In 1925, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, along with many organizations throughout the South, headed north to participate in the Southern Exposition, held in the Grand Central Palace in New York.
Asheville Archives: The great deer hunt of 1936
In the late fall and early winter of 1936, Pisgah National Forest invited hunters to bag stags. Though there were plenty of stipulations involved, thousands of nimrods applied to partake in the monthlong hunt.
Costumed adventures allow locals to transcend time and space
Whether playing a role in an elaborate fantasy scenario or serving as historical interpreters, many adventurous souls in Western North Carolina say that dressing up as someone from another time and place helps transport them to a different reality.
Adventurous entertainment in Asheville
Want to add an extra layer of intrigue to your recreation? Try a costumes community bike ride, an LGBTQ+ walking tour, an escape adventure or a figure drawing salon.
Asheville Archives: City Council declares Asheville a bird sanctuary, 1947
“What does the establishment of a wild bird sanctuary mean?” asked an editorial in the Sunday, Feb. 23, 1947 edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times. “It means that the birds of the area are officially recognized as worthy residents and entitled to certain rights and privileges.”
Asheville Archives: United World Federalists formed in Asheville, 1947
On Feb. 21, 1947, The Asheville Citizen reported on a three-day conference taking place in Asheville. Consisting of over a dozen organizations, the groups sought “to solve one of the oldest questions in time — how to live peaceably with all peoples.”
Confederates at Calvary
Last month marked the 400th anniversary of the introduction of slavery to North America, triggering a new round of national soul-searching about human bondage and its complex legacy. And closer to home, Lost Cause-era monuments to Confederate figures at Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher also raise significant questions about the country’s troubled history and this region’s place in it.
Asheville Archives: The streetcar strike of 1913
On April 26, 1913, trolley conductors went on strike. The union members called for peaceful protest. Unfortunately, many residents did not abide by their wishes. As the protest dragged on, violence erupted, with bricks thrown and shots fired.
Asheville Archives: Local workers celebrate Labor Day, 1897
In 1894, Labor Day was officially recognized as a federal holiday. Three years later, Asheville hosed its inaugural Labor Day celebration. The event featured a series of activities, including bicycle runs, foot races and a game of tug-of-war.
Asheville Archives: Zebulon Vance argues against civil rights, 1874
n 1874, Zebulon Vance stood before the House of Representatives arguing against a bill that would outlaw racial discrimination in juries, schools, transportation and public accommodations. “Let the people of the South alone, sir, and this thing will adjust itself,” Vance proclaimed.
Declassified: WNC’s top-secret past
Local historian Jon Elliston’s latest talk, “WNC Declassified,” will feature accounts of Nazi sympathizers, FBI intrigue, espionage, nuclear war and the undoing of a presidency.
Partnership for Appalachian Girls’ Education explores mountain foodways
“I see a potential for these girls not just to get educated and inspired and leave, but to take that inspiration and figure out how to instill it in their communities and create a better future,” says historian and baker Maia Surdam of the 10-year-old program.
Asheville Archives: Early motorists overwhelm downtown roads, 1919-25
On Aug. 29, 1920, The Sunday Citizen asked readers, “Why should the city provide places in the streets for the prolonged parking of motors?” Responses to the question varied.
Asheville Archives: The failed paper heist of 1906
In 1906, Asheville tried what it could to lure Champion Fibre Co. away from building its new plant in Canton, desperate to bring the company’s 1,000 new jobs to the banks of the French Broad River.
Asheville Archives: Letters condemning and condoning segregation, 1955
On Sept. 4, 1955, in an opinion piece published in the Asheville Citizen-Times’ Sunday edition, Montreat resident Dr. Nelson L. Bell proclaimed: “Both forced segregation and forced integration infringe on the legal right of the individual.” Not everyone agreed, including Beaverdam resident Jim Stokely Jr.
Asheville Archives: Grovemont-on-Swannanoa
Billed as America’s first planned community, Grovemont-on-Swannanoa was depicted as a place to escape the crowded city in order to live among lakes, parks and floral gardens.
Local historians uncover Asheville’s hidden past
On Wednesday, July 31, the North Carolina Room will host the official launch party, celebrating the publication of Hidden History of Asheville.
Asheville Archives: Pack Memorial Public Library opens, 1919
On Jan. 2, 1919 the Pack Memorial Public Library opened on Pack Square.
Asheville Archives: Tobacco and the Great Depression
On Dec. 10, 1930, despite the country’s economic turmoil, the Carolina Tobacco Warehouse opened in downtown Asheville.
About Face
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Asheville Archives: The Tyler Building’s earliest occupants, 1928
On Nov. 11, 1928, The Sunday Citizen announced the opening of the Tyler Building. The three-story building, which still stands today, totals 90,000 square feet. It took five months to construct, costing $175,000.
