A collaborative partnership between Appalachian State University and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park has existed for more than a century and is one example of the interconnectedness of the High Country community with the Appalachian Experience. Illustrated is Flat Top Manor, part of the park’s 3,500-acre estate located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock. Illustration by Jim Fleri
The manor and the Mountaineers
App State and Cone Estate connection spans 100-plus years, yields academic and engagement opportunities
By Elisabeth Wall
Posted Aug. 6, 2021 at 9:36 a.m.
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina opens avenues of academic and civic engagement particular to the area.
The collaborative partnership between App State and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park — a historic centerpiece in the High Country — is one example of the interconnectedness of the High Country community with the Appalachian Experience.
The park’s Flat Top Manor and 3,500-acre estate, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in nearby Blowing Rock, have presented App State students, faculty, staff and alumni with opportunities for a variety of research, engagement and employment.
The connection between the estate and the university can be traced back more than a century to a check written in 1903 to Watauga Academy — which later became App State — by Moses Cone, the textile entrepreneur who built Flat Top Manor in 1901.
This is a story of how the manor and the Mountaineers have benefited from the relationship over the decades.
The Specht connection for collaboration
Dr. Neva J. Specht, dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, has fostered many partnerships between the university and Flat Top Manor. Photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette
The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park can be accessed at mile marker 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock. Illustration by Jim Fleri
Dr. Neva J. Specht, dean of App State’s College of Arts and Sciences and an Honors College faculty member, has served as the nexus for multiple partnerships and serendipitous connections that, in the words of App State documentarist Dr. Beth Davison, have intersected to create “a rich and mutually beneficial relationship” between Flat Top Manor and App State’s Mountaineers.
In 2006, Specht, then a professor of history at App State, and her Material Studies graduate class conducted archival research, collected oral histories and compiled a report on the Cone Estate for the National Park Service (NPS). The success of that experience led Specht to organize a meeting between key stakeholders at App State and NPS to explore additional opportunities for collaboration. This led to the creation of the Blue Ridge Parkway liaison position, which Specht held until 2013.
Through the liaison position, NPS partners Appalachian Community members with hundreds of park units across the United States, providing a plethora of internships, jobs and research opportunities — many on or near the Cone Estate.
The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park can be accessed at mile marker 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock. Illustration by Jim Fleri
History and art
At left: Pictured, from left to right, are Lee Carol Giduz, executive director of the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM); Dr. Neva Specht, dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences; App State alumnae Carrie Streeter ’12 and Dianna Cameron ’13; and Jordan Calaway, chief development officer at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. They are pictured at a luncheon held on App State’s campus in 2019 for members belonging to the families of Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha Lindau Cone. At right: Cameron and Streeter are shown with a photo that depicts the Cone sisters in Gibraltar in May 1903. The photo is part of a BRAHM exhibition of art collected by the sisters, which the alumnae collaborated on. Left photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette. Right photo by Troy Tuttle
At top: Pictured, from left to right, are Lee Carol Giduz, executive director of the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM); Dr. Neva Specht, dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences; App State alumnae Carrie Streeter ’12 and Dianna Cameron ’13; and Jordan Calaway, chief development officer at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. They are pictured at a luncheon held on App State’s campus in 2019 for members belonging to the families of Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha Lindau Cone. At bottom: Cameron and Streeter are shown with a photo that depicts the Cone sisters in Gibraltar in May 1903. The photo is part of a BRAHM exhibition of art collected by the sisters, which the alumnae collaborated on. Left photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette. Right photo by Troy Tuttle
In 2018, Specht connected alumna Carrie Streeter ’12 with the executive director at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM), who was beginning the process of developing a team to curate an exhibition of the art collected by Dr. Claribel Cone and Etta Cone, two of the Cone sisters.
Streeter, who earned her master’s degree in public history from App State, was one of the researchers who helped Specht with her earliest Cone Estate research. According to the museum’s director, Streeter’s knowledge was critical to curating the exhibit in the time frame required.
In October 2019, Streeter and Specht collaborated again to present “A Mansion on the Parkway: Mrs. Moses H. Cone and the Politics of Public History” at the 44th annual conference of the Southern Jewish Historical Society. Also that year, Specht facilitated an on-campus luncheon for 70 members belonging to the families of Moses Cone and his wife, Bertha Lindau Cone.
