#13- The Jackson Building

#13- The Jackson Building

   Ornate and beautiful, the Jackson building is Asheville’s most beloved skyscraper.  Completed in 1924 it was the first skyscraper in Western NC and it stands 13 stories high and is built in a Neo-Gothic style.  Real estate developer L.B. Jackson had the building built to show his faith in the strength of the 1920’s real estate market.

   When completed the building eclipsed the Independence building in Charlotte as the tallest in NC and it held that distinction till a few years later when the Jefferson Standard building in Greensboro was completed.  The Jackson building is set on a tiny 27 by 60 foot lot that many thought was too small to build on. It is steel framed and terra–cotta covered and has several stone gargoyles at the top looking down on the city. All four gargoyles guarding the four corners of the building are fully functional. The bell tower at the top was initially used as a searchlight to draw tourists to the city.  The building also shares an elevator system with its next door neighbor the Westall building.

   A number of stories abound about this building. One is that it was used as a clean air lookout for the city.  Every morning the city inspector would stand at the top and watch for excessive smoke from the coal fired fireplaces that heated the surrounding buildings. If heavy smoke persisted he would write a ticket for the furnace to be cleaned!  Another story is that the building is on the site of the tombstone business run by local author Thomas Wolfe’s father. Also you may hear that a young Walt Disney worked in that building as a draftsman. Finally, the building is also said to be haunted.  People say you can see a ghost at night in the uppermost part of the building. The face in the window supposedly belongs to a man who killed himself by jumping from there during the great depression.  Today the building is mostly inhabited by local lawyer’s offices.

   The 1920’s marked a time of strong growth for Asheville. More than 25 buildings were erected here during that time. Then the depression hit and Asheville was hit hard – the city ended up defaulting on its huge debts. Rather than declaring bankruptcy it decided to pay off the debt which took over 50 years.  Investment in new building ceased during this time and the effect was that many historic buildings were preserved from the wrecking ball enabling many treasures such as the Jackson Building to survive today.

“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts most slowly, but most surely, on the soul. “ Dimnet

#12 River Arts District

#12-River Arts District (RAD)

      AmericanStyle magazine named Asheville the number one small city in the US for art in 2010. But the phrase wrong side of the tracks very aptly portrays our River Arts District.  Huge, ugly warehouses, mills and former factories have a neglected look, some buildings are still abandoned and there really is a railroad that runs thru the middle of the district. It is not an area of cute little stores selling art with regular business hours. But looks are very deceiving as this is an up and coming area of town that hosts many of our most creative residents busy at work in their studios.

   The area has been evolving for the past 25 years as a group of dedicated artists have worked to revive a neglected area of our riverfront and call it home. In 1985 Highwater Clays moved their business into the district. In 1987 the first artists bought a building that they named Warehouse Studios. The early 1990’s saw artists move out of the pricey downtown Asheville area to the RAD. The most unique feature of the area is that most of the buildings are owned by the artists that work in them so there is truly a sense of “ownership.”

   The current guesstimate is there are about 140 artists in residence spread throughout 16 buildings including potters, photographers, painters, candle makers, weavers, woodworkers and sculptors. On most weekends many of the artists’ studios are open for people to observe them working and purchase their creations. Also on the second Saturday of every month they host workshops and classes and other educational opportunities.

   Twice a year two days of festivities highlight our Fall and Spring Studio Stroll. They are held on the second weekend in June and November and over 80 studios are open and the artists are available to discuss their work. It is a very fun and festive atmosphere during this time and a great opportunity to get an early jump on buying presents.

   Other businesses have moved into the district now including 12 Bones Smokehouse, Clingman Café and the Wedge Brewery to name just a few. It appears that the edible and the artistic are very intertwined in life in the RAD. Eating upon handmade dishes, drinking out of handmade mugs not only looks better, it somehow tastes better!  Many of the establishments rotate new art shows in and out of their establishments which causes patrons to want to check out the galleries in the district. It appears to be a win- win for everybody! That’s just the kind of city Asheville is, a place where many of the pleasures in life, not only art but beer as well, are handmade. 

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep.”  Scott Adams

#11- Change of Seasons - Spring

#11- Change of Seasons – Spring

   Spring in Asheville can really bring a mixed bag of weather. Temperatures can reach 70 degrees and get you all excited to put away your winter clothes. But there is still a chance of snow and certainly a chance of frost. The time has changed and it is light out after work but frequently it is too chilly late in the day to enjoy the extended daylight. T.S. Elliot called April the cruelest month of the year and I think these conflicting expectations may be the reason why!

   April can also be beautiful. Everything is starting to turn green again, flowers are starting to think about sprouting, and the air is sweet with expectation and the smell of new blossoms. It is also a time of spring rain showers. Our local weather is greatly affected by our surrounding mountains and can be very unpredictable.

      Another way to enjoy spring is by taking a scenic drive.  A leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Graveyard Fields in one direction or Grandfather Mountain in the other will provide you with long range views in addition to wildflowers galore.  Bring a picnic lunch and stop at one of the many overlooks or better yet get out and stretch your legs, go on a hike and have lunch by a stream or a waterfall.  The diversity of wildflowers on the parkway is truly amazing. Blooming starts in late March and actually extends all the way into October. It seems that our  high rainfall totals, rich soils and moderate climates make this an environment where many species can coexist together.

One thing that can be predicted is that more than 100,000 tulips will be in bloom at the Biltmore Estate. The annual Festival of Flowers runs from April 2 through May 15^th and draws locals as well as tourists from all over the country.  It is a visual feast of white, purple, pink, yellow, red and orange tulips.  Descriptions and pictures really can’t do it justice – you just have to see it to believe how incredibly beautiful it is!

   Other spots to check out the wildflowers include the Botanical Gardens where the ten acres offer a half mile walking trail that is easy enough for anybody to do.  Also the NC Arboretum with its 434 acres of public gardens offers miles of trails to explore. The season is changing and we can tell it by using all of our senses. Warm sun, cool breezes, the thawing of the ground, colorful flowers, the sound of birds, and the smell of new blossoms await us. Spring in Asheville provides a treat for all of our senses! Get out there and enjoy it!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”  ~John Ruskin