George Phillips
was born in Wurttenburg, Germany in 1862. 
As a young man he immigrated to the United States in 1889.  He later became a naturalized citizen of the
U.S.  Phillips was a baker by trade.

On June 25, 1909
the Sylvan Valley News announced that
George Philip (spellings of his surname vary in documents and articles), “a
baker of long experience” was opening a “first-class bakery” in Brevard.

Phillip’s Bakery
was located in the Jenkins store building on the southwest corner of Main and
Caldwell streets.  The newspaper reported
that the old oven at the Franklin Hotel was temporarily used to bake bread
while the new business was being set-up.

Phillip’s Bakery on West Jordan St., circa 1928

Around 1920 the
bakery relocated to a new brick building on Jordan St. behind present day
Bullwinkle’s.  The bakery continued to
operate until the mid-1930s when Phillips’ health began to fail.  Apparently he lost his eyesight and was
unable to continue working, then lost his business.

Phillips had
never married and had little family in the United States.  A niece who lived in Colorado helped support
him and offered to pay for his return to Germany.  The plan was for George to live with his
brother and sister in Wurttenburg.  In
September 1936 passage was booked on the steamship, Berlin.

In August 1939, Mrs. C.Y. Patton, the Welfare Superintendent for Transylvania County was notified
that the German government considered Phillips a “pauper who was a burden on
the State” and was sending him back to the U.S. 
Mrs. Patton arranged for Phillips to once again make his home in
Transylvania County through support from North Carolina’s State Blind
Commission, the Transylvania Welfare department and local friends.

Phillips
initially lived with the Ed Mackey family in Little River and later with the
Herbert Bailey family.  He died on
September 16, 1944 and is buried at the Cathey’s Creek Cemetery.

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
828-884-3151 X242.