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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Christian Reid (Frances Fisher Tiernan), Salisbury. Photo by Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    Christian Reid (Frances Fisher Tiernan), Salisbury

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Historic Cultural Figures

    Historic Women Figures

  • City

    Salisbury

  • County

    Rowan

  • Description

    The memorial to Christian Reid, pen name of Frances Fisher Tiernan, is a single piece of granite about four feet high in the shape of a lectern. A carved granite book holding the inscriptions is attached to the lectern. The memorial stands on a single granite base.

    Images: Front inscription | Left side, spine of carved book | Far-off view

  • Inscription

    Front: CHRISTIAN REID / (FRANCES FISHER TIERNAN) / WROTE MORE THAN FORTY / NOVELS, ODES AND POEMS. / “THE LAND OF THE SKY” / HAS BEEN THE INSPIRATION / TO ALL WHO HAVE READ IT, / AND MANY TRAVELERS HAVE / VISITED NORTH CAROLINA / TO ENJOY SCENIC BEAUTIES / SO GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED / BY HER. 1849 1920

    Left side, spine of carved book: ERECTED / BY / ROBERT F. / HOKE / CHAPTER / UNITED / DAUGHTERS /OF THE / CONFED- / ERACY / AND / FRIENDS / 1939

  • Custodian

    Rowan Public Library: Headquarters

  • Dedication Date

    June 10, 1939

  • Decade

    1930s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.667770 , -80.472860 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Frances Christine “Christian Reid” Fisher Tiernan," findagrave.com, (accessed July 24, 2020) Link

      Walser, Richard. 1996. “Tiernan, Frances Christine Fisher,” NCPedia.org, (accessed December 3, 2019) Link

      Williams, Wiley J. 2006. “Land of the Sky,” NCPedia.org, (accessed December 3, 2019) Link

      “Children of Confederacy to Meet June 8th,” Asheville Citizen Times (Asheville, NC), May 28, 1939

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    Robert F. Hoke Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy

  • Subject Notes

    Frances Christine Fisher (5 Jul 1846 - 24 Mar 1920) was born to a wealthy family in Salisbury, NC. She began her writing career in 1870 and continued to publish until her death under the pen name Christian Reid. Although she wrote 46 books her most well-known work is her tenth book The Land of the Sky, or Adventures in Mountain By-Ways that tells the story of summer travelers to Western North Carolina amusing themselves with scenery and mild flirtations. The title gives the mountain region of North Carolina, and more specifically the city of Asheviile, NC, a nickname "Land of the Sky" that endures to this day.

    Tiernan, whose father was killed during the Civil War, composed the inscription for and unveiled the Fame Confederate Monument.

    Frances Christine Tiernan is buried in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina.

    Another marker dedicated to the famous Southern writer is located at Calvary Episcopal Church (2840 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, NC), one of a series that comprise the “Open-Air Westminster Abbey of the South.”

  • Location

    The marker is located in front of the Rowan Public Library Headquarters, at 201 W Fisher Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.

  • Landscape

    The memorial stands on the library lawn under a mature shady tree.

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