Press release from James Vaugh:
Plaques honoring the listing of the James Madison and Leah Arcouet Chiles House on the National Register of Historic Places will be unveiled as well as an historical marker at the park across the street which was recently renamed Leah Chiles Park by the Asheville City Council. Leah Chiles was the first woman elected mayor of a town in Western North Carolina as well as a prominent civil rights activist, artist and community leader. Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler will do the honors.
Eighteen descendants of Jake and Leah Chiles will be present. In addition, the current homeowners have tracked down and invited descendants or original owners and residents of Chiles House throughout its nearly 100 years of existence including grandchildren of Barnie and Hatttie Pearlman of the famous Pearlman Salvage Company, later Pearlman Furniture Store. Many descendants of these families will be seeing the house for the first time. In addition, Gus Adams, grandson of Judge Junius Adams, attorney for Jake and Leah Chiles, as well as the Vanderbilt Family will be present in his role as contractor on the recent restoration of the home.
WHO: James Vaughn and Kevin Broadwater (Homeowners); Gwen Wisler (Asheville Vice Mayor); Anne Chiles (Health permitting – 96 year old daughter-in-law of Jake and Leah Chiles)
WHAT: Historical marker Unveiling in Newly renamed Leah Chiles Park
WHEN: Park Marker Unveiling 5:45pm Saturday May 12, 2018 — Celebration from 5pm to 8pm
WHERE: 21 Chiles Ave Asheville. Marker unveiling directly across the street on the corner of Chiles Ave and Lakewood Parkway.
The event is a celebration and thank you to all who have assisted in getting the park renamed and the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the construction crew that did the latest restoration (and their families). Representatives from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County (PSABC) and the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office will be present as will representatives of the Kenilworth Residents Association (KRA) and neighbors besides the previously mentioned descendants of families who owned and lived in Chiles House since 1922. There will be approximately 125 people in attendance.
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