Railroad Dramatically Boosted Brevard's Population

Railroad depot in Brevard.

In 1894 the railroad arrived in Brevard bringing with it a new era.  Branson’s Business Directory lists the population of Brevard as 350 in 1890, by 1896 it was 500.  According to the U.S. Federal Census the population of Brevard jumped from 327 to 584 between 1890 and 1900, an increase of 78.6%.

Transylvania Pioneer, Brevard’s first newspaper, had started on July 22, 1887.  It was in business less than a year.  Other short-lived newspapers followed but The Sylvan Valley News was the first long running paper.  Begun in November 1895, The Sylvan Valley News operated for more than 20 years and is a good source for local news of the early 20^th century.

West Main Street, early 1900s. 
Davis-Walker Drug Company on left, McMinn Building on right.

Nathan McMinn built the first brick commercial building on the northwest corner of the town square in 1899.  Earlier that same year McMinn had organized the Brevard Banking Company.  It moved into the front of the new building when completed.  The McMinn Building, currently home of Number 7 Arts, remains a cornerstone of downtown Brevard. 

Across the street on the southwest corner a two-story brick commercial building was occupied by the Davis-Walker Drug Company.  It was later Davis-Long Drug and then just Long Drug Store.  Today it is the home of O.P. Taylor’s.

On the southeast corner of the town square John McMinn, son of Nathan, build the Aethelwold Hotel.  The first floor housed the hotel lobby and various businesses.  In August 1903 Brevard Banking moved into the Aethelwold building where it remained until March 1925.

The town square now had prominent brick buildings on all four corners.  Soon other brick businesses lined West Main and South Broad streets.  Others would follow on East Main, Caldwell, Jordan, and Gaston streets as the town expanded.

In 1907 the Brevard Post Office moved into the new Fraternity Building on South Broad next door to the Sylvan Valley News.  The little village was now a bustling town with a bank, hotel, newspaper, a central post office, and numerous businesses around the town square and courthouse. 

Over the next several week’s Picturing the Past will continue the story of Brevard’s development through the years. 

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.