08.16.2024

Today’s Forecast

84º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:50 a.m. | Sunset 8:17 p.m.

A building boom in 1924

5 local landmarks celebrate their centennials

Asheville's second Battery Park Hotel being constructed in 1924

Grove leveled the hill under the original Battery Park Hotel to allow for downtown’s development. | Photo via Buncombe County Special Collections, A717-8, A717-4

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.

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.

Merrimon Avenue runs along Beaver Lake — In 1911, Lincoln Beachey performed aerial stunts over Beaver Lake.
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Photo by George Masa, via Buncombe County Special Collections, A275-8M

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.

Another hotel and a skyscraper, too

Asked

What have you grown to cherish about Asheville?

Okay, so you’re probably not celebrating your centennial with the city — but whether you’ve been here for a few months or 50 years, we want to know how your love for the Land of the Sky has strengthened over time.

Share the love

Events

Friday, Aug. 16

“Henry V” | Friday, Aug. 16-Sunday, Aug. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre | Free | Experience thrilling battles, international struggle, and regal transformation in one of Shakespeare’s most beloved histories.
Stand-Up Storytelling Showcase | Friday, Aug. 16 | 9-11 p.m. | One World Brewing - Downtown | Free | Sit in for the sets of five regional comedians, then show off your own stand-up skills during the open mic.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Come to Leicester Studio Tour | Saturday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Various locations | Free | Discover the work of local and visiting artists and explore their studios during this annual self-guided tour.
DIYabled Allyship Panel | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 3-5 p.m. | Firestorm Books | Free | Join advocates and organizers from six local organizations for a reflection on supporting inclusivity in DIY spaces for people living with disabilities.
Enter the Garden: The Solace Inside | Saturday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 18 | 7 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre | $55-$100 | Encounter a sensory movement experience from an array of local and national pole, chair, and burlesque dancers — the event is 18+.

Sunday, Aug. 18

Preserving Tomatoes | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 2-3:30 p.m. | WNC FoodWorks at the WNC Farmers Market | $30 | Keep the deliciousness going all year long with Ashley English’s methods for preserving summer’s unofficial mascot.
Sunday Funk with Cody M. | Sunday, Aug. 18, Sunday, Sept. 15 | 1-3 p.m. | Funkatorium | Free | Groove to live tunes on the patio with Cody M. at this free concert series at the Funk.*

Monday, Aug. 19

Full Moon Rising: Aquarius | Monday, Aug. 19 | 6-11 p.m. | Drip Sauna | $40 | Bask in the moonlight during a night of live music, yoga, hot saunas + cold plunges, food, and a market.

It's Friday — I'm in love

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News Notes

Featured

This band’s rise to stardom is as swift as... well, an arrow. On Wednesday, Aug. 14, Asheville-based group Ashes & Arrows advanced to the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” with an original song called “Wild Horses.” The semifinal rounds will begin airing on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Watch

Chef Eric Gabrynowicz is trekking through our mountains in Tupelo Honey’s new documentary, “A Journey Through Appalachia.” Watch as the chef explores Southern Appalachian cooking traditions through the people who shaped them. Pro tip: The Sorghum Pork Bowl, inspired by the documentary, will benefit organizations chosen by those featured.

Cause

Put your best foot forward to help your neighbors (and we mean that literally). On Saturday, Aug. 24, four local DJs are coming together for a community fundraising dance party to benefit the Southside Community Farm and the South French Free Fridge. Dry goods + hygiene product donations will be accepted all night.

Arts

Applications are now open for Story Parlor’s 2025 Creative Facilitator Training. The interactive, experimental certification program teaches attendees how to blend the creative process, stories, and the human condition. You can learn the work of art during a 12-month or 18-week course.

Plan Ahead

We can’t be-leaf it — LEAF Global Arts has released the daily schedule for its October festival. Explore what performances, workshops, artists, and acts (like Sheila E.'s infectious rhythms and a Ugandan percussion discussion) will be taking over Lake Eden from Thursday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 20.

Featured Home

Sitting on a corner double lot in West Asheville (yes, the backyard is enormous), this adorable, historic 1950s gem is ready to become someone’s dream home.*

Home

Cringe alert: Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down for toilet paper. But this new bamboo toilet paper just might save the planet. It feels just like high-end TP, but doesn’t harm trees. Plus, code 6AM30 gives you 30% off your first purchase. Read more.*

Finance

Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. These are hands down some of the best.*

Wellness

Curious about CBD gummies? Cornbread Hemp is giving first time customers a second jar for free with code SUMMERTIMEBOGO. Choose from watermelon, berry, peach, or special sleep varieties.*

Environment

Culture

Asheville Butterfly Trail takes flight

Two people stand in front of a large orange butterfly statue

Forget those Insta-famous wing murals — this is even better. | Photo via Bee City Asheville

Butterflies are a common sight this time of year. Soft, colorful wings alight on flowers throughout the summer, and monarchs begin their en masse migration in September. But you might notice a few more butterflies than usual dotting the local landscape — because the Asheville Butterfly Trail has spread its wings.

After a year of planning, Bee City Asheville has completed two of the 15+ human-scale butterfly stations that will be placed around the city. All the butterflies represented will be native to WNC, and each station will include information about the history of the species, as well as a QR code to learn more about their pollination ecology, sustainability, and metamorphosis.

The eastern tiger swallowtail’s elegant yellow and black form sits in front of the Asheville Visitor Center, and the bold orange gulf fritillary found a home at Reems Creek Nursery.

Stop by to see them now or join the official ribbon cutting on Thursday, Aug. 29.

The Buy

The Buy 8.16.24 (Affiliate)

These waterproof Chelsea rain boots. Prepare for rainy months ahead with these stylish rubber boots — available in three different colors — that will keep your feet safe and dry from any inclement weather.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

I love a good architectural milestone (I even once threw a centennial birthday party for a house) — and it turns out that I’m not alone. Andrew Ellington, great nephew of Douglas Ellington, is organizing the inaugural Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL. This event aims to not only celebrate the significant anniversaries of some of Asheville’s most iconic buildings, but to highlight the city’s vibrant cultural history, present, and future. Explore what’s on the agenda for Friday, Sept. 6 + Saturday, Sept. 7.

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