Editing Hayesville, North Carolina (section)

==History==
[[File:The historic Clay County courthouse in downtown Hayesville, N.C. on July 10, 2022.jpg|thumb|[[Clay County Courthouse (North Carolina)|The Clay County Courthouse]] on the Hayesville square is listed on the National Register of Historic Places]]

=== Quanassee ===
This was long an area of indigenous settlement along the [[Hiwassee River]]. An earthwork [[platform mound]] was built here, likely by people of the [[South Appalachian Mississippian culture]] about 1000 CE. It would have been the center of their village.

Later, the historic [[Cherokee]] developed a town known as ''Quanassee'' at this site. They built their [[townhouse]] on top of the mound, to provide a place for communal discussion and reaching consensus. It was one of the numerous "Valley Towns" located along the Hiwassee River in [[Western North Carolina]]. It was also along the [[Trading Path]] (also called the "[[Unicoi Turnpike]]"). That road led from Quanassee west to another town at present-day [[Murphy, North Carolina]], then over the [[Unicoi Range]] at Unicoi Gap and down to the Cherokee town of [[Great Tellico]] (today [[Tellico Plains, Tennessee]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Riggs |first=Brett H. |title=Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook |last2=Duncan |first2=Barbara R. |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-8078-5457-3 |location=Chapel Hill |page=245}}</ref>

Quanassee had several hundred inhabitants by 1550. In 1716, [[South Carolina]] officials met with Cherokee leaders in Quanassee to obtain the Cherokee's alliance in the [[Yamasee War|Yamassee War]]. The next year South Carolina built a trading site in Quanassee to gain Cherokee commodities like deerskins in exchange for manufactured English goods. A Coosa (Creek) war party "cut off" Quanassee in 1725, demolishing the village and enslaving or killing most of its residents. The town was briefly reestablished before the American Revolution; [[Rutherford Light Horse expedition|Rutherford expedition]] forces camped there in 1776. In the 1820s, [[Baptists in the United States|Baptist]] missionaries visited Quanassee to preach to families living there.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Quanassee Town and the Spikebuck Mound Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=41949 |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== Fort Hembree ===
In October 1837, Tennessee militia established [[Fort Hembree]] near Hayesville to prepare for deporting the Cherokee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nctrailoftears.org/fort-hembree/#:~:text=Tennessee%20militia%20established%20Fort%20Hembree,the%20upper%20Hiwassee%20River%20Valley. |title=Fort Hembree |work=North Carolina Trail of Tears Association }}</ref> Approximately 1,000 Cherokee people were held prisoner at the fort and removed from the area. The military abandoned Fort Hembree in June 1838, though it was reactivated in 1860 to train soldiers for the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref name=Moorebook>{{cite book |last=Moore |first1=Carl S. |title=Clay County, N.C.: Then and Now |location=Franklin, N.C. |publisher=Genealogy Publishing Service |year=2008 |isbn=978-1881851240 }}</ref>

After the Cherokee were forced to cede their land, European Americans settled in this rural area and took over what is now known as the [[Spikebuck Town Mound and Village Site]]. They cultivated much of the village site, disturbing the topsoil layers. Some excavations were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name="updateE"/> The town mound and village site was listed in 1982 on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as an archeological site.

Clay County acquired the mound site in 2000 and protects it; the Archeological Conservancy acquired the town/village site and farmsteads in 2011.<ref name="updateE">{{cite web|url=https://www.archaeologicalconservancy.org/update-e-important-cherokee-valley-town-site-5th-anniversary-of-preservation/|title=Update E: Important Cherokee Valley Town Site, 5th Anniversary of Preservation|publisher=Archeological Conservancy|date=January 22, 2016|access-date=January 10, 2021}}</ref>

