History of the Gloucester Township

The Gloucester Township covers approximately 57 square mile in northwest portion of Transylvania County.  It is roughly triangular in shape with Hogback and Eastatoe townships to the south, Cathey’s Creek and Brevard townships to the east and Jackson and Haywood counties on the west. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs inside the far northeastern edge of the township for about two-and-a half-miles.  Highway 215 passes through Gloucester Township from Hwy 64 outside of Rosman to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Jesse McCall was one of Vanderbilt's foresters.  The McCall family
lived in one of the forest lodged located in the Gloucester township.

In the late 1800s George Vanderbilt purchased thousands of acres in Western North Carolina for his country estate.  His land stretched as far as Gloucester Township in Transylvania County.  Later Joseph Silversteen’s Gloucester Lumber Company logged much of the former Vanderbilt lands and surrounding area.  Silversteen built an extensive rail network into the area to haul timber to his mill at Rosman.  The main line ran along the North Fork of the French Broad River nearly to Devil’s Courthouse, with numerous spurs along Diamond, Lamance, Tucker, Shoal, Indian, and Courthouse creeks.

A Gloucester Lumber crew constructing a railroad trestle
in the Silversteen area.

The largest community within the township, and the only one with a post office, is Balsam Grove.  The Balsam Grove School was among the last rural schools in the county to close when students were sent to Rosman beginning with the 1957-58 school year.  Today the community of Balsam Grove includes an active community center, volunteer fire department, and McCall’s Grocery and Gas.

The Silversteen community roughly includes the area around Silversteen, Macedonia and Kitchens Loop roads.  By the 1840s enough families had settled in the area to establish the Macedonia Baptist Church. In the early-to-mid 1900s many local men worked in the logging industry to help support their families.  Silversteen donated property to build a large, three-room school that served the community for over 30 years before consolidation.  The school and community became known as Silversteen and the name remains today.

Gloucester Township was also the home of the Rosman Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Facility, locally known as the Tracking Station, from 1963-1995.  Since 1999 it has been the Pisgah Astronomic Research Institute (PARI) offering hands-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users in science, technology, engineering and math.

Gloucester is the third largest township in land area in Transylvania County but is the most sparsely populated.  Much of the Gloucester Township is part of the Pisgah National Forest.

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.

Veteran's Day

VETERAN'S DAY

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919.  The United States Congress passed a resolution on June 4, 1926 requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies.  On May 13, 1938 a Congressional Act made the 11th of November each year a legal holiday.

Local soldiers identified in this photograph include:  Coy Surrette, Tavie Hart, Jesse Scruggs, Avery Orr and Virgil Merrill.

A Train to Asheville

On this day in North Carolina History,

"The first train across the Blue Ridge arrives at Asheville, ending the city's isolation and igniting a tourist explosion. In the coming decade, Asheville's population will jump from 2,610 to 10,237." (1880)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher.

Do You Remember "Miss Daisy"?

"Miss Daisy"

Daisy Norton, known by generations of library users as “Miss Daisy” died on September 7, 1964.  Miss Daisy was a fixture at the Transylvania County Library since the days of the first library on the courthouse lawn.  Miss Daisy began working at the library around 1936 along side of Miss Annie Jean Gash.

Miss Daisy was responsible for preparing the books for the shelves, mending any damaged books and circulation.  Although Miss Daisy was quiet and rather shy, everyone who used the library knew and loved her.

 When Mrs. Kapp became the head Librarian in 1944 Miss Daisy remained on as the little library grew.  In December 1956 the library moved into a new building (today the County Administration Building beside the Courthouse).  Miss Daisy continued to work at the library until June 1964.

Library, 1912-1956

Library, 1956-1974

The Nation's First Forestry School

On this day in North Carolina History,

"The nation's first forestry school, directed by German immigrant Carl Schenck, opens at George W. Vanderbilt's Biltmore Forest." (1898)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. 

Lake Toxaway Dam Failed in 1916

On this day in North Carolina History,

"With a roar heard for miles, the earthen dam on Transylvania County's Lake Toxaway gives way during a storm. Water from the 540-acre man-made lake rushes south. Fortunately, residents have already fled to safety, and the 20 miles of near-wilderness en route to Walhalla, South Carolina, allows the flow to dissipate itself into a vast expanse of mud. 

