Library Preserves Firefighting History

Firefighters used Duke Power Company's "cherry picker"
 to reach the fire in the Henning Inn attic on March 23, 1967.

The Local History Room worked with the Brevard Fire Department’s to preserve materials from their collection.   Photographs were scanned and added to the collection at the Library.  Included were pictures of personnel, equipment, trainings, and fires mainly from the mid-to late 1900s.  

Additional informational materials were photocopied and added to Brevard Fire Department folder.

The first Brevard Fire Department was organized in the late 1800s.  The station was located between the courthouse and the McMinn building, in the middle of what is today North Broad Street. 

In 1925 the fire department was reorganized and relocated to a new brick building on W. Main St. across from the present City Hall.  By 1945 they had moved into the building where the City Council Chambers current are located on the south side of W. Main St.  The present Fire Department building, on the corner of W. Main and England streets, was constructed in 1969.

Firefighter training.

The Brevard Fire Department covers an area of approximately 100 square miles, including the city of Brevard, the Williamson Creek area, the Brevard Music Center and the Pisgah National Forest to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Pisgah Inn.  They have four engines, two tankers, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue unit and a brush unit.

If other Transylvania County organizations have materials, particularly photographs, that they are interested in preserving for future generations the Local History staff and volunteers at the Library would be glad to assist.

Can you help identify any of these Brevard Jr. Firefighters?
The photo was taken on Probart St. in front of the Brevard Presbyterian Church.

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 828-884-3151 X242.

Silversteen, Osborne Help Boy With Cleft Palate

Joseph Silversteen

Joseph Silversteen is credited for helping bring industry to Transylvania County in the early 1900s.  In A History of …Estatoe Ford, Jeptha, Toxaway, Eastatoe, …Rosman, NC Rebecca Suddeth states, “Joseph and Elizabeth Silversteen were benefactors to many in the Town of Rosman, and elsewhere.  They were concerned about their community and the people who lived there.  They were willing to help—provide money, land, lumber—in any way possible to aid in the betterment and enrichment of the people.”

This generous spirit shines through in stories such as that of the Broom family.  Rev. Hobert and Orie Jane Broom’s son, Leroy was born with a cleft palate on August 26, 1931.  When Leroy was 3 years-old he was at the Gloucester General Store with his father one day when they ran into Joseph Silversteen.  Silversteen, who was known for his love of children, talked with Rev. Broom about Leroy having surgery.  When Broom stated that he could not afford the surgery Silversteen offered to pay for it.

Dr. Joseph & Edith Osborne

Originally the surgery was to occur in Atlanta but Dr. Osborne assured Silversteen and the Brooms he could perform the procedure.

Dr. Joseph Osborne had come to Rosman in 1933. He would serve the people of Rosman and Transylvania County as a family doctor and dentist for the next 34 years.

Osborne was also a pilot, a big game hunter and a photographer.  His early photographs and home movies of folks around Rosman are available at the Library.

Following the successful surgery, Leroy stayed with Dr. Osborne and his wife, who was a nurse, while he healed.  The Osborne’s were so taken with little Leroy Broom that they held a Christmas party for him, spoiled him, and even wanted to adopt him. 

Edith. Osborne with Leroy Broom after his surgery.

Thanks to the kindness of Joseph Silversteen and skill of Dr. Osborne Leroy Broom’s cleft palate was repaired.  Broom ran a shoe store in Greenville, SC for many years.  This story and the photograph of Leroy with Edith Osborne were shared by his sister, Mary Broom Owens.

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 828-884-3151 X242.

Silversteen Built Logging Empire in Rosman

Train at Toxaway (Rosman) Depot

The first train rolled into Toxaway on the Transylvania Railroad Company’s newly extended line from Brevard on September 1, 1900.  Two years later the railroad would reach Lake Toxaway and the Toxaway Inn.   On February 20, 1905 Toxaway was officially renamed Rosman to avoid confusion with Lake Toxaway.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Joseph Silversteen had arrived in the area and began building his logging and lumber empire.  The April 25, 1902 Sylvan Valley News mentioned that work was underway on the new tannery in Toxaway (Rosman).  After establishing Toxaway Tanning Company, Silversteen built Gloucester Lumber Company and Rosman Tanning & Extract Plant in Rosman.

Rosman's 5-room schoolhouse.

As Silversteen’s businesses expanded so did the town population.   Soon there were nearly 500 residents.  Silversteen, along with his wife Elizabeth, would play an important role in the town of Rosman’s development. 

Mrs. Silversteen worked to improve the school by raising money for supplies and pushing for a new public school building.  The Silversteens donated property for the construction of a 5-room wooden school to include elementary through high school students. 

1927 (left) and 1919 brick schools in Rosman.

As the town and surrounding community grew more space was needed.  In 1919 the first brick school was constructed for $25,000.  The high school became accredited in 1923.  In 1925 school buses helped bring in even more students and once again there was a need for additional space.  In 1927 a second brick school was built. 

Although those two early buildings are now gone, the school was remodeled and expanded several times over the following decades.   All students were educated on the same campus until Rosman Elementary opened in the fall of 1975.

Today the school remains the heart of Rosman.  During the 2015-16 school year they have been celebrating 100 years of public education at Rosman Schools.

