by Editor | Jul 3, 2020 | Black History
“…I further direct that the girl Caroline in said will given to my daughter Sarah L McDowell be given to my daughter Jane Cordelia and in her stead I give to the said Sarah L a negro woman Rebecca and her child Charlotte which I purchased of William W...
by Editor | Jul 1, 2020 | Black History
Who was Louisa Bradley? We first find mention of her in the Asheville City Directory for 1883-1884 as working as a housemaid for W.W. McDowell. By 1883, the McDowell family had sold what is now known as the Smith-McDowell House on the A-B Tech campus to the Garrett...
by Editor | Jun 16, 2020 | Black History
In 1850, a woman named Tilda was enslaved by the Smith family of Asheville. It is likely that she and her family were held captive on the grounds of Buck House, our facility. At this time, Tilda was married to Joe, a wagoner. It is likely that Joe transported goods in...
by Editor | Mar 12, 2020 | Black History
c1840 Caroline is born. Caroline was likely enslaved by the Smith family from the moment of her birth. February 9, 1850James M. Smith’s will, written February 9, 1850, is the first mention we have found relating to Caroline, a child he enslaved. Last Will and...
by Editor | Mar 3, 2020 | Historic Landmarks
Asheville is justifiably proud of its 1920s art deco downtown. A result of the Great Depression was a dearth of new construction for the next fifty years as Asheville repaid its debts. A fortuitous side effect of this fiscal austerity was the preservation of what is...
