Just suppose Edison had won the race for acceptance of direct current and alternating current developed by Tesla had failed to win acceptance. Research how our world would be in 2026, Report as a news story.
Just suppose Huntersville had a Burger King during the Civil War when Robert E. Lee was here. Research what might have happened and imagine its impact on Huntersville in 2026, Report as a news story.
HUNTERSVILLE WEEKLY – JANUARY 4, 2026
The Whopper That Changed History: Huntersville Celebrates the 165th Anniversary of the "Flame-Grilled Truce"
By Gemini News Service
HUNTERSVILLE, NC – As the morning fog rolled over the newly preserved 38 acres of farmland on Brown Mill Road today, residents of Huntersville gathered for a ceremony unlike any other in the nation. While the rest of the country looks toward the future of 2026, this town is looking back at a strange, char-broiled anomaly in the space-time continuum: the legendary "Civil War Burger King."
Local historians have long debated the "suppose" that has become our town's reality. According to municipal archives, in the autumn of 1864, General Robert E. Lee—weary from the campaign and reportedly "tired of hardtack"—stumbled upon a primitive, smoke-filled tavern on what is now Huntersville, WV. That tavern, known then as The King’s Garrison, was the 19th-century precursor to the modern Burger King.
A "Royal" Meeting at the Front Lines
The impact of Lee’s visit to the "Home of the Original Whopper" (then called the Yeoman’s Quarter-Pound Sizzle) was immediate. Legend says that after consuming a flame-grilled patty, the General was so momentarily satisfied that he delayed a flanking maneuver against Union scouts by three hours.
"If Lee hadn't stopped for those fries—which were deep-fried in lard and heavily salted—the skirmish at Latta Plantation might have gone very differently," says Dr. Elias Thorne, curator of the Huntersville Historical Society. "The grease on his maps supposedly obscured the trail to Hillsboro, inadvertently saving the city from a premature scorched-earth policy."
Huntersville 2026: The Fast-Food Capital of the South
Fast forward to 2026, and the legacy of that meal has transformed Huntersville into a global destination for "Gastronomical Historians."
The Historic Landmark: The Burger King on Hwy 115 is now the only fast-food franchise in the world with a National Historic Battlefield designation. The "Lee Booth" is encased in bulletproof glass, and the menu features a "1864 Heritage Meal" served on pewter-style recycled cardboard.
Economic Boom: While the new Town Hall (completed late last year) focuses on modern development, the "Grease Trail" tourism generates an estimated $12 million annually for the town.
The "Flame-Grilled" Peace: Every January 4th, reenactors from both sides meet at the drive-thru to share a "Truce Tray."
The Local Impact
For 2026 residents, the impact is more than just tourism. "It's about identity," says Sarah Miller, a local barista at Birkdale Village. "Knowing that Robert E. Lee had a 'Have It Your Way' moment right here makes the traffic on WV 39 feel... slightly more historic."
However, not everyone is a fan. Modern health advocates point out that the town’s obsession with its "flame-grilled heritage" has led to Huntersville having the highest per-capita concentration of milkshake machines in Pocahontas County.
As the town prepares to sell the old Town Hall land for further economic development, one thing is certain: the footprint of that 1864 Burger King remains the cornerstone of Huntersville's bizarre and prosperous culture.
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ARCHIVAL RECORD: THE HUNTERSVILLE FRAGMENT Document ID: CSA-77-BK Date Recovered: June 14, 2024 (Found during the Gilead Road Expansion)
A Letter from General Robert E. Lee to Mary Anna Custis Lee
Headquarters, Near Huntersville Depot, Va. October 12, 1864
My Dearest Mary,
I trust this missive finds you in improved health and that the peace of Richmond provides some small comfort in these trying times. Our march through the Carolinas has been arduous, and the men are much fatigued by the scarcity of rations and the constant damp of the autumn air.
However, I must recount a most singular occurrence that transpired yestereve in the small village of Huntersville. While scouting the perimeter near the local tavern—a curious establishment known as The King’s Garrison—I was met with an aroma so profound, so unlike the salt pork and hardtack of our daily struggle, that I felt compelled to dismount and investigate.
