Beginnings

In the early 1800s, the area around present-day Brevard was sparsely settled. Small communities of homesteaders lived around Cathy’s Creek, Davidson River, Dunn’s Rock, and other areas, but little else had developed. The present-day downtown was farmland. Some settlers built sturdy homes during this time, as evidenced by Benjamin Allison’s house, constructed in 1815 near the Davidson River. Today, it stands as the oldest frame building in Western North Carolina. The Transylvania Historical Society gives tours of the home, now known as the Allison-Deavor House, several times each week.

Growth continued after Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. Beginning in 1838, the government forcibly relocated Native Americans from North Carolina to Oklahoma, an event later known as the “Trail of Tears.” Some Cherokee refused to leave and were recognized by the federal government in 1868 as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Between 1820 and the formation of Transylvania County and the town of Brevard in 1861, the area experienced considerable growth. In the 1820s, the Presbyterian Church established the Davidson River Academy, the region’s first known private school. Roads were little more than cleared paths, constructed of dirt, stone, or wooden planks. One of the first improvements to boost economic development was the Buncombe Turnpike, which ran from Kentucky to South Carolina through what would become Transylvania County.

Farms were numerous during this time, though most were small because of the difficulty in getting products to market—mainly due to inadequate transportation. Crops included beans, apples, corn, Irish potatoes, and sorghum cane. Livestock such as cattle, turkeys, and hogs raised in the county were driven over the Eastatoe Trail to markets in South Carolina.

Although there was little industry before the Civil War, Charles Moore, James W. Patton, and Thomas Miller established the Davidson River Iron Works in the 1850s, one of the area’s first major businesses.

In the early 1860s, about 25 slaveholders lived in the county, accounting for roughly 4% of all taxpayers. At that time, around 447 slaves were enumerated in the area.

Asheville (formerly known as Morristown until 1797) is located in Buncombe County. Originally, Buncombe County was much larger than it is today, extending through what are now Henderson and Transylvania counties and encompassing all of western North Carolina. Henderson County was formed in 1838 from Buncombe’s southern and southeastern portions.

Settlers in the western part of Henderson County often felt disconnected from their local government; Hendersonville was a full day’s ride (or more) for anyone needing to trade or conduct business. There weren’t any main roads for wagons between the western mountains and Hendersonville until around 1890. Residents petitioned repeatedly for a new county starting in the mid-1850s. After several petitions, the North Carolina legislature agreed to consider forming a new county to better serve western Henderson County. State Representative Joseph P. Jordan sponsored the act, proposing the name Transylvania County to honor the beauty of the region’s forests—“Transylvania” means “through the woods.”

On February 15, 1861, the North Carolina General Assembly voted to create Transylvania County from Henderson’s western portion. At that time, there were 21 local justices of the peace, and they were directed to organize the new county and select a site for the county seat. The legislature also specified that the county seat should be named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Dr. Ephraim Brevard.

The justices met on May 20, 1861, at B.C. Lankford’s store, called The Valley Store, a small one-room country shop in Oak Grove (approximately across from the present-day Blue Ridge Community College). Ironically, that same day, North Carolina seceded from the Union. At this meeting, the justices appointed a committee to choose a site for the new county seat that would be convenient for all citizens.

Eight days later, they met again at The Trading Post (also known as Poor’s Store). Today, the building is known locally as the “Red House” and is a private residence at the northeast corner of Railroad Avenue and Probart Street. Leander Gash, Alex F. England, and Braxton Lankford decided the courthouse would be within a third of a mile from the store. Each of them donated 50 acres for the site of the new town.

Given its location and the land donations from Lankford, Gash, and England, the site for downtown Brevard was decided. It would sit on a ridge surrounded by mountains and be bisected by a road that already ran from the South to Asheville—today’s Caldwell Street.

A committee was needed to survey the land and lay out properties. They appointed James Killian, W. Probart Poor, and Charlie Patton to determine the placement of the new county seat’s key buildings. They planned two primary streets—Main and Broadway—that would intersect at the town’s center. Land for public buildings and three churches was also allocated, along with a site at Main and Broadway for a county courthouse. The 150 acres came from the donations by Lankford, Gash, and England.

In addition to the public buildings and churches, the surveyors divided the remaining land into 79 lots to be sold at public auction.