Student-Led Project Unveils Rich History of the Junaluska Community in Watauga County

A sign at the front of Junaluska neighborhood Park. Photo credits: Eli Bishop

Ian Biles, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

Located in the heart of downtown Boone, the Junaluska neighborhood is a historically black community that is not well-known to many people who have lived in Watauga County their entire lives.  Last year, a group of Watauga High School AP U.S. History students conducted a research project to study this community and its role in the history of Boone.  The findings of this project helped to shed light on the contributions of the Junaluska neighborhood and the mistreatment they have faced. 

Jamie Wilson, the AP U.S. History teacher at the high school and the teacher in charge of the project, says the idea was born from her own interest.

“It’s something I've been thinking about for a little while,” said Wilson. “My classes for the last several years have transcribed census records for black people and people of color in Watauga County, starting in 1860. So there’s been an established relationship between my classes and this work with Junaluska. It seemed like a natural extension of that work.”

Wilson said the project's beginnings also stemmed from her involvement with America 250, a teacher fellowship focused on American history, and from her personal desire to establish a connection between her students and this community.  This project, and others like it, are important because they serve as a way for students to unearth history that wasn’t in the class curriculum. Wilson said this project was used to uncover history but also to change people’s thoughts about diversity in the mountains.

“I think the biggest thing is that Junaluska is such a hidden part of our community,” said Wilson. “A lot of people operate under the assumption that there aren’t black people in the mountains, and that just isn't true currently or historically. And so, to me, it’s really important to highlight diversity in whatever capacity I can. I also think that it's important for students to get the real experience of doing historical research.”

The findings of the project are extensive, and the group of students studied a variety of areas related to Junaluska, everything from historical churches and their reverends, to all-black baseball teams founded by members of the community. However, Wilson says the most interesting part has to do with the education of members of this community within Watauga County. 

“Looking at the integration of Watauga County Schools was really interesting,” said Wilson. “It’s something that, when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Watauga High School, that was also the 50th anniversary of integration. That wasn't something that was really mentioned, so having worked there [for the 50th anniversary], I was really curious about that history. I was able to go to the county office with a few students after school one day, and we were able to read the minutes from that meeting and look at how they made plans for integration and how they executed it over the next couple of years.”

Zeke Walker, a senior involved in the project, said that the most interesting part of the project was the book read alongside the research.

“The most exciting part was reading the book 'Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community,”’ Walker said.  “Discovering the anecdotes of community members and seeing the impact within the community was extremely rewarding and fascinating.”

The project involved a lot of hands-on research.  Students visited historical sites, museums, and talked to community members in order to create a clear image of Junaluska and its history. Jamie Wilson was certainly impressed with the quality of her student’s work. 

“I was able to see how much students were capable of doing and creating. It’s some really, honestly, some really high-level work of historical research and writing, and I’m really, really proud of the work that that group of students did,” said Wilson.

Senior Annie Willis, another student involved in the project, more specifically, research surrounding Reverend Ronda Horton, said that preservation of the community was what should be taken away from the project. 

“The Junaluska community has always been an important part of Boone, and its history deserves to be remembered and celebrated,” said Willis.