Rotary Created Brevard Version of Monopoly

The popular board game Monopoly dates back to the early 1900s.  The main objective of the game is to purchase property and become rich, ultimately bankrupting other players.   The game board is made up of nine spaces on each side, plus the four corner spaces.  The spaces represent properties that players can purchase as well as spaces offering advantages and disadvantages.  The game, which is known world-wide, has hundreds of different editions and spin-offs.

Brevardopoly board, 1985

Opoly fundraisers offer a way to design and customize the board to individual towns, universities, groups, and organizations.  In the town-opoly versions funds are raised through selling board properties to local businesses or organizations for advertisement and by selling the game itself.

In 1985 the Rotary Club developed a Brevardopoly version of the game.  Properties were owned by local stores, real estate companies, restaurants, and other businesses and organizations. While many of them are no longer in business, there are several including Harris Ace Hardware, Eldridge Motors, Smith Systems, and Love’s Jewelry & Gifts that are still operating more than 30 years later.  Belk had the honored space of Boardwalk and the Olin Corp. was on GO where players collect $200 each time they pass.

Examples of Chance and Brevard Chamber of Commerce
cards from the game.

Spaces traditionally used by railroads were sponsored by local banks—First State Savings & Loan, Brevard Federal Savings & Loan, First Citizens Bank, and First Union National Bank.

The game also includes the traditional Chance and Community Chest cards that offer players bonuses such as Bank Pays You Dividend of $50 or $75 from the Chamber of Commerce.  Other cards demand payment of $15 to Brevard for Poor Tax or $100 to the Hospital.  And of course, there are the traditional “Go Directly to Brevard Jail” and “Get Out of Jail Free” cards.  The Brevardopoly version refers to the Community Chest cards as Brevard Chamber of Commerce cards.

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.