- Hibriten Mountain
Hibriten Mountain , located inLenoir, North Carolina , marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range. The mountain's summit is 2,265 feet above sea level, and nearly 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. The summit is well known to the locals for its large welcome light which glows at night in the shape of a star in the weeks before Christmas and a cross before Easter.It was originally named Turkey Cock. It was renamed to High Brighton by Emma Baker in honor of a place in her native England. The spelling evolved to Hibriten over time.
A fire tower was erected at the summit in 1927. It is considered one of the most important fire towers in western North Carolina.
The star/cross light display at the peak was built in 1954. The star was first shown during the Christmas season of that year, and the cross was first shown during Easter of the following year.
Its geographic and symbolic importance to the area was shown in when a new high school was opened in Lenoir in August of 1966. It was named Hibriten High School, and colsolidated three other area schools.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