The dam will be rebuilt in 1961, creating a 900-acre lake - the state's largest under private ownership." (1916)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher.

Scene at edge of former Lake Toxaway basin.

Photo provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library; LMW L-51.

King Mill Destroyed by 1916 Flood

The original King Mill was built by Jonathan King around 1840 on King Creek north of Brevard.  It was used to grind wheat and corn.  When the old mill was beyond repair Jonathan’s son, Samuel Barnett King, built a new mill across the creek.  The new mill powered the production of fine furniture and lumber for home building and other uses.      

James Columbus King, son of Samuel, operated the mill his whole life.  In poor health, James King died on July 18, 1916—the same day flood waters  destroyed the mill.  King never knew that his life work had been washed down the small stream turned raging river named for his family.

North Carolina Outward Bound Opens Year-Round

On this day in North Carolina History,

"The nation's first year-round Outward Bound school opens in Morganton. 

North Carolina Outward Bound was originally envisioned as a sea school, probably to be located on the Outer Banks, but high land and equipment costs drove it inland.

At first, the school accepts only 16- to 25-year-old men. Gradually, however, it becomes all-inclusive. By its 25th anniversary, it will have graduated some 30,000 students." (1967)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. 

Biltmore Beginnings

On this day in North Carolina History,

Biltmore House under construction

"George W. Vanderbilt, age 25, purchases the first of 661 parcels of land that will ultimately become his 125,000-acre Biltmore Estate. He is the youngest of the eight children of railroad tycoon William Henry Vanderbuilt, reputedly the world's richest man." (1888)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher.

First County Officials Meeting, May 20, 1861

          

           Transylvania County was officially formed from Henderson and Jackson Counties on February 15, 1861.  Within the act that established Transylvania County it states that “a court of pleas and quarter sessions shall be held, and the same is hereby established in and for the county of Transylvania, to be held by the justices for said county on the third Monday of February, May, August and November.  The first session of which shall be held at the house of B. C. Lankford, on the third Monday of May next, when the court aforesaid, a majority of the justices of the said county being present, shall elect a clerk, a sheriff, a coroner, a register and entry taker, a surveyor, constable, and all other officers for said county.”             
            As it turned out the first shots of the US Civil War where fired at Fort Sumter, SC on April 12, 1861.  On Monday, May 20th North Carolina joined nine other southern states and seceded from the Union.  And, as the 20th was the third Monday of May, Transylvania County’s Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions met for the first time.  The justices elected George Orr, Clerk of Court; Robert Hamilton, Sheriff; J.W. Clayton, Coroner; John J. Wilson, Register of Deeds; James Hamlin, Entry Taker; T.G. Henson, Surveyor; John E. Rice, Constable; A.W. Beck, Standard Keeper; J.W. Killiam, Chairman of Court of Please & Quarter Session; W.P. Poor, Trustee for County; P.C. Orr, Treasurer of Public Buildings; and A.D.B. Allison, County Ranger to serve Transylvania County, North Carolina in the Confederate States of America.         
            According to a letter dated May 19, 1861 from Amanda Lankford, B.C. Lankford’s wife, to her brother, Jimmy Morris, “This week is to bee court & it is raining now.  I think tha will hold court at the camp ground, it is said there is to bee a flag hoisted & a cannon fired on Tuesday next & a speech by Jourden to make up a company in this part of the state as hard times are here & worse comeing I feare.” 

Wartime Gasoline Rationing

On this day in North Carolina History,

"Wartime gasoline rationing goes into effect in North Carolina and 16 other Eastern states. The maximum purchase per week: three gallons." (1942)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. 

First State Park

On this day in North Carolina History,

"At the urging of Governor Locke Craig, the legislature authorizes purchasing land for North Carolina's first state park. Mount Mitchell State Park includes not only the highest peak in eastern America but also the state's second-highest peak - which in 1947 will be named Mount Craig." (1915)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. 

First Library Opens

On this day in North Carolina History,

"The state's first library opens in Durham." (1898)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. 

Lowest Temperature Recorded

On this day in North Carolina History,

"The lowest temperature ever recorded in North Carolina: minus 34 degrees on Mount Mitchell." (1985)

Source: Powell, L. (1996). On This Day in North Carolina History.Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher.