Life in Old Jefferson

Life in Old Jefferson. . , A History of Jefferson , "Jefferson was a very special place at the turn of the century. The main street must have been one of the best conceived and most beautiful of its kind in the state. The pace of life was more leisurely and, in some ways at least, life seems to have been more rewarding then than now. It was a fine town to grow up in as a kid." - Basil Duke Barr (1894-1997), Named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the town of Jefferson was officially chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1803 as the County Seat. However, it was not officially incorporated until 1854. Early descriptions of the town tell of a wide main street lined with rows of cherry trees on each side., In his 1914 book, "Western North Carolina: A History 1730-1913" author John Preston Arthur, describes Jefferson as follows:, The three rows of black-heart cherry trees on the main street give not only shade but an air of distinction not noticeable in newer towns, while the colonial style of several of the houses indicates a degree of refinement among the earlier inhabitants sadly missing from many places of equal antiquity", During this period many of the town's homes and businesses were built along the edge of the public street. In addition to a courthouse that stood in the center of town visitors to Jefferson could expect to find a blacksmith shop, tan yard, a jail, a handful of churches, offices, and shops. In 1904 Ashe County built the courthouse seen before you. In the process the county's older, 1800s era courthouse was demolished to make room for the new structure., Through the years Jefferson's landscape has changed. Road expansions claimed much of the town's renowned cherry trees and many of Jefferson's historic homes were lost to time or new construction., (map caption) This plat of Jefferson was created by Ashe County native Basil Duke Barr and details the layout and structures located in the town in 1903. It was featured in his 1975 memoir "Jefferson, North Carolina: My Boyhood Town at the Turn of the Century.", (photo captions) , This image shows the Ashe County courthouse as it appeared around 1910. The building was first constructed in 1904 and was designed by Charlotte based architectural firm Wheeler and Runge, who drew up plans for several courthouses of similar design in North Carolina., Aside from serving as a house of law, the structure served in some capacity as a community center. Through the years the upstairs courtroom hosted a variety of local functions such as spelling bees, plays, political meetings, and concerts. Throughout the 1930s until the 1950s many early country music stars performed in the old courthouse including the Carter Family, Monroe Brothers, and Uncle Dave Macon. Following years of wear and tear, the county moved into a new courthouse in 2000., This image offers us a glimpse of early Jefferson by showing us several of the structures that once stood along Main Street.