Community Clubs: An Essential Part For Developing Communities

As Community Clubs throughout the Transylvania County grew in the mid-20^th century they worked to develop programs for all ages.  Community dinners, holiday parties and other entertainments were common but they also sponsored clubs and educational programs for both youth and adults. 

Roadside clean-up in the See Off community included the removal of
numerous old cars along roadways in 1973.

Many programs focused on improving the appearance of their communities through projects such as roadside clean-up, adding signage and landscaping.  Members held fund raisers for a variety of projects.  They built floats for the Christmas parades in Brevard and Rosman.  The youth of the Cedar Mountain made their community and the state more welcoming by beautifying the triangle at the state line.  In the See Off community the youth helped maintain the community center, church and cemetery grounds.

This group from the Beaver 4-H Club in the Dunn's Rock community
learned about tractor maintenance in 1955.

Youth clubs including 4-H, scout troops, Future Farmers of America and Future Homemakers were sponsored by community clubs.  They participated in educational programs, community wide events and recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, swimming, cookouts, sock-hops and much more.  The youth also went on field trips to places like Shining Rock Wilderness, Table Rock State Pack, Cherokee’s “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama and Christmas shopping in Asheville.

For adults there were also a variety of activities from exercise classes to short-wave radio groups.  In the 1950s the Dunn’s Rock community undertook a 5-year project planting different varieties of corn as an agricultural demonstration for farmers.  In 1967 the Little River community took a leading role in organizing opposition to a T.V.A. proposal for dams on the French Broad River in Transylvania, Henderson and Buncombe counties.

Several communities helped establish volunteer fire departments, worked to improve roads and pushed for increased mail and telephone service.  Communities reported the weekly news for publication in the Transylvania Times.  The Transylvania County Library bookmobile had regular stops at several community centers.

Many of these Community Clubs continue today with programs for residents and visitors alike as a means of enriching and preserving the unique character of their communities.

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.