Editing Andrews, North Carolina (section)

==History==
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Valley River was inhabited by [[Muscogee]] people. They constructed [[platform mounds]] in the centers of their towns. At least 14 existed within the limits. By the beginning of the 18th century, the [[Cherokee]] had pushed the Muscogee out and taken over their townsites. Many of the towns retained their original names.

Andrews was the site of two substantial Cherokee sister towns, Tomotla and Konohete. The meaning of Tomotla is lost. Konehete or Gu'nahitun'ya on the other hand, can be translated to mean "Long Place" or "Long Valley."<ref>{{cite web | last=Chesnut | first=Don | title=Eastern Cherokee Place Names | website=Don Chesnut's Homepage | url=http://donchesnut.com/genealogy/pages/cherokeeplace.htm }}</ref> The remains of the Andrews Mound<ref>{{cite journal | last=Steere | first=Benjamin A. | title=Revisiting Platform Mounds and Townhouses in the Cherokee Heartland: A Collaborative Approach | journal=Southeastern Archaeology | volume=34 | issue=3 | date=2015 | issn=0734-578X | doi=10.1179/2168472315Y.0000000001 | pages=196–219 | url = https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/2015/ja_2015_steere_001.pdf}}</ref> survived until 1975, when the land owner bulldozed the structure after it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. All of the other mounds have been destroyed either through farming or malicious land owners.

The area was originally called Jamesville, and then the Whitaker Settlement, in honor of settler James Whittaker. The Old Tatham House at the base of Pisgah Road near Andrews was built in 1833. The two-story log cabin built by Thomas Tatham is the oldest surviving structure in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=2024-09-18 |title=This week in local history |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=7A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Skirmish at Hanging Dog Creek was one of Civil War's last |url=https://eracmh.blogspot.com/2009/08/skirmish-at-hanging-dog-creek-was-one.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Tales From a Mountain Real Estate Office}}</ref> In 1852, Cherokee County’s first industry, a tannery northeast of what would become Andrews, was established by James Stewart. The town’s first school was a log structure built on Fairview Road in the early 1880s. In the late 1880s, Col. [[Alexander Boyd Andrews]], second vice president of the [[Richmond and Danville Railroad]], bought 50 acres in the area to build a commissary for the railway. Trains began visiting in 1891.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Sarah |date=December 1, 2023 |title=Andrews: the Comeback King |work=Celebrating Our Communities of Cherokee County |publisher=[[Cherokee Scout]] |volume=1}}</ref>

=== The town's establishment ===
[[File:FirstBaptistChurch(Andrews,NorthCarolina).jpg|thumb|Former First Baptist Church]]
In 1905, the town of Andrews was incorporated, with David Samuel Russell appointed as the first mayor. The [[Franklin Pierce Cover House]], [[First Baptist Church (Andrews, North Carolina)|First Baptist Church]], and [[Walker's Inn]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> On October 27, 1906, the dedication of the Andrews Public School occurred, and its first classes began in August 1907 in the Masonic Lodge.<ref name=":1" /> The building was used until its demolition in the summer of 1961.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Heritage of Cherokee County North Carolina Volume I 1987 |publisher=Hunter Publishing Company |year=1987 |isbn=0-89459-247-5 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Alice Davis |location=Murphy, North Carolina |publication-date=1987 |pages=22–23}}</ref> The first known brick house in the county, the John Tatham House, was north of Andrews. It was destroyed in the early 1900s.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2007 |title=Town of Andrews Design Guidelines |url=https://regiona.org/wp-content/uploads/Town-of-Andrews-Design-Guidelines_9-27-2007.pdf |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Regiona.org}}</ref>

After [[African-American]]s were forced out of [[Cumming, Georgia]], in 1912, some came to Andrews and started a community called Happytop.<ref>{{cite news |title=Visiting Our Past: Andrews Author Provides Insight into 'Affrilachia' May 2 |last=Neufeld |first=Rob |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |date=May 2, 2016 }}</ref> A [[Carnegie library]] was built in Andrews in 1914. It was demolished in 1979 to make room for the current Andrews Public Library building.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Ralph Lee |url=http://www.ncl.ecu.edu/index.php/NCL/article/view/3459/3045 |title=North Carolina Libraries |publisher=East Carolina University |year=1981 |pages=26 |chapter=The Carnegie Public Library Movement in North Carolina}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Short History of the Andrews Carnegie Library |url=https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/107364?viewer=uv#?xywh=-231%2C-1%2C6186%2C3588&cv=6 |website=North Carolina Collections |publisher=DigitalNC.org}}</ref> The Andrews Public Library joined the [[Nantahala Regional Library]] system in 1940.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the Nantahala Regional Library |url=http://proofing.youseemore.com/redesigns/nantahala/contentpages.asp?loc=54 |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Nantahala Regional Library |place=Murphy, NC}}</ref>