=== Hayesville founded ===
The town was named Hayesville after 19th-century politician [[George W. Hayes (North Carolina)|George Hayes]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n152 153]}}</ref> When running for representative from Cherokee County in the fall election of 1860, he learned that residents in the southeast end wanted to separate from Cherokee County and get their own county seat, because of the difficulty of traveling to the distant location. With the promise to introduce legislation to this effect, Hayes won a seat in the legislature. In February 1861 the legislation to organize a new county was introduced and passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. The county was named in honor of Kentucky statesman [[Henry Clay]], and the county seat Hayesville, for Hayes.<ref name="Padgett">{{Cite book |last=Padgett |first=Guy |title=A History of Clay County, North Carolina |publisher=Clay County Bicentennial Committee |date=1976 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xp63GAAACAAJ}}</ref>{{rp|p.10}} Though Hayesville was an active town since 1861 and town limits were set in 1882, it was not incorporated until March 12, 1913.<ref name=Moorebook /> The first mayor was S.E. Hogsed.

[[Hayesville High School]] was founded in 1870 as Hicksville Academy.<ref name="book1">{{cite conference |last=Leek |first=Mark |year=2003 |title=History of Clay County Schools From 1850 until Present |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.clayschools.org%2Fccshistory%2Fccshistory.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |conference=Doctoral project in the Issues of Rural Education class at Western Carolina University}}</ref> In the 1890s it was bought by Duke University and offered college courses.<ref name="Padgett" /> After the first wood-frame county courthouse in Hayesville was destroyed by arson in 1870, the brick [[Clay County Courthouse (North Carolina)|courthouse]] currently standing on the town square was constructed in 1888. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In mid-2007, courthouse operations moved to a new justice center built {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of downtown.<ref name=Moorebook />

Hayesville's Methodist and Presbyterian churches were the earliest churches in Clay County; both congregations date to 1838. Their present buildings opened in 1943 and 1960 respectively.<ref name="Moorebook" /><ref name="Padgett" />  Truett Memorial, the town's first Baptist church, dates to 1850; its extant stone building opened in 1949.<ref name="Padgett" />
[[File:The first train from Hayesville NC arrives at Tusquittee station.jpg|thumb|The first train from Hayesville arrives at Tusquittee station in 1920]]
Hayesville's post office opened May 7, 1868.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Towns/Cherokee_POs_Sorted.htm |title=Cherokee County, NC Post Offices - 1839 to 1971 |last=Lewis |first=J.D. |work=Carolana.com }}</ref> The county's first official bank opened in Hayesville on May 18, 1910. In October 1920 the railroad came to Hayesville.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laney |first=Gideon Thomas |title=Train from Hayesville arriving at the Tusquittee station pulled by Climax locomotive #10 |url=https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/browse/search/train-from-hayesville-arriving-at-the-tusquittee-station-pulled-by-climax-locomotive-10 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |website=Southern Appalachian Digital Collections |publisher=[[Western Carolina University]] and University of North Carolina Asheville}}</ref> The Peavine line was completed to [[Andrews, North Carolina]], where it connected with the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]]. The line hauled mainly lumber and was dismantled in 1951.<ref name="Moorebook" /><ref name="Padgett" />

Tiger's Store downtown is thought to be the oldest continuously operating business in Clay County. It was established in 1875 in [[Tusquittee, North Carolina|Tusquittee]] and moved to Hayesville around 1908.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Westergard |first=Linda |date=2025 |title=Tiger's Store turns 150 |work=Welcome to Clay County, NC, 2025 – Official Clay County Progress Information Guide |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC |pages=30–31}}</ref><ref name="Moorebook" /> Hotels began appearing in Hayesville in the 1920s. Clay County had a silent film theater in the 1920s. Later, the Hayesville Theater operated from the 1940s to the 1960s and live music was performed after film showings. Traveling music groups including [[Lester Flatt|Lester Flat]] and [[Earl Scruggs]], [[Carl Story]], [[Minnie Pearl]], and [[Hank Williams]] performed at Hayesville High School in the 1940s and 50s. In 1945, [[Paul Westmoreland]] debuted his song "[[Detour (song)|Detour (There's a Muddy Road Ahead)]]" in Hayesville. He wrote the song while on his way to Murphy. As of 2024, there are no movie theaters in Clay County.<ref name="Moorebook" />

