The Silversteen Family’s Rosman Home, 1992

Before Silvermont was built in 1917, Joseph and Elizabeth
Silversteen lived in a two-story house in Rosman. The distinctive one-story
porch sheltered a central entrance and was supported by columns, giving the
home a classical look. The Silversteens moved to Transylvania County in 1902
from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Their first home was intended as a “honeymoon
cottage” – an antiquated term for a starter home — until they began a family
in 1905. A smaller house was built on the same site years later, which some say
was a playhouse for their three daughters, and others say was housing for their
cook. The small one-story, gable-front house is similar in style to the
original dwelling.

The one-story house on the same property, either a playhouse or cook’s quarters, 1992

Joseph Silversteen was a leading industrialist in
Transylvania County at the time and was responsible for the name of the town
Rosman, which was a blend of the last names of two of his business associates: Joseph
Rosenthal and Morris Omansky. The Silversteens lived in the same community as
the workers for their numerous businesses including: the Toxaway Tanning
Company, Gloucester Lumber Company, Rosman Tanning Extract Company, and the
Transylvania Tanning Company. Located near the intersection of New Town Road
and West Main Street in Rosman, their home was often a center for Christmas
celebrations that they opened to the public, including to their workers.

The Silversteens moved into their downtown Brevard mansion
in 1917. Their original Transylvania County residence in Rosman stood for many
years until structural damage left it beyond repair and it had to be
demolished.

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 Gardner. For more
information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.