North Carolina's biggest mountain town is unlike any other city in the state. That's because it did something no other city in America did after the Great Depression: It paid back all of its debts.
I’m a native and know this history, and served on an early Asheville Downtown Association. And yet, your story is so well written with wonderful detail, and I learned even more! Thank you, Jeremy!
Wow. Growing up as a resident of Brevard, Asheville was the 'big city.' I knew a bit about its history (especially the Vanderbilt/Grove Park Inn bit), but no idea about the rest. Thanks for this - and the photos are gold.
Thank you for an excellent telling of the story of Asheville. I’ve had family there since it’s founding. There are two other stories to add that I only know as snippets of the story you have told here. The first is that many of the business owners in Asheville were kept afloat during the depression by Jewish business owners. That story of civic mindedness across a traditional cultural barrier is worth digging up and telling. The other story I believe occurred as the spark that ignited the preservation movement for downtown Asheville. I don’t the specifics, if my memory serves, the city council was prepared to approve a resolution that would resulted in a large urban downtown shopping mall. At the last minute, this action was defeated and the downtown that we know today was preserved.
The first one I haven't heard of, but sounds worthy. The second one, I think, is what I mentioned in the story: The city wanted to build a big downtown mall and needed to approve bonds for it, but it got voted down by a 2-1 margin and sent the city back to the drawing board.
I lived in Asheville briefly during the mid-80’s and worked downtown… there was very little going on and prospects for a better paying job were low, so I relocated for work. I wasn’t aware of this story but it explains a lot.
Interesting!
Thanks for this story, well done.
That was fascinating! Thanks, Jeremy, for your work on this very interesting history.
Great story!
I’m a native and know this history, and served on an early Asheville Downtown Association. And yet, your story is so well written with wonderful detail, and I learned even more! Thank you, Jeremy!
Well done!..... And a sad souvenir....https://blogs.lib.unc.edu/ncm/2019/05/13/new-in-the-collection-central-bank-money-bag/
Lew! I came across that post in my research. Only thing that would make that souvenir better would be a large dollar sign on the back.
Wow. Growing up as a resident of Brevard, Asheville was the 'big city.' I knew a bit about its history (especially the Vanderbilt/Grove Park Inn bit), but no idea about the rest. Thanks for this - and the photos are gold.
A wonderful story! It was interesting to learn about the history of Asheville. Well written, researched and a pleasure to read. Thank you
Thank you for an excellent telling of the story of Asheville. I’ve had family there since it’s founding. There are two other stories to add that I only know as snippets of the story you have told here. The first is that many of the business owners in Asheville were kept afloat during the depression by Jewish business owners. That story of civic mindedness across a traditional cultural barrier is worth digging up and telling. The other story I believe occurred as the spark that ignited the preservation movement for downtown Asheville. I don’t the specifics, if my memory serves, the city council was prepared to approve a resolution that would resulted in a large urban downtown shopping mall. At the last minute, this action was defeated and the downtown that we know today was preserved.
The first one I haven't heard of, but sounds worthy. The second one, I think, is what I mentioned in the story: The city wanted to build a big downtown mall and needed to approve bonds for it, but it got voted down by a 2-1 margin and sent the city back to the drawing board.
Yes. I must have missed that reference.
Ha! Well, it's a very long story.
And well told.
such a great piece...thank you!
I lived in Asheville briefly during the mid-80’s and worked downtown… there was very little going on and prospects for a better paying job were low, so I relocated for work. I wasn’t aware of this story but it explains a lot.