05/15/2025
Every story needs its storytellers. And ours is no exception. So it's time to give credit where credit is due.
Our Emmy-nominated visitors' introductory video, "When Copper Turned to Gold," was the brainchild of writer Harriet Frye and director-editor Steve Procko, who combined a shared love of local history with long professional track records in their separate creative careers. That turned out to be a winning combination. Or, at least, the Emmy judges thought so.
Apart from the narration, and a few short bits of stock film and music, the entire production was a local labor of love. When the team needed original music, they recruited famed local fiddler Greg Brooks, who brought along the equally famed Barker Brothers. Audio engineers David Mathis and Phillip Morris of the First Baptist Church of McCaysville & Copperhill volunteered to record the session. The voice of TCC miner Ernest German (1912-2011), who speaks the first words heard in the video, was captured on tape about 25 years ago by Kathy Thompson and Rene Aparicio. The historic images were from the museum's own collection. And a grant from Glenn Springs Holdings, a longtime friend of the museum, funded the non-volunteer production costs.
Lastly, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention then-museum board president Marilyn MacNeill, who had been dreaming of a new professional video for years and who helped to shepherd the Glenn Springs grant through the necessary approval process.
The Emmy results will be announced on June 14. But you're welcome to stop by the museum and see the film any time during regular opening hours.
