Brevard in Transylvania County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

History of Silvermont

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

1. History of Silvermont Marker

Inscription.
In 1972, Dorothy Silversteen Berg, pictured to the right, bequeathed the Silvermont mansion and grounds to the citizens of Transylvania County.

This beautiful property containing a 33 room colonial revival mansion and 8 1/2 acres of land was built by her father Joseph Simpson Silversteen in 1917.

He was a leading industrialist in the County in the early 20th century, owning and operating tanning and lumber mills in the region.

Erected by Transylvania County Parks and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 35° 13.793′ N, 82° 43.746′ W. Marker is in Brevard, North Carolina, in Transylvania County. Marker can be reached from East Main Street (U.S. 276) just north of Park Avenue (County Road 1546), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the west side of the Silvermont Mansion and Park grounds parking lot, at the trailhead leading to the mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 364 East Main Street, Brevard NC 28712, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Transylvania County Walk of History (within shouting distance of this marker); The Charter Oak

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Philip's Parish (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stone Cottage (approx. ¼ mile away); Transylvania County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tree Planted in Memory of George Washington (approx. 0.4 miles away); In Honor and Memory (approx. 0.4 miles away); McMinn Building (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brevard.

Regarding History of Silvermont. National Register of Historic Places #81000427.

From the National Register Nomination:
Silvermont, completed in 1917, one of the most ambitious private residences ever built in the far western corner of North Carolina, is a large, gambrel roof Colonial Revival mansion centered on an 8½ acre lot on East Main Street in Brevard. The house has been left essentially unaltered and retains its early twentieth century form, materials, and workmanship. A monumental two-story portico dominates the façade, curving forward from the central bay of the front (east) elevation. It is supported by massive columns with Corinthian capitals. A paneled balustrade
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

2. History of Silvermont Marker
(trail leads to the Silvermont Mansion in the background)
carries atop the flat portico roof.

Also see . . .
1. Silvermont.

Silvermont is an historic two-story, five bay, Colonial Revival style brick dwelling with a gambrel roof. It has a rear ell, two-story front portico supported by columns with Corinthian order capitals, one-story wraparound porch, porte cochere, and sunroom. The house and grounds were donated to Transylvania County in 1972, and today serve as a public recreation center.

(Submitted on July 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Silvermont History.

Joseph Silversteen, born in Russia in 1879, arrived in this country with his mother and several siblings when he was eight years old. He attended Woods College and was admitted to Yale Law School. Joseph decided he preferred industry to law and apprenticed himself as a tannery worker. He soon recognized that for a successful tannery, one needed lumber, water and a means of transporting hides, both finished and unfinished. Western North Carolina, he heard, had an abundance of all three...

(Submitted on July 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Silvermont.

In the early 20th century, Joseph Silversteen owned and operated at least five industries in the county including the Toxaway Tanning Company, the Gloucester
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

3. Silvermont National Register of Historic Places Marker
(mounted at eye-level on left side of front entrance)
Silvermont
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1981
Lumber Company, the Gloucester Company Store, the Rosman Tanning and Extract Company and the Transylvania Tanning Company. In 1916, Joseph purchased eight acres on East Main Street and built Silvermont. The rooms, two deep, have paneled wainscot with handsome millwork. The front entrance opens into a center hall with a wide, open-string staircase. In addition to the many bedrooms, baths, and sitting rooms, the house boasts a conservatory and a grand parlor which the family used to play bridge.

(Submitted on July 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Silvermont (<i>front entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

4. Silvermont (front entrance)

(National Register of Historic Places marker is on left side)

Silvermont (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

5. Silvermont (southeast elevation)

Silvermont (<i>east/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, October 5, 2021

6. Silvermont (east/front elevation)

(White pumpkin totem on the right is for annual Halloween Festival)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 169 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 2, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.