On January 22, 1922, a midnight fire destroyed nearly all of downtown Hayesville, including several stores, the highway commission office and records, and the U.S. Post Office.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn83004710/1923-01-26/ed-1/seq-1/ |title=Parts of Business District of Hayesville Destroyed by Fire |work=The Cherokee Scout |location=Murphy, NC |date=January 26, 1922 |page=A1 }}</ref> The fire started at DeWease's Hardware Store and was reportedly set intentionally to collect insurance money.<ref name=Moorebook /> The town's current post office building was constructed in 1965.<ref name="Padgett" />

===Late 20th century to present===
Clay County is featuring Cherokee heritage sites as part of its community redevelopment to emphasize its unique character. In addition to the Spikebuck Town Mound, it supports other Cherokee resources in Hayesville: the Quanassee Path, which highlights five Cherokee features on a walking path around Hayesville; the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit, with reconstructions of traditional summer and winter houses and a corn crib; and the Cherokee Botanical Sanctuary. In addition the CCCRA sponsors an annual Cherokee Heritage Festival.<ref name="cccra">{{cite web|url=https://www.cccra-nc.org/projects|title=Cherokee Culture|publisher=Clay County Communities Revitalization Association|date=2019–2021|access-date=January 10, 2021}}</ref>

Clay County's public library started in a small room on the second floor of a building on Hayesville's town square.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Foster |first=E.H. |title=Clay County Heritage North Carolina Vol. II |publisher=The Clay County Heritage Book Committee |year=2017 |location=Hayesville, NC |pages=145}}</ref> At some point it moved to a small room in the county courthouse. In 1940 it became part of the [[Nantahala Regional Library]] system and hired its first librarian, Ellen Scroggs, in 1943.<ref name="Moorebook" /><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> A new $80,000 library building opened on Sanderson St. downtown on June 25, 1967.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1967 |title=Moss Library Dedicated Sunday |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn95072291/1967-06-29/ed-1/seq-4/#words=Clay+County+Library |work=The Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress |page=4}}</ref> It was named in honor of local-born Dr. Fred A. Moss, who contributed $10,000 towards its construction and donated books.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=June 23, 1966 |title=Clay ready to start library construction; fund raising meeting set for Friday |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn95072291/1966-06-23/ed-1/seq-9/#words=Moss+Memorial+Library |work=The Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress |page=9}}</ref> Today Moss Memorial Library is the only public library in Clay County.<ref name=":0" />

