Huckleberry Mountain
A colony fur arlisfK uliicli was established
Iasi year an<l which already is beginning
to attract nalional attention as a result of
I he fine work it is nc<‘oni|»lisliing.
By i i:o\oi( \ II. WATTS
OX th«*
.«Цю*
of Huckleberry
Mountflin, six miles from Hen¬
dersonville, i* a group of attrac-
tivc rustic building* llini make up the
rapidly growing Hueklelierry Moun-
laiu Artist»* Colony.
There are uumcrou* similar colo-
nies opened each slimmer over the
United States, cool, <|tiiot spots with
qualified instructors to direct those
who wish to do creative work in any
of the arts. Hut most of these arc in
such distant places as Colorado or
New Hampshire, and so not easily ac¬
cessible t" Southerners who want to
spend summer vacations — and not
too much money — working under
established writers ami artists.
Established Last Year
The Huckleberry Colony was es¬
tablished last year l»y Mrs. Belle Ab¬
bott Roxby, owner of the lf»0-aere
plot, and Miss Evelyn Haynes, her
daughter, director, with the purpose
of making it the “Peterboro of the
South.” If the colony continues to
develop in the future at the rate of
its first two seasons, it bids fair to
become as well known ns Peterboro
within a very few years.
Like this famous New England col¬
ony Huckleberry has two divisions: a
workshop, for learners studying under
well-known writers and artists, and a
colony, for tho.se already established
as professionals in the various arts.
The workshop consists of two large
buildings and numerous small cabins
«lotted over the slopes among dogwood
and laurel. A long rustic building with
immense stone chimney, facing an
opening in ilm woods, is the dining¬
room, where both students and in¬
structors have their meals. Farther
hack, in a more shaded spot, is the
large main building containing office,
classrooms, and the big “pow-wow"
room with its atone fireplace for cool
evenings and big porch for warm days.
In this room an* held, several nights
a week, lectures ami discussions by
visiting poets, novelists, and journal¬
ists. These meetings are o|>en to the
public. The small cabins house stu¬
dents ami instructor*.
A regular schedule of classes is fol¬
lowed for mornings. In these periods
individual instruction ami personal
criticism are given students. After¬
noons allow time for relaxation or
recreation, and opportunity for crea¬
tive work in the student’s chosen field.
Courses are offered this season in
poetry, fiction, journalistic and dra¬
matic writing; in radio script writ¬
ing; in musical composition, and in
handicrafts ami nature study. Thirty-
seven students from I I states have
taken advantage of this instruction in
the various fields during this term,
July 1 to August SO.
Summer Theatre
Students in dramatic.* have the ad¬
vantage of actual contact with pro¬
fessional actors at a summer theatre,
the Old Mill Playhouse, at Flat Rock,
with which the colony is affiliated.
Radio script writers may assist in
the weekly half-hour broadcasts given
by the colony over station WW.W
in Asheville, under the direction of
their instructor, Alice Keith, Direc¬
tor of the National Academy of
Broadcasting, and Miss Haynes, di¬
rector of the colony. Miss Keith, inci¬
dentally. was the first dim-tor of the
well-known CBS feature, American
School of the Air.
In addition to Miss Keith other
outstanding instructors of Hurkle-
beriy Colony for this season are: Dr.
Samuel Harper, naturalist ami au¬
thor from tin- I’niversity of Michi¬
gan; Dr. Harold I •Indgett of Cornell,
instructor in short story writing; An¬
nabel Morris Bueliiinan, musical com¬
poser; Don Packard of New York,
journalist; Vivian Yeiser Lara more,
poet; Margot llnym-s, artist; Iris
(iraiinis, book consultant; ('liarmim-
Lautoff < 'amine. dramatist.
That part of Hm-kb-berry given
over to professional writers and art¬
ists is separate from tin* workshop
group of building*, although on the
same mountain slope. Here a writer
or artist may purchase a lot and em*t
a home or studio — and at almost un¬
believably low ont. The purpose, of
course, is to give op|Mirtunity for cre¬
ative work in <|iiict. ineX|H*iisive sur¬
roundings. Some of th . artists, al¬
though living and working in the de-
sired seclusion, give part of thor time
to instruction in the workshop.
Ideal Location
Vivian Yeiser Lara more, poet lau¬
reate of Florida and contributor to
many magazines, i* typical of tbc
artist-builder. Last summer she was
invited to Hueklelierry as instructor
and critic in poetry.
“My writer friends in Miami.” she
said, "told me when I left to let them
know if the place looked interesting-
ami I did, very shortly. This is just
the place I've Ix-cn looking for to
build a studio, a brautifiil, quiet spot
where I ran truly enjoy working.”
Mrs. La rain ore's studio was com¬
pleted this summer and she is occu¬
pying it. a beautiful little log cabin
in the woods.
The Huckleberry Colony Inis given
special attention to the encouragement
of North Carolina writers by discuss¬
ing their works in the weekly broad¬
casts, and bv their unique Autograph
party. This affair was In-Id duly 26
and was open to tin* public by tickets
secured upon request from Henderson¬
ville ami Asheville chamber* of com¬
merce. State author* wen- entertained
and a book mart was held at which
one could
ригеЬам*
autographed cop¬
ies of the guests' book*. Tin- party was
highly successful, with 100 visitors.
A similar party i- to I- held for
Southern author* Align.: :to.
To close tin- -en-oit no Animated
Magazine \'ill he *• i \ «-n at tin- Ashe¬
ville Woman’- «’lid». Align*’ III, under
the direction ol tin- colon, V and spon¬
sored by the Asheville branch of the
League of \merienii I’en Women. Dr.
Edwin (i rover. »f Rollins College,
who has had charge of similar pro¬
gram- elsewhere, will pre-ent a num¬
ber of natioiiallv known writers who
will conn- to Asheville for the occa¬
sion.
