Note: This is part of a series about the history of the local community centers in Transylvania County.

Balsam Grove is located in the vicinity of Highway 215, north of PARI in the western part of Transylvania County. Balsam Grove was first settled in 1821 by Kitchens, Brackens, Owens, Dunns, Galloways, and McCalls. Gloucester Lumber provided work for many early residents. The town was named  with the establishment of the first post office in 1875 with William Galloway as the first postmaster.

McCalls are so prolific in the area that it was once divided into “Bob Town” which extended from Shoal Creek to Indian Creek and “Bill Town” which extended from Pinhook Valley to Gloucester Bridge. These were named for two McCall sons who populated the area after intermarriage with two Glazener sisters.

The Balsam Grove Community Center began as a schoolhouse. At this time in history, there were no standardized public schools; instead communities would pull together to build a school house and hire a teacher. The first mention of a teacher in Balsam Grove was in November 1907 when the Brevard News noted that “Miss M. Fellar of West Tennessee has a large school at Balsam Grove.” It was located on Shoal Creek Road.

Though a relatively small area, Balsam Grove had several schools. In 1918 they were listed as Robinson School, Shoal Creek School, and Stoven Camp School. None of this were the building that became the Community Center. Instead the community center was built in 1922 when the Transylvania County Board of Education (TCBOE)bought a parcel of land from the McCalls to build the Balsam Grove School.

The Balsam Grove School was a modern building with three rooms – two classrooms separated by a storage room. It was a rustic setting without running water, so students would have to carry water from the nearby spring, and help with other routine chores and maintenance, such as fetching firewood for heat and cleaning. In 1924 an additional 2.8 acres was purchased adjoining the parcel to expand.

Transportation was always an issue for the Balsam Grove School. As early as 1930 community advocates lobbied for funding to improve the bus route, which took far too long to pick up and drop off students. It helped in 1933 when the NC Department of Transportation and the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) worked in tandem to widen and grade the road from Gloucester Bridge to the CCC camp. The Camp was organized under Capt. O’Neill of Charleston, SC.

In 1935 the Balsam Grove School community members worked to improve the grounds by adding fencing. Apparently random livestock would roam the grounds, creating mess and distraction for students. Through the years, the location remained a voting site, as many schools still are. This and the connections to the students made it a natural community center, despite its status as a school at this time.

In 1945 there was a county push for more agricultural support, and so Balsam Grove became a TVA Demonstration Group with 50 farmers joining. This unification helped the community to see their shared progress and help each other to be even more successful in the challenging work of farming.

In 1945, Roxie Dunn McCall and her husband J.M. McCall sold 57 acres of land to Cornelius and Viola McCall with the “exception [of] a small tract of land sold off the above given boundary to the Board of Education of Transylvania County NC.” This means that the land was officially sold to the Board of Education at this time, whereas it may have previously been owned by the McCalls with permission for use for the school.

On January 12, 1954 the Balsam Grove Community Center was established when Cooperative Extension Agent Bob Love encouraged the Balsam Grove community to start a Development Club. Other development clubs were also being formed in the county, spurring a sense of competition for improvement. Talmadge R. Chastain was the first president. The building was still a school during daytime hours up until 1957, when it was closed and the attending students were transferred to Rosman schools.

The Balsam Grove Community Development Club met regularly through the years. In 1983 the TCBOE deeded the land to the BGCC with the caveat that if the building was not used for community club purposes for a span of six months, ownership would revert back to TCBOE. It’s unclear why this caveat was needed, but in October of 1992, TCBOE removed the restriction and granted the land to the BGCC without the need for continuous use.

The building was beginning to show its age. Over time renovations had changed the outward appearance, such as the large central window being replaced with a smaller one, and then eventually no window at all. The community members saw the need for a new building and began fundraising. It took many years, but in 2005 they were able to finish construction on a new brick building spanning 3,300 square feet.

This building continues to host the members of the Balsam Grove community for social gatherings, celebrations, voting, and community occasions. Current president of the Balsam Grove Community Center Bernice Powell can be reached for more information.

Photos and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Laura Sperry, Local History Librarian. Special thanks to Bernice Powell and Keitha Reid. Sources available upon request.