BML Time Line Updated

Updated 06Mar13.  The following time line of critical events in the history of the BMLs is based on our review of more than 180 published & unpublished documents.

BML Time Line

Dates of Significant Events in the History of the Brown Mountain Lights

1765   Lenoir, NC (Catawba Valley) first settled---Incorporated in 1841
1777   Morganton, NC (Catawba Valley) first settled---Incorporated in 1784
1850   Hickory, NC (Catawba Valley) first settled---Incorporated in 1860
1854   Lafayette Wiseman camped at Wiseman’s View & reportedly saw Mystery Lights
1858   First Railroad constructed in Catawba Valley---WNC RR, 84 mi from Salisbury to near Morganton
1870   First train arrived in Marion, NC---WNC RR; 1873 Old Fort, NC; 1880 Asheville, NC
1882   Mystery Lights reportedly seen by J. Stokes Penland of Linville Falls, NC
1888   Electricity first available to Hickory, NC residents; Electric Street Lights installed 1889
1889   Statesville, NC gets Electricity for first time
1897   Mystery Light reportedly seen by Joseph Loven of Cold Springs, NC
1898   Automobiles first appeared in NC; First mass produced car in US was Ford Model T (1908-1927)
1908-9 Mystery Lights reportedly seen by B.S. Gaither of Morganton, NC
1910   Rev. C.E. Gregory built cottage near Cold Springs, NC & reportedly saw Mystery Lights
1911   Mystery Lights reportedly seen by numerous members of the Morganton Fishing Club
1913   September---First written account----Light rises in Catawba Valley over top of Brown Mountain
1913   October---USGS Geologist D.B. Sterrett visit----Locomotive headlight
1915   Dr. C.L. Wilson saw lights of Joy, Lenoir, Connelly Springs, & Rutherford College from Cold Springs
1916   April---H.C. Martin’s camping parties see lights from Adams Mtn & Brown Mountain---Fireflies?
1916   July---Historic Flood, Catawba River reached +25’ above flood level
1916   Joseph Loven and Lafayette Wiseman reportedly saw Mystery Lights after the flood
1917   C.H. Hite publishes First Story of Ghosts (Bird Carroll) on Brown Mountain
1917   US Forest Service buys Brown Mountain
1919   US Weather Bureau & Smithsonian Institute issue Brush Lightning statement
1921   National Geographic Society bulletin----Brush Lighting, similar to St Elmo’s fire & Andes Light
1922   USGS Geologist G.R. Mansfield research----90% reflected electric lights and 10% brush fires
1927   R.K. Babington publishes First Reference to de Brahm’s 1771 Document of Nitrous Vapors
1928  J.B. Derieux & A.A. Dixon, NC State College---binocular & transit study---Hudson Town Lights
1929   E.M. Bell---first BML photo---4 hr Exposure, Moon Streak & lights above crest of Brown Mountain
1932   F.D. Ruggles reported 100s of lights like city street lights---concluded they were burning gasses
1936  S.M. Dugger publishes First  Legend of a Murdered Wife
1937   Hickory Municipal Airport constructed
1940   H.A. Whitman’s research----transit triangulation---BML photo---reflected city lights
1941   W.J. Humpheries & H. Lyman (US Weather Bureau) report----Andes Light
1941   L. Weir publishes First Legend of Indian Maidens searching for their braves lost in battle
1946   US Highway 70 constructed in Catawba Valley
1948   First published story of Lost Lover Legend
1958   Bob Brown---BML photos---reflected city lights
1959   N. Alexander publishes first report of a Swamp atop Brown Mountain
1961   S. Wiseman publishes first reference to Legend of Faithful Slave Searching for Lost Master
1962   P. Rose---Tower construction---close encounters
1962   S. Rowe & C. Holler, Jr.---Transit survey & site visits---refracted city lights
1965   R. Lael publishes first stories of Aliens---Alien abduction---close encounters
1968   H. Bailey first published reference to UFOs flying over Brown Mountain
1975   Interstate I-40 completed in Catawba Valley
1977   ORION’s 500,000 candlepower light test in Lenoir (22 mi away)---seen at 181 Overlook
1978   First joint Enigma/ORION investigation began
1980   First published sighting of lights in Linville Gorge?---published in 1995
1981   ORION detonated dynamite atop BM---no lights seen at 181 Overlook
1982   First published Legend of Revolutionary War Solider searching for Missing Family
1999   LEMUR---The X-Files segment---aired May 9, 1999
2000   LEMUR--- Brian Irish’s video of suspected BMLs
2002   LEMUR---Travel Channel segment on BMLs---aired March 2002
2003   Dr. Greg Little of Alternate Perceptions Magazine videotaped BMLs
2009   Dean Warsing’s night vision video of suspected BMLs
2012   First and Second Brown Mountain Light Symposium, Burke Co Dept of Tourism
2012   S. Nicholson published First Reference to ghosts of Civil War Soldiers
2012   BMLs Research Team---BML Cam1 setup, staged light tests, telephoto photography, Lit research
2013   BMLs Research Team---BML Cam1, geologic Investigations, lit research, telephoto photography