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Ashe County Oral History

Collection of interviews with notable Ashe County residents

James Lawrence was born near Bald Mountain in Ashe County, but at the time of this interview was living in Toronto, Canada. In this interview he recalls his childhood, service in the Pacific theater of World War Two, and his migration to Canada.

Part 1

0:00 Family history

3:30 First school

5:45 Fun activities

6:45 Original homeplace

8:30 Civil War

10:00 Migration out of Ashe County

11:15 World War II

13:20 Atomic Bomb

18:30 POW Warship

20:50 Leon Uris

 

Part 2

0:00 Post World War II

3:00 Work in Detroit

4:20 Move to Toronto in 1971

5:00 Family connection to Mt. Aire Golf Course

7:45 Visit to 1790 cemetery

10:45 Changes in Ashe County

11:45 W. Jefferson Circus

13:00 Chautauqua 1920s

15:45 Post World War II