Yancey History Association recently received the incredible donation of a handcrafted model of the privateer ship, the Snapdragon, which was commanded by Captain Otway Burns off the east coast during the War of 1812.
The replica was gifted to the museum by Walter Francis Burns III, a Florida resident and the great-great grandson of Otway Burns, the town’s namesake. A statue of Otway, donated by Burns descendants in 1909, stands in Burnsville’s Town Square to honor the captain, who while in the NC Legislature, cast the deciding vote in 1833 to create Yancey County.
The Snapdragon, under Capt. Burns’ command, captured 42 English vessels valued at more than $4 million, and captured more than 300 English officers and sailors.
Burns, while successfully battling several Royal Navy warships, compiled an astounding record that has few parallels in naval history.
The United States Navy has over the years named two destroyers U.S.S. Burns in his honor to recognize the devastation he imposed upon enemy merchant shipping through his unsurpassed leadership and patriotic service to his country.
Walter Burns had the ship, the case, and display table built in the late 1990s. The model was painstakingly constructed over the period of a year by Frank Shurick from plans for the original ship provided by Smithsonian Institution.
At age 80, Burns wanted to find a suitable home for his prized possession and contacted Yancey History Association president Chris Carter. The organization was thrilled to receive this incredible gift and plans to hold an open house soon to celebrate the acquisition. The date will be announced.
Walter Burns and friend Carol Chesser personally transported the delicate model from Florida to Burnsville and spent two days at the museum re-assembling the ship and cases for the permanent exhibit.
The display is available for viewing in the Lloyd Bailey Building on Academy Street (off West Main St. behind Plott Hound Books) during regular hours, Wednesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 828-678-9587 or email yhmuseum@frontier.com.
