The North Carolina
Visitor Center
Welcome to the North Carolina Visitor Center
From the mountains to the coast and all points in between
To receive our free North Carolina Visitor Center Newsletter by email each month, please email us at
newsletter@ncvisitorcenter.com
One of the most popular aspects of the NC Visitor Center has been our promotion of real NC barbecue and traditional southern foods in general. North Carolina is one of the top states for relocation by folks from other regions of the country, so it occasionally becomes necessary to define REAL NC barbecue. This problem is compounded by certain television shows that continually refer to something called, "North Carolina Pulled Pork." This so called, "North Carolina Pulled Pork" appears to be some cut of pork, cooked in a variety of ways, pulled apart either with fingers or forks and stewed or embalmed in some kind of syrupy sweet, ketchupy sauce. This is nothing more than a marketing concept, probably dreamed up by some mid-western based sauce company or chain "BBQ" corporation that attempts to pass off an inferior and cheaply produced imitation of southern tradition as real barbecue. We do not know why they chose to sell their inferior product under the name of North Carolina, but it has hurt real North Carolina barbecue restaurants (called "barbecue joints"). The folks who still cook real North Carolina barbecue the right, traditional way are fewer each year - they carry on our proud traditions through backbreaking, hot, smokey work and are undercut by those who profit by diluting our traditions and selling inferior roast pork.
So, what is Real NC barbecue? It is a tradition dating to the earliest settlers of our nation, who learned Native cooking techniques. The oldest barbecue in America traces to Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. This is where the "pig pickin'" that George Washington wrote about began - whole hogs cooked for around 20 hours over hard wood coals. There is no other fuel used in real barbecue than hardwood coals - whether you cook a whole hog or pork shoulders. A pit is built, the wood (usually hickory and oak, but sometimes fruit or nut wood) is burned down and the hot coals shoveled under the pork... for hours and hours... until the proteins and fats have broken down and the meat is tender and full of flavor. Then, the pig is either layed out pig pickin' style and folks pull chunks of it off to eat, or the meat is removed from the bone and chopped (NOT PULLED). NC barbecue is placed on a chopping block, board or three sided tray and chopped with big, heavy cleavers until the desired texture is achieved. Then, a vinegar based sauce is applied sparingly (never covering up the meat). That is it - that is all - add slaw, a bun, maybe some beans, cornbread or hushpuppies and you have REAL NC barbecue!
This issue of the NC Visitor Center newsletter is devoted to Real NC Barbecue. Below you will find a review of a new barbecue joint in Lumberton, NC that is cooking real NC barbecue the right way, with no corners cut... and, it is mighty good, an article that goes into more depth about how to cook real NC barbecue, and a story about one of the oldest (and few remaining) real NC barbecue joints - Lefler's in Pee Dee, NC.
- Editor
Nelson's Barbecue operates Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 7:30 pm. Look for their website: nelsonsbarbecue.com. Let's Eat!
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Lefler’s Place
“Lefler’s Place Café and Grocery”, is everything real
North Carolina barbecue should be. First of all, Lefler’s is in one of North Carolina’s most historically significant areas. Lefler’s is in the Pee Dee community (officially a part of Mt. Gilead) near the river for which it was named. Pee Dee is basically a cross-road.
Native Americans populated the banks of the Pee Dee long before recorded history – the Town Creek Indian Mound is just on the other side of Mt. Gilead from Pee Dee. White folks settled in the area some time in the early 1700s. This was cotton plantation country through the Civil War and cotton remained the driving force of Montgomery County’s economy well into the 1900s.
Lefler’s Place opened in 1922. As of today, Lefler’s has been in business for about 90 years. Consider that most restaurants in America close in under three years from opening and you’ll begin to realize just how unique is Lefler’s Place. Consider also that little has changed in the way Lefler’s cooks and serves its barbecue over those 90 years – I think they may be onto something. I’m not the only one to recognize the quality of Lefler’s; the restaurant was a favorite of both Elvis Presley and Dale Earnhardt!
