"View of the Mountains from a Villa in Kenilworth, Asheville, NC" Postcard Of all the communities on our list, one of the most photographed besides Downtown Asheville, may be Kenilworth. This Asheville Suburb in the southeast part of the city sprung onto the scene in the late 1910's and rose in popularity into the 1920's … Continue reading A Kenilworth Research Album: 52 Weeks, 52 Communities
Emma is a small community in western Buncombe County that sits nestled between Dryman Mountain and the French Broad River. If you wanted to put a pushpin on a map, you’d place it on the crossroads at North Louisiana and Emma Road (SR 1338). Today, the intersection maintains some character of the old and the … Continue reading Cousin Caney the Corrupt Commissioner and the Brand New Emma-Leicester Road: 52 Weeks, 52 Communities
If you were taking a trip to Burnsville from Asheville between 1847 and 1890 there was, for the most part, only one way to get there. Along the road, there would be a few choice places to stop, but the most famous was Carter’s. It was, like most other Stock Stands along the various turnpike … Continue reading A Trip to the Store in Democrat, 1876: 52 Weeks, 52 Communities
“On the west side of Asheville between Patton and Haywood/A community holds on, tries to create a sustainable model, /Relationship-building between people/What can I say: Burton Street?” -DeWayne Barton “Burton Street Working Together” from 27 Views of Asheville, Eno Publishers, ed. We have discussed the Burton Street Community a few times this year, especially highlighting … Continue reading Working Together on Burton Street: 52 Weeks, 52 Communities
When you think of Biltmore Forest the first thing that comes to mind is probably a sea of early 20th century wealthy white golfers. In this week's edition of 52 Weeks, 52 Communities we're sharing an Oral History from our archives that sheds light on the construction of Biltmore Forest by African American workers. Take a look … Continue reading Building Biltmore Forest: 52 Weeks, 52 Communities
The Bent Creek Ranch was a hot vacation spot for equestrians from all over the country in the mid-twentieth century. The lodge and guest cabins provided a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of modern life – a step back into “simpler times.” A postcard sent to a Nashville couple from the Bent Creek … Continue reading Do you Remember the Bent Creek Ranch? : 52 Weeks 52 Communities
We’re posting an addendum to our Instagram post on Arden thanks to the really insightful question posed by local writer Ami Worthen (@amiwhoa) in the comments. Our original post read, “The painting featured depicts “Struan” a home built in the Arden area in 1847 by Alexander Robertson, a wealthy rice planter from South Carolina who … Continue reading Update on Arden: Some Notes on Enslaved Labor in Buncombe County
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
I love an intriguing, if not hyperbolic description of an item on eBay like the one I stumbled on the other day. I couldn't resist the allure of a "ghost town" in Buncombe County, let alone one named Glen Inglis. I placed my bid, even without being able to decipher the postmark in the photo. … Continue reading Glen Inglis Defunct City Ghost Town Buncombe County North Carolina Postcard 1908
