Many Homes Built With Stone, River Rock

The Morrow House reflects Louise Morrow's
appreciation for the simplicity of the
northern England cottage.

The final group of homes from the Historic House Ramble to be featured in Picturing the Past are three stone houses with varied architectural styles.

Stone and river rock were plentiful and commonly used as a building material throughout Transylvania County.  Prior to 1900 it was mainly used for foundations, chimneys, springhouses, retaining walls, steps, and walkways.  The earliest known stone dwelling in the county was the Hume or Rock Hotel used by summer residents in the Dunn’s Rock area prior to the Civil War.  The hotel was burned by bushwhackers during the war.

Just over 50 years later Royal and Louise Morrow used the stones from the old hotel to build their Craftsman style home in Brevard.  The plans for the house came from the June 1909 issue of Gustav Stickley’s magazine, The Craftsman.  The home features a steep roof with stone veneered shed dormers on both the front and back of the house.  The second story gable end walls are also stone veneer over frame construction.  The Morrow House is the oldest stone house in Brevard and still owned by the family.

The Orr's planned a stone garage but changed it to a small
starter apartment for their married daughter.

The two-story Tudor Revival style Charles Orr House was built around 1926 using gray granite from the Breese quarry.  Stone is also used extensively for walkways, steps, terraces, the driveway, and a retaining wall.  On the interior the living room fireplace features a large rock-faced stone mantel.

The Revival style Brombacher House is constructed of randomly stacked stones giving it a rustic Adirondack appearance uncommon to this area.  Located on a hillside overlooking the French Broad River valley to the south the home features a large covered front porch with stone support columns, a stone floor, and stone facing.

Transylvania:  The Architectural History of a Mountain County states that, “Transylvania County’s most significant architectural legacy from the years between the world wars is that body of work left by talented local stonemasons.”  The Morrow, Orr, and Brombacher homes are all evidence to the statement.

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.