Pioneering families settled in the See Off Community prior to 1800, before Transylvania County was organized. As years went by, the same area near Dunn’s Rock and Cedar Mountain became a destination for “summer people” seeking retreat and recreation in the mountains of Transylvania County.

The name of See Off mountain led to a play on words for the location known as “See Shore” off Highway 276. These recreational and entrepreneurial cabins were an enclave built on a large swath of land belonging to the King family since the 1920s. The family would meet there for social gatherings, such as a fish fry in October 1935.

Mary Jane McCrary, a noted historian who published “Transylvania Beginnings” in 1975 about the early settlement of Transylvania County, was the owner of this property for many years. She facilitated the use of the octagonal building next to the See Shore pond as many businesses over the years, including “The Coffee Cup” from 1959 into the early 1960s by Charlotte McCutcheon.

A shop known as “8 Crafters” was a popular location in the 1960s, run by Gus and Maggie Masters. The married couple and their son Mike moved to Transylvania County in 1955. Perhaps Transylvania “transplants” may relate to their story – the couple was traveling during an extended vacation. They camped at Pink Beds in the Pisgah National Forest, fell in love with Transylvania County, and decided to make it their home.

They had both had careers in California – him in the military, and her behind the scenes in the film industry—before semi-retirement and travel. They had enrolled in an adult education class to learn the art of enameling jewelry before embarking on their journey, and this craft proved to be a source of income along the way.

Once settled in North Carolina, they were encouraged to join the Southern Highland Craft Guild and became members as the founders of the “Masters Craft Center”. Gus and Maggie started an artist collective called “8 Crafters” along with other artisans from Transylvania County, operating it out of the octagonal See Shore building which had been so many businesses through the years. 8 Crafters transitioned into a business just for the Masters, which they called “Masters Crafts,” advertising in the Transylvania Times by June 1961.

Maggie had other creative pursuits as well. From 1960-1972, she directed plays for the Brevard Little Theatre. Gus, Maggie, and son Mike are credited with the creation of the Robin Hood Barn as a theater in the Sherwood Forest community in Cedar Mountain. The Masters had a long relationship as resident artists with Sherwood Forest, which promoted an “Arts and Crafts Village” to residents in the 1960s. Some of the first artists were Chris Sheridan, potter; Claire Nichols, painter; Beth Mitchell, silk screen artist; Ellen Foote, needleworker, and of course Gus and Maggie Masters, enamelists. The derelict milking barn next to the larger barn was converted into a craft shop where artisans and crafters of all kinds within Sherwood Forest could sell their creations.

During this time Maggie and Gus also began to teach enameling classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. This led to them being the co-directors of the school for the next two years. Many say that had the Masters not taken the helm at this time, the school may have folded. An enameling studio is still a part of the school’s buildings and was named in their honor as the Gus and Maggie Masters Enameling Studio.

They eventually moved to Asheville and continued to create art and build the art community locally. Maggie won numerous awards for her artistry. Gus passed away in 2001, and Maggie passed away in 2010. The impact they made on the local arts scene is still felt by many.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History Librarian Laura Sperry. Sources available upon request. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.