The faces lining the Drhumor building are based on real people. | Photo by M. Michael Hyatt via Flickr
Last month, we set our sights on some notable WNC landmarks and locations, uncovering their local toponymy — the study of place names. Today, we’re back for round two, digging into the naming conventions of some reader-submitted spots.
Drhumor Building
Built in 1895, this Patton Avenue landmark is considered one of the earliest commercial buildings in Asheville — and it’s an important remnant of the city’s late 19th-century growth. Built by local attorney William Johnston Cocke, the building was named for the birthplace of his late Irish grandfather.
Sculptor Frederick Miles, who also worked on the Biltmore, carved the intricate faces on the frieze. Supposedly, Miles included the face of Cyrus Deake, a local merchant and frequent visitor to the construction site.
Pro tip: No matter how bad you may want to call it the Dr. Humor building, it’s pronounced like “drummer.”
‘Go Throw’ Tour Championship at Highland Brewing | Friday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | Highland Brewing Company | $20+ | Join Highland Brewing for three days of disc golf, beer, and music, including pro matches, glow golf, live performers, and meadow parties all weekend.*
Asheville’s I-26 Connector Aesthetics Committee has released its final report on design changes after the NCDOT revived plans for a long-contested flyover bridge across four lanes of Patton Avenue. According to the report, the NCDOT will pay for lighting and noise mitigation features, and the city will pay for landscaping and greenway expansion. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Opening
Biltmore Village is getting more lively with the Friday, Sept. 19 reopening of the boutique Spartina 449. And that’s not the only storefront making a comeback this fall — check out the timeline for the reopening of more Biltmore Village shops, like White Lotus Boutique, Talbots, and Chico’s.
Travel
Even though leaf season hasn’t quite arrived, businesses along newly reopened sections of the parkway say they’re seeing an increase in visitors. “The opening of the parkway has been like turning on a water spigot,” the owner of the Pisgah Inn told WLOS. You can reserve a table to dine at the popular resort restaurant.
Featured
Forbes released its eighth annual list of the Best-In-State Credit Unions, and Telco Community Credit Union made the cut here in NC. The Candler-based credit union has been serving clients since 1935, now with 13 branches across WNC.
Eat
What’s the best chicken sandwich in NC? According to Tasting Table, it’s the Rocky’s Way chicken sandwich from Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, with fried chicken tenders, cheese, lettuce, and mayo on toasted white bread.
Older Adults
If you need extra cash flow in retirement, a reverse mortgage could help. These loans let homeowners 62 and older convert part of their home’s equity into tax-free cash, while keeping the title (given you live in the home and maintain upkeep). Explore top reverse mortgage providers.*
Read
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Category
Travel and Outdoors
Parkway recovery reaches a milestone
The ramp entrance to the observation deck leads to some spectacular views. | Photo by J. Brown via National Park Services
Yet another popular section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is reopening just in time for leaf season. Additional landslide repairs were completed, opening up the parkway from milepost 382 to 355.3. This means access has been restored to Mount Mitchell State Park as well as popular spots including Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Craggy Pinnacle Trail, and short sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail.
This opening represents a milestone in Helene recovery, rounding out the first of three phases in restoring NC sections of the parkway. During phase two, the NPS will repair 21 landslide areas primarily between milepost 318.2 and 323.4, in the area south of Linville Falls. Phase two is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
The NPS asks visitors to be patient with construction work and exercise caution on the trails. Check out the current road status before you head out.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Speaking of parkway milestones... ever wonder how the regional sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway came to be in the first place? Journey back to the 1930s to learn how Asheville fought to be included along America’s Favorite Drive.
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