Scene from Faith Rock, at Franklinvillc. showing the new concrete bridge
across Deep River, and far back in the picture, the old covered bridge.
CIE someone who has strayed far
away from home, lonesome for
the towering peaks of the western
counties. tln> I'wharrie Mountains rise
with startling !*nutv out of the thriftv
farming valleys of Randolph County.
A part of the old volcanic slate l «‘It that
cuts aoro.> that part of the state, these
hills of Randolph, the outstanding
mountain range east of Hickory, are
«nmri«in<r to innnv ruvinle
‘l *'***& “'“'v
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All around A>heboro. the attractive
caj-ital of Randolph, are interesting
places to lie visited: Faith Rock with
its historic interest and I entity, at
Frankliuville five miles ca-t of Ashoboro
on state highway Xn. 90; Rnndleman
and the “'die of the tragedv
о
f Xaomi
Wi*, ..f
ЫЫ
Cam*; beautiful views
along the highways and river*, all af-
fording attraction for an enjoyable
day’s outing for the family vacationing
One of the Last Covered Bridges
On Xo. 90 just before reaching Pitts-
bum was one of the last of the old cov¬
ered bridge», that has recently given
way ro the new hard surface road and
bridge aero*» Haw River; and ou the
«и ГЛ...1
... is
ml :• Siler Citv. which has
I*
Г» л
lift I
«■%«
t ntl
x along the steep sides of
•i of romance and legend
and history are mixed up with the
! • autv "f Deep River a» it outs its way
nero»s the state through Guilford. Ran¬
dolph and Moore countie?. Recalling
the word* of the ballad. "In Old Deep
River the villain threw her." one ln gin*
f««d the spell of the tragedy and ro¬
mance of poor Xaomi Wise, who over
a century ago found a watery grave
close to where Deep River skirts the
edge of Randlcman.
Faith Rock, of Revolutionary fame,
may 1-- seen from the highway bridge
that spans Deep River on the edge of
Franklinvillo a feu miles east of Ashe-
horo. The story of how Andrew Hunter
in 174. escaping from the Tory. David
Fanning, rode Fanning's horse. Hay
Doe. down the rock into the creek to
safety, is too well known to need further
recounting here.
Up on Faith Rock
It was one Sunday morning that a
party of us stopped to see the rock some
years ago. Some children returning
from Sunday School, proudly offered to
show us the path up the steep bank and
through the thick woods to the rocky
heights, pointing out there on the wenth-
cred atone, the print of the horse’s hoof.
What difference if the supposed bone’s
hoof was pointing in the wrong direc¬
tion ! One did not have the heart to
spoil the story. Fanning and Hunter
and Hay Doe are very real characters
to the children of Randolph, ns thev
might become to other children if thcV
were taken to sec the rock.
From the rock one looks up the river
beyond the now bridge to the falls
whence comes the sound of roaring
water and where the remnants of an old
covered bridge, now fallen to piece,
marks the old road before the new high¬
way was built. The river banks with
their rocky cliffs are hung with great
clusters of laurel in springtime. From
Among the
of
AX enjoyable» one-day lour,
of lioanly as well as of
tains, l aitli
Коек,
the \aoini
«!/
the depths of the woods come the fresh
smell of mo"e« and form* ami wild
flower.*, a delightful place for a picnic
lunch or supper on the day’s excursion.
Some Fine Scenery
From Asheltoro to Graham hv way of
Central Falls, and Liberty, over state
highway Xo. 62. one
сотов
on us lovely
a stretch of road a* i* to lie found in
that section of the state. Xear Central
Falls the road winds steeply up the hills
with many sharp carves, offering a love¬
ly view of peaceful valleys framed by
the blue ranges of the I'wharrie Moun¬
tains. It is a scene of unexpected moun¬
tain beauty so far down in the state.
From Atiheboro one may go six miles
north over the route of the old plank
road that once connected the Moravian
settlement at Salem with the river port
at Fayetteville, the road running ns
straight ns an arrow to Randlcman. and
there visit at Xew Salem the -pring and
river scene* of the Xaomi Wise tragedy
The old spring, where Naomi met
where on this page, keeps