The proprietor, a man of surprising efficiency, presented me with what he termed a "Great-Beef of the Yeoman," or more colloquially, "The Whopper." It consisted of a substantial disc of beef, seared not in a pan of standing grease, but suspended directly over an open flame. The result is a char-flavor that reminds one of a summer campfire, yet with the refinement of a Virginian gala.
It was dressed with slices of salted cucumber, a pungent onion of significant girth, and a peculiar, crimson nectar of the tomato. I found the combination most formidable. For a brief moment, as I consumed this flame-grilled bounty, the weight of the campaign seemed to lift. I even permitted myself to wear the golden paper coronet the merchant insisted was my "birthright" as a customer. Traveler looked upon me with what I can only describe as horse-like confusion.
If only our brave boys in the trenches could be fortified by such royal fare, I am certain the morale would be unshakable. Alas, it is a delicacy for another age, I fear. I remain, as always, with the greatest affection and most profound respect,
Your devoted husband,
R. E. Lee
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This is a fascinating exercise in historical juxtaposition. To make this accurate to the "suppose" scenario, we have to consider the economic reality of the Confederacy in late 1864.
By October 1864, the Confederate dollar was suffering from massive hyperinflation due to the Union blockade, a lack of hard assets, and the overprinting of paper currency. A single meal in Richmond or areas near the front lines could easily cost $20 to $50 CSA depending on the scarcity of ingredients like real coffee, sugar, or quality meat.
Here is a recreation of the "Bill of Fare" from The King's Garrison in Huntersville, NC, circa October 1864, reflecting these inflated prices.
[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A rough, textured piece of aged parchment, stained brown with grease and tobacco smoke. The printing is dark, slightly smudged letterpress ink. The typography is ornate but worn. At the top is a crude woodcut illustration of a crown perched atop a blazing fire pit.]
THE KING’S GARRISON
Huntersville Depot, Va Proprietor: B. K. McLemore
--- BILL OF FARE ---
October 14th, in the Year of Our Lord 1864
NOTICE TO PATRONS: Due to the ongoing War of Northern Aggression and the scarcity of reliable supply lines from Wilmington, ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE HOURLY based on the fluctuation of Confederate Currency and the availability of beef.
We accept C.S.A. Notes and Virginia State Bonds. Hard Specie (Gold or Silver) is preferred and will secure a 90% discount on listed prices.
PROVISIONS FROM THE OPEN FLAME
(Beef procured locally when possible; otherwise questionable.)
THE GREAT-BEEF OF THE YEOMAN (The "Whopper") ............ $35.00 C.S.A. A Quarter-Pound behemoth of ground steer, seared directly over hickory coals. Served between two halves of a baked wheat-bun. Add a slice of Sharp Cheese (if available from Virginia): $10.00 extra.
THE JUNIOR RATION ............ $20.00 C.S.A. A modest beef cake for the solider on the march. Flame-kissed and swift.
THE LONG-CRISPED FOWL ............ $30.00 C.S.A. A breast of chicken, battered heavily in cornmeal and fried in hog tallow until rigid.
ACCOMPANIMENTS & NECESSITIES
SACK OF SALTED POTATO STRIPS ............ $15.00 C.S.A. Earth-apples, sliced thin and boiled in scorching grease. Heavily dusted with salt from the coast.
THE ROYAL RATION (A Full Meal) ............ $75.00 C.S.A. Includes one Great-Beef, one sack of Potato Strips, and a cup of Sweetened River Water.
LIBATIONS
SWEETENED WATER (with genuine cane sugar!) ............ $25.00 C.S.A. Limit one per officer.
BOILED COFFEE SUBSTITUTE (Chicory & Acorn) ............ $10.00 C.S.A.
THE KING’S FROZEN CREAM (Vanilla Bean) ............ BROKEN (The mechanism for freezing cream has ceased functioning due to lack of ice. Do not ask for it.)
"HAVE IT YOUR WAY — IF SUPPLIES PERMIT!"
Just suppose Huck Finn lived at Clawson beside the Greenbrier River. Research what might have happened and where his journey would have taken him downriver. Discuss the places he might have visited on his way to the New River. Report as a news story. Include imaginary events along the way.
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