Thanks to our partners at Southwestern Community College and Macon County Public Library, as well as funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), we are excited to announce that new editions of The Franklin Press and Highlands Maconian are now available on our website!
Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina along the Appalachian Trail, Franklin is a small town known for its gorgeous waterfalls and gem mines. These issues, dating from 1964 to 1974, cover a range of topics, including local elections, FFA competition scores, and local weather.
Taking advantage of the town’s precious stone industry, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce created the Macon County Gemboree as a way to boost tourism. The event first ran from Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24, 1966, complete with a gem and mineral show, guest lecturers, and a “Miss Ruby” contest. The first Gemboree was a roaring success for the “Gem Capital of the World,” with over 2,500 people in attendance. Dealers and visitors traveled from across the country to attend the event, where they indulged in lectures and sparkling exhibitions. According to the July 28, 1966, edition of The Franklin Press and Highlands Maconian, the dealers estimated that the value of all gemstones on display was over four million dollars, or almost forty million dollars in today’s economy.
The event is still held to this day, with the next Macon County Gemboree slated for July 25-27, 2025.
To learn more about Southwestern Community College, visit their website linked here.
For more information about Macon County Public Library, visit their website.
To browse more newspapers from across the state, view our newspaper collection here.
