Last week during spring break, we took the opportunity to do a bit of tourism. We visited a local location of historical significance. The place is Grovewood Village, located on the grounds of the famous Grove Park Inn here in Asheville, NC. The “Village” is home to several interesting galleries as well as a museum and the only antique car museum in Asheville. But what I found most interesting was the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum highlighting the weaving of homespun cloth and the building of handmade furniture.
The history behind this enterprise is a story within itself. Biltmore Industries was originally located in Biltmore Village, just outside of the famous Biltmore Estate, and was backed financially by George and Edith Vanderbilt, denizens of the famous Biltmore Estate, the largest privately-owned domestic dwelling ever constructed in the United States. Being strong supporters of mountain arts and crafts, what began in 1901 as a woodcarving class for the sons of Biltmore Estate workers, it soon expanded to include weaving and furniture construction.
In 1917, the Vanderbilt’s sold the business to Fred Seely, designer and first manager of The Grove Park Inn which he built for his father-in-law Edwin Wiley Grove who had made a fortune with his tasty syrup elixir used to treat malaria. Seely relocated the business to the grounds of the Inn where it stands today. After the move, the original emphasis on woodcarving and woodworking gave way to the weaving of homespun cloth for men’s and women’s suits.
The antique car museum is located within the original weave building which at one time housed up to 4o looms which produced some of the highest quality homespun fabric in the country. Behind this structure is the building where dying of the materials was done in huge vats. Here is also stored many of the looms, carding machines and other machinery and other sundry items used in the manufacturing process.
Next door is a museum with many fascinating items from the days of the industry, including one of the original looms. I found the loom truly fascinating. My grandfather once worked in a blanket manufacturing mill as a mechanic on those looms and I actually have some of his vintage tools. My mother, herself, worked on the looms in a cotton mill up until the time I was born. And as for me, I kept the textile legacy alive when I went to work in a knit mill after graduation from high school, becoming a mechanic myself. I worked at this trade for over 30 years at four different factories, all of which eventually closed or relocated. I found the loom to be a fascinating piece of machinery, nothing akin to the double and single knit machines I did work on. But in looking at them, I’m sure I could have mastered that trade; it’s in my blood!
If you ever visit the place, there’s a guided history tour, offered Wednesday thru Saturday at 1pm, April thru December. ‘Twas a fascinating journey to times gone by.
That is so cool! I love to take the kids to historical places like this. They’re a great way to let kids really SEE what life was like before cars and smartphones and game consoles.
We have a mill in our area and we’ve taken the kids a few times. At first they weren’t in to it, but once they started learning more about it, they really got interested.
I would love to visit this place, esp with my kids to learn a little more about life through history! Looks like an interesting place and I LOVE the old ways of production as well as the furniture/equipment used.
Oh wow what an absolutely wonderful looking place to visit. I love these places you get to see a working glimpse of the past.
That looks like a very history filled place to visit! I love taking trips where I can learn things.
I would love to visit a fun place like this with my family! It would be a great way for us to unplug and experience an authentic history lesson.
I love visiting places like this. Hopefully this summer we’ll get to visit more historical places. We’ve got several close to us, but there never seems to be enough time!
I would love to check out Grovewood Village. It is amazing to look at what it was like in the past.
I love history! This museum looks much like Mount Vernon. They made a lot of textiles there. It was fascinating.
What fun! I love museums! This is the kind of place I would enjoy visiting!
Now this looks like a fun place to visit! I would love to check it out for myself one day!
North Carolina seems rich in history. I love to take cultural trip there one day. Great post!
What a wonderful place! Its really amazing and extraordinary. I would love to visit there.
What a beautiful and unique museum! My boys and I would love to go there and learn all about the artistry and beauty of the past.
I love visiting places like this, the off the beaten path stops. I will bookmark this for our road travels this yar.
Its really amazing place! I would love to visit there. Such an interesting place!
The homespun clothes no one ever really thinks about so that would be an awesome museum to visit. Hopefully some day we can visit these museums in SC. We all love history and enjoy learning about it. Thanks for sharing your experience.
There’s a lot of interesting stuff in there. These I would love to bring the kids there. What a fun way to learn about history
That is really neat. I love seeing places like these. They’re so awesome to be able to see in person.
Very fascinating place, I would enjoy checking this out. I did a little bit of apparel factory work a lifetime ago.
I didnt know North Carolina was so historical. Thanks for the in-depth recap.
I have been to North Carolina before but haven’t yet visited this museum, it’s neat to get a glimpse into the past.