A Bunkum stone sits in front of The Grey Stone Inn at 100 Biltmore Ave. | Photo courtesy of Flickr
According to the Oxford Language’s dictionary, the slang word “bunkum,” which translates to nonsense, malarky, or all-around gibberish, got its roots from a particularly rambly + pointless speech made by Buncombe County congressman Felix Walker (1817-1823) in the 1820s.
Naturally, we had to investigate this more, so we checked with Heather S., the Lead Archivist at the Western Regional Archives, and it turns out that the hearsay is completely true. Congressman Walker’s infamously over-the-top speech arose during the discussions that led to the now-repealed Missouri Compromise.
You can find this marker in Haywood County.
Photo by NC Highway Historical Markers
Apparently, Walker lobbied to speak on behalf of his Buncombe County constituents, notably veering away from the topic at hand. Despite Walker’s fellow congressmen begging him to stop, he continued his dense, metaphor-laden speech for what bystanders described as a “lengthy amount of time.” Supposedly, it was about 5,000 words.
From there on, congressmen across the country began using the word Buncombe to describe meaningless political rhetoric. As the word gained popularity, the spelling shifted to “bunkum.”
What local landmark do you want to know the toponymy of?
Let’s talk more linguistics. We covered etymology today, but now I’m interested in the naming of places. Send in some local spots and I’ll do my best to uncover the history behind the name.
Asheville Community Theatre Preview of “Grease” | 6-7 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library | Free | Rev your engines for a special sneak preview of ACT’s first show of the 2025-2026 mainstage season.
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Arbor Evenings | Wednesday, Aug. 13-Thursday, Sept. 18 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | $20+ | Sip + stroll the gardens or relax on your picnic blanket to the sounds of local musicians.
Asheville Community Breathwork | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | The Restoration Asheville | $20+ | Breathe deeply, reset, and savor sprawling mountain views from the Solarium during this wellness workshop.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Macrame Workshop with Jessica Kaufman | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library | Free | Learn to weave a work of art at this magnificent macrame workshop.
“Artists and the Unknown” | 7-8 p.m. | Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center | Free | See a selection of films by Art21 featuring artists employing randomness and mystery to answer life’s questions.
Asheville Tourists Blood Drive | 11 a.m. | McCormick Field | Free | Donate blood to save lives + receive an AVL jersey and two tickets to a Tourists game.*
Friday, Aug. 15
Amanda Anne Platt | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $16 | Hear the fantastic folk stylings of the local singer, including tunes from her most recent album, “The Ones That Stay.”
Local artist Kirsten Stolle has earned the prestigious Bogliasco Fellowship. Stolle will soon venture to the Italian coast to work on a new collage and textile project examining the influence of digital technologies on our food system. One of her recent works, a tapestry called “Last Supper,” was featured in Harper’s Magazine.
Health
This month, AdventHealth will host listening sessions where residents can learn about the proposed plans to apply for a Certificate of Need to add a Weaverville hospital. Find details for sessions in South Buncombe, Weaverville, and Candler. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Cause
This fall, Haywood Street Respite will break ground on an expansion project, adding a second level and increasing available beds from 12 to 25. The team will also offer new support opportunities for people navigating mental health and substance use challenges.
Outdoors
Construction will soon begin to replace the Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Carrier Bridge Pump Station near French Broad River Park — and it means closing the area river access for public safety. While construction in the river is expected to last for about 18 months, the multi-phased project is set to be fully completed in 2029. (828 News Now)
Award
There’s still time to submit your favorite product for the Coolest Things Made in NC contest. Enter your favorite product made in NC (preferably Asheville, of course) by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 13. Nominations can range from consumer goods like furniture to food to vehicle equipment.
Civic
The city is advertising several quasi-judicial and regional board vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Civil Service Board, and Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. To find details and deadlines, check out the listings.
Arts
The Radical Hotel has a pretty packed calendar this month, starting with Golden Hour’s special dim sum-inspired dinner with guest chef Cody Chassar of Atlanta’s Gunshow on Monday, Aug. 18. Then on Thursday, Aug. 21,step into “Cast No Shadow,” the fourth iteration of the hotel’s art series, inspired by the lead singer of The Verve.
Try This
You don’t have to go through the hiring process alone. Through our Job Board, you can now get your job listing in front of thousands of our readers to find your dream hire. See for yourself, it’s free.
Apartment hunting?Hominy at RiverBlue offers modern studio to three-bedroom apartments featuring upscale finishes, spacious layouts, and perks like a pool, outdoor kitchen, and coworking lounge. Bonus: it’s surrounded by 24 acres of preserved green space along the Hominy Creek Greenway. Take a peek inside.*
Wellness
Apothekary’s Rescue Bloat™ is a fast-acting herbal tincture that eases mild discomfort and heaviness associated with bloating. Get 15% off your first $45+ order with code HERBAL15.‡*
Yes, Local 604 Bottle Shop does indeed sell beer. Lots of really good beer, wine, cider, and mead. But it also serves as a synth gear consignment shop from The Bob Moog Foundation. This beautiful behemoth of a synthesizer (and many others) is demoed at the weekly Asheville Synth Club meetings on Monday evenings at the bottle shop.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I’m happy to report that DSSOLVR is bringing the swamp back to Asheville. Shrektoberfest is coming back on Saturday, Sept. 20, with plenty of themed games, food, and beer. Let’s see if it tops last year.
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, and prevent any disease.
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