Potluck, Message Delivered: "The Great Smoky Mountains are Saved!"

Potluck, Message Delivered: "The Great Smoky Mountains are Saved!"
51 Pages
ISBN 978-1-935130-85-7

In 1929, newspapermen from North Carolina and Tennessee hiked from opposite sides of Clingmans Dome, the highest mountain in the Great Smokies, for an important celebration. Although the country was entering the Great Depression, citizens from both states raised enough money to help create a new national park. J.R. Horne loaned his homing pigeon, Potluck, for the expedition. After the journalists shook hands across the stateline on Clingmans Dome, they released Potluck to carry their goodwill message home. Both states came together in a spirit of friendship to protect their precious forests. Inspired by true events, Marci Spencer records Potluck's historic flight in this richly illustrated children's book.

Marcia Spencer

About Marcia Spencer (Asheville, North Carolina Author)

Marcia Spencer

A master's of science degree from East Tennessee State University prepared Marci for a career as a nurse practitioner in the fields of cardiology, emergency services, family medicine, and overseas medical missionary work. Weekends found her piloting a private aircraft or climbing a mountain somewhere. Now retired, Marci has volunteered in public resources at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stationed at Clingmans Dome, and a volunteer educator for Appalachian Bear Rescue. She has authored three regional histories: Clingmans Dome, Highest Mountain in the Great Smokies, (2013) Pisgah National Forest: a History, (2014), and Nantahala National Forest: a History, (2017), all published by History Press. Grateful Steps Publishing Co. of Asheville published her children's book, based on true events, Potluck, Message Delivered: The Great Smoky Mountains are Saved! in 2015. The Yosemite Conservancy included Marci's essay, "Pine Siskins Make History" in its book, The Wonder of it All: 100 Stories from the National Park Service, published to celebrate the centennial of the national park service.

Marci earned naturalist certifications from the NC Arboretum, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, and the NC Environmentalists Education Program. She offers presentations of the history of Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests and Clingmans Dome in the Smokies. She has taught classes on the Spruce-Fir Forest Ecosystem at the Arboretum and on the history of Pisgah at the Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville. Children are invited to her hands-on programs, entitled "Become a Jr. Bear Biologist" and "Become a Jr. Ornithologist" in classrooms, libraries, summer camps, and community events. Raising ceremonial white doves for release at weddings, funerals and other special events is a favorite hobby.