Buncombe County has historically been one of the largest counties in North Carolina (Currently we rank number 19 of 100 in land area). In its earliest days, the county was nicknamed “The State of Buncombe” because its borders encompassed an enormous portion of western North Carolina straight to the Tennessee line (and for a short … Continue reading 52 Weeks, 52 Communities: A Journey Through Buncombe County
On July 10, 1932 that headline began an article in The Asheville Citizen-Times. What follows is the column in its entirety. One of the new Adirondack cabins now being brought to Asheville and vicinity by the Consolidated Realty corporation ready to erect, has been opened at Lake Lure at the intersection of the state highway … Continue reading Strange, But True…..
Rich Mathews used the photograph below in his presentation on The Early Days of Coxe Avenue back in April. It really piqued my interest. I thought I knew a bit about the history of the corner pictured, but was totally taken aback by what I saw. Not the remains of Margo Terrace (razed in 1928) … Continue reading Asheville’s Vanished Pastimes
I bought this silhouette of an unknown gentleman many years ago. It's pasted onto what is known as a trade card. Trade cards were often distributed by businesses, in this case an artist's business, as an early form of advertising. Trade cards, like postcards, have their ardent collectors. There are a few other trade cards … Continue reading A “Shadow” Mystery
HeardTell, the North Carolina Room blog was born on July 7, 2013 at Pack Memorial Library, Asheville, North Carolina. HeardTell's mother was Susan Toole and she was assisted in the delivery by N.C. Room staff Ann Wright, Betsy Murray and Zoe Rhine. Susan was working at Pack as an intern for her library degree. For one … Continue reading HeardTell Blog Countdown to 100,000 Views!
If you are familiar with early postcards of Western North Carolina, you've probably seen this image before. But which one did you see? There were numerous variations. The photograph is titled "Above the Clouds" (title slightly visible at left lower corner in box) published by Lindsey & Brown, Land of the Sky, Views of WNC, … Continue reading A Very Popular 19th Century Post Card Returns Again!
* Some eye-catching advertisements from a stack of old Asheville newspapers I happened across. * * * We've always been foodies. * * * Oh how we love our spirits...even if we don't have a "stomachic." * * * Water seems to always be an issue. And look..."wind-mills!" Sustainable energy source pre-solar panels. * * * … Continue reading THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
Long, long ago (in the 1960’s) Western North Carolina was not known for its culinary landscape. The Jarrett House in Dillsboro and the The NuWray Inn in Burnsville were about as close as one could find “fancy food”. And truly, their country hams and family style meals were wonderful. Even the big city of Asheville was not … Continue reading “Seaweed Soup on a Mountain Slope”
Several years ago while researching Appalachian rustic for a lecture and exhibition at the Asheville Art Museum I came across two intriguing photos in the NC Collection. They are from the Caldwell collection of glass plate negatives given to the library in 1944. John D. Caldwell came to Asheville in 1903 to take the position … Continue reading Rustic Furniture Set Against a Modern Gas Stove Demonstration, Asheville, N.C. 1905
