| When: | Sep 28, 2019 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Where: | Swannanoa Valley Museum 223 West State Street Black Mountain, NC |
WELCOME TO SWANNANOA: In 1925, Beacon Manufacturing Co. opened in Swannanoa with roughly 200 workers. Over the next decade, the plant would continue to expand, eventually employing more than 2,000 people. Photo courtesy North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville.
Unless you’re an old-timer, you may not know that Swannanoa was once home to a thriving downtown, known to locals as “The Station.” Bordered by the Beacon Blanket mill and the railroad tracks (in the area to the west of the present-day Native Kitchen), Swannanoa’s bustling downtown included cafes, grocery stores, a drug store, a bank, a movie theater, a five-and-dime, and other variety stores.
On Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. – noon, join the Swannanoa Valley Museum for a walking tour of the old downtown area and the historic buildings that were once a part of the mill town. Learn about the fascinating history of this area, and see what’s happening to bring new life to the old downtown today.
This easy walk covers less than one-half mile on paved roads. Space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your space ($20 per person), visit www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org. For more info, call the museum at 828-669-9566.
