Friday Fact. Henry Plott: His hounds, his mountains.

Every day as I drive through this town I look at these mountains, and I am in awe. They amaze and humble me with their beauty.

I am often looking upon a range of mountains called the Plott Balsams, named so by the US National Park Service upon creation of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and marked with an interpretive sign at mile marker  457.9.

The Plott Balsams are named for the same family known for the creation of the breed of dog recognized as North Carolina's state dog, the Plott Hound. So with today's Friday Fact, I am able to honor both my beautiful home and my sweet new foster child, Honey.

 

In 1750, 16-year-old Johannes Jorgen Platz left his home in Germany aboard the ship Priscilla, bound for America. With him was his older brother, who died at sea, and five dogs--three striped and two yellowish. He arrived in Philadelphia on September 12, 1750, his name now anglicized to Jonathan Plott.

After a short while in Philadelphia, young Jonathan made his way to North Carolina, taking along his dogs so that they could be used to protect him and his livestock from predators. He settled in Cabarrus County, purchased a farm, married, and raised five sons, four daughters, and a pack of hunting dogs. His family prospered, his children grew, and each left home for different parts of North Carolina, taking along their own spate of hunting dogs. At the age of 30, Jonathan's son, Henry, moved his family and pack of dogs to Canton, NC, and then moved west toward the Balsam mountains, where there was abundant game.

Henry became widely known for his hunting dogs and was often called upon to help rid his neighbors of wildlife that was attacking their livestock. When Jonathan became too old to hunt, his dogs, too, went to Henry, who, with his sons John and Amos, continued to breed and hunt the hounds. Seven generations of the Plott family bred their dogs exclusively within the family, developing a truly American breed of hound--the only American hound without British ancestry.

The breed is known today for cold-trailing raccoons and bears throughout the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky Mountains. They are efficient in the search for coyotes, wolves, and wildcats. Unlike the deep-throated howl of other hounds, the Plott's voice is curiously sharp and high-pitched. Extremely hardy, the breed has been developed for its determination, strength, and courage, and will readily take on a 500-lb bear or raging boar. In addition to its trail personality, however, the Plott hound is loyal and intelligent, quick to learn, quick to love, and good with children, making them and good family companion. However, they are seldom kept as such, for most people get these dogs for the hunt.

When the Blue Ridge Parkway came through in the 1940's, the Park service honored Henry Plott, his family, and his dogs by naming for them the mountains that were their home and hunting ground. In 1989, the state of North Carolina honored the Plott Hound by naming it the official state dog. In 1998, the AKC recognized the Plott hound in the Miscellaneous category, moving them to the Coonhound category in 2007.

And that's a Friday Fact!

Information for this post was taken directly from www.dogbreedinfo.com/plotthound.htm and the website (Lucky's Plott Hound website) of Libby Bagby, whose book on the Plott Hound's history, titled Talking Plotts, is expected to be published in 2008.

The photos are by me: the first of the Balsam mountain range from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and second of our new stray friend, whom we've been calling Honey, and who appears to be someone's lost Plott Hound.

Comments

[Sara Short]

Well, I really enjoyed this Friday Fact! Great Post. Last weekend we drove north through the mountains and they really are undescribably beautiful. I agree 100%.

[Beth]

This is a wonderful Friday Fact, Wesley! Being a loyal and proud North Carolinian, I knew Plott Hounds were the State Dog, but I didn't know about their history. Fascinating! And wonderful photos, as well. Honey really is a honey of a dog!

[Victoria]

I also enjoyed this! I've seen/heard the name Plott - both in reference to the Mountains and the (cute) Dogs...but the history is new and interesting. Thanks!

Honey is adorable!

[June]

I never knew that there WAS a state dog, let alone what dog it was. I love learning about the origins of things and names, so thanks much for this FF. Very interesting.

Your pooch looks like a sweetie...so good name!

My FF is up at http://spatter.typepad.com

[Siria]

That was very enlightening! I just spent some time up your way and I can see the Plott Balsam range out my back porch. I love to learn about the history of the area. Thank you for sharing!

[Michlt]

What a coincidence that I was catching up on your blog and read this today. Just yesterday I was working a book signing for John O'Hurley (J. Peterman from Seinfeld) at the National Dog Show in Philadelphia. I noticed a woman with a smallish, dark brindled hound dog (like your Honey but without the white chest). It was a beautiful dog. When I asked her about its name and origin she said it originated in Germany but that the breed is now from NC. As you described, the dog was gentle acting and very intelligent. Since I've been out of NC for so long I did not know it was the state dog but I was so impressed with it that I actually wrote the name down to help me remember it. Great post, Wesley!
BTW - the dog show will air on NBC Thanksgiving day after the Macy's parade (approx. 12:00). NBC was filming the book signing so you might catch a glimpse of me and one of my supervisors, Danielle, who worked the show with me. O'Hurley is the Master of Ceremonies for the show so you will definitely see him.

[zephyr]

What a wonderful story...and she is so adorable...i really wish i could have a dog.

[bneehdam]

I have Honey's great grandaughter- born Christmas morning .....maybe. One of the pups looks exactly like her. If someone is interested. Get in touch with me at christycreekkennel.com We are Plott enthustist! The pups are priced at $250.00 per. We are just across the mountains in Eastern KY. We still have 5 from one litter and 11 from the Christmas welping.

[bneehdam]

I may have honey's granddaughter, one that looks just like her was born Christmas day, At our Eastern Kentucky farm just over the mountains. We are Plott enthusist and have plenty of pups right now. Any body interested just email me at christycreekkennel.com we are not acommercial outfit and never realizied how fertile thes dogs are. Great pets or hunt dogs.

Honestly the one pup is a Honey clone. Still working on the web site will have pics soon

Bob

[Heidi Federico]

Your dog is absolutely beautiful! We have Plott hounds aswel. We actually had a litter of 12 at the end of October. My husband hunts coyotes with them but they are the most loving and enjoyable pets. Unfortunately we just had to put down our male, Blue, he was having too many seizures and didn't come out of it last time. We are very fortunate that we bread the dogs when we did. Our Blue looked a lot like your Honey. I don't have our pictures on the computer or I would send some, maybe later.

[Plott]

My last name is Plott because of Jonathan. He is my related to me. Because he changed his name to Plott I am know a Plott. I don't own a Plott hound but would love to. It is weird that I share a name with a dog, but it is cool.