The High Point Museum will host a program and book signing on Saturday, February 18 from 1 pm to 3 pm. The authors, Barbara Mulder and Frank Stephenson, of “North Carolina Moonshine: An Illicit History,” will lead a discussion of the book (which is available in the Museum Store) and then sign copies.
The book focuses on the history of moonshine in North Carolina. It includes information on how NASCAR emerged from the illegal moonshine trade. The book features some of the colorful characters of the state's bootlegging arena such as Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, known as the Paul Bunyan of moonshine and Alvin Sawyer, considered the moonshine king of the Great Dismal Swamp.
Mulder and Stephenson are longtime employees of Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Both grew up in rural Hertford County, North Carolina, when moonshine was big business and moonshine stills could be found anywhere. While growing up, they heard numerous moonshine stories and knew people who were involved in moonshine one way or another. Their personal experience of and deep appreciation for the rural southern life experience was the catalyst for their writing this book. They have collaborated on numerous other books on rural life in North Carolina, including Eastern North Carolina Farming, which was published by Arcadia Publishing in November 2014.
The High Point Museum, a division of the High Point Public Library, is dedicated to sharing Greater High Point’s history, providing perspective for current issues, and strengthening the sense of community.
The City of High Point aims to serve as the catalyst for bringing together the community’s human, economic and civic resources for the purpose of creating the single most livable, safe and prosperous community in America. For more information on the City, visit www.highpointnc.gov