City Market Played Vital Role in Brevard

Sam Allison, far right, with several employees inside his
City Market butcher shop.

In the first decade of the 1900s there were several butcher shops or meat markets located in Brevard. W.H. “Bill” Duckworth was involved in the business as early as 1907.  Duckworth had a couple of different partners and different locations initially.  By late 1910 Duckworth’s shop, known as City Market, was located on West Main St. and it was reported that he had purchased an electric mill to aid in processing meats into sausage.

Between 1915 and 1919 City Market changed hands several times being owned by S.F. “Sam” Allison and Younge, Allison and Johnson, and then Allison solely for a while.  In August 1918, Allison sold the business to J. Frank McCall who added a refrigerated counter and showcase.  McCall sold it to W.J. Smith but by May 1919 City Market has back in the hands of Duckworth and Allison. 

An employee and Sam Allison stand with knives
at the ready outside the City Market on the south
side of West Main St., circa 1920.  Also pictured is
Allison's wife, Cora.

In early 1920 Allison bought out Duckworth and would continue to operate City Market for many years.  In addition to beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey and fish, the market carried produce and eggs. 

In February 1922 Allison moved the business across the street to a storefront between Clement Jewelry and Plummer and Trantham’s Department Store on the north side of West Main Street.  Allison also announced that the shop would carry a large supply of grocery items, foreign and domestic fresh and cured meats, along with local meats, eggs and produce.

Allison announced his retirement in May 1945.  Through the years he had made many friends and become known for his barbeques and fish fries.  He was often in charge of benefit dinners for local events and held large wild game feeds and fish fries at his home on the (Old) Hendersonville Hwy. for large gatherings of friends. 

Allison died as the result of a car accident in October 1950.  Sam and Cora Allison are buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Brevard.

Sam Allison with large fish outside his City Market shop.

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.