DOWNTOWN — Flooding in downtown Canton decimated Pigeon River Outfitters. A rental shack that once stood here is now gone and few of the tubes, kayaks and paddleboards were salvagable.
DEBRIS — Bethel Christian Academy experienced massive flooding and pile upon pile of debirs. The school will reopen on Aug. 29.
ARTISTIC CONCRETE — Caleb Lawson makes custom artistic concrete pieces, including this long sink, which was in the works when the floods hit downtown Canton.
DOWNTOWN — Flooding in downtown Canton decimated Pigeon River Outfitters. A rental shack that once stood here is now gone and few of the tubes, kayaks and paddleboards were salvagable.
DEBRIS — Bethel Christian Academy experienced massive flooding and pile upon pile of debirs. The school will reopen on Aug. 29.
ARTISTIC CONCRETE — Caleb Lawson makes custom artistic concrete pieces, including this long sink, which was in the works when the floods hit downtown Canton.
CANTON— Today marks a day of remembrance for Canton, one year after Tropical Storm Fred left a swath of destruction across Haywood County, upending trees, homes and lives, leaving an indelible mark on those who survived.
A wreath laying ceremony was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the “bird cage” near 7 Main St. in downtown Canton, to remember and honor those who died and all that was lost during the flood. The mayor and board of Aldermen and women as well as town staff and department heads planned to attend, as well as the Rev. Mark Tice and Drew Christy, a representative from Governor Cooper’s office.
“Though it is important to share the successes we have accomplished in Canton since the flood, it is very important to myself and the Board to always remember the six lives lost in Cruso,” Mayor Zeb Smathers said.
“The lives and homes lost were and continue to be the greatest tragedy of the flood. We can build back a town hall, but we cannot replace the lives that were lost; this wreath will remind everyone passing through Canton that our hearts are still heavy and we are still healing as one Haywood County family,” Smathers said.
On the one year anniversary of Tropical Storm Fred, Canton remembers the heavy rains that hit Haywood County Aug. 15–17, 2021, leaving areas of Canton in wreckage. But the flood from last summer inspired many in the Canton area to come back stronger.
This day of remembrance, while honoring those who died, also recognizes how the town of Canton has come together to help heal and restore itself.
Smathers said the areas that were hit the hardest by the raging Pigeon River were: Cruso, Bethel, Old Asheville highway, and Canton’s Colonial Theater, Recreation Park, Rhonda Street, town hall, and police and fire stations.
The flood arrived too quickly for most people to prepare.
“Everyone, whether in government or not, had to react and rescue,” said Smathers. “However, as soon as the waters receded, we went into recovery mode. I cannot speak enough about the grit of our town employees, the toughness of our emergency responders and the resilience of our community. For so many, it would have been easier to just leave, but they have stayed and know how lucky we are to call Haywood County home,” Smathers said.
The devastating flood came in the midst of the pandemic recovery, making the last two years for the community even more challenging.
“When you look at what our community endured with and how we responded, it sets an example for all of us to follow,” Smathers said.
He added that no matter what challenges lie ahead, better days exist.
“We cannot forget what our community, especially Cruso, is still going through,” Smathers said. “We still need to pray and do all we can to help those that lost parts of their soul a year ago.”
Bethel Christian Academy, located at 100 Park St., in Canton, sits about 300 feet or so from the the Pigeon River. The school is still in recovery mode but will open for the 2022–23 school year Aug. 29.
The school lost everything on the first floor of the building, and it had about 11 feet of water in the building. The estimate to repair the building alone is around $750,000 — not including contents.
“We have had many churches, many people from our community and even teams from other parts of the state who have come to lend a hand. There are donated books, school supplies, desks, furniture and money to replace the items lost,” said Nancy Shelton, board member of Bethel Christian Academy.
Shelton was amazed to see how much financial and labor support the community has provided to the school to help get the building back up and running.
“God has given us a beautiful picture of what the body of Christ looks like when we work together for him. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that has been a part of our clean up and rebuilding. May God bless you richly for your gift of time, money and prayers through this year of rebuilding,” Shelton said.
