Lowndes House, 1960

Some background on the Lowndes House, now on the grounds of the Flat Rock Playhouse (from Historic Flat Rock by Kenneth and Blanche Marsh, first edition published 1961, revised 1972):

From the text:

I'ON LOWNDES HOUSE

Late 19th Century

In 1847, Charles Baring sold Diamond in the Desert to Richard Lowndes. Mr. Lowndes conveyed to his son, I'on a tract on the eastern end of the property. It was there that I'on erected the lattice trimmed, towered porch residence in the style of late nineteenth century homes.

The residence is located beside the large outcropping of rock for which Flat Rock is named. According to the legend the Indians held their great annual councils seated around this large flat rock long before the famed Buncombe turnpike encouraged low country aristocrats to establish Flat Rock as a summer colony. Thus Cherokee Indians, white pioneers, tidewater newcomers, alike, enjoyed the cool air of the heights just as do the present day audiences of the State Theater, which now occupies these historic grounds.

Mountain Lodge, 1960

Mountain Lodge is currently in disrepair. I thought it might be interesting to see what it looked like in 1960, from Historic Flat Rock by Kenneth and Blanche Marsh (first edition published 1961, revised 1972).

The text reads:

MOUNTAIN LODGE 1827

Majestic Mountain Lodge is the patriarch of the great old dwellings of Flat Rock .Built as a grand manor house by Charles Baring it has fulfilled its auspicious origin through a succession of distinguished owners.

In 1853 it was acquired by the illustrious Trenholm family. Edward Trenholm was a member of a cotton mercantile firm of Liverpool and Charleston which owned the battleship Alabama. The ship became famous for running the Union blockade of Southern ports. Edward's brother, George, was second Secretary of the Confederate Treasury. 

Caption text: Jane Angier's figure in the foreground helps scale the enormous size of the slow growing English boxwood planted about 1830 by Susan Baring

Edward's daughter-in-law, gracious Alicia, entertained the South's leaders at the Lodge. Her father, Roswell Sabine Ripley, was the honored artillery officer in command of coastal and water defenses of Charleston under General Beauregard. His two volume history of the Mexican War was used as a West Point textbook. While living in Europe after the War Napoleon III requested him to take charge of the fortifications of Paris. Alicia authored a booklet on Flat Rock still in publication through the courtesy of Mary Trenholm Kemper, her daughter.

The George Baldwins--she a member of the Middleton and King families, carried on the cultural traditions of the Old South at the Lodge. Dr. and Mrs. Edward Jones, their successors, spent lavishly of their oil millions to remodel the dwelling adding the columned portico.

The Newton Duke Angiers of the famous tobacco and lumber families added mid-20th century distinction to the venerable old estate.

Top photo: Lida Angier, Newton Angier's sister, and Jane in the great dining hall of Mountain Lodge. The wallpaper is hand painted in the irridescent peacock colors.  
Bottom photo: Newton Duke Angier beside a painting of his grandmother, Lida Duke, who married Jonathan Cicero Angier.

Jane Angier, recent mistress of Mountain Lodge, on her beloved portico.

And a reminder of what Mountain Lodge looks like today:

Photo credit: Hendersonville Lightning

I'm a believer. . .

As I said a few weeks ago, "I'll believe it when I see it" about the completion of Upward Road. Well, here it is, and very nice, too. Still a few lines to paint, but it is pretty much done.

Looking west on Upward Road towards the Spartanburg Highway intersection

Historic Flat Rock house tour this Saturday

Don't miss out on the Historic Flat Rock house tour this Saturday:

Join us on Saturday, July 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a self-conducted tour of four historic homes & gardens, as well as St. John in the Wilderness Church & Churchyard. . .

Tickets are $25 pre-purchase (no children under ten, please), and $30 at each private home on the tour day. Cash or check is requested, but credit cards will be accepted at "Hopewood" only. 

Order tickets on this website (May 15 - July 6) or purchase at Hendersonville Travel & Tourism, The Wrinkled Egg, and The Book Exchange in Flat Rock, or at each house on day of tour. . .

