Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

|| High Country Press Newswire

February 19, 2009 Issue

Blowing Rock Marker Committee Announces 2009 Recipients

The Blowing Rock Marker Committee announced this week the six properties that would be the first recipients of plaques to be bestowed by the program. The marker program is a long-term, joint project of the Blowing Rock Historical Society and the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM). The program received the endorsement of the Town of Blowing Rock in 2008. The purpose of the program is to identify and recognize buildings and sites within the community of Blowing Rock that are significant because they are examples of either a particular architectural style, may be of historic importance or simply deserve distinction by their design or a relationship with the town’s legacy. The mission statement of the marker program reads, “The Blowing Rock Marker Program will assist in educating the public about the rich history of Blowing Rock, provide atmosphere to our downtown and add distinction to individual homes, commercial buildings and sites of significance.” Committee Chair David Harwood stated, “The committee is extremely pleased with the reception that this program has received from the town and the Blowing Rock community. We are grateful to both BRAHM and the Historical Society for their support and encouragement. The committee has worked hard to select properties for this year’s plaques that represent religious structures, new construction and significant sites, as well as residential and commercial buildings.”

The actual markers will be cast metal, oval plaques that will be mounted on each property relating the year of initial construction, original owner or builder and key elements of the property’s significance. This year’s recipients are the following:

The Blowing Rock - This 250 million-year-old cliff formation is North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction. Located at 4,000 feet above sea level, the Blowing Rock is the town’s namesake. The rock formation is so called because the rocky walls of the gorge form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps with such force that it returns light objects cast over the void.

Boyden Cottage, circa 1860 - Located at 244 Norwood Circle, this private residence was built about 1860 for the Patterson family of Massachusetts. Stories exist that tell of the home’s occupation by Union forces during the Civil War. The Boyden Family purchased the home around the turn of the 20th century. Donald Boyden owned and managed The Blowing Rock Hotel. The hotel and cottage shared similar Victorian design and details.

Martin House, circa 1870 - This well-known Main Street structure was originally built as a private residence for H.C. and Johnsie Martin. As the demand for tourist lodging increased in Blowing Rock, the home soon became a boarding house. From 1890 to 1892, H.C. Martin was Blowing Rock’s mayor.

Schenck House, circa 1886 - This beautiful home was constructed for one of Blowing Rock’s first seasonal cottagers after the Civil War, Confederate Major Henry F. Schenck, Jr. The Schencks were pioneer textile manufacturers from Cleveland County, N.C. The property was carefully restored by its current owner, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, and is located adjacent to the church at 1200 Main Street.

Mount Bethel Reformed Church, circa 1886 – Commonly known as “The Little White Church,” Mt. Bethel is the oldest religious building in Blowing Rock. Reverend John Ingle organized the church’s congregation in 1883. The earliest members were mainly from Rowan County. The existing church sits at 1211 Goforth Road, and the grave of Revoluntionary War soldier Ed Sullivan is located in the cemetery. Sullivan brought his own tombstone with him when he immigrated to Blowing Rock in the 1790s.

Edgewood Cottage, circa 1890 – Located at 115 Chestnut Street, Edgewood Cottage was the first Blowing Rock home and studio of Elliott Daingerfield, a highly respected and recognized American painter. After studying at the National Academy of Design in New York, Daingerfield married and started summering in Blowing Rock in 1886, later designing and building Edgewood Cottage. In 2008, The Blowing Rock Historical Society renovated the cottage to its current pristine condition.

The markers will be publicly presented to the property owners in conjunction with the Town’s 120th anniversary on Wednesday, March 11, at Town Hall. Harwood said, “It is our intention to expand the program in 2010 to include more properties. Eventually, we hope to have enough sites recognized and marked to provide a self-guided walking or driving tour of the properties. We have identified over 200 properties just in the downtown area that are 100 years or older, so we have a lot of work to do. These distinctive structures and sites will benefit greatly from such a program that educates tourists and citizens alike to the rich abundant history of Blowing Rock.”