taken back to 1997 when I had the privilege of writing a story about the couple's honeymoon destination after interviewing Mrs. Carter. The story and photos provided by Mrs. Carter ran on the front page of The Daily Courier. Interest of the Carter's honeymoon in Rutherford County began in 1997 and suddenly became an master among the staff at Chimney Rock Park and people across the county. Mrs. Carter was fi rst contacted by Chimney Rock Park employees who were hoping to fi nd the honeymoon house and have it identifi ed in a national travel/tour guide of honeymoon getaways and celebrity weddings to be published by a California magazine. After that fi rst call Mrs. Carter was so gracious to try to help out and she contacted the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Subsequently she was put in contact with Mike Tanner of Rutherfordton. Although he couldn't help with the location of the honeymoon house, Mrs. Carter had a nice conversation with Mike Tanner, he told me. Mrs. Carter told Mike she had ordered two Doncaster dresses from the Tanner store in Americus, Georgia back in the day. As the research continued, I made a call to the Carter Center in Atlanta and asked if Mrs. Carter could possibly call me regarding the couple's honeymoon. I wasn't surprised to fi nd Mrs. Carter was most helpful and quiet friendly. She and I discussed the honeymoon home, the beauty of the area, the fun the couple had in preparing their fi rst honeymoon meal together while in Chimney Rock and later going to Asheville to watch a movie. She told me how the Carters and their three sons camped their way from Georgia to Washington, DC in 1960 and that camping vacation also brought them to Rutherford County. She said they tried to fi nd the honeymoon house, but it had been torn day along with others on Chimney Rock Road that leads to the top of the rock. Mrs. Carter told me that day she'd try to locate a photo of the couple husband at the honeymoon house and other pictures of them in Chimney Rock as soon as she got back home to Plains, Ga. She said she and the president "have a lot of photos to go through" and not to be in too big of a hurry to receive them. Although a picture of a honeymoon getaway was quite trivial back in the day compared to the goings-on at the Carter Center where the couple at that time received updates from more than 120 sources regarding peace and human rights around the world, Mrs. Carter said she would help out. And sure enough it wasn't long before an envelope from the Carter Center arrived at my desk with several photos of the couple and the honeymoon house. There was speculation from residents that the couple may have honeymooned at Mountain Chalets and in other parts of the area. But photos provided by Mrs. Carter show the private home where they spent their honeymoon in July 1946 was a cottage owned by Joseph and Stella Francis. It was one of fi ve cottages owned by the Francis couple along Chimney Rock Road. Because of their locations on the road leading to the tourist attraction, the owners of Chimney Rock Park later had the cottages taken down. So with the cottages taken down, the Carter's honeymoon house couldn't be included in the national travel/ tour guide of honeymoon getaways and celebrity weddings to be published by a California magazine. But for those of us in Rutherford County who had an opportunity to learn their story and talk with them, it was a good day. Contact Jean at: gordonjean211@ gmail.com WHEN THE CARTERS HONEYMOONED IN CHIMNEY ROCK By: Jean Gordon The Carters on the top of Chimney Rock. Photos courtesy of Rosalynn Carter SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE o n l i n e o n l i n e Visit Visit rutherfordweekly.com rutherfordweekly.com click on click on "subscribe to our weekly digital edition" "subscribe to our weekly digital edition" Online Subscription Online Subscription is FREE! is FREE! Be notifi ed via email Be notifi ed via email of new of new publications! publications! Online Version Same As The Printed Copy! RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM

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