Through the Mountains: The French Broad River and Time

by John E. Ross

Two generations have passed since the publication of Wilma Dykeman’s landmark environmental history, The French Broad . In Through the The French Broad River and Time , John Ross updates that seminal book with groundbreaking new research. More than the story of a single river, Through the Mountains covers the entire watershed from its headwaters in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains to its mouth in Knoxville, Tennessee. The French Broad watershed has faced new perils and seen new discoveries since 1955, when The French Broad was published. Geologists have learned that the Great Smoky Mountains are not among the world’s oldest as previously thought; climatologists and archaeologists have traced the dramatic effects of global warming and cooling on the flora, fauna, and human habitation in the watershed; and historians have deepened our understanding of enslaved peoples once thought not to be a part of the watershed’s history. Even further, this book documents how the French Broad and its tributaries were abused by industrialists, and how citizens fought to mitigate the pollution. Through the Mountains also takes readers to notable historic the hidden mound just inside the gate of Biltmore where Native Americans celebrated the solstices; the once-secret radio telescope site above Rosman where NASA eavesdropped on Russian satellites; and the tiny hamlet of Gatlinburg where Phi Beta Phi opened its school for mountain women in 1912. Wilma Dykeman once asked what the river had meant to the people who lived along it. In the close of Through the Mountains , Ross reframes that For 14,000 years the French Broad and its tributaries have nurtured human habitation. What must we start doing now to ensure it will continue to nourish future generations? Answering this question requires a knowledge of the French Broad’s history, an understanding of its contemporary importance, and a concern for the watershed’s sustainable future. Through the Mountains fulfills these three criteria, and, in many ways, presents the larger story of America’s freshwater habitats through the incredible history of the French Broad.

Genres: History

283 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See:

John E. Ross (b. 1818)

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Not terrific writing. I was a very motivated reader on this topic, and I am familiar with a lot of the area. And *still* I had to concentrate to follow the spatial concepts. I had hoped to add this work to my collection of resources for knowing and loving this place, to dip into now and again - but I took the book out of the library, and I'm glad that I did; I do not need to own it, sadly.

It seems that the author was not given a lot of support from the publisher. Although I was not reading for proofing, errors kept jumping out at me, e.g., "passed" for "past" And "Rosenthan" for "Rosenthal." From time to time there were sentences I had to re-read to get the meaning - an unusual experience for me - and discovered that the sentences as printed actually didn't make sense (I did not make note of any of these, sorry).

[George Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a journey through time, Ross explores the people, history and geology of the French Broad River watershed.

Each chapter is themed on an element or time period, with interesting brief forays into related topics.

From the paleo culture of Native Americans to the Cherokee, through the explorations of DeSoto and the immigrations of Scots-Irish and Germans, Ross leads us through the development of the economy and culture of this part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. You will witness hunting, farming, logging, mining and moonshine.

Eminently readable and enlightening, "Through the Mountains" is a treat for those with an interest in the development of American culture and how a river creates relationships and challenges to the people living by its springs, near its creeks, and on its floodplain. Dip your toe in the water, or take a refreshing plunge into the French Broad as it flows through the mountains.