Lawson Design, a new luxury artisan concrete studio, was due to open around the time Fred hit last year, but its location at 16 Main St., about 50 yards from the river, put it in the path of flood destruction.
Caleb Lawson, owner of Lawson Design said he grew up in Florida and was used to hurricane seasons, but the sheer force of the water is something he won’t forget.
“It was just the perfect storm of events,” he said.
Lawson and his wife moved from Orlando in September 2020 and by March of 2021 he closed his Orlando studio and made the leap to Canton.
“My wife, Lauren, is from Canton and grew up here,” Lawson explained. “She went to Pisgah and we’d always talked about buying a second home in the mountain area. But in 2020, we felt a strong call to move fully to North Carolina, and what better place to raise a family than in a small town like Canton with tons of family around.”
Lawson estimates his business lost somewhere between $200,000 and $250,000 from the flood. Equipment losses led to the loss of contracts due to inability to perform the work.
“We have recovered well, I’m pleased to say,” Lawson said. “It took some time and a lot of work, tears and challenges, but we are booked for the rest of 2022 and even have bookings in 2023.”
The decision to move to Canton, despite the devastating flood, is one that he and his wife do not regret.
“I think the most inspiring thing was just how the community of Canton and surrounding areas came together,” Lawson said. “One story I’ll never get tired of telling is how the Southern Porch, when they couldn’t open due to the inability to drink the water, called their whole staff in anyway and paid them to come around helping other businesses clean up. We had them and others in the shop for days on end, shoveling mud, cleaning tools, organizing chaos. I’m grateful in ways I can’t express to the community around us, from Canton, as from our church, Missio Dei, in Asheville.”
He shared that he was an eighth generation Floridian and while he’s proud of that, he loves the mountains, the weather and the seasons. “I think life here in Canton is slower than Orlando; there’s less urgency and we’re attracted to that pace of life.”
Pigeon River Outfitters direct hit
The tubing and outdoor adventures company is located about 120-150 feet from The Pigeon River.
Pigeon River Outfitters had lost everything to the flood except for their shuttle bus, shuttle van and trailers. Owner Charles Wells said that was thanks to quick action taken by the manager, Rebecca McMahan.
McMahan moved them to higher ground in time to save the vehicles from the flood.
The company opened just in time for Memorial Day weekend this year.
Wells said it took hard work, dedication, and some rewiring and replumbing to make it happen.
“This season has been a blessing in that we were able to open and on time,” Wells said. “We were able to head the Polishing Up the Pigeon bi-annual river clean up event with Haywood Waterways Association and were able to conduct our normal fundraising event and sponsorships that we provide every year benefitting Haywood County Schools and Haywood Rescue. All of these while still providing an awesome recreational service for all ages.”
He explained that the business lost the building, watercraft, all of the office equipment and surveillance camera, as well as important documents. The total loss and replacement cost from the flood was estimated at $491,806.25.
Wells said they were turned down for assistance of any kind through the Small Business Association due to a loss claimed the previous year because of COVID restrictions. Wells did recieve two small grants, about $6,000 total, from Mountain Bizworks, and the company had a GoFundMe link that raised about $9,000.
“Other than that, it has taken everything that I had monetary as well as physically and emotionally. It has also taken the hard work of great employees.”
Wells said a positive outcome from the tragic event was seeing the community come together in a time of need. The company is at 75 percent recovery and working diligently to continue to recover while providing excellent customer service, he said.
“We are honored to be able to share our beautiful river with young and old alike,” Wells said. “It is a privilege to see the smiles that our business is capable of putting on all the faces that we see and provide this family fun recreational outing in Haywood County. We pray for the resilience of the community, blessings from God, and with great leaders such as Mayor Zeb Smathers we will be able to also endure and overcome once again. Our hearts and prayers still go out to those who lost loved ones.”
Mayor Smathers is proud of Canton’s resilience.
“As it concerns Canton, I’ve been very impressed with the recovery, but I’m not surprised,” Smathers said. “I knew the toughness of our community and our businesses. Looking back, there were naysayers that said it could not be done, but we are used to people counting Canton out. Once again we have proven that Canton and her people are not going anywhere. Our resolve to be a tough mill-town continues.”
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