Whitmire Motor Co. Was Once a Stable

Roland Whitmire, W.L. Couch, and Rush Whitmire
in the Whitmire Motor show room.

In the 1920s Roland and Rush Whitmire operated Whitmire Motor Company in Brevard.  They were the sons of T.W. Whitmire who owned Whitmire Motor Company in Asheville from 1915-1924.  The elder Whitmire was a prominent businessman in Brevard. 

Brevard’s Whitmire Motor was originally located on Broad St.  In late 1925 they moved to Main St.  Their newly renovated building had previously been a livery stable.  The Whitmires remodeled it to include a show room, repair shop, and parts room, along with an office on the main level.  Storage space was located in the basement, which could be accessed from the back of the building. 

Rush Whitmire served as the sales manager.  The repair shop was run by Luther Cooper.  J.A. Siniard, who had trained as a Chevrolet mechanic, was also employed in the shop.

Whitmire Motor Company closed at the beginning of the Depression.  By 1930 B&B Feed & Seed was operating out of the space.  Later Houston’s Furniture (1941-1990), followed by Grover’s Office Supply (1990-2005) were in the building.  After sitting empty for several years, Jaime’s Creole Brasserie renovated the building and opened in 2014.

On November 3, 1922 The Brevard News ran a full page of poems written to advertise various Brevard businesses, including this one for Whitmire Motor Co.

Lawrence Holt, Parts Department, was a brother-in-law of
Roland and Rush Whitmire.

In these rushing, busy times

Wa’king’s much too slow;

And so we need a motor car

Everywhere we go.

When you want the best in town,

See Whitmire Motor Co.

In Transylvania county there

Are places nice to go

And visit, such as waterfalls,

And views from mountains show.

To get there quick, we buy a car

From Whitmire Motor Co.

When you’re buying motor cars

Sure you want to know

That the one you’re purchasing

Is fixed up right to go.

So if you would be satisfied

See Whitmire Motor Co.

Mechanic Choc Hayes and repair shop foreman Luther Cooper.
Cooper was the adopted son of T.W. & Mattie Whitmire.

Our genial “Whit” is always proud

His bran new cars to show

So hop in with him, Mister,

He’ll take you for a blow,

You’ll close the deal for sure when you

Try Whitmire Motor Co.

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.