One of the most fulfilling kickbacks of being an archivist, for me, is knowing that there is something new to be uncovered as I pick up the next piece of paper, or the next photograph. The Rankin-Bearden Collection is no disappointer. When Asheville resident Walter Diehl found himself the last keeper of the family’s records, he donated them to Pack Memorial Library’s
My, how good the Nichols Building looks now that it has a little breathing room! [This is a follow-up to a previous post about the razing of the Blomberg Garage which sat just to the side in this photo.] The Nichols Building was built by Archibald Nichols (1875-1937) former secretary for eight years of the
Do any of you remember The Cabin Kids? These Asheville singing talents found Hollywood fame. They traveled the country performing in various venues. Their talents were featured in many films and televisions shows such as “The Little Rascals.” Looks like they started out as “The Jolly Six Sextette” before they made it to the big time.
The first time that I revisioned a different Asheville, one with horses, was when I read Pauline Moore’s diary she wrote in 1916 at the age of 19. In May, Pauline wrote, “Frank Netherland & I went for a long horse back ride this afternoon. Up by Beaumont Lodge by the Battle Bungalow through Kenilworth
The Great Depression was in full swing in 1934. Looking back at people’s wildly varying reactions to such adversity elicits a mixed bag of emotions. Great sadness for the suffering. Amazement at the triumph of human spirit. Bafflement at seemingly futile (but perhaps poetic) gestures of hope. Take, for example, this poor family passing through Pack Square on a
GEORGE WELLER LIVED IN ASHEVILLE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT HE SEEMED TO KNOW MANY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE. THE “CITIZEN JR” BEGAN APPEARING IN THE SUNDAY ASHEVILLE CITIZEN AROUND 1925 AND CONTINUED FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS. WELLER MADE HIS HOME AT THE BATTERY PARK HOTEL…AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE KEPT HIMSELF BUSY BY MINGLING WITH MANY
As part of local commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville worked with the Buncombe County Register of Deeds to compile a database of documents recording the trade of people as slaves in Buncombe County. A video created as part of this project has won two national awards.
IN THE SPIRIT OF GHOULS AND GOBLINS: A BLOG OF LEVITY HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ASHEVILLE CITIZEN 10/28/1899 IN 1899 HALLOWEEN WAS A TIME FOR STORIES HALLOWEEN SCROOGE? BILLY BORNE COMIC: ASHEVILLE CITIZEN 10/31/1908 THE ROARING TWENTIES’ APPROACH TO HALLOWEEN… MASQUERADE BALL AND CANDY! LAW ENFORCEMENT PUT A DAMPER ON ALL HALLOWS EVE IN 1932…BOO… SPOOKY PREVAILS IN