Historical Markers in Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton is the county seat for Rutherford County
Rutherfordton is in Rutherford County
Rutherford County(51) ► ADJACENT TO RUTHERFORD COUNTY Buncombe County(152) ► Burke County(36) ► Cleveland County(33) ► Henderson County(99) ► McDowell County(26) ► Polk County(35) ► Cherokee County, South Carolina(85) ► Spartanburg County, South Carolina(129) ►
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Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north. Reported damaged.
A Doorway for Your Imagination Christopher Bechtler's coining shop was a busy place during the 1830s. Every day, miners arrived to bring in raw gold or pick up their newly minted coins.
Although we know that Bechtler owned this property, . . . — — Map (db m240791) HM
On Washington Street at 6th Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Street.
Established 1831, four miles N., by Christopher Bechtler. Later stood at this point. Minted more than $2¼ million in gold. Closed about 1849. — — Map (db m14599) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Christopher Bechtler: A Fascination with Gold Christopher Bechtler was a brilliant man
of seemingly boundless energy.
At the technical college in his home town of Pforzheim, he learned jewelry and clockmaking and became a skilled . . . — — Map (db m240804) HM
On Coxe Road (County Route 1005) 0.4 miles east of River Crest Parkway, on the left when traveling east.
(preface)
On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee . . . — — Map (db m208801) HM
On N. Main Street at 5th Street, on the left when traveling north on N. Main Street.
In 1787 fifty acres of land were purchased from James Adair for founding of Rutherford Town, which serves as the second county seat. — — Map (db m14594) HM
On U.S. 221 at Green Street, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 221.
Founder of Syracuse, N.Y., early advocate of Erie Canal. Moved to N. Carolina, 1829. Land and mining speculator.
Grave is 50 yds. east. — — Map (db m14598) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Making Millions: The Bechtler Mint Site It was on this site from 1831 to 1840 that Christopher Bechtler operated the nation's most successful private mint, turning raw gold into nearly $3 million in coins and ingots.
A talented inventor, . . . — — Map (db m240860) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Drawn by the gold to be found in our rivers, thousands of fortune
seekers kindled a North Carolina Gold Rush to these foothills in the
1820s. Among them was the German jeweler Christopher Bechtler who
bought this land in 1830 and began his own – . . . — — Map (db m240796) HM
On N. Main Street at 2nd Street, on the left when traveling north on N. Main Street.
Rutherford County, created in 1779, was named for Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford. Griffith Rutherford helped protect Rutherford County through his service as leader of Rutherford Trace in 1776. While serving in the Revolutionary War, Griffith . . . — — Map (db m14590) HM
(Preface): On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee . . . — — Map (db m34075) HM
On N. Main Street at 6th Street, on the right when traveling north on N. Main Street.
Completed in 1847. The oldest original church building standing in Rutherford County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. — — Map (db m14595) HM
Near Gilboa Church Road, 0.2 miles north of Gilmer Edwards Road (North Carolina Road 1526), on the right when traveling north.
Beyond this dark opening is a mystery tunnel. Was it Bechtler's mine? With some evidence pointing that way, it is certainly a possibility.
By 1831, Bechtler was using a water-powered “stamp mill” of the type used to crush gold-bearing rock. . . . — — Map (db m240802) HM
