Nantahala Hiking Club History
1818 – Ancestors of the Rev. A Rufus Morgan, our club’s founder, settle in the current-day Franklin, NC area. Grandparents Albert and Johanna Siler give land for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cartoogehaye (located near Franklin).
1838 – The Silers give land to local Cherokee Chief Chuttahsotee to give him amnesty from the Cherokee removal, known as the “Trail of Tears.”
1879 – Chief Chuttahsotee and wife Cunstagih die. They are buried at St. John’s Episcopal Church cemetery.
1881 – Rufus’s parents, Alfred and Fanny (Siler) Morgan, married at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
1885 – Rufus is born on Oct. 15. First boy of 9 children. Baptized at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
1891 – The Morgan family moves to Murphy, NC. Alfred is an editor and lay preacher. Fanny (Siler) Morgan begins religious services for African Americans. They begin an Episcopal Church in Murphy. Rufus leaves for schooling in Waynesville, Chapel Hill, and New York City.
1914 – Rufus marries Madeline Prentiss (his German tutor at Columbia University). The family moves to Penland, NC. Francis and Rufus Jr. born in Penland.
1917 – With sister Lucy, Rufus begins Appalachian Industrial School. Lucy starts Penland Craft School at Spruce Pine NC.
1923 – Rufus moves to South Carolina to serve as a circuit preacher, Superintendent of Schools, Boy Scout Leader, Chairman of Red Cross, and Business Manager at Kanuga Conference Center, and runs summer camps and conferences.
1925 – St. John’s Episcopal Church torn down and the cemetery is abandoned.
1928 – Rufus makes his first trip to Mt. LeConte in what is today Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
1940 – Rufus returns to Cartoogechaye Township (today a “suburb” of Franklin, NC.) to take over AT maintenance with friends. Begins Girl and Boy Scout Troops; Scouts help on the trails in the local area.
1940s – Rufus serves local churches as a circuit preacher in Franklin (St. Cyprians and St. Agnes), Highlands (Church of Transformation), Murphy (Church of the Messiah), Sylva (St. John’s), Cullowhee (St. David’s), Cherokee (St Francis), and Hayesville.
1945 – Reconstruction of St John’s Episcopal Church begins in Cartoogechaye Township.
1946 – Rufus helps form the Macon Historical Society to save the Indian Mound in Franklin.
1950 – Rufus builds the Community Center as a Health Center, but no doctor is found to serve it. He erects old cabin for weaving classes. Francis Cargill and Sally Kesler teach the classes. Rufus develops a craft program for local school children.
1951 – Rufus moves back to the family home at Nonah; begins farming, beekeeping, and tends his pigs, chickens, cattle and sheep.
1951-1967 – The informal trail maintenance/hiking club (the predecessor to the NHC) is jokingly called the “one-man hiking club” because Rufus and occasionally a few friends comprise the entire “club.” Rufus serves as the trail crew leader from 1940-1978.
1953 – Rufus wins “Honor Farm” award for conservation practices.
1968 – Friends and workers convince Rufus to formalize the trail maintenance/hiking club, today known as Nantahala Hiking Club. William Hazelden is elected president, with 14 charter members.
1972 – Madeline (Prentiss) Morgan dies.
1975 – Nonah burns down. Rufus reconstructs the old cabin into new home, Talohi.
1978 – Rufus takes the last trip to Mt LeConte at age 93; it was his 172nd trip.
1981 – Rufus receives “Recognition Award” for serving on the Appalachian Trail Conference’s (today known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Board of Managers for 20 years.
1983 – Rufus passes away at Deerfield Retirement Home in Asheville on Feb 14 at age 98. The A. Rufus Morgan Trail is dedicated in his honor, and he is admitted to the ATC Museum Hall of Fame.
Some local landmarks associated with Rev. Morgan and his family:
- Siler Bald in Macon County is named for Rufus’ Great Grandfather William Siler.
- Silers Bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is named for Jessie Siler, William Siler’s brother.
- Albert Mountain is named for Rufus’ Grandfather, Albert Siler
- Rufus Morgan Trail and Morgan Shelter are named for Rufus
Historical notes about club, its significant maintenance/construction activities, and the Appalachian Trail:
1921 – Benton MacKaye conceives of a 2000-mile trail from the highest point in the north to the highest point in the south.- Mt. Washington to Mt. Mitchell.
1923 – Early trails are constructed by hiking clubs in New England.
1925 – Appalachian Trail Conference holds its first meeting March 2-3.
1930 – George Tabor of Almond, NC, begins Nantahala Appalachian Trail Club and blazes a trail in Nantahala National Forest.
1936 – George dies and Nantahala Appalachian Trail Club disbands.
1937 – The last section of AT is finished at Hanover, NH.
1939 – The first issue of Appalachian Trail News is published.
1958 – AT terminus is moved from Mt. Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain, GA.
1963 – Standing Indian Campground in Nantahala National Forest is built.
1966 – Appalachian Trail Conference recorded that 234 persons walked the entire AT.
1968 – Congress passes the National Trails Act to preserve the AT. Friends and workers convince Rufus Morgan to formalize a hiking/trail maintenance club, today is known as Nantahala Hiking Club.
1977 – Winding Stair section of the AT is relocated due to US Hwy 64 construction.
1980 – Wesser Creek Trail (near the current Nantahala Outdoor Center) is abandoned as part of the AT, but kept as side trail.
1981 – A. Rufus Morgan Shelter is completed.
1983 – A. Rufus Morgan Trail is dedicated.
1985 – NHC is incorporated and formally recognizes volunteers with Forest Service awards.
1990 – NHC begins “Easter on the Trail” with goodies for thru-hikers and starts regular Wednesday work days. Participants are fondly call “Trail Maintainer.”
1991 – A new platform is built on the Wesser Tower.
1994 – Club members design what becomes to be known as the “Nantahala-style” shelter and build 6 shelters from 1994 to 2007. Three other shelters are modified to comply with the Nantahala-style” shelter design.
1995 – Club members build a bridge over Moore Creek near Winding Stair Gap.
1996 – NHC launches a website.
1997 – A trail relocation is accomplished at Wesser at Nantahala Outdoor Center due to the widening of the highway.
2001 – The first privy is built in the Nantahala section of the AT at Siler Shelter.
2004 – Licklog Gap landslide occurs and the AT is relocated.
2005 – Appalachian Trail Conference renamed the Appalachian Trail Conservancy with broader stewardship mission.
2006 – NHC launches “Trail to Every Classroom” program in cooperation with Macon County School District.
2007 – Wayah Shelter is constructed, privy upgrade project initiated, Cold Spring Shelter rehabilitated.
2008 – New steps are installed on the north side of Winding Stair Gap.
2010 – Franklin, NC, is designated the first “AT Community,” assisted by NHC efforts to promote that designation.
2012 – Long Branch Shelter is constructed.
2016 – NHC launches “Trail Ambassador Program.”
2018 – Betty’s Creek campsite is augmented with several designated tent campsites.
2021 – Club purchases membership software to integrate with the website.
2022 – Clubhouse at 173 Carl Slagle Road in Franklin is renovated with a combined 700+ volunteer hours; Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council receives its nonprofit status; club membership dues is increased from $20 to $30 annually.
March 2022 – Club volunteers rebuild Rock Gap Shelter.
2023 – Club volunteers rebuild Wesser Bald privy.
2024 – Bear box is placed at Betty’s Creek.