(gay webb) apparently, the pigeon river was a sustainable river.you had a spot on the pigeon river whether you're white man, whether you're indian, or native american, if you had a spot on this river, you can get all your food to get you everything you needed. you had it right there. the cherokees called it "beautiful maiden." that was the most beautiful word in their language. and that's what they used on the pigeon river, because to them, a beautiful young lady was the most beautiful thing in the world. this river was second to that most beautiful thing in the world. so that's why they named it. (bobby seay) the mountain folks had a wonderful way of life here. they had intergenerational exchange with the cherokee. the river was plentiful with what is called a white suckerfish; they would actually net them and catch them. (jere brittain) neuse river's my place. i can feel it in my bones like an acquired genetic trait. when i was a boy growing up at the confluence of north and south in neuse river, my mother would occasionally play on an old pump o