Downtown Brevard Bustled with Business

Downtown Brevard was a busy place in
the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.

Throughout the 1940s, 50s, and 60s the local economy was strong and the population of Brevard continued to grow.  The strong economy was the result of manufacturers like Ecusta, DuPont, American Thread, and Mitchell-Bissell.  Good jobs brought in new workers and their families.  The result was more people with more money to spend and downtown Brevard responded with business expansions and new businesses opening.

Most businesses were concentrated within a three to four block area along Main Street and South Broad Street with a few scattered on the side streets of Caldwell, Gaston, and Jordan.

Long’s Drug Store and Macfie’s Drug Store had long been fixtures in the center of town.  Long’s continued to operate until the mid-1950s.  From 1957-1981 Morris Pharmacy was in that location which is today O.P. Taylor’s.  Directly across Main St., Macfie’s was in business until 1969.  Varner’s Walgreen Drug Store included a popular soda fountain and sandwich shop that continues to operate today as Rocky’s.

There were four main department stores downtown during the mid-20^th century.  Plummer’s and Trantham’s were both in business before the 1930s.  In 1940 the new Belk Store opened on East Main. That same year Patterson’s opened in the former Belk location on West Main.  In addition there were a few smaller department or clothing stores, like Ayers, Cato’s, Schulman’s, and Winner’s all located on Main Street.  Patterson’s closed in 1989 leaving Belk as the last downtown department store until they relocated in 1993.

This aerial photograph shows the business district in 1953. 
Abercombie's Furniture on North Broad is in the lower right,
with McCrary Auto above it. The courthouse is just above the "N.C."

Furniture stores were also a major part of downtown.  Houston’s Furniture opened on South Broad St. in 1926.  In 1941 they moved into a newly remodeled modern store on East Main St. where they remained until 1990.  D.T. Abercrombie opened a furniture store on West Main St. in 1938.  Ten years later he built a large new building on the corner of Probart and North Broad St.  Pearlman’s Furniture opened on East Main in 1950 before moving to West Main.  In 1968 Edwin Rice bought the Pearlmans location and it has been Rice Furniture since.

Banks, barber and beauty shops, grocery, hardware and jewelry stores, newsstands, restaurants, and for many years two movie theaters were all part of the vibrant and lively downtown where shoppers could accomplish all their business in one location.

During the last three decades of the 20^th century downtowns across the country saw big changes.  Next week Picturing the Past will examine the effects of these changes on downtown Brevard.

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.