In the early 1940s [[Chatuge Dam]] was constructed near Hayesville by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], creating [[Chatuge Lake]]. It was the tallest earthen dam in the world until the [[Aswan Dam]] was built in [[Egypt]] in 1964.<ref name="Moorebook2">{{cite book |last=Moore |first1=Carl S. |title=Clay County, N.C.: Then and Now |publisher=Genealogy Publishing Service |year=2008 |isbn=978-1881851240 |location=Franklin, N.C.}}</ref> In 2017, the dam was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Register Database and Research - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Peacock Performing Arts Center in Hayesville, North Carolina.jpg|thumb|The Peacock Performing Arts Center in Hayesville]]
Hayesville's annual Festival on the Square began in 1980.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Lorrie |date=2024-07-02 |title=Next weekend brings Festival on the Square |url=https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local/next-weekend-brings-festival-square |work=[[Clay County Progress]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC |page=1A}}</ref> The town's annual Christmas parade began in 1987.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Becky |date=2023-12-07 |title=Santa's coming to town Saturday |work=Clay County Progress |publisher=Community Newspapers, Inc. |location=Hayesville, NC |page=A1}}</ref> Despite being a small town, in the 1980s Hayesville gained the only community theatre in far-west North Carolina. The Peacock Playhouse was constructed on Church Street by Lillith Lidseen. Born in [[Sweden]] in 1904, Lidseen moved with her parents to [[Chicago]] and studied fine arts at [[Wellesley College]]. After her brother Edwin established a pipe manufacturing business in [[Warne, North Carolina|Warne]], she moved nearby.<ref name=Moorebook /> Nonprofit volunteer organization the Licklog Players (named after the local Licklog Creek) began performing shows at [[Hayesville High School]]'s auditorium in 1978 and Lidseen was asked to direct ''[[Brigadoon]]''. Due to the community's enthusiastic response, she decided that the area needed a professional theatre venue and built a three-story, 250-seat playhouse near downtown. Plans were drawn up in March 1981 and construction began in 1983. The first show performed at the theatre was ''[[The Curious Savage]]'' by the Licklog Players on June 6, 1986. Lidseen died in January 1987 before she was able to see a production in her theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/Learn-More-About-the-Peacock-Performing-Arts-Center-in-Hayesville-20210620 |title=Learn More About the Peacock Performing Arts Center in Hayesville |last=Sposto |first=Caroline |work=Broadway World |publisher=Wisdom Digital Media |date=June 20, 2021 }} Retrieved February 10, 2024.</ref> The Lilith Lidseen Performing Arts Association was formed in 2007. It raised $800,000 to buy the building in 2009 and renovate it. After performing more than 100 plays at the venue, the Licklog Players moved to a strip mall and shut down after their 2014 season. Today the [[Peacock Performing Arts Center]] offers dozens of events per year, ranging from comedies to concerts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Melissa C. |url=https://wncmagazine.com/feature/little_theatre_could |title=The Little Theatre That Could |work=WNC Magazine |location=North Carolina |publisher=Gulfstream Communications |date=August 1, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2003 the [[US 64]] bypass through Hayesville was expanded into a four-lane highway.<ref name=Moorebook/> [[NC 69]] from Hayesville to Georgia was widened to four lanes in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Becky |url=https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local/highway-69-completion-set-july-24 |title=Highway 69 completion set for July '24 |work=Clay County Progress |location=Hayesville, NC |publisher=Community Newspapers, Inc. |date=November 30, 2023 }} Retrieved February 20, 2024.</ref> The Clay County Recreation Center was built in 2007 in Hayesville and it was expanded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.recreation.claync.us/about |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Clay County Recreation Center & Parks |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' named Hayesville one of the top ten nicest places in America.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chávez |first=Karen |date=2017-06-22 |title=Hayesville a finalist in Reader's Digest 'Nicest Place' contest |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/outdoors/girls-gone-outdoors/2017/06/22/hayesville-finalist-readers-digest-nicest-place-contest/419585001/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlin |first=Kaitlyn |date=2022-11-07 |title=Finalist for Nicest Place in America: Hayesville, North Carolina |url=https://www.rd.com/article/hayesville-north-carolina-finalist-nicest-place-in-america/ |archive-url= |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=[[Reader's Digest]]}}</ref>

===Mayoral history===
[[File:Town Hall, Hayesville, NC (32821162498).jpg|thumb|right|Town hall]]
# S.E. Hogsed (1913)
# Wm. H. Harrison (1913–1914)
# W.T. Hunt Sr. (1915)
# G.H. Haigler (1915–1917)
# T.C. Scroggs (1919)
# J.B. Gray (1920–1922)
# O.L. Anderson (1923)
# Neal Haigler (1924)
# R.E. Crawford (1925)
# W. J. Winchester (1929)
# James Penalnd (1936)
# W.L. Matheson (1937)
# T.C. Gray (1938–1946)
# Fred D. Pass (1947–1948)
# Glenn Byers (1948–1951)
# H.M. Crawford (1953)
# Christine Prater (1955)
# James H. Walker (1957–1961)
# Donald S. Weaver (1962–1966)
# M. Cloe Moore (1967–1969)
# C.A. Carroll (1970–1972)
# Paul "Bud" Vaught Jr. (1973–1998)<ref name=Padgett />
# Gwen Weaver (1999–2003)
# Harrell Moore (2004–2012)
# Harry Baughn (2013–2021)
# Joe Slaton (2021–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/search/pages/results/?lccn=sn95072291&lccn=sn83004710&lccn=sn91068698&dateFilterType=yearRange&date1=&date2=&proxtext=andrews+mayor&proxdistance=5 |title=North Carolina Newspapers |work=Newspapers.DigitalNC.org |publisher=Digital NC }}</ref>