Thanks to our partners at Blowing Rock Historical Society, DigitalNC is pleased to announce that new yearbooks and newspapers are now available online! Included in this collection are over a hundred new issues of the Boone-Blowing Rock Journal, spanning from 1959 to 1963, as well as eight new yearbooks from Blowing Rock High School.

The Boone-Blowing Rock Journal was originally published weekly during the summer months, but quickly established itself as a publication that served all of Watauga County year round. Its pages cover both local and national news, as well as columns on local church events and agricultural fairs, and advertisements for local businesses. The local nature of the newspaper leads to some sometimes strange articles and advertisements, such as postings for “Mystery Hill,” “Haunted Houses,” and “Unusual Gifts.”

The Boone-Blowing Rock Journal also maintained an impressive cartoons section in each of its issues, even from its inception. One of the most common panels was a recurring “Did You Know?” strip, which often included some now dubious facts and figures. For instance, did you know that pearls can come from coconuts, or that Ancient Egyptians ‘originated cheese?’

You can now find these strange and wondrous articles, as well as the rest of the Boone-Blowing Rock Journal, online at DigitalNC here. Interested in learning more about Watauga County history? Visit our partners at the Blowing Rock Historical Society online at their website here, or visit their partner page at DigitalNC here.