Brevard Businesses Were Quite Varied

A 1955 Brevard laundromat.

For the past several weeks Picturing the Past has been featuring photographs from inside some of Brevard’s businesses.  Drug stores, restaurants, barber and beauty shops, department stores, furniture stores, and jewelry shops have all been covered.  There are a few photographs that don’t fit any one type of business but that should not be left out so this week’s photographs are a mix.

In the mid-1900s laundromats became a vital part of every community.  Staffed laundry businesses offered washing, drying, and folding service.  Self-service laundries provided coin-operated washers and dryers for the customers’ use.  Transylvania County has had numerous laundromats through the years.  The photograph here is dated 1955.  Citizen’s Telephone directories for 1955 listed five laundromats—Brevard Laundry & Coal Company on Whitmire St., Micy’s Laundry on King St., Nu Way Cleaners on N. Caldwell St., Superior Cleaners of W. Main St., and The Launderette on S. Broad St.

Tankersley Florist.

The next photograph is inside Tankersley’s Florist shop on West Main St.  Quay and Etta Tankersley began their floral business in the old Clayton Hotel on the northwest corner of Main and Caldwell streets in 1939.  When the Clayton Hotel was turned down they moved into the one-story brick building beside it.  Over the years they would move two more times, each time just one door west of their previous shop.  The Tankersleys officially retired in 1966 when their daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Herbert Henson, purchased the business.  In 1970 the Hensons added a gift shop and sold candles, crystal, china, and pottery along with fresh and artificial flowers and wreaths.  Tankersley’s Florist closed in 1999.

Jeannette and Pat Austin at Austin's Studio.

This week’s last photograph is Jeanette and Pat Austin inside Austin’s Studio on E. Main St.  The Austin family owned and operated Austin’s Studio in Brevard for 73 years.  The Austins donated hundreds of photographs and negatives to the archives to serve as a historical record of Transylvania County.  They have been preserved and scanned for current and future generations to enjoy. 

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.