On May 20-21, Rosman High School will present Thornton Wilder’s three-act play, “Our Town.”   The play celebrates life in small town America through the daily life of ordinary citizens from 1901-1913.

Linda Peeples and the Rosman High thespians invite everyone to their adaption of Wilder’s work from a time when their town was growing and transitioning from a small settlement to an industrial town. 

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 828-884-3151 X242.

Early Columns Reveal Social Activities

Browsing through the “Personal Mention” column of early newspapers readers learn about the social lives of local residents.  Visits by out-of-town guests, business trips, trips to see friends and relatives elsewhere, dinner parties, and other entertainments were all regularly included.

Elizabeth Silversteen's Kitchen Diary.

Throughout the early and mid-1900s prominent families, like Joseph and Elizabeth Silversteen often hosted dinner parties, dances, bridge parties, and croquet, tennis and horseshoe matches on the lawn.

Elizabeth Silversteen’s “Kitchen Diary” reflects daily menus and occasionally names of dinner guests.  Dinner typically included soup, meat, two or three vegetables and a dessert.  Christmas dinner was turkey and oysters, dressing, steamed tomatoes, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes, pickles, cranberry sauce, celery, pineapple salad, coffee, mince pie and candy.  The diary appears to date from 1918 or 1919.

The Silversteen’s youngest daughter was a classically trained contralto with a love for folk music.  During her musical career Adelaide used the name Adelaide Van Wey.  She toured in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.  She performed at famed locations such as Carnegie Hall and Radio City’s Rainbow Room, as well as on radio and television.  She also produced several albums. 

The Silversteen's dining room.

Adelaide claimed, “My first love is music.  My second is cooking and writing about the kitchen.”  For 15 years she wrote a weekly column about cooking and shared recipes.  Her first “Cook’s Corner” article was published in the Transylvania Times on March 5, 1953.  Her final column was published three days after her death on March 21, 1968.

Her final column included recipes for Strawberry Charlotte Russe, Rice Pudding, Bride’s Pudding, Banana Pudding and Apricot-Brandy Sauce.  She ended with, “Thought for Food from My Red Rocker:  Pudding seems to taste even better when served in an attractive container or in individual small containers.  Good appetite.”

Silvermont 2nd Floor House Museum is open (2-4 pm) the 3^rd Friday of each month or by special appointment.

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 828-884-3151 X242.

Community Suppers Are Traditional Events

Community suppers have long been popular events at the Community Centers throughout the county.  Local residence get together for socials gatherings, benefits or fundraisers, and to share their favorite dishes.  It’s only natural that cook books filled with recipes from the community cooks developed from all these dinners.

In 1959 the Balsam Grove Community Development Club used the proceeds from the sale of their cook book to aid in the completion of The Albert Schweitzer Memorial Hospital.  The hospital construction had begun in 1955 as a community project inspired by Dr. Gaine Cannon to bring medical care to the area.  The cook book includes a wild game section with recipes for venison, squirrel, or opossum.

Cook books from the communities of Connestee, Lake Toxaway, Little River, Sapphire-Whitewater, Sherwood Forest and Williamson Creek are also part of the North Carolina Room collection at the Transylvania County Library.

Cover of Mathatasian Club cook book.

Over the years other groups have published cook books as well.  The earliest local cook book is a small collection of recipes compiled by the Mathatasian Club in 1939.  

Sarah Tilson contributed the following recipe for English Christmas Cookies.

2 cups brown sugar

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup sour milk

3 eggs beaten separately

1 teaspoon each of soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg

Add 1 cup dates, 1 cup nuts, 3 cups flour

Drop small teaspoonful of batter in a greased pan and bake.

Sarah Tilson was a long time high school math teacher in Transylvania County.  After retiring from the school system she worked for the Library.  Mrs. Tilson was responsible for starting the Library’s Local History collection.

There are also cook books from the Brevard Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Brevard Music Center, Brevard Women’s Association, Center for Dialogue, Order of the Eastern Star, Elks Lodge Ladies Auxiliary, Family Place, Jaycettes, Land of Waterfalls Senior Games, Little River Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Pisgah Forest Elementary Parents & Educators, Sapphire Lakes Ladies Golf Association, and Transylvania County Handcrafters’ Guild.

"Prize Recipes of Rosman" by the Ladies Auxiliaries
of the Rosman Rescue Squad &
Rosman Volunteer Fire Department.

While most of the recipes are typical fare, others are traditionally Southern, such as Rosie Powell’s Ramps and Potatoes found in the Rosman Rescue Squad & Fire Department Ladies Auxiliaries cook book.

6 large potatoes

2 doz. ramps

½ c. bacon dripping

1 tsp. salt

Clean and cut up ramps, using about half of stem.  Cube potatoes.  Place in pan and cover with water.  Add salt and ½ of bacon drippings.  Bring to a boil and cook until tender.  Drain.  Place remaining bacon drippings in skillet (iron) and heat to sizzling.  Add potatoes and ramps and fry to a light brown.  Serve with any kind of meat and cornbread.

If you have cook books published by a Transylvania County church or organization that you would like to donated to the Local History Room collection please contact Marcy.

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 828-884-3151 X242.