More information on the tour in the Times-News:

Want to mingle with actors portraying famous figures of the 1960s as they cavort around vintage cars, or peek into an old farmhouse or see a Civil War era depiction of a costume ball set in Flat Rock?

The 28th Tour of Homes will allow visitors to spend a leisurely self-guided day getting a look inside some of the most historic sites in the village of Flat Rock. . .

In addition to four residences, the tour will feature the church and churchyard of St. John in the Wilderness, the oldest Episcopal church in Western North Carolina, construction of which was started in 1833.

A variety of residences grace this drive-yourself tour — from the circa 1848 farmhouse at Apple Acres, the Italianate style of the 1837 McCullough Cottage, the gracious 1862 mountain retreat of Dunroy Estate, to Hopewood, a grand 1938 brick mansion.

Gardens are also open on the tour, with such notable history as the garden at Hopewood, which had an original design by Chauncey Beadle, the horticulturalist long associated with the Biltmore Estate. . .

Read it all, and also in the Hendersonville Lightning:

Six years since it last hosted a home tour, Historic Flat Rock is offering a look inside four private homes and the historic St. John in the Wilderness church and cemetery on Saturday, July 12.

Open for the tour are the Dunroy Estate and garden (c1862), McCullough Cottage (c1837), Apple Acres (c1848) and the Hopewood Estate and formal gardens (c1878-1938). Also featured is the Church of St. John in the Wilderness and its churchyard (c1833), a must for history buffs.

At Hopewood, tourgoers will enjoy a special event celebrating the estates' owners in the 1950s. Visitors will "meet" the stars of the late '50s and '60s, an era of dynamic social change and innovation. . .

Bankruptcy judge OKs purchase of historic Mountain Lodge

Good news from Historic Flat Rock, from the Hendersonville Lightning:

Historic Flat Rock expects to close July 11 on the purchase of the historic Mountain Lodge after a bankruptcy judge approved its offer of $550,000 last month.

"We're going to stabilize it and offer it for sale to somebody who wants to restore it," HFR President Rick Merrill said. "We've actually got a conversation going with a prospective buyer and there may be more that come along."

Merrill estimates clearing the property and stabilizing the house will cost around $125,000 and take the rest of the summer. The prospective buyer wants to buy the property and live in it during the summer, posting a caretaker in cottage on the property. . .

Built around 1827, the home is one of the most significant examples of the movement of wealthy Charleston, S.C., landowners and business people into Flat Rock for summer homes. . .

Besides the 7,000-square-foot antebellum home, the 23-acre property includes a separate billiard room, a stone springhouse and a smaller cottage sitting in an overgrown field visible from Rutledge Drive. . .

Read it all.

America in Bloom national judges pleased with Henderson County, offer tips

More on last week's visit by national judges for America in Bloom, from the Times-News:

America in Bloom judge Jack Clasen said he found hidden gems and a lot of community pride in Henderson County on Friday at the tail end of a two-day tour of the area.

"In Raleigh, it's got a good reputation, there's no question. Everybody is always praising this area, but there's nothing wrong with national recognition," he said, grinning under the shade of a large tree at Bullington Gardens.

Last week marked Henderson County's first visit from judges in the nationwide beautification program America in Bloom.

The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, now in its 13th year, works to cultivate community pride by helping different groups work together on common goals of preservation and beautification. Judges — with horticultural insight — tour locations, provide recommendations for improvements and recognize the efforts of participating communities through AIB's national award program. . .

He recalled the sense of community pride he felt touring the former 9-hole golf course set to become the Park at Flat Rock on Thursday.

"The number of people who are looking at that golf course and saying, 'Ok, I'm willing to help out and to get involved,' some people financially and some people saying, 'I'd like to be on the committee to work on it' — That's really great when you've got that kind of spirit. It's a can-do attitude," he said.

Clasen has been with America in Bloom since its inception, touring the country in visits to cities and towns that show a side of the nation he wishes others could see. . .

Read it all.