Monday, August 27, 2018

Making Moonshine In the County Was Big Business

Making moonshine was common practice and a part of mountain culture during the 1800s. Nearly every home kept some form of spirits—whiskey, wine, ale or brandy, available for themselves and visitors.  In addition, converting corn, grain and fruit crops to liquor allowed for easier transport to market for much needed cash.  It was simply considered good economics.

By the beginning of the 20th century public opinion, influenced by groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, had shifted against alcohol consumption.  The 18th Amendment made production, importation, transportation and sale of alcohol a criminal offense in the U.S. beginning on January 17, 1920 but in North Carolina it had been illegal since May 26, 1908. 

Tom Woods, Bert Freeman and two unidentified officials prepare to dump
moonshine off the old Wilson Bridge into the French Broad River.
A search of the Sylvan Valley News and Brevard News revealed articles on state and local efforts to end the distilling trade.  Headlines included “War on Moonshiners”, “Whiskey and Its Evils” and “A Healthy Crusade”, all purporting the ruinous effects of liquor.  According to a March 1926 news release North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia produced more moonshine than all other states combined.

Newspaper accounts regularly tell of deputies seizing stills and making arrests throughout the county in Balsam Grove, Cedar Mountain, Cherryfield, Connestee Falls, East Fork, Frozen Creek, Island Ford, Quebec, Rich Mountain, Rosman, Reid’s Siding and See-Off.  Raids ranged from a large outfit with a capacity of 122 gallons and 800 gallons of beer captured by J.A. and Coleman Galloway at Black Knob in the Little River section in 1914 to a travel size “baby still” of twelve gallons nabbed by Officer Sims in 1926. 


Brevard Police Chief Paul Fisher (center) and Officers Ray Buchanan and
Boyce Gillespie confiscated six gallons of moonshine from a stolen
1950 Ford.  The driver was not apprehended.
Stills were hidden deep in the woods or even underground.  In 1948 Sheriff Bert Freeman uncovered a 100-gallon-a-day “factory” that had been operating just outside of Brevard for three years.  A tunnel, over 200 feet in length, led to a large cave serving as the still room. Fresh spring water was piped in from a half mile away and waste was piped out a mile where it mixed with waste from Transylvania Tanning and went unnoticed.  The find was covered by news agency across the state and as far away as San Francisco News, September 22, 1948.

Occasionally one of the community news columns would taunt law enforcement with challenges like this one from the September 25, 1929 Gloucester News, “Well, officers, we have plenty of moonshine now, at least some of our men and boys are getting plenty it.  If you will let us alone, we will have more than we need and some to let you have in a few more weeks.”

Although prohibition ended with the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1930 many North Carolina counties, including Transylvania County, remained dry long after the state legalized the sale of alcohol in 1937.

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.

Monday, August 20, 2018

What Did Everyday items Cost in 1968?

During the last two week Picturing the Past has looked back at some feature stories in the Centennial Issue published by the Transylvania Times.   This week’s focus is on the advertisements from that issue.  How much did groceries, clothes, furniture and appliances, cars or a house cost in 1968?

In 1968 A&P was located on S. Broad St. beside the Dardinal Drive-In.
Grocery stores in Brevard included A&P, Community Cash, and Winn Dixie.  Shoppers could get 2 pounds of bacon for 99₵ or chuck roast for 37₵ per pound at A&P.  Community Cash had the best price on bread at 21₵ for a pound-and-a-half loaf, a quart of mayonnaise for 29₵ and three cantaloupes for 89₵.  If canned peaches, 3 for 89₵ or catsup, 4 for $1.00 were on the list the deals were at Winn-Dixie.

Personal items on sale at Varner’s Drug Store included a 12-pack of overnight Pampers for 89₵ and Q.T. Tanning Lotion for 97₵. 

Pat's Shoe Mart was on N. Broad St. in College Plaza.
Several downtown clothing and shoe stores were also offering sales.  Women’s heels were $2.98-8.98 and flats were $2.98-5.98 at Pat’s Shoe Mart, Plummer’s Department Store had girls’ summer dresses for $2.50 to $4.99 and Belk’s had men’s 100% cotton work pants for $1.80 and a matching shirt at just $1.00.

Anyone looking for appliances or furniture had several options as well.  Mims & Lyda Radio, TV & Appliances carried Mobile Maid portable dishwashers for $209.95.  Hotpoint appliances were sold at Rice Furniture, including a permanent press dryer for $99.88 with free delivery and service.  At Abercrombie’s Home Furnishings Sealy posture pillow mattress and box springs sets were only $79.

Families looking for a second car could get a 1961 Chevrolet Parkwood station wagon straight-drive, with radio and a heater for $695 at Lyda-McCrary Motors or a 1963 Volkswagen bus for $895 at McCrary Chevy-Olds.
McCrary Chevy-Olds on N. Broad St. had a large selection of cars for sale.

Realtor Gil Coan had a 3 bed/2 bath 1850 square feet home with a fireplace located on Jordan Road in Brevard for $22,000 and Ray Fisher was selling a 2 bed cottage with a large utility room and attached garage on a large wooded lot near Brevard College for $11,000.
              
While these prices may seem like a dream today, it is also important to remember that the median household income in America was $7,700 and minimum wage had just been raised from $1.40 to $1.60 per hour in 1968.  In Transylvania County the average annual gross income for a farmer was $1,398, the Register of Deeds was paid $5,835 annually and the sheriff made $8,442 a year.  The hiring rate at DuPont was $2.35 per hour and although no experience was required they did prefer applicants with a high school education.

