Above is a replica of the small Elk Park, North Carolina depot. Elk Park, along with Roan Mountain, Cranberry and other points along the Tweetsie route retain their vintage unspoiled looks today and offer a "time-warp" view that fascinate modelers and historians.
Brinkley's Hardware Store, the 1910 building adorned with the American flag in the small Elk Park photo on the right, was demolished in November 2006. Here is a close-up view of the building in its final state prior to being dismantled. Julia Williams Kodak recalls a humorous story from the Brinkley family:
"Did you know that these Brinkley's were nephews of Samuel Brinkley who is in the
Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest beard? He was from over
toward Bakersville, NC. Anyway one time he came for a visit and Brooks Brinkley was
a boy and had to sleep with him. His mother kept boarders and they were full
that night. Uncle Sam had rolled the beard up when going to bed but sometime
during the night Brooks woke up scared out of his gourd! The beard had come
unwrapped and he was now caught up in it. Can you imagine? Uncle Sam was even
with the circus for a while and met the Queen of England, among other things." |
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