Picturing the Past Local History Blog

Band Camp! Part One: Community Bands

Note: This is part of a series on bands in Transylvania County.  Brevard Cornet Band  Concert bands became popular in America in the late nineteenth century as touring bands, particularly those

Planting by the Signs

Since the earliest days of agriculture, people have looked to the skies to predict the weather and ensure a successful harvest. These same practices have endured today, though not as

Local Dairy Farms

Dairy milk is a major component of the American diet in cheese, butter, yogurt, and other products. In years past a community would have relied on local dairy farms to

“Time traveling” phone booths

Journey with me, reader, to a distant past – the 1980s. Yes, the age before the internet, and indeed before the widespread use of cell phones. We might explain to

Friendship House

Transylvania County has a long history of charitable work and community-minded progress. One story of giving and service is that of the Friendship House. In the late 1950s two larger

Familiar Territory

One can’t help but notice construction on the new home of Territory Brevard’s Wine Tasting Room and Market. The location on the corner of Johnson and East Main Streets has

The Town Where Everyone Knows His Name

One would think that a town named after a particular person was because there had to be a special connection. Maybe perhaps he was the first mayor, or the first

Elizabeth Jean Mount Silversteen

The Silvermont mansion remains as a monument to the early days of Transylvania County’s industrial boom era. Many know about owner Joseph, who is certainly a key figure in that

Yearbooks for Genealogy

Yearbooks are a compendium of memories from a school year collected into a book with multiple copies to distribute. Their origin can be traced back to the 1800s when schools

Jimmie Neill’s Hattery

Winter weather has many reaching for hats and gloves, which might make one wonder about headwear of past Transylvanians. James Neill’s hattery, said to have been one social meeting place

Businessman E.B. Jaffe

Ernest Bernhard Jaffe was integral to the formation of the Middle Fork Corporation and built a number of buildings in the Eastatoe/Middle Fork area in the early 1950s. These included

Gatherings in early Appalachia

Community and social gatherings in early Appalachia often involved food, sharing cultural traditions, and strengthening relationships. Understanding, connecting, and passing knowledge all occur through storytelling, sharing personal experiences, and reliving

Gifting & Toys in Appalachia

Early Appalachian settlers were isolated from the conveniences of cities and stores, and so many gifts were handmade from local materials. Immigrants brought traditions from their homelands. CHILDREN AS MINIATURE

Sweets & Treats in Appalachia

Note: This is part of a series of articles on traditional foodways in southern Appalachia and pairs with a display on the 2nd floor of the Transylvania County Library. When

Food Preservation in Appalachia

Note: This is part of a series of articles on traditional foodways in southern Appalachia and pairs with a display on the 2nd floor of the Transylvania County Library. Early

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