Isaac Dickson and the Historical East End Neighborhood

Isaac Dickson and the Historical East End Neighborhood. . After the end of the Civil War, Black people began establishing enterprises in Asheville. Isaac Dickson's investments sparked a thriving business district and neighborhood that stretched from Eagle and Market streets into the present-day East End-Valley Street neighborhood., Mr. Dickson, a formerly enslaved man, bought property to the south of this site. He operated businesses including a coal and kindling company and a grocery on Valley Street. Mr. Dickson rented several homes on his property to other Black residents. This area became known as Dickson Town. Just across present-day Charlotte Street lies East End, Asheville's first established Black neighborhood. An elementary school is named in honor of Mr. Dickson, who died in 1919. (Kindergarten students at Isaac Dickson Elementary painted this portrait of Isaac Dickson under the direction of local artist Christopher Holt.)