Ford's Corner: Once A Popular Brevard Hangout

Over the next few weeks Picturing the Past will take a closer look at some photographs from the collection in the Local History Room at the Transylvania County Library.  These images feature some of the smaller or lesser known businesses in Brevard and at other locations in the county—places you may have never even heard of or long ago forgotten. 

This week’s featured photograph focuses on the southwest corner of Main and Caldwell streets. A sign attached to the corner of the Clemson Theater building reads, Ford’s Corner.  Above that is another sign for Biltmore Ice Cream.  Ford’s Corner was a popular hangout for young people to meet friends.  They served sandwiches, sodas, popcorn, candy, gum, sundries and cigarettes.  A search of advertisements in the Transylvania Times and Brevard College yearbooks and student newspaper indicated that Ford’s Corner was in business from approximately 1941-1951.

Looking down the block past the Clemson and Co-Ed theaters, Abercrombie Furniture was located in the next building from 1938-1949.  Across Main Street, where Blue Ridge Bakery is today, the sign above the awnings is for Poole’s Men Shop.  Russ Poole opened his shop carrying men’s suits and sportswear in April 1948.  The business operated until at least May 1951 when the latest advertisement for it was found in the Brevard College Clarion.

The exact date of the photograph is unknown but using the known information on these businesses it was likely taken in 1948 or 1949.  The movies showing at the Clemson and Co-Ed theaters had been released in the early 1940s—“Durango Kid” in 1940 and “American Empire” in December 1942, so they were probably being shown as second-runs.  Searching the Transylvania Times for movie showings did not produce a date when both films were playing simultaneously.

If you have more information about these businesses the staff in the Local History Room would like to hear from you.

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.