For nine decades, Our State has made its way into homes across North Carolina, the United States, and the world. To celebrate, every month this year, we’re paying tribute to the readers who inspire us, offering a taste of our earliest recipes, and revisiting old stories with new insights. Follow along to find out how our past has shaped our present.
Jiminy Cricket! Did Walt Disney really live and work in Asheville before becoming famous?
Well, um, no. Despite the claims of a January 1985 article in The State magazine — and previous stories in other publications — it appears that the famed film producer never called Asheville home. So, alas, here we are, issuing a nearly 40-year-old correction.
For generations, locals claimed that a young, unknown Disney came to town in 1924 and landed a draftsman job with the engineering firm of Maj. Thomas A. Cox Jr. The story goes that the future animator, then only 23, was soon fired for drawing cartoon mice and other critters on his plats.
The legend gained credibility when The Asheville Citizen published a front-page story about it in December 1966, the day after Disney died. Unfortunately, our magazine fell for the fantasy, too, writing that “instead of concentrating on his engineering drawings, the young artist would create cartoon caricatures and design fancy subscripts in blueprint margins.”
But the story belongs on the cutting-room floor. For starters, Disney historians deny that the visionary ever lived in North Carolina. His biography indicates that he was already in Hollywood by 1923. Furthermore, local historians have thoroughly investigated the claim, poring over Buncombe County blueprints and other records without finding any evidence that links Disney to Asheville.
Despite our wishful reporting, the creator of Mickey Mouse never lived in our state … and now we look a little goofy.
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Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
