Wednesday, October 03, 2018 / Published in Asheville History, Local History, Quirks & Kerfuffles

Asheville’s Vanished Pastimes

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)
Friday, September 28, 2018 / Published in Asheville History, Buildings, Forgotten People, Local History, Photograph Collection

Found People of Asheville Part 4: Frenchman Shaped Asheville’s Horticulture Scene 100 Years Ago

Eudore Artus was born in the Bay of Biscay area of France in 1883. His father was a shoe maker but Eudore took up gardening at age 12. In 1910 he was working in Paris for a woman from Montreal, Canada, who was a friend of Mother Deplanch, founder of St. Genevieve. While Mother Deplanch
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 / Published in African Americans, Asheville History, Forgotten People, Local History

“Found People of Asheville,” Part 2: Robert Evans “Buba” and Demitra Fortune McMorris

Robert Evans “Buba” and Demetra Fortune McMorris Robert McMorris was born in 1909 in Newberry, South Carolina. He was educated through the fifth grade and first worked in construction and then was the owner of one of Asheville’s historic black owned businesses, the McMorris Amoco Service Station from 1955 to 1976. It was at 71
Tuesday, September 04, 2018 / Published in Local History

Found People of Asheville: Emily Jones–Asheville’s Flower Lady

  Emily Racy Tabor Jones was born in Asheville in 1893 to Larkin and Fannie Tabor. She married Manley Eugene Jones in 1921 at the age of 19. They used to sell wood and kindling, until gas and electric stoves came along. He died in 1964. She did not attend school, nor could she read
Thursday, August 30, 2018 / Published in Local History, Post Card Collection

The Tale of Big Boy

In mid-June of 1939 a yellow-trimmed, red trailer home equipped with air conditioning, 2 sound systems, and electric lights rolled into downtown Asheville. Emblazoned on the sides of the trailer were the words “Big Boy“. The following advertisement appeared in the local newspaper. Big Boy was born in Black Mountain in 1934 as the only
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 / Published in Local History, Manuscript Collection, Photograph Collection

Grassy Balds of the Southern Highlands: Program

The Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds Amy Duernberger Author and hiker and researcher Wednesday August 29, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:00 Pack Memorial Library, Lord Auditorium, lower level All events are free and open to the public. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Room With Support from Mountain Express Refreshments will
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 / Published in Local History, Manuscript Collection, Photograph Collection

Grassy Balds of the Southern Highlands: Program

The Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds Amy Duernberger Author and hiker and researcher Wednesday August 29, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:00 Pack Memorial Library, Lord Auditorium, lower level All events are free and open to the public. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Room With Support from Mountain Express Refreshments will
Monday, August 13, 2018 / Published in Asheville History, Local History, Manuscript Collection

 Why I give items to Pack Library’s NC Room

Last week we received this email that Catherine O’Shea wrote to her Westall cousins and copied to the North Carolina Room. “We are indebted to one of our Wiley cousins in Charlotte for noting this great post on Pack’s “HeardTell” blog. https://specialcollections.buncombenc.gov/2015/11/06/camp-dellwood-2/ As you all may recall, almost all the girls in the Westall-Wiley clan
Friday, July 13, 2018 / Published in African Americans, Asheville History, Buncombe County History, Exhibits, Local History

Stephens-Lee High School Reunion June 2018

The North Carolina Room was graciously invited to attend the Stephens-Lee Alumni Reunion Friday night’s festivities on July 6th, 2018 at the Stephens-Lee Center. We met and talked with some wonderful people–all of whom were so proud of being graduates of Stephens-Lee. We collected some good stories and memories while there.   Stephens-Lee opened March