Downtown Blowing Rock Historic Marker Walking Tour

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1. Miller Robbins House (1903) and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce

Currently home to the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, this historic house was constructed in 1903 for the family of Cicero Miller, owner of Miller General Mercantile. Blowing Rock mayor and civic leader Grover C. Robbins, Sr. and wife Lena, Cicero Miller’s daughter, acquired the home in 1919. Additions to the home were made in 1931, 1941 and 1948. The house has two fireplaces made of local granite as well as clear and wormy chestnut paneling. Currently serving as home to the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Miller / Robbins house is also a visitor’s center and is open to the public.

2. The Watauga Hotel (1884-1926)

Today, Memorial Park is a place for Blowing Rock's residents and visitors alike to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle the town has to offer. However, this community staple holds a secret from a time when Blowing Rock was first getting its start as a resort community. Over 125 years ago The Watauga Hotel graced this spot as the first major hotel constructed in Blowing Rock. Built in 1884, the hotel took advantage of the growing tourism industry. Tourists came to escape the industrial life of late 19th century American cities as well as the heat of lower elevations. The Watauga Hotel set a precedent for a significant tourism business in the town. Nestled alongside Blowing Rock’s Memorial park is a small white cottage known as the 1888 Museum. The cottage, which received a Historical Marker in 2012, is one of several that was built in 1888 to provide additional lodging for the Watauga Hotel.

3. 1888 Museum

Nestled alongside Blowing Rock’s Memorial park is a small white cottage known as the 1888 Museum. The cottage is one of several that was built in 1888 to provide additional lodging for the Watauga Hotel. Built in 1884, the hotel was the first to be built in Blowing Rock. The cottages were popular for the peaceful village life they provided. Today, this cottage is the last remaining piece of history from Blowing Rock’s first hotel. Owned by the Town of Blowing Rock and managed by the Blowing Rock Historical Society, the building serves as a museum that emphasizes Blowing Rock's long history of supporting tourism. The museum is open daily, and admission is free.

4. Inn at Ragged Gardens

Completed in 1900, the Inn at Ragged Gardens is just a few blocks from Blowing Rock’s Main Street. Originally known as the Washburn House, the Inn began as the private residence of A.W. Washburn. The home became a boarding house and has operated as a bed and breakfast for more than a century. With thirteen rooms, an on-site restaurant and wine cellar, this location is a prime example of chestnut bark construction first made popular in Linville by architect Henry Bacon. In addition to its use as a bed and breakfast, the Inn is currently available as an event venue for weddings and large gatherings with information on the website. From May through October the Inn also hosts Music on the Lawn each Friday evening. A variety of bands perform free concerts for the public. These events are sponsored by nonprofit organizations and The Inn at Ragged Gardens welcomes all on Fridays.[5]

5. Randall Memorial Building

The Randall Memorial Building has changed ownership again, and is now called Cupcrazed Cafe. To access the building, visitors must descend a stairwell from Main Street to a flagstone path that leads to a flagstone patio in front of the Café [4]. In 1907, Reverend William Rutherford Savage, the local Episcopalian priest, opened the site as the Randall Memorial Workshop [1]. The workshop was named for the NC artist, William George Randall (W.G. Randall) [1]. W.G. Randall, born in Burke County, obtained an art degree from UNC Chapel Hill and eventually settled in Blowing Rock, where he fell in love with mountain crafts [1,3]. The Randall Memorial Workshop, once opened, served as a hub for local mountain crafts [2]. The building changed ownership throughout the 20th century until Ann Whatley purchased it in 1990, and she brought it to the attention of local historical societies [1,4]. After Whatley brought the historic significance of the building to the attention of those societies, they submitted it for review to the National Register of Historic Places [1,4]. In 1991, the National Register recognized the Randall Memorial Workshop, the present-day Village Café, as an Historic Building [1,4].

6. The Martin House

The Martin House, built in 1870, is the second oldest buildings in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The house was built by Wesley Moore of Bishopville, South Carolina as a private residence but Moore converted the house into a boarding house in the early 1880s. Harry C. Martin and his wife Ida purchased the house in 1891 an continued to operate it as a boarding house, accommodating the growing tourism industry in Blowing Rock. Following the opening of hotels in the late nineteenth century, the owners of the Martin House repurposed the building as a collection of retail shops in the heart of Blowing Rock’s Main Street shopping district.

