Author Michael Beadle will present an illustrated talk focusing on the history of the town of Canton and, specifically, the town’s annual Labor Day Celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University.

Beadle will address aspects of Canton’s development in conjunction with the growth of the Champion paper mill. The other focus of his talk, the Labor Day event, has been taking place in the town since 1906 and is one of the largest events of its type in the state.

Beadle writes poetry, history, fiction and journalistic pieces. He has published more than 1,500 articles in newspapers and magazines in North Carolina and is the recipient of several honors from the N.C. Press Association. As an author of local history, he has written or co-written four books about Haywood County, including a comprehensive history of the county. His most recent work is a collection of historic Canton photographs.

The event is being held in conjunction with WCU’s interdisciplinary learning theme for the 2014-15 school year, “North Carolina: Our State, Our Time.”

Free.

828.227.7129.