Our Books

HISTORY OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NC 1859-1976
This 272-page book, which had been out of print for many years, was re-published by the Society in August 1999. It was originally published in 1976 during the Nation’s Bicentennial. This book is not indexed.

$45.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY HERITAGE
This 555-page book was published by the Society in October 1983 and is broken down into three sections: county, township, and community histories; over 700 family histories; and a 13-page pictorial heritage. This book is completely indexed.

$48.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY CEMETERIES THROUGH 1986
270-page reprint edition of the book originally published by the Alleghany Historical – Genealogical Society in October 1988. Contains burial data from nearly 300 family, church and community burial plots through 1986. The names are in alphabetical order with a code showing the location of the cemetery.

$27.

ALLEGHANY ARCHITECTURE: A PICTORIAL SURVEY
This 101-page book was originally published in 1983 by the Alleghany County Historical Properties Commission. The book was re-published in May 2004 by the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society. Jean Sizemore was the principal investigator and photos were taken by Brant Burgiss and Tammy Blevins. The communities covered are: Cherry Lane, Cranberry, Gap Civil, Glade Creek, Glade Valley, Piney Creek, Prathers Creek, Roaring Gap, Sparta, and Whitehead. Although architecture is the principal focus of the book, it contains much information useful to the family historian. This book is not indexed.

$30.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY COURTHOUSE ORNAMENT
This attractive, gold-colored metal ornament depicts the county courthouse, which was re-built following the fire of 1933. Profits from the sale of this ornament fund various activities of the Society.

$12.

MARY’S MEMORIES
This 74-page book was published by Mary Lyon Harless in 2000 on the occasion of her 100th birthday. The book is a collection of stories and reminiscences about her long life in Alleghany County. It contains many photographs as well as illustrations by Arzetta Mimbs. The first printing quickly sold out and Mrs. Harless permitted the Society to re-publish the book.

$16.

FOOT PRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME
This 75-page book, subtitled “A History of Southwestern Virginia and Northwestern North Carolina,” was first published in Sparta, NC in 1900 by Dr. Aras B. Cox. Dr. Cox was a physician and Methodist preacher who was born in Floyd Co., VA and later lived in Alleghany and Ashe Counties, NC. The book consists of historical and biographical sketches of the following counties: Carroll, Floyd and Grayson, VA; and Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga and Wilkes, NC. One chapter recounts the Battle of King’s Mountain. Our Society reprinted this book in 2002, and it now includes an every-name index.

$15.

1938 VIDEO OF SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA
This 20-minute DVD, mostly in black and white (but some scenes in color), was filmed by Ben Reeves in downtown Sparta, at the Roaring Gap Fish Hatchery, and at the Alleghany Co. Agricultural Fair. Identified persons include Edwin Duncan, Alton Thompson, Glenn Nichols, Coy Richardson, Eltie Richardson, Preachers R. L. Berry and Howard Ford, Troy Irwin, Will Reeves, Virginia Reeves and son Bennie, C. R. Roe, F. H. Jackson, Floyd Crouse, Guy Duncan, Dr. Thompson, Duke Bledsoe, R. L. Doughton, Walter Irwin, Kyle Nichols, Lester Waddell, Jay Hardin, Sam Brown, Porter Collins, Rufus Doughton, and Ross and Earl Richardson. The tape begins with Ben Reeves’ trip to the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York, which makes an interesting contrast with 1938 Sparta. The tape includes a musical background.

$20.