County Home Housed the Aged and Infirm

Main house at the Transylvania County Home, 1917-1943.

Transylvania County has a long history of helping provide for those who are unable to care for themselves.  Early minutes of the Transylvania Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions state that the Sheriff was responsible for collecting “poor tax” to be distributed by the wardens of the poor.

Beginning in 1888 there are references to a “Poor House”, “County Home” and “Home for the aged and infirm” in the minutes of the Transylvania County Commissioners.  All refer to the same institution.  On February 9, 1888 the county purchased S.J. Tinsley’s 80-acre farm located west of Brevard for the purpose of housing those in need.  Housing consisted of four one-room cabins with fireplaces and a caretaker’s cabin. 

The minutes also contain records of purchases of food and supplies, caretaker contracts, occasional audits and references to individual inmates.  The last caretaker of this property was W. A. Brown who received $7 per month, per pauper.  Brown provided firewood, food and minimal maintenance. 

In 1917 the county sold this property and moved the County Home a few mi

les further west.  It was located across the old highway from Cathey’s Creek Baptist Church.  There was more space here to house those in need.   The main house had eleven bedrooms.  A second house had five bedrooms and two smaller houses had four and two bedrooms. 

In the late 1930s and early 1940s Transylvania County was operating in a financial deficit.  In an effort to reduce expenses and generated revenue the County Home was closed and the property sold.  On September 7, 1943 Charles R. Ziegler purchased it for $15,000.

In 1977 Hwy 64 was widen and realigned between Brevard and Rosman.  It cut through the property that had once been the County Home.  Today only one of the original buildings and some graves remain.

Marker at Cathey's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

The pauper’s cemetery originally belonged to the county.  It was on the northern side of the property near the Cathey’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.  On September 16, 1933 the county deeded the cemetery to the church for $1.00. 

The Cathey’s Creek Community Center recently erected a monument in memory of the people from the County Home buried in the cemetery.  They hav

e also compiled a new book with information about everyone buried at Cathey’s Creek Baptist Church.  They hope to have the book complete and available soon.

To learn more about the County Home visit the library blog at nchistoryroom.blogspot.com or check out Ed Comer’s booklet, Transylvania County Home History available at the library.

Aerial photo showing layout of County Home in Selica Community, 1917-1943.

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 marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.