I’m told that Lefler’s has the last remaining outdoor, wood burning barbecue pit in Montgomery County. I checked out the pit and found it to be the real deal:
Read More
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Real North Carolina barbecue is a dying art. Real North Carolina barbecue is either pork shoulders or a whole hog cooked very, very slowly over hardwood coals. The coals come from real wood – predominately oak and hickory – which are burned down to glowing embers and shoveled under the pork. It takes about 10 hours of this difficult physical labor to cook pork shoulders and up to twenty hours to cook a whole hog. The result is amazingly tender, smoky (but not over smoked), succulent, salty pork which may be complimented by vinegar based sauce. Down East, the sauce is only vinegar and spices; the further west you travel, the more tomato paste or ketchup is added.
Pork shoulders or whole hogs cooked using a gas or electric heat source is just roast pork. Roast pork can be very good, especially with the right sauce, but it ain’t barbecue! In times past, North Carolina was full of real barbecue joints. But, cooking real barbecue is very hard work and hickory is expensive. Every year or so we lose another real barbecue restaurant; they either close down or convert to gas. When they close, I mourn the loss. When they convert to gas, I get angry, stomp around the parking lot for a while, label it the work of the devil and vow never to return.
Of course, there are plenty of folks who enjoy roast pork masquerading as barbecue just as much as the genuine article. Some would argue that North Carolina barbecue is more popular today than ever and certain chain, fast food “barbecue” businesses (that shall remain nameless because I will not dignify them with the honor of a mention) do such a good business that it can be hard to find a table. So, I guess this is really just my own opinion, and the success of the “whomp biscuit” is evidence that my opinion probably isn’t worth much.
You know what a “whomp biscuit is”, don’t you? Whomp biscuit was a term coined by the late Jerry Clower, who said that the saddest sound in the world is that of canned “biscuits” being “whomped” on the counter.
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The Leavitt House located at 101 W. Martin Street in Wadesboro is the oldest com-mercial building still in use in Anson County. It was constructed in 1832 as a resi-dence for Norfleet Boggan. Wadesboro’s only antebellum frame commercial building is a fine example of the Greek Revival Style.
Nathaniel Knight purchased the house in 1867 and converted it into an inn and added a rear wing for use as a kitchen. It remained a hotel under the proprietorship of Charles Burns and others until Harvey Leavitt, Sr. adapted it for a funeral home in 1935. Mr. Leavitt’s grandson, Harvey Leavitt III, gave the Leavitt House to the Anson County Historical Society in Jan. 2007. It is now being used as the Museum of Early America.
The 18th–century Boggan-Hammond House, located at 208 E. Wade Street in Wadesboro is the first restored historic building in Anson County. It was built by Capt. Patrick Boggan, donor of the land for the town of Wadesborough (now Wadesboro). Chartered as New Town in 1783, the present name of the county seat was adopted in 1878. Boggan and his brother-in-law, Col. Thomas Wade, were among the founders of the town. Patrick Boggan was a Revolutionary War leader and an ar-dent Anson Regulator. The house was built by Boggan for his daughter Nellie who married William Hammond.
Read More
KNOW SOMEONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN A SCHOLARSHIP?
The 2012 LGFCU Scholarship application deadline of February 10 is just a few weeks away and we would like you to spread the word!
Scholarships will be awarded to as many as 120 graduating high school students and students attending colleges, universities and graduate schools. Awards in the amount of $1,000 to be applied to tuition, books, computer or other fees are intended to recognize excellence and achievement in both academics and extracurricular activities.
Click scholarships for more information.
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MORGANTON, N.C. - Mysterious, unexplained lights have randomly appeared for centuries along the Brown Mountain range northwest of Morganton.
A first-ever symposium this February aims to finally solve the mystery of this strange phenomenon.
On Feb. 11, noted author, radio host and paranormal investigator Joshua Warren of Asheville joins Dr. Daniel Caton, professor of physics and astronomy at Appalachian State University, to hopefully uncover a definitive explanation for the famous Brown Mountain Lights.
