Posts Tagged ‘Battery Park Hotel’

United Way’s 2-1-1 is a community service information line that links people to health and human services in the area.  Just dial 211 from a land line and it’s free. The call is confidential and available 24/7. Whether you need help paying the heating bill or looking for resources for your grandmother, 211 is there to help.

2-1-1 services include housing, medicine, transportation, money management, support groups,  legal assistance, counseling services and much more.  There is even free tax preparation services for low-income individuals.  There are over 200 health and human service programs in the 211 database and a friendly voice to help you navigate your dilemma.  Whether you are a social worker yourself looking for a particular agency or someone in need, the trained referral specialists can help you find what you are looking for.

211 also has a website: www.211wnc.org, this extensive database covers beyond Asheville to neighboring counties in Western North Carolina.  At these times of economic stress for everyone, it is important to know that there are resources available and it’s only a phone call away. If you know someone in need please share this information, or call 211 and find out what other resources are available to them.

1.    These beautiful mountains, what an incredible blessing it is to live in these old mountains,with our hiking trails, waterfalls and vistas.

2.    The abundance and diversity of trees,  plants and native wildlife.

3.    The most beautiful seasons, we really experience all four in their full glory here.

4.    The music scene, there are so many incredible musicians, you can always go hear good live music, most days you can’t walk down the street without hearing a street musician.

5.    Blue grass and the whole Appalachian culture.

6.    The abundance of artists and original art from pottery, quilts, paintings, welded works to Caberet shows and Improv Comedy.

7.    The funky funky flare of all those “keeping Asheville weird.”

8.    The pigeons at Prichard Park and the one hawk that stalks them.

9.    Southern cuisine and local flare found in downtown restaurants.

10.    The roses outside the Basilica.

11.    The Bird Sanctuary, the tree that everyone takes turn climbing, the deck looking out at Beaver Lake and the poppies in Spring.

12.    The Botanical Gardens by UNCA, sitting on a rock on the stream then taking a wooded stroll or a Frisbee throw in the field.

13.    Battery Park Apartments, the incredible views from the Roof Garden and the history and people living in the building.

14.    Taking a walk in Montford in the Spring and lazing around Montford Park, the Amphitheaters outside shows in the summer.

15.    All the colleges and young people here on their own journeys to self discovery, ready to learn, make art, volunteer, play music and keep the streets alive.

16.    The choices for organic food, the plentiful tailgate markets in season, the choices of health food stores, and of course Amazing Savings.

17.    How many awesome festivals there are here, from music festivals at Deerfields and Lake Eden, to the tons of street festivals downtown,and let’s not forget about Bele Chere.

18.    Asheville Tourist Baseball games in the summer.

19.    A movie date to the Fine Arts Theatre.

20.    $2 Movies with pizza and a beer at Asheville Pizza Company.

21.    The Nature Center otters, we love the otters and all the other rescued animals.

What are your favorite things about our beautiful city?

1850's - The Wealthy Come by Stage Coach

In 1828 a road following the French Broad River was completed to Tennessee, which brought wagons and herds moving through town. The Asheville and Greenville Plank Road was built in 1851, and the wealthy aboard four and six horse stages began to come to Asheville as a health resort.

During the Civil War, out of the ten companies of North Carolina Regiment seven of them were Buncombe county men. The Buncombe Rifles marched forth on April 18, 1861 with a flag made of silk dresses of the ladies of the town. Captain Zebulon Vance organized the Rough and Ready Guards. Enfield Rifles, the gun manufacturer, was a flourishing industry here in town. Read the rest of this entry »

Battery Park Hotel

Colonel Franklin Coxe, one of the major investors in the railway of 1886,  purchased the highest hill in Asheville to be the site of The Battery Park Hotel.  He commissioned Wagner to landscape and construct the regal hotel which would become renowned worldwide. Franklin Coxe’s hotel was the first in the area to have electricity, elevators and running hot water. Asheville soon became the fashionable place to visit. From 1880 to 1890 the population of Asheville went from 2610 to 11, 500.

The hotel was a lavish site, gardens high up on the hill surrounded the 300 ft verandas and sunrooms. The grounds also held tennis courts, a golf course and horseback trails. In 1910, Edwin Grove came to Asheville after making a fortune with his ‘chill tonic’ which was a dark cough syrup found in everyone’s ice box in those days. He bought the hotel and the hill it stood upon.
Read the rest of this entry »