Brevard Artist Home on Probart St. Built in 1910

It has been nearly 30 years since an architectural survey of Transylvania County was conducted.  Structures had to retain their architectural and historical integrity and have been constructed prior to 1941 to qualify for inclusion in the survey.

Almost all of the 250 plus homes within the City of Brevard that were surveyed for the project were built after 1900, with the majority being constructed prior to the economic collapse of the late 1920s and the Great Depression that followed. 

Stories of some Brevard’s once stately homes will be featured in occasional upcoming “Picturing the Past” articles.

Miss Annie Colcock of Yemassee, SC was an author and artist.  She wrote short stories published in magazines and at least one “summer romance” novel.  She studied art under William Chase in the U.S. and abroad.  Her work was exhibited in a number of large galleries.

An addition on the northeast side of the house comprised of  the dining room
on the main level and a bedroom above was constructed within the first
20 years of the house's existence.

After visiting Brevard on several occasion during the early 1900s, Miss Colcock purchased five acres on the west end of Probart St. in 1909.  Her two-story Dutch Colonial style cottage was constructed by Felix Norton.  A large cut granite fireplace had “Gladsheim” etched in the center stone.  Announcements in the Sylvan Valley News refer to Miss Colcock’s home by that name and state that she first moved into the residence for the summer season in 1910.

She also had an art studio on the property, where she taught classes.  In 1919 it was reported that she would exhibit her own paintings in her studio and open it to the public on Wednesday mornings.

Annie Toomis Colcock died in South Carolina on August 3, 1923.  Her only immediate surviving family was her mother.  Mrs. Colcock sold the property to Judson and Dora McCrary in May 1925.  A few days later they resold it to Mildred Austin.

William and Mildred Austin, along with their two small children and Mildred’s father had moved to Brevard to open a photography studio a few months earlier.  Within a few years two more daughters joined the family that would reside in the home for over 90 years until selling it in 2018.  The old home has since been torn down.

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.