The symposium is a full-day event, running from 1-10 p.m. It includes dinner and a guided field trip to the Brown Mountain Overlook for nighttime exploration of the lights.
Burke County tourism director Ed Phillips has heard many interesting tales about the lights. So he created this symposium to take a serious - and fun - look at the phenomenon with the two foremost scientific experts on the Brown Mountain Lights.
"Joshua Warren and Dr. Daniel Caton are world-renowned researchers who have done extensive scientific studies of the Brown Mountain Lights," said Phillips. "Their passion for this topic is impressive, and I think folks will be surprised with their findings. We receive inquiries from all over the world from people interested in the lights, and I hope this event will help satisfy their curiosities about our famous local legend."
The symposium takes place from 1-5 p.m. at Morganton City Hall, followed by a 5:30 p.m. catered meal. At 6:30 p.m., attendees will load onto shuttle buses for a field trip up N.C. Highway 181 to the Brown Mountain Overlook for two hours of viewing time.
Cost is $20 per person, and hotel packages are available for out-of-town attendees.
For information or to register for the symposium, call (828) 433-6793, or go online to www.DiscoverBurkeCounty.com.
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The House of Flags Museum in Columbus, North Carolina is the only one of its kind in America. Founded more than a decade ago, on September 8th, 2001, this educational museum offers a very rare insight to our Nation's history, patriotism, politics, and the price of liberty as visitors journey through time with our many flags guiding the way. Over 250 faithfully reproduced full-sized historic flags tell their stories of our Military and religions; pre-Colonial, Colonial, and Revolutionary War eras; War of 1812 through the Civil War and World War Two. All 27 official Stars and Stripes flags of the United States of America are displayed along with the flags of each state that joined under each new US flag.
Special flag collections include historical "Liberty Cap" and "Rattlesnake" flags from the Revolutionary War era, flag posters of WWII, plus a number of Braille and tactile flag displays for the visually impaired. Many other unique and unusual flags and their stories are also on display. Some have called this Museum "the best kept secret in western North Carolina... and in America!"
Read More
Join us
January 30, 2012 at 7pm Robeson County History Museum 101 S. Elm Street, Lumberton
For a slice of birthday cake in honor of the county’s 225th birthday and a presentation about some of the highlights of the county’s founding and history.
This is the first of our monthly talks concerning Robeson County’s history. They will be held at 7pm on the last Monday of each month.
Calendar of Events
February 27 at 7pm – African American History
Civil War Reenactment – Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 2pm
March 26 at 7pm – Woman’s History
April 30 at 7pm – Agriculture History
May 28 at 7pm – Military History
June 25 at 7pm – Textile History
July 30 at 7pm – Religious History
August 27 at 7pm – Newspaper History
September 24 at 7pm – Education History
October 29 at 7pm – Elected Official’s History
November 26 at 7pm – Native American History
December 8 1pm – 5pm Christmas Home tour
Hope For The Warriors® is excited to announce The Patriot Tour, coming to the Jacksonville American Legion, 146 Broadhurst Road, on February 4, 2012. Attached is a formal press release and flier for the event. The Patriot Tour is a stand-up comedy program that showcases retired military and first responder comedians and their talent. This event is sure to be a great night for family and friends in the community to gather and enjoy the presence of some heroic entertainers. Details are as follows:
-The line up includes Joe Pistone, the "Real" Donnie Brasco, as well as John Ligato, USMC (Ret.), Major General Ray L. Smith, USMC (Ret.), and CEO Tom Kozlowski
-General admission tickets are $20 for the public, and $10 for military id holders and first responders
-Entrance to VIP reception is $10, includes meet and greet with Joe Pistone
-VIP reception begins at 6 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm
Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this e-mail. If you would like more information, or are interested in covering this event, please feel free to contact me at the information below.
February
New Museum Hours beginning in January – Museum open Wednesday – Saturday 10 am to 4:30 pm and the Park only open on Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. Closed Sundays and most major holidays.
