The 1920s saw an economic and cultural boom in Asheville. Figures like E.W. Grove and Douglas Ellington made their mark, wealthy tourists flocked to the mountains for recuperation, and Stephens-Lee High School launched its legacy. And in 1924, the city skyline as we know it was beginning to take shape.
So in the midst of this centennial, we’re taking a look at the last 100 years of a few familiar local buildings.
Jackson Building
No downtown photo is complete without the imposing spires of the 13-story skyscraper. Contained in a 27x50-foot lot, the Jackson Building was once the tallest skyscraper in NC and was designed by architect Ronald Greene. The Neo-Gothic structure, commissioned by developer L.B. Jackson, had a searchlight and telescope in its tower. Fun fact: The site originally housed a tombstone business, owned by Thomas Wolfe’s father.
J.A. Wilson Building
J. Alfred Wilson’s barber shop moved into the space when it was first constructed by James Vester Miller, and the two-story building remains a staple of The Block, downtown’s historical Black business district. It’s been occupied by many Black-owned businesses since its construction, and nowadays, Limones Restaurant calls it home.
Battery Park Hotel
The 1924 version was take two of the Battery Park Hotel. After being bought by E.W Grove, the original had been demolished in 1922 and the mountain beneath it razed — and the Grove Arcade was built in its place. A new 14-story Battery Park Hotel was placed just behind the site, with rooftop dining and luxurious rooms. It stayed a hotel until the 1970s, but these days, it holds apartments.
Beaver Lake recreational area
Earlier in its history, the area was known as Baird Bottom — cattle grazed around it and a trolley from Asheville to Weaverville ran through it. But in 1922, the Lake View Park development broke ground, and in 1923, the Beaver Creek dam, which would create Beaver Lake, was built. The lake officially opened in 1924, with canoe and swimming races and diving contests. The development is still there, 100 years later, but swimming is no longer allowed.
George Vanderbilt Hotel
Named for the Gilded Age mogul and now sandwiched between Pack Memorial Library and Harrah’s Cherokee Center, the nine-story structure was designed by prolific architect William Lee Stoddart. It became senior apartments in 1969, and its decorative facade was stripped — but some of the original ornamentation was restored during a 1999 renovation project. Last year, permits were approved for the apartment interiors to undergo accessibility upgrades.
