Asheville History

06/13/2026

In this week’s Strangeville, we look back at Harry Gardiner, the “Human Fly” who drew crowds to downtown Asheville in 1926 by climbing the Flat Iron Building without ropes as part of a benefit for disabled World War I veterans. Read more in the comments ↓

Photo: Harry "The Human Fly" Gardiner hangs from the Hotel McAlpin in New York in 1922. The image was used by Asheville newspapers in May 1926 to promote Gardiner's upcoming appearance at the Flat Iron Building. (Public Domain)

06/09/2026

Do you have historical photographs or other materials you’d like to contribute to the Leicester History Project?

Sign up for a Leicester History Project community scanning day session!

Library staff and volunteers will work alongside you to digitize your materials so they can be easily shared and preserved for
future generations.

All participants will leave the library with their original documents, a care package with archival supplies, and a flash drive with the
digital versions of the documents for you to keep!

***Spaces are limited and registration is required! ***

Use this link to register for June 23
https://tinyurl.com/LHPscan23JUN
Use this link to register for June 25
https://tinyurl.com/LHPscan25JUN
Use this link to register for June 27
https://tinyurl.com/LHPscan27JUN

Learn more about the Leicester History Project, browse the collection, and contribute your own materials at www.leicesternc.omeka.net

06/06/2026

Have you heard about the Township Tree in Asheville section of the Lower Hominy Valley that dates back to 1665? There are some pretty exceptional stories tied to this magnificent tree that is still growing today! It’s definitely the oldest white oak in Buncombe County, & possibly the oldest tree in the county as well.

From Steep Canyon Rangers' new album, Morning Shift: https://ffm.to/morningshiftTwo Cherokee scouts were tracking General Rutherford’s march through the Swan...

05/28/2026

Join us on June 8th at 5:00PM as authors Ren and Helen Davis discuss their latest book about how the work of photographers George Masa and Jim Thompson helped establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Land of Everlasting Hills details the lives and work of Masa and Thompson, both of whom were influential in the decade-long campaign to establish a national park and to protect the scenic beauty and rich diversity of the Great Smoky Mountains. In addition to the historical and biographical narrative—which includes more than thirty relevant photographs embedded within the text—the large-format book features a selection of photographic plates representing the exceptional images that Masa and Thompson created.

Malaprops will have books available for purchase during the program.

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

I feel I need to address Nicole Spencer’s "history" videos, as she’s started targeting Asheville history for her monetized clicks & shares. While the person may be real, the content is pure Al-generated garbage. 🗑️

The accuracy of these reels is questionable at best, trading factual research for a cheap knockoff AI equivalent of a parlor trick.

But the true cost isn't just faux factoids influencing the beliefs & understandings for many people,

-It's also the irresponsible & irreversible environmental destruction caused by massive data centers which create “dead zones” making it impossible for anyone or anything to live within 5-10 miles of them, destroying natural habitats & home property values alike;

-It’s the staggering waste of water (which anyone local to AVL who experienced Helene knows just how precious water truly is), each data center uses upwards of 5 MILLION GALLONS of clean water EVERYDAY, it is actually mind boggling to comprehend just how much water is needed for cooling these spaces (for mental reference, that’s the equivalent of 7.5 Olympic sized swimming pools of water required every single day!!);

-It’s skyrocketing energy costs being pushed onto us, the average consumer, including the NC Legislature’s most recent approval & upholding of Duke Progress Energy’s request for an 18% increase next year for all standard customers! This is after already raising rates consistently over the last 3 years all while setting record profits [net profits from the last 4 years: 2022: $2.4B / 2023: $2.73B / 2024: $4.4B / 2025: $4.91B];

-It’s fueling a billionaire class that has no interest in “trickling down” their wealth, but rather only in consolidating power & influence over global, national, & local politics to maintain their dominance - which includes personal data harvesting, mass surveillance, & individualized price gouging based on personal data & shopping habits;

- it’s bad for our kids who won’t be able to have access to their ideal careers or true potential because of the consolidation & automation that tech billionaires envision & are actively working towards.

To be clear, I’m not saying there aren’t places where AI can be a functional tool that could help people, but please 🙏🙏🙏
🚫don’t support AI Slop, &
🚫don’t support AI doctored history.

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

“Who Killed the French Broad?”

Years before environmentalism became mainstream, Wilma Dykeman was already asking hard questions about pollution, stewardship, development, and what happens when communities lose connection to the land around them.

Some questions are not meant to stay in the past.

05/22/2026

On this day in 1926, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill creating the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. A discussion going on since the 1890s, the question was to make the mountains between North Carolina and Tennessee a national park or a national forest. The difference being a forest allows for timbering. However, a park was chosen and by 1928, $10 million had been raised for the support of the 150,000 acres. Of course, it wasn't all good news. Many families and farms lost their land with buyouts due to the park. You can learn more with the link in our comments.

Image: A man and woman are seen standing by an automobile looking out over the mountains. Captioned, "Looking into the North Carolina portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Asheville NC. This view is from the noted Skyline Drive to Clingmans Dome, highest peak in the park". From the Carolina Power and Light Photo Collection, State Archives of NC. Housed on Flickr, uploaded 7 December 2023.