Over
the next few weeks Picturing the Past will take a closer look at some
photographs from the collection in the Local History Room at the Transylvania
County Library.  These images feature
some of the smaller or lesser known businesses in Brevard and at other locations
in the county—places you may have never even heard of or long ago
forgotten. 

This
week’s featured photograph focuses on the southwest corner of Main and Caldwell
streets. A sign attached to the corner of the Clemson Theater building reads,
Ford’s Corner.  Above that is another
sign for Biltmore Ice Cream.  Ford’s Corner
was a popular hangout for young people to meet friends.  They served sandwiches, sodas, popcorn,
candy, gum, sundries and cigarettes.  A
search of advertisements in the Transylvania Times and Brevard College
yearbooks and student newspaper indicated that Ford’s Corner was in business
from approximately 1941-1951.

Looking
down the block past the Clemson and Co-Ed theaters, Abercrombie Furniture was
located in the next building from 1938-1949.  Across Main Street, where Blue Ridge Bakery is
today, the sign above the awnings is for Poole’s Men Shop.  Russ Poole opened his shop carrying men’s suits
and sportswear in April 1948.  The
business operated until at least May 1951 when the latest advertisement for it
was found in the Brevard College Clarion.

The
exact date of the photograph is unknown but using the known information on
these businesses it was likely taken in 1948 or 1949.  The movies showing at the Clemson and Co-Ed
theaters had been released in the early 1940s—“Durango Kid” in 1940 and “American
Empire” in December 1942, so they were probably being shown as second-runs.  Searching the Transylvania Times for movie
showings did not produce a date when both films were playing simultaneously.

If you
have more information about these businesses the staff in the Local History
Room would like to hear from you.

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.