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.

Monday, August 13, 2018

History of Manufacturing Industry in Transylvania Co.

When the Transylvania Times published a special Centennial Issue in celebration of Brevard’s 100th anniversary the local economy was tied to industry and construction.

During the early 1900s the local economy and jobs were centered on the logging and lumber industry.  Joseph Silversteen was considered a pioneer industrialist when he began Toxaway Tanning in 1902.  His businesses grew to include Gloucester Lumber, Rosman Tanning & Extract and Transylvania Tanning.  Louis Carr opened his lumber company in 1912 and logged thousands of acres in the Pisgah National Forest.  At one time Carr Lumber had the largest sawmill operation in Western North Carolina. 

Both Silversteen and Carr had employed hundreds of workers over the course of several decades but by 1968 both were deceased and their businesses closed.  Carr’s son, Frank continued to operate Carr Builders’ Supply and Silversteen’s son-in-law Albert Weiss had purchased the former Transylvania Tanning property for his machine company.  Weiss employed 24 people making machine parts for local businesses and national corporations such as General Electric.

The 1940s and 1950s saw the addition of Transylvania County’s two largest manufacturers.  In 1968 the Ecusta Paper Corporation, which had begun in 1939, was now part of the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation and had 3000 employees at their Pisgah Forest plant.  Ecusta was credited for bringing big industry to Brevard.

Brevard’s DuPont Plant opened in 1957 to manufacture silicon but soon switched to x-ray film.  Through an innovative program of pre-training, employees were able to transition from their jobs in silicon production to the film industry without losing a day’s work.  The plant employed about 1500 people in 1968.

Myers Dining Hall at Brevard College was one of Bryant Construction's
numerous building projects.
Jack Bryant had started Bryant Electric in 1952 as a solo operation.  Fourteen years later Bryant Corporation included separate electrical and construction companies and was the largest contractor in the county with jobs throughout the southeastern U.S.  The Bryant Corporation employed 150 people and subcontracted with an additional 300.

The American Thread plant under construction in 1964.

Newer companies included American Thread and Mitchell-Bissell both located in the Rosman area.  The American Thread Company constructed a large modern plant to manufacture cotton thread and yarn in 1964.   Four years later they employed 300 people.

In 1961 the Mitchell-Bissell Company, which had been in business since the late 1800s, built a modern facility to manufacture wire guides.  They soon expanded to other metal parts and assembly and had 90 employees.  Now Known as M-B Industries, they are the only Transylvania manufacturer from 1968 that remains in operation 50 years later.

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.

Monday, August 6, 2018

The Transylvania Times Publishes Centennial Issue

On July 18, 1968 The Transylvania Times published a special Centennial Issue of the newspaper commemorating Brevard’s first 100 years.  It was the largest newspaper published by the Times up to that date, with 74 pages in nine sections including numerous old photographs, stories from the past and news of the day.  Now as the Town of Brevard celebrates 150 years Picturing the Past will take a look back at some of the stories from that issue and where we are today.

The history of several civic, fraternal and veteran organizations were featured.  While their missions differed local clubs shared a commitment of service to the community. They also played a significant role in the social lives of their members.

The Masonic Temple on East Main St. as it looked in 1964.
The oldest of these organizations was the Dunn’s Rock Masonic Lodge, first established in 1865 by local soldiers who had joined Military Masonic groups during the Civil War.  In the early 1900s they began raising funds to build a temple in Brevard, however due to the Depression and then WWII constructed was not undertaken until 1950.

Woodmen of the World at a flag raising at Rosman High School.
Woodmen of the World, another fraternal organization, was formed in September 1907. They promoted fraternal, civic and patriotic service through programs to groups such as the Boy Scouts and in the schools.  In 1968 there were approximately 400 members in the local chapter. 

Following WWI the first local veteran’s organization, the Monroe Wilson Post of the American Legion, was created.  They met at the City Hall, Courthouse, or other locations until they were able to acquire a piece of property from the City.  The American Legion building on Jordan St. was dedicated on July 10, 1948.  The American Legion routinely sponsored and supported youth activities, such as a Boy Scout Troup and sports teams.

In 1945 the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) also organized a post in Brevard.  Named for Lewis E. Jackson, the first Transylvania soldier killed in WWII, they met in various locations until constructing their current building on Nicholson Creek Rd. in the mid-1960s.  In 1968 they had 310 members and like several other groups sponsored youth events and sports teams.

Civic organizations included the Kiwanis Club, Lions Club and Rotary Club.  The Kiwanis, an international organization whose motto is, “Serving the Children of the World” support human service projects.  The local chapter was established in 1926.  They sponsored Boy Scout Troop 701 for 80 years before the Brevard Kiwanis Club was disband in 2006. 

The Lions Club was created by businessmen to use their skills not only for themselves but to serve their communities. The Lions, whose slogan “Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety” gives them their name, are dedicated to assisting the visually impaired.  For several years the Brevard Club, which was organized in 1937, operated a mattress factory managed by Clarence Owen and a News Stand run by Phillip Price.  Both Owen and Price were blind.

The Brevard Rotary Club’s first president, Transylvania Times editor, John Anderson pledged that each member would practice the motto of “Service Above Self” in accepting its charter in 1947.

Since the late 1900s the popularity and membership of service clubs has dwindled significantly. Today the local chapters of most of these organizations are much smaller.

Next week Picturing the Past will look at the major industries featured in the 1968 Centennial Issue.  A copy is available in the Local History room at the Transylvania County Library to browse.

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.