Andrews was home to the Wilhide brothers, Robert M. and Wilfred W. Wilhide, born between 1920 and 1922. Both were born and raised in Andrews, attended flight school at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as pilots during World War II. In the space of several days, after inflicting  severe losses upon the Japanese fleet, both brothers were lost and killed during missions near Okinawa. The Wilhide brothers were given a memorial in the Valleytown cemetery, and a monument at Veterans Memorial Park in Andrews, not far from their childhood home and birthplace.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gobeo |first=Gary |title=Guest Columnist: Brothers Killed Days Apart at Okinawa Remembered |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/06/24/guest-columnist-brothers-killed-days-apart-okinawa-remembered/86333900/ |website=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |publisher=[[Gannett]] |date=June 24, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2022 }}</ref>

In October 1920, the Peavine Railroad was completed between Andrews and [[Hayesville, North Carolina|Hayesville]]. It hauled mainly lumber and was dismantled in 1951. Passenger service between [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], [[Murphy, North Carolina|Murphy]], and Andrews ended in 1948.<ref name=":1" /> In the 1940s, Andrews' town hall was constructed on Main Street; the building was renovated in 1975 and 2015.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=2025-03-19 |title=This Week in Local History |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=5A}}</ref>

=== Late 20th century to present ===
[[File:District_Memorial_Hospital_(Circa_1979).jpg|thumb|District Memorial Hospital on Whitaker Lane was demolished in 2008. Photo c. 1979.]]
The town’s first hospital was located downtown on the corner of Locust and Main Streets, founded by Dr. Van Gorder.<ref name=":1" /> In 1956, a 30-bed non-profit regional hospital named the [[District Memorial Hospital|District Memorial Hospital of Southwestern North Carolina]] was constructed in Andrews at a cost of $375,000 (about $4.3 Million today).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn83004710/1954-05-20/ed-1/seq-1/#words=District+Memorial |title=Andrews to Get $345,000 District Hospital Soon |work=The Cherokee Scout |location=Murphy, North Carolina |date=May 20, 1954 |page=A1 |access-date=January 18, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date = January 29, 1961 | page = 77 | title = Asheville Citizen-Times at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/201809295/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> A complete renovation and expansion was done in 1970, making it a 64-bed facility. Citing uncollected payments, District Memorial declared bankruptcy in 2000, closed in June 2003, and was demolished in late 2008/early 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20000612/PREMIUM/6120308/hospital-briefs |title=Hospital Briefs |work=Modern Healthcare |publisher=Crain Communications |date=June 12, 2000 |access-date=January 18, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McGoun |first=Bill |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/2020/07/25/pondering-plight-rural-hospitals-wnc-one-their-beds-asheville-nc-mission/5502080002/#:~:text=District%20Memorial%20Hospital%20in%20Andrews,in%201997%20to%20form%20WestCare. |title=McGoun: Pondering the Plight of Rural Hospitals in WNC from One of Their Beds |work=Citizen-Times |location=Asheville, North Carolina |publisher=Gannett |date=July 25, 2020 |quote=District Memorial Hospital in Andrews is long gone and its buildings have been razed. |access-date=January 18, 2024 }}</ref> Today the town is served by [[Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital]] {{convert|12|mi|km}} southwest in [[Peachtree, North Carolina|Peachtree]]. In 1963, the [[Western North Carolina Wagon Train]] incorporated its headquarters in Andrews. The wagon train, one of the biggest rallies of horse-and-wagon enthusiasts in the Eastern U.S. and one of the longest-running wagon trains in the nation, runs through Andrews each summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and Mission |url=http://www.wncwagontrainnc.com/history-and-mission.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Western North Carolina Wagon Train}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Linda |date=2019-06-25 |title=Western NC Wagon Train |url=https://www.houfy.com/lindagonzalez100/posts/western-nc-wagon-train-13214 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Houfy}}</ref>
[[File:Baker_Furniture_Factory_(1979).jpg|thumb|The former Baker Furniture factory in 1979. Baker moved out in 2000.]]
[[File:Berkshire-HD Lee-IOI Building.jpg|thumb|The former Berkshire facility that closed in 1977. It was home to the HD Lee Company from 1979 to 2002. Since 2003, it has been home to Industrial Opportunities Inc.]]
