In the
early 1900s most small communities had a general merchandise store.  On the Hendersonville Rd. about 2.5 miles from
downtown Brevard the Deaver-Patton Company’s store was located at the busy
crossroads of Pisgah Forest surrounded by Brevard Tannin’ Company and Carr
Lumber Company.

Deaver-Patton Company brass token for merchandise. Notice the spelling of Pizgah Forest, NC.

The
Certificate of Incorporation of the Deaver-Patton Company on file at the
Register of Deeds Office is dated September 1, 1909.  The stockholders were John C. Deaver, T.T.
(Thomas Taylor) Patton, T.E. (Thomas Edward) Patton, and H.H. (Harry Heiss)
Patton.  A notice for spectacles lost
near the store in the September 11, 1903 Sylvan Valley News gives evidence that
Deaver and Patton were in business by 1903 though. 

Deaver
was the manager of the business, which sold dry goods, clothing and shoes,
groceries, feed and seed, and farm implements. 
In 1910 the store’s capacity was enlarged to carry hardware and
furniture, as well.

A
Certificate of Dissolution was filed on March 19, 1914 after Deaver sold his
shares to Henry M. Brown and T.C. McCoy of Asheville.  At that time Brown took over management of the
store which was rename Brown-Patton Company. 
By 1919 the store had added automobile tires to their inventory.

Later
the company again changed its name when Brown apparently sold his interest.  It was known as the McCoy-Patton Company from
about 1922 until 1927.  An announcement
in the January 20, 1927 issue of the Brevard News stated that the McCoy-Patton
Company was going out of the dry goods business.  McCoy-Patton did continue to sell tires for a
while longer. 

Ed
McCoy, son of T.C. McCoy, served as the Pisgah Forest post master from 1920
through 1933.  During that time the post
office operated from the store.  When Sid
Barnett took over as acting post master in December 1933 it was announced that
the office would remain in the old McCoy-Patton store building indicating the
store was no longer in operation. 

In December 1934, a news Patton’s Store operated by John C. Deaver’s half-brother, Frank Patton and Pisgah Forest post master, Dewey Edwards opened in the building.  April
4, 1940 article in the Transylvania Times stated that, “Harry Patton has about
completed plans for the wrecking of the present Patton’s Store to be replaced
on the opposite side of the highway with a new and modern store building.”

Next
week, Picturing the Past will feature more Pisgah Forest businesses of the
mid-1900s.

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.