Visitor Recalls Brevard As It Was 50 Years Ago, Aug. 29, 1919

From the Brevard News, Aug. 29, 1919

Visitor Recalls History of Brevard

Among the visitors taking special interest in the town and county is Mr. Brevard McDowell of Charlotte. Mr. McDowell states that he has always felt a keen personal interest in this town for the fact that it was named after a member of his mother’s family, Dr. Ephriam Brevard, of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, who wrote the resolutions of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which was signed almost a year before the writing of the famous document of 1776 at Philadelphia.

Other members of the Brevard family were leaders in the struggle for American freedom and the name has been closely identified with the growth of Mecklenburg County and Charlotte up to the present time.

Mr. McDowell is not making his first visit to Transylvania. He was here 53 years ago and gives a vivid account of the appearance of the town of Brevard at that date. The town then consisted of three wooden buildings, the court house, one grocery store and one residence. The most prominent position on the square was occupied by the county whipping post. Mr. McDowell says that there were few indications 50 years ago that Brevard would become one of the most beautiful and thriving towns in the state. He is very much pleased with the town as he finds it today and states that he hopes to return before long and get acquainted with the people here.

Mr. McDowell was accompanied on his trip to the mountains by Rev. Dr. McGaha, pastor of one of the Presbyterian churches in Charlotte, and the gentlemen are guests of J.L. Bell.