Industrial Opportunities, Inc. (IOI) was founded in 1974 to serve Cherokee, [[Clay County, North Carolina|Clay]], and [[Graham County, North Carolina|Graham]] counties. The Andrews nonprofit hires mentally and physically disabled adults to manufacture military, medical, and commercial goods.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2020 |title=Work Rehab Centers Across WNC Band Together To Make PPE |url=https://www.bpr.org/news/2020-04-30/work-rehab-centers-across-wnc-band-together-to-make-ppe |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=BPR |language=en}}</ref> IOI opened as a 1,200 square foot factory in Marble, North Carolina, and had operated in Marble until early 2003. IOI Road in Marble is the only piece left of IOI in Marble. The current factory was once home to the [[Lee (brand)|H.D. Lee]] company (now just Lee) that opened in 1979 and had been in Andrews for several years until its closure on January 11, 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apparel Plant Closing Rocks Southern Town |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=87423&page=1 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> IOI opened its Andrews location on February 28, 2003. It was also home to [[Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates|Berkshire Corporation]] until its closure in 1977. Andrews had two more industries during the late 20th century: Baker Furniture and Owenby Manufacturing. Baker Furniture's Andrews plant opened in 1965 as Andrews Furniture Industries, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tipper |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Baker Furniture Andrews, NC |url=https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/baker-furniture-andrews-nc/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=Blind Pig and The Acorn |language=en-US}}</ref> The plant also made Magnavox stereos and TV cabinets.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1965 |title=The Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress. (Murphy, N.C.) 1961-1980, December 09, 1965, Section B, Image 14 |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn95072291/1965-12-09/ed-1/seq-14/ |issue=1965/12/09 |pages=2}}</ref> The plant closed on July 1, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joyner |first=Amy |date=July 12, 1999 |title=BAKER FURNITURE TO CLOSE ANDREWS PLANT |url=https://greensboro.com/baker-furniture-to-close-andrews-plant/article_f62a57aa-ba0f-5ece-97f2-d9b873418848.html |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=Greensboro News and Record |language=en}}</ref> Owenby Manufacturing opened in 1955, and its closure date is unknown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jan 29, 1961, page 77 - Asheville Citizen-Times at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/201809295/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1976, the West End Plaza shopping center opened on the west side of town on Main Street.<ref name=":2">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08EyZbL8ohc |title=Welcome to Andrews 1979 |language=en |access-date=April 24, 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> A second shopping center, named the Andrews Town Centre, opened in 1990. A four-lane highway was built between Andrews and Murphy around 1977.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Trawick |url=https://www.rla.unc.edu/Publications/pdf/misc/Andrews.pdf |title=An Archaeological Survey of the New U.S. 19-129 Route Between Andrews and Murphy in Cherokee Co. |date=April 1977 |publisher=The Research Laboratories of Anthropology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill}}</ref> This new highway was opened in 1979, with its previous alignment through town becoming US 19 Business. A 10-mile, 12-inch water line was built to connect Andrews and Murphy's water systems in 1999. The interconnect agreement expired in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-10-30 |title=Andrews seeking water with Murphy |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |pages=1A, 8A}}</ref> Andrews did not charge churches for city water until 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |title=This week in local history |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/local/week-local-history-104 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=2A}}</ref> Andrews' city limits expanded in June 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=2024-12-04 |title=This Week in Local History |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=9A}}</ref> The town's annual Spring Fling celebration got its start in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andrews Spring Fling |url=https://www.visitandrewsnc.com/spring-fling/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Andrews Chamber of Commerce}}</ref> In 2018-2019, the town hosted the last [[The Possum Drop|Possum Drop]] in North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elassar |first=Alaa |date=December 31, 2019 |title=North Carolina town ends New Year's Eve Possum Drop tradition |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/31/us/north-carolina-opossum-drop-ends-trnd/index.html |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Andrews' weekly farmers market began in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Nicole |date=2025-04-30 |title=Andrews Farmers Market starts 2nd season |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=9A}}</ref> In late 2024, Andrews' leaders unanimously repealed a law that banned weapons on town property, including the pool, library, and police department.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-12-18 |title=Andrews OKs weapons in facilities |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=3A}}</ref> Town leaders in 2025 approved a "social district" allowing the open carry of alcoholic beverages in certain parts of the downtown area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2025-04-30 |title=Andrews board OKs social district |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=9A}}</ref>

===Mayoral history===
# David Samuel Russell (1905–c.1928)
# J.H. Christy (1929–)
# D.S. Russell (1931–)
# D.H. Tillitt (c.1939)
# R.T. Heaton (c.1943)
# Percy B. Ferebee (c.1961–1966)
# Ty Burnette (1971–1986)
# Mitch Rhinehardt (2001–2004)
#Johnny Brown (2005–2013)
# Nancy Curtis (2013–2017)
# James Reid (2017–present)<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=David |title=This Week in Local History |work=Cherokee Scout |location=Murphy, North Carolina |publisher=Community Newspapers |date=November 8, 2023 }}</ref>