Large Brevard Home Lost to Fire

On August 5, 1914, Mr. J.A. Miller’s property on North Country Club Road
and home to Mr. E.F. Moffitt and 36 boarders, went up in flames.

On August 5, 1914, one of Brevard’s largest and finest homes went up in flames. The house was located on what is today North Country Club Road, somewhere between Gillespie Circle and Gallimore Road. The house belonged to Mr. J.A. Miller and was occupied by Mr. E.F. Moffitt and 36 boarders. Reportedly, the fire started early in the morning and originated in the third floor attic, which was located over the kitchen. The cause of the fire is unknown and was a matter of speculation at the time. Some thought it could have been caused by a defect in the electrical wiring in the attic; others pointed to the kitchen chimney flue that went through the attic. 

According to the Sylvan Valley News from August 7, 1914, “Faithful work was done by the men handling the hose and by others, but without success. A great part of Mr. Moffett’s [sic] household furniture was saved, but much on the third floor was lost. This loss he estimated at $500 [equivalent in purchasing power to about $13,650.15 in 2021], but he could not speak with certainty. Mr. Miller’s loss is considerable [sic] greater. The house was a fine brick building, perhaps the roomiest private dwelling house in Brevard. Making allowances [sic] for insurance, the loss probably [sic] was not less than $3000 [equivalent in purchasing power to about $81,900.90 in 2021].”

Ad from the Sylvan Valley News, 1914

Both Mr. J.A. Miller and Mr. E.F. Moffitt were well-known businessmen in Brevard. Miller owned a supply company that sold hardware, building material, farming implements, paints, furniture and general house furnishings. A carpenter by trade, Moffitt was also a contractor and builder, and owned a construction company that bore his name. Moffitt was also involved in the auction business of the time. In the 1900s and 1910s, Miller and Moffitt were frequently encountered names in the newspaper, as the two men heavily advertised their businesses in the newspaper, and were often mentioned in lot and land transactions and real estate dealings. 

In the photograph above, one may notice that there are some 150 people, many of them women and children, observing the efforts of a crew of men to put out the fire. Much of the salvaged furniture is assembled in the yard, on the foreground, on the left. Several men are helping to hoist and direct the water hose up the roof of the house. The house to the left, which at the time was owned by Mr. J.A. Miller, was later occupied by the Tom Shipman family, and after that by the Joe Pickelsimer family.

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. This article was written by Anne-Monique Ransdell. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact NC Room staff at ncroom@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.