By Phil Wilson, Guest Columnist
Editor’s note: The writer, who was born and raised in Andrews, said, “As the years progress, my heart breaks as I see my beautiful hometown struggle: businesses shut down and the hospital built with blood, sweat and tears, razed. A travesty and the beginning of the end for this once-beautiful western North Carolina gem.”
This letter was written to President Donald Trump.
Greetings to you, sir, and thank you for making America great again. I realize that in the grand scheme of things, my concern may seem like mere minutiae within the overall picture, but I still have a “cause” here, and I would like to begin at the top.
I am a 68-year-old man residing in Chattanooga, Tenn. I come from modest beginnings, born in Andrews, N.C. – a small, charming town of roughly 1,700 residents in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachians. Life there once seemed ideal, though I outgrew it and moved on to opportunities beyond the box we knew as home.
Andrews, originally called Valleytown after an early Cherokee Indian Trading Post established amid settlements dating back to the early 1800s, began as a humble community tied to Cherokee heritage and pioneer families like the Whittakers and Walkers.
W.P. Walker, a pioneer merchant, built the first structures in the new town site in 1890, just as the Richmond and Danville Railroad arrived, sparking growth through tanneries, extract mills and agriculture. Incorporated in 1905 with David Samuel Russell as its first mayor, Andrews embodied the American dream of hard work and community.
Yet, this modest area lacked essential services, especially in medical care. That’s where two young World War II veterans stepped in as true saviors: Dr. Charles O. VanGorder and Dr. John S. Rodda. Having met during their heroic service in the 101st Airborne Division – where VanGorder set up field hospitals under enemy fire during D-Day – they chose not to chase wealth in big cities. Instead, upon completing their military duties, they brought their families to Andrews, founding the Rodda-VanGorder Clinic to serve a poor region desperate for medical help.
VanGorder, profiled in Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation for his extraordinary courage and dedication, made house calls well into the 1960s and treated patients who couldn’t pay, raising his family amid this selfless mission. His youngest daughter, my dear friend Suzanne VanGorder, continues this legacy as a Navy veteran herself – following in her father’s footsteps as an R.N., and a great patriot and big supporter of you and your administration.
In the mid-1950s, they were joined by Dr. Floyd E. Blaylock, expanding their practice. This led to the Rodda-VanGorder Hospital, initially operating above Nichol’s Department Store, and eventually the 30-bed District Memorial Hospital in 1956 – a nonprofit beacon that served our community until around 1990, following the doctors’ retirements. Tragically, it was taken over by a corporation and later absorbed by Murphy Medical Center, only to be shut down and razed by 2003.
It has been especially heartbreaking to see the legacy of Dr. VanGorder and Dr. Rodda razed. I am thankful these gentlemen – nothing short of heroes – did not live to see the hospital they built with blood, sweat and tears disappear.
Andrews’ natives were so fortunate to have physicians who sought out areas needing their services most, rather than personal gain.
But today, our once-lively town, which we thought of as God’s country, is struggling. The county seat, Murphy, has benefited extensively from Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, opened in 2015, which has generated jobs and tourism revenue for Cherokee County. However, Andrews and the rest of the county have seen far less of this windfall, leaving us behind. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, have faded: the VF clothing factory closed in 2002, devastating families; more recently, McDonald’s and Walgreens shuttered, along with local shops hit hard by Hurricane Helene in 2024, which caused average losses of $322,000 per business in western North Carolina.
Thanks to your success in securing the U.S.-Mexico border, the busloads of immigrants dropped off in this struggling town have stopped, providing some relief.
Encouragingly, local efforts are underway to turn things around. The Andrews Chamber of Commerce, founded by Joe El-Khouri, under the leadership of new Executive Director Sara Posey Davis (who started in August 2025), held a community gathering on Aug. 26 for the “Main Street Vision” initiative, where neighbors, business owners and leaders shared ideas for revitalizing Main Street. Additionally, the West End Plaza was sold in May 2025, with upgrades now beginning, brokered by Allison Ralph of Old Town Brokers.
Note that the chamber has seen recent leadership changes – former executive director Shannan Kelly and others have transitioned out, making way for fresh energy like Sara’s. These steps are promising, but they highlight the need for broader support to ensure success.
I just read a Facebook message from a childhood friend about yet another business closing – it’s heartbreaking.
Mr. President, Andrews represents the forgotten corners of America that your leadership has championed. With these local revitalization plans gaining momentum, I humbly ask for your guidance or support – perhaps through federal infrastructure aid, small business incentives, or highlighting our story to inspire investment – to complement and amplify these community efforts.
With your vision, we can make Andrews great again.