Appalachian State University researchers from the Department of Biology have conducted toxicology assessments of the Cone Estate’s orchards and lakes. Photo courtesy of Dr. Shea Tuberty
Illustration by Jim Fleri
Over the years, research opportunities — ranging from toxicology assessments of the estate’s orchards and lakes through App State’s Department of Biology, to recording the public history of the state’s textile industry — have engaged App State students and faculty.
App State students have also been involved in faculty research on the estate through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network. CESU programs promote and provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, as well as environmental and research agencies in the southern Appalachian Mountains region.
Illustration by Jim Fleri
Archival preservation
A close-up of the lid from the H. Cone and Sons cigar box housed in Belk Library’s Special Collections Research Center at Appalachian State University. Photo by Ellen Gwin Burnette
App State’s Special Collections Research Center, located in Belk Library and Information Commons, houses the Cone Family Collection, the Moses Cone Estate Collection and the H. Cone and Sons Collection. These collections contain such items as Cone family letters and letters of Cone Estate workers, as well as a cigar box from the H. Cone and Sons business formed by Herman Cone and his three sons, Moses, Ceaser and Monroe.
Documentaries, dance and music
Appalachian State University students and alumni were involved in the making of Dr. Beth Davison’s “A History of Moses H. Cone Estate Memorial Park: From Private Retreat to Public Pleasure Ground” documentary, serving as actors and production assistants, among other roles. App State alumnus Ryan Dozer ’21, a music industry studies major, pictured at top right, scored the music for the documentary; students from the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance were cast in reenactment roles; and App State alumnus Maleek Loyd ’18, pictured at bottom, was the director of photography for the film. Photos submitted
Appalachian State University students and alumni were involved in the making of Dr. Beth Davison’s “A History of Moses H. Cone Estate Memorial Park: From Private Retreat to Public Pleasure Ground” documentary, serving as actors and production assistants, among other roles. App State alumnus Ryan Dozer ’21, a music industry studies major, pictured second from top, scored the music for the documentary; students from the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance were cast in reenactment roles; and App State alumnus Maleek Loyd ’18, pictured at bottom, was the director of photography for the film. Photos submitted
Graduate and undergraduate students in Dr. Andrea Burns’ public history course at App State researched and produced short documentary clips on the Cones, traveling across the state and learning the basics of documentary filmmaking. At least some of that research made its way into Davison’s work.
Theatre arts
At left: In/Visible Theatre of Boone performs a reading of the play “Etta & Claribel” at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum in October 2019. At right: Benches built by Appalachian State University students for the Cone Estate minitheater. Left photo by Willard Watson III. Right photo courtesy of Dr. Beth Davison
At top: In/Visible Theatre of Boone performs a reading of the play “Etta & Claribel” at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum in October 2019. At bottom: Benches built by Appalachian State University students for the Cone Estate minitheater. Left photo by Willard Watson III. Right photo courtesy of Dr. Beth Davison
App State’s Dr. Paulette Marty, professor of theatre arts, has developed and is revising a play titled “Etta & Claribel” about the Cone sisters. In/Visible Theatre of Boone performed a staged reading of the play in October 2019 at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum.
App State’s College of Arts and Sciences has created a YouTube playlist that highlights connections between the university, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
“A Mansion in the Mountains,” written by Philip Noblitt. Photo by Chase Reynolds
A graduate thesis
App State alumnus Philip Noblitt ’95, a National Park Service retiree, turned his master’s thesis at App State into a book titled “A Mansion in the Mountains,” which is about the Cone family and Flat Top Manor. He was the sole recipient of the 1995 Outstanding Thesis Award presented by App State’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies.
Appalachian partnered with the National Park Service to produce a new documentary about the history of Flat Top Manor at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The film is now showing in the manor’s minitheater.
Students in Cameron Van Dyke’s spring 2018 Preliminary Design Studio course designed and built the furniture from scratch. The minitheater, which seats 15 and is handicapped-accessible, will screen Appalachian video productions.
Professional experiences from Boone to New York City — including working in Appalachian’s Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio and interning at audio postproduction studio Big Yellow Duck — prepare junior Ryan Dozer for success in the music industry.
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
App State’s College of Arts and Sciences has created a YouTube playlist that highlights connections between the university, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
“A Mansion in the Mountains,” written by Philip Noblitt. Photo by Chase Reynolds
A graduate thesis
App State alumnus Philip Noblitt ’95, a National Park Service retiree, turned his master’s thesis at App State into a book titled “A Mansion in the Mountains,” which is about the Cone family and Flat Top Manor. He was the sole recipient of the 1995 Outstanding Thesis Award presented by App State’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies.
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
