The legend of Tom Dula (pronounced “Dooley”) has been
called the first highly publicized
crime of passion in the United States.
The story involves the murder of a young
woman and Dooley’s hanging for the
crime. Legend says Dooley confessed to
protect another young woman, his “true
love.”
Wilkes County offers several ways to
learn more about this 1860s love triangle,
ranging from books to music to a
stage depiction. Now, visitors can follow
the story in a new way and experience
the area’s music and natural beauty at the
same time by taking an auto tour using a
new compact disc guide.
After taking CD auto tours at Gettysburg
and Antietam, R.G. Absher, assistant
manager at the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers’ W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir,
thought about Wilkesboro, where
the reservoir is located.
How the other side lived. Asheville's Biltmore Estate opens its observatory and staff quarters to visitors for the first time in five years.
“We have interesting story lines here
to work with,” Absher says. “I knew we
could set up a tour of the places where
the Tom Dooley story unfolds – site of
the murder, homes, gravesites.”
Promoting the historical and cultural
resources of the area served is one of the
duties of the Corps of Engineers, according
to Absher, so the CD became a project.
Absher says he enjoyed doing research
on the Dooley story and weaving all the
historic sites together into a tour. His
band, Extra Measure, plays traditional
Appalachian tunes between stops on the
CD while John Golden, a Corps retiree,
narrates.
>>FOR MORE INFORMATION:
The tour CD includes a map
detailing historic spots along N.C. 268.
The CD is available at the Visitor’s Assistance
Center at W. Kerr Scott Dam and
Reservoir, 336/921-3390,
www.saw.usace.army.mil/wkscott/index.htm.