Saturday, February 11, 10 am to 4 pm
Stenciling in the Historical Park
Stenciling has long been a popular method of decorative painting. Come try your hand painting a keepsake box with stencils. All ages welcome. Cost: $1 per box. Free for members. Drop-in. Limit 2 per person.
Wednesday, February 15, 10 am
Museum Guild Meeting
The discussion topic will be Louise Thaden and Lousie Smith both aviatrix from this area.
Thursday, February 16, 6:30 pm to 9 pm (February 23 make-up date)
Leapt Into History…A Night at the Museum
The High Point Historical Society is hosting its annual Winter Gala Fundraiser and includes entertainment, music and few surprises. Come spend the evening learning about local history and meeting a few characters from our past. Cost $25 per person and reservations are required. Contact hpmuseum@highpointnc.gov or 885-1859 for more information.
Monday, February 27, 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm
Kickoff to Kindergarten: Parent Day
Calling all parents of pre-schoolers! Representatives from Guilford County Schools and other community pre-K resources will be available to answer questions and give you all the information you need to register and prepare your child for pre-school or Kindergarten. This free, drop-in event is co-sponsored by United Way of Greater High Point Children’s Initiatives, Guilford Education Alliance, Guilford Child Development, Guilford Partnership for Children, Guilford County Schools, Get Healthy Guilford, Guilford Education Alliance, the Junior League of High Point, and the Greensboro Children’s Museum.
Exhibits
The Joy of Toys - What does a Ferris wheel, a record player and a Barbie have in common? They are all part of the new mini-exhibit at the High Point Museum. This exhibit, located in the Museum lobby, features some items that have never been on display and includes objects dating back to the early 20th century. This exhibit will be on display until mid-March.
Meredith’s Miniatures - The rooms in this exhibit were created by Meredith Slane Michener, a High Point native, between 1990 and 2005. They represent the bulk of her collection, which totals 35 rooms. Many of the items found in the rooms were created by her. Many were purchased from other artisans and many were “found.” Miniatures are always built to precise scale and these are completed in 1:12. This is one of the largest collections of miniature rooms on display in the country.
High Point’s Furniture Heritage – entire lower level of the Museum
This interactive exhibit features furniture, machinery, photographs, memorabilia, hands-on activities and video. The exhibit examines the history of the relationship between the furniture industry and the people of High Point and offers a unique perspective on the history of furniture manufacturing in our area.
For more information on these events or exhibit call 885-1859 or visit www.highpointmuseum.org.
The High Point Museum is dedicated to sharing Greater High Point’s history, exploring the power of memory, providing perspective for current issues, and strengthening the sense of community. Our work is guided by our core values of connection, diversity, fun, and innovation.
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Feb 25: Stanly County Winter Wine Festival - Albemarle, NC - Free
albemarledowntown.com
Feb 25: 62nd Tidewater Camellia Club Show - Wilmington, NC - Free
tidewatercamelliaclub.org
Feb: 26 The Carolina Chamber Music Festival's "Festive Family Concert" - New Bern, NC - Free
carolinachambermusic.org
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Fabio's Restaurant in Downtown Newland.
Cuisine that is always "exciting and new" from the former executive chef of the Love Boat!
Wonderful Wine Tastings at Fabio's!
Next Wine Tasting - Dec 28 or 29
Call for reservations
Open New Year!
Call for Details
106 Pineola St Newland, NC.
828-733-1314
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The High Cotton Company publishes area visitor and relocation guides for towns, cities and regions of the American South.
Check out our newest project online:
www.welcometolumberton.com
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Hands Together is a nonprofit organization devoted to educating, inspiring and encouraging people to understand the importance of responding to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged. Our Mission, as we strive to build a more compassionate and human world, proceeds from the spiritual belief that we are all members of one, equal, interconnected family under a loving God.
www.handstogether.org
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Guyton and Associates Realty
Sue Guyton Broker
Over 26 years of Real Estate experience working in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, and the surrounding areas.
Retail Sales and Property management.
910-371-0120 Office
910-371-6945 Fax
910-233-2898 Cell
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To find out more, please email: editor@ncvisitorcenter.com
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