Time Travel with Doug Mitchell

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with historian Doug Mitchell of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. Originally born in Ohio, Doug now lives in North Road, North Carolina with his wife of 40 years, three daughters, and seven grandkids. Doug recalls the moment that began his love of history and culture at age 16 when he was asked to help auction off his late grandfather’s belongings. It was there where he came across a Civil War-era letter written by his great-great-great grandfather. Reading that letter sparked an endless curiosity: Young Doug had caught the history bug. He believes that “each town has its own unique flavor. To cover that up is a loss for everybody.” History, Doug continues, isn’t only limited to that of the individual—there is also community history, county history, state history, country history, all the way to world history. To him, history offers a multilayered appreciation for our culture and brings us all together in a way that simply cannot be captured if we remain in the dark about our past. Doug shows Carl an amazing artifact that he and his grandson recently discovered while looking around Big Elkin Creek: a 250-year-old remnant of iron ore beside David Allen’s forge—one of about 2000 pieces found in the area. Doug also is passionate about living history, which led him to meet Mary Bohlen of the North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail. “Meeting Mary,” he says, “set me on this whole new path where I’m not only reading about history, but am a participant in it.” He loves seeing children’s eyes light up as he tells stories about the past, clad in historical attire. For Doug, this journey started with a box of letters. Firmly believing that the study of history is for everybody, he encourages us all to “get past our grandparents” and remember that we all came from someplace. “Take time,” says Doug. “Get out and explore.”

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the Life in the Carolinas Podcast. Our show features a blending of stories that are primarily based on the syndicated TV show, Carl White's Life in the Carolinas and newspaper columns written by Carl White. Like Carl often says, "It's never a bad time for a good story!" The podcast is hosted by Carl and features specials guests as they share the stories behind the stories. All too often we simply do not have enough time to share everything we would like during broadcast. This podcast will allow us the opportunity to share more information and allow our viewers and readers a chance to get to know our guests more intimately. The Carolinas offer some of the finest people, landscapes, and opportunities to explore. We have traveled to the high elevations for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games which are considered to be among the best in the nation. We discovered the beauty of the brackish Waccamaw River and learned about the massive live oaks that predate the founding of America. In Gold Hill, NC we made a connection with the past and learned about the early days of gold mining in America. We were more than intrigued with a visit to the historic Wilcox Hotel in Aiken, SC and the stories of the Roosevelt Suite. Are the stories true? It's fun to think about the possibilities. Did you know Edgefield, SC was the home of ten South Carolina Governors and that the world-renowned Jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie was from Cheraw, SC? What about those mysterious Brown Mountain Lights in the North Carolina Mountains? They have kept people guessing for hundreds of years. Do you know what they are? The stories are abundant and only limited by how many tomorrows we have for their telling. Join us as we share our stories, traditions, charm, and southern hospitality.