Greenway Chronicle
History of the Little Tennessee River Greenway-"Pride of Macon County"
by Hank Shuler, edited by Kay Coriell
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Providing a cornucopia of wildflowers and wildlife, the Greenway cuts a meandering path of nearly five miles through Franklin. Reflecting the extraordinarily rich diversity of the Macon County landscape, visitors can experience wetlands, stroll through two railroad cuts left behind by the Tallulah Falls Railroad, wander alongside an old pasture, catch sight of the desert agave, and experience the upland woods.
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This marvelous asset began as a dream. Many residents, including members of the Nantahala Hiking Club, looked at this long stretch of uninhabited land along side the river and pictured a place to preserve our landscape while offering expanded recreational opportunities for our community. Others saw it as a way to preserve our heritage and to bolster our economic development.
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In 1997 Duke Power needed a powerline through Franklin. The unusable land along the river seemed to offer the most logical route. At that time Nantahala Power and Light, though owned by Duke, was still an intact company with leadership that was an integral part of our community and aware of the Dream....
Historical Heritage
The Nikwasi was a Cherokee town situated along the banks of the Little Tennessee River in what is now Franklin, NC. It has been found on maps as early as 1566. The center of the town was the council house built on a manmade mound. All that remains is the mound, located on Main Street a short distance from the river. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Nikwasi Initiative, a collaboration of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and neighboring communities, was founded to promote, interpret and link cultural and historic sites, like the Nikwasi Mound, along a Cherokee Cultural Corridor. To find out more, go to nikwasi-initiative.org.
FROG Feats
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Raised Funds and Installed Original Playground at Big Bear Park
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Built the Butterfly Garden (designated Way-Station for Monarchs)
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Added Recycling Bins at Big Bear Shelter and Tassee Shelter
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Added 8 picnic tables to both Big Bear Shelter and Tassee Shelter
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Installed over 100 memorial benches along the trail
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Installed and maintained trail signs, mileage markers, and map signs
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Initiated the Disc Golf Course behind SCC
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Established a Dog Park at Big Bear
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Provided speakers on Greenway history, nature, and conservation
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Carried out removal of invasive plant projects on the Greenway
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Held various fundraisers to benefit Friends of the Greenway