The Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room

Monday, July 11, 2016

Rowel Bosse Created Historical Archives

Rowell Bosse’s interests in hiking, botany, and history led him to spend over 20 years working to preserve the history of Transylvania County.

The North Carolina Bartram Trail Society was organized on November 1, 1977 by eleven North Carolina residents, including Rowell Bosse. Their goal was to build an 80 mile trail honoring naturalist, William Bartram. Bartram had traveled through the Southern Appalachians from 1773-1777, recording the plants, animals, and the life of the Native Americans he encountered. Bartram’s Travels of William Bartram offers detailed descriptions of his journey. Bosse, along with Transylvania residents Charles Moore and Walter McKelvey, was instrumental in mapping and flagging Batram’s route through North Carolina.

Rowell Bosse.

For many years Bosse served on the Historic Properties Commission board. He is credited for helping the county achieve CLG (Certified Local Government) status, obtaining grant funding for a county-wide architectural survey of historic buildings, and recording oral histories of the memories of long-time residents. Through the Historic Properties Commission Rowell also worked to assist Mary Jane McCrary in publishing her book, Transylvania Beginnings.

He created an archive where documents pertaining to the businesses, organizations, families and general history of Transylvania County could be preserved. This collection was the beginnings of today’s Local History Collection in the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room at the Transylvania County Library.

Bosse was also active with the Transylvania County Historical Society in its early efforts to acquire and preserve the Allison-Deaver House.

In 1992 Rowell Bosse was presented with the Gertrude S. Carroway Award of Merit for his, “outstanding efforts in the field of historic preservation” by Preservation North Carolina.

Bosse died on May 30, 1999. His preservation efforts live on through the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, the Transylvania County Historical Society, the Transylvania Heritage Museum, and the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society. Display cases on the 2^nd floor of the Library currently feature information about Rowell Bosse. On Friday, July 15 there will be a celebration of Rowell’s preservation efforts and how they live on with a brief presentation at 1:00 pm.

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 828-884-3151 X242.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Rowell Bosse Served Country, County

The Bosse family, 1906. From left: W.T., Ernest, Effie, Karl.

The Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room at the Transylvania County Library is named for local historian Rowell Bosse. Bosse was born on July 16, 1911 to William Thomas and Effie DeLong Bosse. He had two older brothers, Ernest (1903-1924) and Karl (1905-1947). Rowell graduated from Brevard High School in 1929 and worked at Transylvania Tanning for several years.

Rowell Bosse, left, WWII.

Bosse entered active service with the U.S. Army on January 7, 1943. He served in Europe and was involved in battles at Normandy and Rhineland. Bosse was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. He was discharged on November 2, 1945.

In May 1948 Rowell Bosse began working as a cashier for Transylvania Trust on Main St. in Brevard. He worked for the bank for 28 years, even as it was bought out and changed names.

When First Union National Bank opened a Rosman branch in February 1958 Bosse was placed in charge of it. The Rosman bank was robbed on October 26, 1964 and again on April 29, 1966. Both times Bosse was working. It was robbed a third time in August 1966 while he was on vacation. Although the thieves got away with money all three times, Bosse’s calm and clear thinking helped lead to their capture and prosecution. One of the August 1966 thieves was involved in the April hold-up and Rowell was able to identify him after his capture.

Rowell Bosse retired from banking in 1976 and began full-time pursuit of his main interests—hiking, fishing, camping, botany, and history.

Next week’s article will focus on Bosse’s activities with the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society, the Historic Properties Commission and the Transylvania County Historical Society. Throughout July, the 2^nd floor display cases at the Library will feature materials representing his life and interests. On Friday, July 15 there will be a celebration of Rowell’s preservation efforts and their continuation with a brief presentation at 1:00 pm.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Ecusta Promoted Recreational Opportunities for Employees

The March 1940 issue of the Ecusta Echo expressed the need for an athletic program. The goals of program were to get employees outdoors, provide physical exercise, add to work efficiency, and offer social benefits.

Recreation at Ecusta stretched beyond sports and included not only employees but their families. In 1945 Harry Straus purchased Camp Sapphire. The renamed Camp Straus offered swimming, fishing, row boats and canoes on the lake, as well as tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a track, a baseball diamond, a 3-hole golf course, and a rifle range. Shuffleboard, badminton, volleyball, and basketball courts were soon added.

The Recreation/Athletic Department managed all events and activities, including the Ecusta Band, the annual company picnic, and Christmas parties.

Ecusta employee picnics drew large crowds.

The first Fourth of July picnic was held in 1942. It featured “every kind of contest for every member of the family with prizes in Defense Stamps to all winners.” There were tug-of-war teams, boxing matches, square dance band contests, rifle matches, foot races, canoe fights, and much more. The only cost to attendees for the entire event was 5₵ per game for bingo.

