Alexia Jones Helsley Livres

The History & Guide series is designed for the leisurely traveler who wants to explore the streets and neighborhoods of America's favorite towns. -- General overview of the picturesque county located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. -- Walking and driving tours through Henderson County s most fascinating historic areas, including Hendersonville, Flat Rock and Fletcher. -- Images and illustrations of the most important sites, from churches and historic houses to cemeteries and inns. -- Timeline of key events capturing the historic spirit and heritage of Henderson County. Written by accomplished historian and author Alexia Jones Helsley and her father, Dr. George Alexander Jones, founder of Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society and director of Henderson County History.

As one of the oldest settlements in North America, Beaufort, South Carolina, can trace its roots deep into the rich history of the New World. This charming city beneath moss-draped oaks has a heritage that is as diverse as it is sweeping. This comprehensive look into Beaufort’s past reveals a wide-ranging set of influences that helped to shape the island city’s development. From the landing of Spanish sailors in 1514 to the influx of present-day sun seekers, Beaufort has played host to a variety of inhabitants that have each added a distinct element to its captivating milieu. Author Alexia Jones Helsley calls upon a lifetime of experience as one of South Carolina’s premier archivists and historians to illuminate all aspects of Beaufort’s history. Herself a native of old Beaufort and an accomplished genealogist, Helsley uses elegant, thoughtful prose to convey the duality of this Lowcountry jewel, from sparkling tides and majestic homes to hurricanes and hidden slave quarters. It is through the prism of this intriguing dual nature, present in many forms throughout Beaufort’s past, that Helsley shows readers the ways in which the city fits into the history of the region, the nation, and the continent. This vital text is unmatched in its ability to bring to life the fascinating story of a city nearly five hundred years in the making.

From a home to the fierce Westo tribe to a hub of the equestrian industry, Aiken County has had a huge influence on South Carolina. And some of the structures that mark that history have disappeared. More than two hundred years ago, the Horse Creek Chickasaw Squirrel King held couty near North Augusta. The first locomotive built for public transportation, the "Best Friend" from Charleston to Hamburg, first ran in the area. The home of noted businessman Richard Flint Howe hosted both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and students of the University of South Carolina Aiken. William Gregg and the Graniteville Mill helped shape the textile industry in the state. Author Alexia Jones Helsley details the lost history of Aiken County.

Touted as one of America's most livable cities, Columbia has a history of independence and triumph. But that history also has a darker side, one that isn't told quite as often. The capital city's past is filled with salacious tales of debauchery, including a notorious pickpocket bold enough to victimize a mayor and a tradition of dueling that ruined lives over petty insults. From triple hangings at Potter's Field to the lure of ladies of the evening, Columbia has a history as famously hot as its weather. Join author and historian Alexia Helsley as she examines the devilish details of Soda Town.

Take a journey through the long and exciting history of North Carolina grapes and vines. The state's native grapes grew with a wild abandon that uniformly impressed early explorers. Wine production, however, is another story--one with peaks and valleys and switchbacks. Alexia Jones Helsley recounts a tale of promise that was long unfulfilled, of disappointments and success and of competing visions and grapes. These pages speak to those intrigued by the romance of the native muscadines, appreciative of the complex varieties of North Carolina wine and fascinated by the enduring drama of human beings and their dreams. In the Old North State, the highly acclaimed vineyards of today have deep roots in the state's past.