SBW12 - Bracken Mountain Bakery, Children for Celebrate Recovery, and Local Color

Formerly the Dunn’s Rock Building and known as the Fraternity Building

History

The Fraternity Building was designed in 1905 by Richard Sharp Smith, an Asheville architect. John Maxwell built it in 1906. The Masonic Lodge originally built the structure, and the Dunn’s Rock Building Company represented them.

Before the land was cleared for the building, an older and smaller building was on the property that the Sylvan Valley Times reported was an “eyesore” to the patrons of the Aethelwold Hotel (EMS11) across the street. Of course, they might have thought so since it appears they were occupying the space immediately south of the new structure.

By May 1906, workmen were removing the old brick building, and by August, John Maxwell had rock masons laying the foundation since the excavation was almost done.

The walls were almost finished in early January 1907. One month later, the Post Office pushed to complete the building because they wanted to move into their new space (SBW11a) before the beginning of their next quarter, April 1st. In February, the stockholders of the Dunn’s Rock Building (as it was called then) met to authorize a $3000 bond to finish the it.

To complete it, glass fronts were installed, and the first coat of plaster was applied to the future home of the Post Office in March.

The first floor had three divided areas (referred to here as a,b,c), and the second could accommodate offices or other shops. The Post Office moved into the left space (a), probably towards the end of March. In April, Williams & Weilt Furniture went into the far right shop (c). The center space (b) remained empty until July when the Transylvania Cotton Mill Company moved in.

The first occupant of the second floor was probably the Loftis & Kilpatrick Millinery, which opened there around June 1st.

As expected, most of the second floor was used for lodge meetings. As early as May 1907, reports were that visitors to Brevard were surprised that the building had a “nice lodge room.” In December, a group called the “Odd Fellows” met in the building, stating in a newspaper article that “All brothers are expected to attend.” An article in the June 11, 1925 issue of the Brevard News recalled that the second floor had six offices and a “large room used by all secret orders of the town.”

Three years later, in May 1910, P.R. Ayres, a jeweler, was opening his shop vacated by the Transylvania Cotton Mill (SBW12b). Another fraternity called the “Rebekahs” were (at least) having suppers upstairs.

Less than a year later, the 1911 Sanborn Maps shows that an undertaker had moved into the back portion of SBW12b behind the Ayres Jewelry. This was probably Kilpatrick & Son Undertaking because several newspaper ads specified their location.

The first reference I found to the building referred to as the Fraternity Building instead of the Dunn’s Rock Building was a June 7, 1912, article in the Sylvan Valley News. The article mentioned that the building was “known as the Fraternity Building.”

That same year, in July, the United Daughters of the Confederacy got a room in the building to serve as a community library. They stayed for only about four months, but the library remained in the building. It was the first community library in the County.

When 1916 rolled around, the Sanborn Maps showed that the Post Office was still there but an electrical supply store had moved into SBW12b and a 5&10-cent store was in SBW12c.

By 1917, the Office of the Mayor was located in the building, probably on the second floor above the retail spaces. The Board of Aldermen also met there.

The Boy Scouts moved their local headquarters to the Fraternity Building in early 1920, and the Brevard Building and Loan Association placed an ad in the Brevard News announcing their opening in the Dunn’s Rock Building in September 1921. Note that they said “Dunn’s Rock Building” when we know that others were beginning to call it the Fraternity Building.

Sometime between 1925 and 1940, an A&P store had moved into two spaces (SBW11bc) on the main level. In 1926, “Delong’s Store” moved from this building to the Lawrence Building (WJN14) on Jordan Street. Nothing has been found as to when they moved into the Fraternity Building

By the mid-1940s, Gaither’s Grille was in SBW12a. Gaither's was a popular restaurant, beginning with orders from a menu and later offering cafeteria-style service on the first floor with a dumbwaiter that took food up to the second floor to serve customers in the more elegant Rhododendron and Dogwood Rooms. Customers used to be able to go upstairs to play cards or attend parties. County residents often had gatherings at Gaither's, which hosted many clubs like the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Jacyees, business luncheons, and much more.  

Jimmy Gaither opened the restaurant in Brevard because he had seen surveys that said that it was the fastest growing town int Western North Carolina. At one time or another, he also had food service for Brevard College, the Brevard Music Center, a place that served burgers (location unknown) and a bowling alley. Gaither's closed in 1977.

A&P Food Stores opened in early 1940, calling it the Broad Street A&P in one of their early announcements. In a newspaper message on February 29, 1940, Harry Sellers invited customers to the new store. Under his name was “Manager Broadway A&P Food Store.”

In 1944, R.E. Lawrence opened an insurance office over the “Grill” cafe in late July. Dr. King N. Thornton, a chiropractor, listed his location as the “Dunn’s Rock Bldg” in the August 3 Transylvania Times. 

Sometime in the 1950s, the ornate facade underwent a significant change, as the brickwork seen at the top (at the level of a third story) was removed. The remainder was painted. The retail location on the left, easily identifiable by the white “square” surrounding it, had its second-story windows covered with a sizeable pent-shingle roof.

A&P moved out by early 1951 (to a new store), as the Crest 5&10 store opened in its place on March 2nd of that year. The newspaper said they would use the “entire downstairs floor” and the second floor for storage. As did A&P, Crest occupied both storefronts:  SBW12b and SBW12c. 

Brevard Variety Store had their grand opening in the previous Crest space in November, 1975. They actually first opened their doors on October 21st.

In June 1981, Steve and Beth Womble, who had operated a restaurant in town (at the present day Old Hickory House location), opened a new restaurant in the former location of the Grill (SBW12a).  It was called Womble’s Uptown, and they offered steaks “cooked over a live charcoal fire”, barbequed ribs, and chicken cordon bleu in their opening advertisements.

On March 16, 1983, Restaurant Peking opened in the left storefront (SBW12a), sharing the space with Womble’s.  Womble’s continued offering evening meals. Restaurant Peking was open there for nine years, closing in July 1992. The owners of Brevard Clothiers on Main Street, Ron and Judy Reed, opened Brevard Cafe in their space the following month.

After Brevard Cafe closed, Bill and Debbie Tellman opened the Bracken Mountain Bakery in March 1995.  The bakery is still open in 2026 with new owners.