Library Houses Silversteen Family Collection

Examples of documents in the Silversteen Family Collection 
include sheet music with words by Adelaide Van Wey
and music by Brevard native, Donald Lee Moore.

Picturing the Past typically features photographs from the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room collection at the Transylvania County Library.  In addition to photographs the North Carolina Room has books, microfilm, oral histories, postcards, periodicals, newsletters, scrapbooks, and archival files.

Over the next few weeks some of the larger document collections will be featured in this column.  Although these materials are not available online, patrons are invited to view them in the North Carolina Room.  The items have been organized and indexed through many hours of work by staff and volunteers.  In some cases the materials have also been scanned. 

They include the Silversteen Family Collection, Friends of DuPont Forest information, Horsepasture River Conservation materials, early Lake Toxaway land development records, scrapbooks from local communities and organizations, and more.

The Silversteen family was fundamental to enterprise and the civic arena in Transylvania County during the early part of the 20th century.  The Silversteen Family Collection contains property deeds, legal papers, stock certificates, newspaper articles, handwritten notes, correspondence, awards, honors, certificates, programs, research notes, photographs, invitations, speech notes, and reports related to family members and their entrepreneurial and civic activities.

One of the numerous business documents in the
Silversteen Family Collections.

Other related collections pertain to the formation of the town of Rosman, Joseph Silversteen’s businesses (Gloucester Lumber, Rosman Tanning and Extract, Toxaway Tanning), organizations (Daughters of the American Revolution, Red Cross), the professional achievements of Adelaide Van Wey as a performer, and the construction of their Brevard residence, Silvermont.  Contemporary content includes information on the restoration of Silvermont and the Silvermont House Museum.

As Silvermont celebrates its 100^th anniversary during 2017 this is perfect opportunity to learn more about a family that was instrumental in the economic development of Transylvania County.  Visit the North Carolina Room at the Library to research, browse, or view photographs.

The Silvermont House Museum, located at 364 E. Main St., consists of nine rooms on the second floor.  Rooms are set-up to reflect the Silversteen’s life and home.  It is open on the third Friday of each month, March to October, between the hours of 2 pm – 4 pm.  Special tours can be arranged by contacting the Transylvania County Parks & Recreation Department at 828-884-3156.

As the Chairman of the American Red Cross Civilian Relief for
Transylvania County Mrs. Silversteen assisted family members of
local soldiers during WWI.

The Transylvania Heritage Museum is currently hosting “The Silversteen Legacy” exhibit, telling the story of the Silversteen family and their involvement in Transylvania County.  The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm.  It is located at 189 W. Main St.

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.