Downtown Brevard Changes Gradually

Over the next several weeks Picturing the Past will look at downtown Brevard—its development, what’s changed, and what hasn’t. 

When the town was originally laid out in the 1860s it included a town square for public use.  The primary streets were Main St. running east and west and Broad St. running south out of town.  Broad Street did not originally go north beyond the Courthouse.

The first courthouse was a two-story wooden structure on the northwest corner of the town square.

The old Courthouse stars can be seen at the
Heritage Museum on West Main St.

In 1881 the current brick courthouse was completed.  The courthouse tower originally had stars on each side.  As early as 1911 there was talk of a town clock in the tower.  Money was raised by showing moving picture shows at the courthouse throughout the summer.  According to a Transylvania Times article on Library History this money was diverted in 1912 to help pay for repairs and improvements to the U.D.C. Library. Clocks were eventually installed in 1984. 

The courthouse also has a bell.  At one time it was rung when superior court was in session.  Today it is not often used but was rung 150 times on February 15, 2011 for the Transylvania County Sesquicentennial Opening Event.

August 1910--Note the cannon and cannon balls in the middle of the walkway.
There was also a drinking fountain and fire hydrant

In 1910 Mayor Breese acquired an “obsolete cannon and some empty shells for decorative purposes”.  The cannon is on a mounted stand to the east of the Courthouse. 

In 1920-21 a new jail was built behind the Courthouse.  The two building weren’t joined until the 1980s when the jail moved to Morgan St. and the Courthouse was renovated.

Through the years there have been numerous the bandstands or gazebos on the Courthouse lawn.  Early photographs show a round, covered, raised bandstand on the west side of the building.  Later there was a large rectangular, covered and raised bandstand on the west side.  In May 1929 a major wind storm caused extensive damage throughout the county, including knocking down a large oak that crushed the municipal bandstand.  A smaller covered bandstand replaced it.  The current gazebo is located near where the U.D.C. Library stood from 1911-1956.

1905--The original bandstand and pool with a central fountain.
There is also a drinking fountain in the lower right corner of the photo.

At one time there was also a large round pool with a central fountain on the southwest corner of the Courthouse lawn.

During the early 1900s the city Fire and Street Departments were located to the west of the Courthouse of as well.  They were both relocated to West Main in the mid-1920s.

In 1926 North Broad Street was opened up from Main St. to Probart St. for the first time.  North Broad was also paved at this time.

A photograph dated 1926 shows a low stone wall across the front of the Courthouse lawn and a newspaper photograph from May 1929 shows the stone wall on both the south and west sides of the building. 

Overall the appearance of the Transylvania County Courthouse itself has not changed a lot in 134 years.  The major changes have been the additions to back and changes on the grounds surrounding it.

Next week’s article will feature businesses along East Main Street.

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.