Architectural Surveys Provide Excellent Information

JHPC (Joint Historical Preservation Commission) architectural survey files are an excellent source of information for historical structures in Transylvania County.  Many of the photographs of homes and businesses used in Picturing the Past articles are from the countywide architectural survey taken between September 1990 and September 1991.

Structures surveyed included both small and large buildings on farms and in town,
such as the privy (left) on the Looney Banther farm in the Whitewater section of the
county and the former Brevard Lumber building on King St. in Brevard.

An outside consultant, along with local history experts, combed the county identifying properties that were at least 50 years old and that retained their historic and architectural integrity.

After the survey was completed an overview of the county’s history from about 1820 to 1941 was published.  It was divided into four periods defined by events that strongly affected the development, culture, and architecture of the county.  In addition, more than 50 local properties were added to a state-maintained study list identifying properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Close-ups of architectural details are reflected in some images,
like this carved sunburst bracket support on the overhang of the
polygonal bay windows of the Fitzgerald Patton House located behind Bi-Lo.

In 1995 the Transylvania County Joint Historic Preservation Commission began working on a book based on the survey data prepared by the consultant.  “Transylvania: The Architectural History of a Mountain County” was published in 1998.  It features over 200 of the county’s finest and most representative historic properties.

Exterior shots are included for all structures
as well as some interior shots (below), like Faith Chapel in Cedar Mountain.

Files for all 489 properties are located in the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room at the Transylvania County Library.  Nearly 1,500 images from these properties representing Balsam Grove, Brevard, Cedar Mountain, Lake Toxaway, Penrose, Pisgah Forest, Rosman and other areas of the county are now available online at DigitalNC.org.  Hundreds of images depicting farm buildings—barns, chicken houses, corn cribs, silos, smokehouses, and spring houses—reflect the county’s agricultural roots.  Bridges, businesses, camps, cemeteries, churches, gauging stations, mills, and residential homes are among the other structures included in the survey.

The property files also contain corresponding data which architectural descriptions, family names, historical background, and locations.  Interns from Rosman High School and Brevard College are currently working to scan this supporting information which will then be added to the photographs on DigitalNC.

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.