The popular board game Monopoly dates back to the early
1900s.  The main objective of the game is
to purchase property and become rich, ultimately bankrupting other
players.   The game board is made up of nine spaces on
each side, plus the four corner spaces. 
The spaces represent properties that players can purchase as well as
spaces offering advantages and disadvantages. 
The game, which is known world-wide, has hundreds of different editions
and spin-offs.

Brevardopoly board, 1985

Opoly fundraisers offer a way to design and customize
the board to individual towns, universities, groups, and organizations.  In the town-opoly versions funds are raised
through selling board properties to local businesses or organizations for
advertisement and by selling the game itself.

In 1985 the Rotary Club developed a Brevardopoly version
of the game.  Properties were owned by local
stores, real estate companies, restaurants, and other businesses and
organizations. While many of them are no longer
in business, there are several including Harris Ace Hardware, Eldridge Motors,
Smith Systems, and Love’s Jewelry & Gifts that are still operating more
than 30 years later.  Belk had the honored
space of Boardwalk and the Olin Corp. was on GO where players collect $200 each
time they pass.

Examples of Chance and Brevard Chamber of Commerce cards from the game.

Spaces traditionally used by railroads were sponsored by
local banks—First State Savings & Loan, Brevard Federal Savings & Loan,
First Citizens Bank, and First Union National Bank.

The game also includes the traditional Chance and
Community Chest cards that offer players bonuses such as Bank Pays You Dividend
of $50 or $75 from the Chamber of Commerce. 
Other cards demand payment of $15 to Brevard for Poor Tax or $100 to the
Hospital.  And of course, there are the
traditional “Go Directly to Brevard Jail” and “Get Out of Jail Free” cards.  The Brevardopoly version refers to the Community Chest cards as Brevard Chamber of Commerce cards.

Photographs and information for this column are provided
by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs.  For more information, comments,
or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected] or
828-884-1820.