Rowell
Bosse’s interests in hiking, botany, and history led him to spend over 20
years working to preserve the history of Transylvania County.

The North Carolina Bartram Trail Society was organized on
November 1, 1977 by eleven North Carolina residents, including Rowell Bosse.  Their goal was to build an 80 mile trail
honoring naturalist, William Bartram. 
Bartram had traveled through the Southern Appalachians from 1773-1777,
recording the plants, animals, and the life of the Native Americans he
encountered.  Bartram’s Travels of William Bartram offers
detailed descriptions of his journey.  Bosse,
along with Transylvania residents Charles Moore and Walter McKelvey, was
instrumental in mapping and flagging Batram’s route through North Carolina.

Rowell Bosse.

For many years Bosse served on the Historic Properties Commission
board.  He is credited for helping the
county achieve CLG (Certified Local Government) status, obtaining grant funding
for a county-wide architectural survey of historic buildings, and recording
oral histories of the memories of long-time residents.  Through the Historic Properties Commission Rowell
also worked to assist Mary Jane McCrary in publishing her book, Transylvania Beginnings.

He created an archive where documents pertaining to the
businesses, organizations, families and general history of Transylvania County
could be preserved.  This collection was the beginnings of today’s Local History Collection in the Rowell Bosse North
Carolina Room at the Transylvania County Library.

Bosse was also active with the Transylvania County Historical
Society in its early efforts to acquire and preserve the Allison-Deaver House.

In 1992 Rowell Bosse was presented with the Gertrude S. Carroway
Award of Merit for his, “outstanding efforts in the field of historic
preservation” by Preservation North Carolina.

Bosse died
on May 30, 1999.  His preservation
efforts live on through the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, the Transylvania
County Historical Society, the Transylvania Heritage Museum, and the North
Carolina Bartram Trail Society.  Display
cases on the 2^nd floor of the Library currently feature information
about Rowell Bosse.  On Friday, July 15
there will be a celebration of Rowell’s preservation efforts and how they live
on with a brief presentation at 1:00 pm.

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.