In the 1880s, the Hart family settled in the Pisgah Forest area and built a homestead on what was once Hart Lane. According to the 1990-1991 Transylvania County Architectural Survey, the home was built in 1883 and had multiple renovations over the years. “As it appears today, it has a front-gable roof with flared eaves, an engaged two-story front porch, and weatherboard siding. The one-story front gable extension, side two-story gable extension, and side two-story shed bathroom addition all have German siding. […] Inside the house are various handmade wood mantels with molded shelves, molded door surrounds, and paneled walls.” Two guesthouses were added to the property in the 1920s, and a number of additions and subtractions have occurred over the years.

Ladson Mills Hart and Flora Hart initially farmed the area and had five children: Inez Neil, Marguerite Rowena, Tavy Harold, Walter Flave and Pauline Ursula. By 1910, the census listed a boarder from Missouri, though they may have begun boarding before that time. A 1911 Sylvan Valley News advertisement noted, “Board for Summer months in a country home, beautifully situation in the Pisgah Forest section. Nice rooms, fine water, good country roads for riding and driving. Country livery can be had reasonable. R.F.D. daily. Only a limited number can be accommodated. Address, Mrs. L. M. Hart, Pisgah Forest, N.C.” In 1914, Ladson Mills died from tuberculosis. Even after his death, The Pines continued to run under the management of Flora (Mrs. L. M. Hart) until her daughter and son-in-law took over.

Tavy Hart lived and farmed on adjacent land, while Walter continued to live at The Pines along his wife Thelma. Walter owned an auto shop and later worked as a health officer. Philip J. (Jerry) Jerome married the Hart’s youngest daughter Pauline “Polly” Ursula Hart in December 1926. By the 1930 census, Flora, Walter Hart, Jerry and Polly were all recorded at The Pines residence. The family was very involved in the community and Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church in particular. Polly and Thelma (Walter’s wife) held many successful afternoon teas and led church circles. Weddings and all types of events were held at The Pines. One boarder, Mary Charlotte Billings, even wrote a poem entitled “Quiet Things,” about her stay and dedicated it to “The Pines” and dear “Mumsey,” referring to Flora Hart.

In “The Heritage of Transylvania County, Vol. 3,” Emily Ruth Moore Carpenter said “the Hart place was run by a man who had a cane molasses mill and did tin canning for the community. Polly Hart was [Emily’s] best friend.” The Pines appeared to be their “summer home” and Flora lived in Brevard during the winter. In 1923, the papers noted that the family was “occupying the Wallis Bungalow on Main Street.” Over the years, newspaper articles continued to report when the family moved back and forth from The Pines seasonally.

Jerry Jerome, who was co-founder of Brevard Federal Savings & Loan, was noted as the most involved in the inn’s extensive renovations. The architectural survey says that he made “many changes” in 1965. He and Polly ran The Pines until 1973, when Tom and Mary McEntire bought the property and ran it until 2016. The Pines Country Inn is currently owned and operated by the Jacobs family. Its long history and reputation still make it a destination for those visiting Western North Carolina. An ad in a 1919 Brevard brochure sounds like it might describe the inn even today, though there are more rooms available on the property now. “Located just a few miles out from Brevard upon a beautiful site overlooking the picturesque Little River, this ten-room home offers a real vacation, country fare, and the pleasures that go with genuine out-of-door life in the mountains.”

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Sources are available upon request. This article was written by Local History Associate Erin Weber Boss. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.