Attendees brought their own picnic basket but lemonade, iced tea, coffee, popcorn, and ice cream were provided. If you entered the pie eating contest you could also have all the pie you could eat.

Children enjoy playing in the sand at Camp Straus.

It was reported that approximately 2000 attended that first year. The event continued to grow over the next several decades, regularly attracting thousands.

Generations of families learned to swim in Camp Straus Lake and participated in year-round recreational activities and gatherings for more than 50 years.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Fire Bell Transformed Into Water Fountain

A recent search through photographs of the courthouse show a water fountain located in front of the building since the early 1900s. Over the years the fountain itself has changed several times. During the mid-1900s an old fire truck bell was converted to form the fountain.

The story below, “From Fire Bell to Water Fountain” is from Ecusta’s monthly publication The Echo, November 1948.

We used to have a lot of bells in Brevard. There were Church bells, school bells, the Court House bell and others, but older residents remember one bell which sounded as no other did. This was the fire bell.

Yes, older residents remember the old familiar clanging—how it rang out over the town and the story it told.

Lads mowing lawns under specific instructions by their parents to finish the lawns come what may, would drop the handles of the lawn mowers and run through yards, fields, briar patches and various obstacles in the general direction of the fire bell.

On one occasion, it is distinctly remembered that one small eight year old, with great excitement written across his face, raced along the sidewalk dragging behind him a baby carriage which held his frightened, wailing baby sister. The baby’s safety forgotten, baby blankets dropped to the sidewalk as the race to follow the fire truck continued.

Then there was another bell which played a great part in clearing the way for the fire truck and informed us of a fire. It was a bell which was situated on the front of the truck. As the old engine chugged along the street it could be heard above the noise ringing loudly. With these two bells, it isn’t surprising that the youngsters were so greatly attracted to the fires.

Then like old Dobbin, the old bell was replaced by a siren. In 1925 it was removed and placed rather sadly in a corner in the City Hall.

This 1943 photograph of a group of Girl Scouts in front of the Court House
clearly shows the old fire truck bell turned water fountain.

However, a fireman at the time, felt that the old bell with such interesting history back of it, should not be allowed to remain in the corner catching dust and becoming covered with rust. He suggested that it be put to use as a water fountain.

After a period of inactivity, the bell which once rode to the fires clanging its message out to the town, was made into a water fountain and today it is in use in front of the County Court House in Brevard. The old fire bell is still serving a very useful purpose and is a constant reminder of the days that used to be.

By 1962 the fire bell turned water fountain had been replaced.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Early County Sheriffs Served Many Roles

Since Transylvania County was created in 1861 there have been 27 different sheriffs. Last week’s Picturing the Past briefly mentioned some of the activities of two of Transylvania County’s earliest sheriffs, Robert Hamilton and George Neill. Hamilton was the county’s first sheriff and later served an additional 15 months as sheriff. Neill was the second sheriff.

George W. Wilson was elected following Neill in August 1866. He served for just under 3 years until resigning in May 1869 when Hamilton again took over the office.

Sheriff duties included collecting taxes, summoning juries, summoning registers and judges for elections. Prior to 1942 the sheriff was elected for a two-year term.

Following the Civil War, in 1868, the North Carolina county government system was changed by the new state constitution. A county commissioner form of government replaced the justices of peace in the old Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions method.

During this time anyone who served in office was required to take the loyalty oath to “sustain the constitution of North Carolina not inconsistent with the constitution of the United States.” It was a time of great change and prominent county leaders often held a variety of positions at different times during the years of the Civil War and Reconstruction. For example, Hamilton was not only sheriff and deputy sheriff, but also Card Agent, Road Commissioner, Chairman of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, magistrate and in both branches of the state legislature. Neill served on the school commission, was Clerk of Superior Court and a U.S. Commissioner in the judicial system.

In August 1870 J.H. Lanning was elected Transylvania County sheriff. Lanning would hold the office for the next 12 years, making him the second longest serving sheriff for the county to date.

This photograph of Nathan and Lizzie McMinn was
recently donated by their great-grand-daughter.
McMinn served as Transylvania County sheriff for
six years, 1882-1888.

Nathan Van Buren McMinn, H.L. Hart and V.B. McGaha each served terms as Transylvania County Sheriff for the remainder of the 19^th century. McGaha was only 27 years old when he was elected sheriff in 1894.

Photographs exist for most of the former Transylvania County sheriffs. However, photographs are still need for George C. Neill and Jeremiah H. Lanning. If you have a photograph of either man please contact the Library.

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