 |
   |
|
2010 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul 2009 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2008 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2007 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2006 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2005 Archives Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2004 Archives Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2002 Archives Oct |
Book Report: Asheville’s River Arts Districts By Alli Marshall - 07/31/2008 Mountain Xpress More Info on This Book: Asheville's River Arts District
But even frequent visitors to Curve Studios, the Wedge Gallery and the Clingman Cafe probably know little of the area’s history, from its prominent role in the “new South” as a processor of cotton, to its storied neighborhoods and passenger rail system. That’s right: The River Arts District was once home to not only a grand depot (the train finally rumbled into Asheville in 1879 — only to stop passenger service a mere 60 years later) but a rich culture of tourist hotels attracting travelers to now-defunct events such as the five-day-long Rhododendron Festival. So where have these interesting historical kernels been hiding out? In just-released Asheville’s River Arts District (Arcadia Publishing, 2008) by Citizen-Times book reviewer and “Together We Read” director Rob Neufeld with his son Henry, a senior at Asheville High. The slim book is a wealth of faded images and bygone facts, culled from libraries, universities and personal collections. It’s not a history tome as much as a scrap book, where images are given prominent placement and text is relegated to glorified photo captions. Still, its enough to give the curious reader and the lay history buff a substantial taste of local lore. “The Asheville Cotton Mill employed an average of 300 workers through the years,” we’re told in the book’s opening chapter, which begins with the River District’s most prolific period, as an industrial hub. “It shifted production to the war effort during World Wars I and II, turning out denim and experiencing high volumes within a 70-year history of ups and downs.” A later chapter informs readers that the name of the French Broad River “derived from traders who had pushed past the Broad River to a similarly wide one in what has been French territory.” Less of a fun fact but equally relevant to the Asheville area: “The Hillcrest Apartments, built in 1959, were called the West End Housing Development for Negroes in newspaper report.” While District isn’t the sort of book to be plumbed for social impact (it’s suggested, in a few all-too brief sentences, that the cotton mills didn’t regularly use child labor; that the mill house village known as Chicken Hill was home to poor but generally happy residents and the Booker T. Washington Dance Hall hosted famous performers such as Nat King Cole and Count Bassie before the building was condemned), it does offer clues to Asheville’s intricately layered past. There is a level of randomness to the book — it dances through history with little regard for linear time — but the layout of the chapters ("Roberts Street,” “The Clingman Triangle,” “The Warehouse Area,” etc.) provides a casual self-guided tour, and the Neufelds have done an excellent job of juxtaposing maps and photos of yore alongside more current views, so a reader can actually find the addresses of note in the book. With District comes a companion postcard set, containing 15 sepia-toned images of the River Arts District. The collection is a compelling slice of local history, probably better suited to the coffee table than to the mail box (does anyone send post cards anymore? And if so, who but someone already living in Asheville would grasp the significance of the River District photos?) but none the less enjoyable to browse. All in all, the Neufelds’ scrap book tour of this section of Asheville provides a balanced and informative look at an up-and-coming area and just how much change it has endured. That, and for newcomers and old timers alike, it’s refreshing to know that Asheville has witnessed major change far longer than any of us can recall. Its anecdotes, successes, failings and aspirations are palpable within the pages of District. Buy It Now: Asheville's River Arts District $19.99 Book Notes: Father, son collaborate on book By Staff Writer - 09/07/2008 Asheville Citizen-Times
The paperback book, part of the Images of America series by Charleston, S.C.-based Arcadia Publishing, costs $19.99. Neufeld found the archives slim relating to the former industrial district, and he turned to interviewing people to fill in the gaps. “I talked with a lot of people, which is why readers will find many of the large historical themes are illustrated and represented by human interest stories,” he said. Chapters make reference to geographic regions within the neighborhood with titles such as Riverside, The Tannery Area and The Depot Area. Both Neufelds will attend a book signing at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St. Rob Neufeld writes two columns weekly for The Citizen-Times, a history column that appears on Wednesdays and a books column that runs on Sundays. Father, son to sign books tonight By Polly McDaniel - 09/18/2008 Asheville Citizen Times
The paperback book, part of the Images of America series by Charleston, S.C.-based Arcadia Publishing, costs $19.99. Neufeld found the archives slim relating to the former industrial district, and he turned to interviewing people to fill in the gaps. "I talked with a lot of people, which is why readers will find many of the large historical themes are illustrated and represented by human interest stories," he said. Chapters make reference to geographic regions within the neighborhood with titles such as Riverside, The Tannery Area and The Depot Area. Both Neufelds will attend a book signing at 7 tonight at Malaprop's Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St. Rob Neufeld writes two columns weekly for The Citizen-Times, a history column that appears on Wednesdays and a books column that runs on Sundays. |
| Arcadia Pressroom | Arcadia Catalog Search | New and Coming Soon | ||||
 |
||||||
|
|
|||||
| © 2010 Arcadia Publishing | Privacy Policy | Job Opportunities |