Tusquittee, North Carolina facts for kids
Tusquittee (originally spelled Tusquitee) is a small community in Clay County, North Carolina, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but a group of homes and businesses. To its north, you'll find the Fires Creek Bear Reserve, which is part of the huge Nantahala National Forest. The area is also home to the Tusquitee Mountain range, with its highest point, Tusquitee Bald, reaching 5,240 feet high.
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The Story Behind the Name
The name Tusquitee comes from the Cherokee Native American language. It means "Where the water-dogs laughed." A "water-dog" is another name for a type of salamander, sometimes called a mud-puppy.
A Cherokee Legend
There's an old story about how Tusquittee got its name. Long ago, a Cherokee hunter was walking over Tusquitee Bald during a very dry time. He heard voices and quietly moved closer. Peeking over a rock, he saw two water-dogs walking on their back legs! They were talking as they went. Their pond had dried up, and they were heading to the Nantahala River. The hunter listened as one water-dog said, "Where's the water? I'm so thirsty that my apron (gills) hangs down." Then, both water-dogs laughed.
Tusquittee Landing and Its Past
In Tusquittee, there's a neighborhood called Tusquittee Landing. It has a 2,700-foot grass airstrip where small planes can land. Most people think the "Landing" part of the name refers to airplanes.
Logs, Mules, and a Creek
However, the name actually comes from a long time ago. Back then, mules would drag heavy logs down from the forest. They would bring them to a "landing" spot on Goldmine Creek. From there, the logs were moved down Goldmine Creek to Tusquittee Creek. Eventually, they reached a sawmill to be cut into lumber.
Old Roads and Gold Mines
In the late 1870s and early 1880s, a road called the Tusquittee Turnpike was important for travel. This toll road connected Clay County to the Nantahala River in Macon County.
Traveling the Turnpike
To use the turnpike, wagons had to pay 25 cents. People riding horses paid 5 cents. Interestingly, Gospel ministers could travel on the road for free. Around the 1930s, a gold mine was also active in the Tusquittee area.
