Taxi Cabs Offered Sightseeing Tours

An article in the June 11, 1920 Brevard News announced, “The Brevard Taxi Line which is a motor transportation service for carrying anyone anywhere they want to go at any time, has placed its office on Main St. in close proximity to the Court House Square.”  Peter Verdery was the manager.

About the same time Jim Bromfield operated a taxi stand with five Fords on Whitmire Street near the depot.  A.H. King later bought Bromfield’s business and moved it to W. Main St.

Siniard's Taxi Stand on E. Main St.
beside the current Humane Society Thrift Shop, August 1955.
From left:  Eck Simms, Luther Woods, Hale Siniard, unknown

Hale Siniard started his taxi service in a Model-T in 1921.  In a 1948 interview Siniard stated that in the early days a trip to Caesar’s Head took the entire day.  Going to Asheville or Hendersonville and back was a two-day venture.  Siniard averaged about 300 miles a week in the 1920s, by 1948 it was over 1000 miles per week.  He drove folks anywhere they needed or wanted to go, including three trips to California.  He would regularly take Dr. Lyday “for a ride” that would last a few days.  During the 43 years Siniard operated Star Taxi he mainly drove Packards.  After Siniard retired Star Taxi continued under different ownership until 1975.

Corn's Taxi operated from the Times Arcade alley on W. Main St.

Mack Corn began his taxi company in the early 1940s.  At a time when gas was rationed taxis were the main way to get around town.  The cars did not have radios so drivers would return to the taxi stand after dropping someone off to get information for their next fare.  A typical trip cost less than a dollar.  Corn, who mainly drove Pontiacs, had a fleet as large as six vehicles at one point.  Corn’s Taxi operated until 1963.

Edward Killian was the first African-American to operate a taxi company in Brevard.  Killian’s Cabs was in business throughout the 1950s.

During the mid-1900s there were a number of other taxi cab companies that operated in Transylvania County.  Safety Cab was located on W. Jordan St. from 1942 until 1978.  City Cabs and Brevard Cab Service were long-time businesses.  Others that ran for briefer periods were Bailey’s Taxi, Martin Taxi, Parton Taxi, Red Bird Taxi, Thomas Cabs, and Veterans’ Cab.  In addition to short trips around town and longer trips out-of-town many offered sightseeing tours.

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 828-884-1820.