7. Hanna's Oriental Rugs & Gifts

Started1919, Hanna’s Oriental Rugs & Gifts has been a fixture of Main Street Blowing Rock shopping, supplying visitors with a large selection of oriental rugs, antiques, porcelain and fine linens. George Hanna built the brick building currently standing at 1123 Main Street soon after the 1923 fire that destroyed much of downtown Blowing Rock. The building was the summer home for Hanna’s rug business and also provided an apartment for the family. The current entrance is on the south side of the shop in the stone building that housed the Yonahlossee theater between the years of 1939 and 1979.

8. St Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church

In 1918 the Church of the Holy Spirit began construction on their new church home on the corner of Chestnut Drive and Main Street. The building was dedicated in 1921 as the Susie Parker Stringfellow Memorial Church, however, after Elliott Daingerfield’s generous gift of his painting “Madonna of the Hills” the name was changed to St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church. St. Mary of the Hills became a parish in 1972 indicating its ability to be self-supporting and maintain a full-time priest. The church houses significant works of art by Elliott Dangerfield, Marjorie Daingerfield Howlett, and Alex Hallmark, as well as beautiful stained-glass windows depicting the life of Christ, hand stitched kneelers, bells that ring on the hour and an organ built by Lively-Fulcher. https://stmaryofthehills.org/about

9. Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church

Named for Rev. Dr. Jethro Rumple, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church was dedicated in 1886 as the Blowing Rock Presbyterian Church. The church was officially organized by Reverend C. A. Munroe of Lenoir on July 17, 1887 and added to the roll of churches with 8 members. Blowing Rock Presbyterian Church began as a small frame structure on this site, however, after being struck by lightning in May 1888 the original building was replaced with the larger stone structure that was completed in 1912. During the first year of construction of the new Church, Dr. Rumple died. His Salisbury Sunday school class donated a stone marker with the inscription ‘Rumple Memorial’ to the Blowing Rock congregation. Inspired by the gesture and appreciative of Dr. Rumple’s tireless work, the Church was officially renamed ‘Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church’ in 1940. (Buxton p132) The large pulpit Bible and pulpit that remain in the existing church today were generously donated by some of Blowing Rock’s “cottagers” to help furnish the original church building. In addition, the church houses the "Rumple Window," a Tiffany style stained glass window which was installed in the choir loft, "In loving memory of Rev. Jethro Rumple, D.D." (Saunders p.48)

10. Edgewood Cottage

Edgewood Cottage was designed and built as a summer home and studio by Elliott Daingerfield (1859-1932) in 1890. Daingerfield, a renowned American artist, whose works are found in museums across America, built the cottage as his summer home and studio. In 2008, using Daingerfield’s original architectural drawings, which are on display in the cottage, the Blowing Rock Historical Society reconstructed the cottage to its original form, using some of the salvaged original materials. In keeping with the cottage's original purpose, the Historical Society primarily uses the cottage for the Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage program which features High Country artists throughout the summer months.

11. Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Established in 2011, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) promotes the Arts and Southern Appalachian heritage and history through educational programs, exhibitions, activities, and permanent collections. The museum was made possible by the generosity of donors and opened in 2011. Today, the museum features ten galleries, five of which rotate exhibitions seasonally. These exhibits along with the impressive permanent collections are quickly making BRAHM a "rock star" in the local community of Blowin Rock and a model for other small-town museums.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Downtown Blowing Rock Historic Marker Walking Tour

Created by Margaret Handley on June 9th 2020, 2:54:22 pm.

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Description

Explore Blowing Rock’s Historic Marker Program through this downtown walking tour. The tour highlights 10 downtown buildings identified with red oval makers and gives a detailed history for each site, immersing you in each site’s unique story. The Historic Marker Program is a long-term, joint project between The Blowing Rock Historical Society (BRHS) and the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) with the goal of educating the public about the rich history of Blowing Rock while adding distinction to individual homes, commercial buildings and sites of significance. A full list of the Blowing Rock sites that have been given the historic marker designation can be found on the Blowing Rock Historical Society website. https://www.blowingrockhistoricalsociety.com/historicalmarkers

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Downtown Blowing Rock Historic Marker Walking Tour

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