One of the more unusual aspects of public library service in Buncombe County is the existence of two library/ recreation center/fire station facilities in the City of Asheville. I know of no other locality in North Carolina with similar buildings. There are a few library and recreation center combinations and at least one library emergency
Everyone certainly remembers Helen—Miss Troy—winner of the first beauty pageant. Beauty pageants are not the popular, newsworthy events that they once were. Can you name Miss Asheville, Miss North Carolina, or Miss America 2015? I’ll wager you can’t (I couldn’t), so the answers will appear at the end of this post. Let’s take a look
I have worked in the North Carolina Room for over 22 years, and I never knew–or even had a glimpse–of this part of Asheville’s history: the huge impact of Jewish merchants on downtown Asheville. Whole blocks of stores on Asheville’s main streets, South and North Main, Patton Avenue and Haywood Street, were owned by Jewish
The North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library currently has on exhibit through September, four exhibit cases highlighting Asheville and Western North Carolina Tourism Souvenirs. Of course, the exhibit set us on a research binge, trying to find out all that we could about the local souvenir trade and how it developed. This is the sixth of
Isaac and Sarah Malke Michalove immigrated from Lithuania, Russia and came to Asheville in 1890. Isaac, a pioneer Jewish merchant, operated the Michalove Wholesale Grocery company. Isaac and Sarah’s daughter Hattie, born Sept. 20, 1890, married Barney Pearlman and they immigrated in 1901, coming to Asheville in 1908. Barney operated several groceries, and then opened a small store on Patton
The North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library currently has on exhibit through September, four exhibit cases highlighting Asheville Tourism Souvenirs. Of course, the exhibit set us on a research binge, trying to find out all that we could about the local souvenir trade and how it developed. This is the fifth of an ongoing series, sharing some
The North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library currently has on exhibit through September, four exhibit cases highlighting Asheville Tourism Souvenirs. Of course, the exhibit set us on a research binge, trying to find out all that we could about the local souvenir trade and how it developed. This is the fourth of an ongoing series, sharing
The Appalachians have long been noted for the rugged individualism of their inhabitants. The terrain was and is difficult, limiting its occupants’ employment. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the area was conducive to small farms, cottage industries and the lone artisan. With rhododendron, mountain laurel, chestnut, hickory, willow and oak prevalent in
HUNGRY FOR HISTORY A Brown Bag Lunch Series on Local History at Pack Memorial Library Bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy a talk by committed hiker DANNY BERNSTEIN Danny Bernstein’s motto is, “No place is too far to walk if you have the time.“ Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 12 noon—1 pm Pack Memorial Library,