When the Transylvania Times office moved from its long-term location on North Broad Street to their current location on East Main Street., they donated many of their old photographs and research documents to the North Carolina Room in the Transylvania County Library. One box of those items was a set of ZIP disks—high-capacity floppy disks utilized for data storage during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Ancient” technology from decades past becomes obsolete sooner than one might think, and so this new set of photos related to Transylvania Times articles from 1998-2003 was unable to be accessed without a ZIP disk reader and a compatible computer. Neither one was available in the Local History department, and so a puzzle appeared that needed to be solved—how to access the photos and preserve them in a newer format.

Through the Trees, a local non-profit that helps rural residents with technology and connectivity, were to the rescue. Once hearing about the issue, the non-profit’s director, Yvette Brooks, offered to be on the lookout for the necessary ZIP disk drive through their recycled technology program. Once an appropriate piece of hardware was located, she reached out to Brevard Nerd Services and Terry Maros for assistance with the technical aspects of converting the outdated files to a newer, compatible format.

This conversion allowed the files to be saved to a version accessible today, revealing photos of an era that had been on the verge of being lost to defunct technology. It’s hard to believe that 1998 was over 25 years ago, but just as time marches on, all of our “recent” memories eventually become a part of the past. A handful of the treasures found in this collection and their stories, all from 1998, are included in this article.

Morgan Mill collapsed in late February 1998 under heavy snow. Until that time, it was the longest running mill in Transylvania County. It was first constructed in 1853 by “Big Jim” Morgan and ground meal for the community well into the 1980s. It survived the 1916 floods that destroyed many other water wheels and found a new life when the wheel was replaced by a metal version that was originally from the Breese Mill. After its collapse, it was dismantled.

Sharyn Fogel, a local watercolor artist and muralist, created a large scenic mural for the Chamber of Commerce during a remodel of the space on West Main street, currently the Lucy Clark Gallery. It was part of the plans of a new president, Libby Freeman, who took over in January 1998 for the long-time director, the late Esther Wesley. Fogel remembers that people would stop in and make suggestions about attractions to add to the mural, such as Silvermont, Sliding Rock, and of course, numerous white squirrels.

The Davidson River has long been a destination for people in the mountains, and a June 1998 photo shows a group learning the ways of fly-fishing. Even these small moments that may seem unremarkable next to bigger events or milestones help to capture a way of life that may one day be remembered fondly. The staff in the Local History Room are working on organizing these files to make them accessible to the general public who may wish to explore this time in our county’s past.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse Sources available upon request. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820. For more information on Through the Trees, go to throughthetrees.us.