The Allison-Deaver House

The Allison-Deaver House was slated for demolition in 1987 after its third owner, Mae Smith, passed away. Aware of the historic value of the house, a group of citizens formed the Transylvania County Historical Society and bought the house, barn, and nearly four acres of land. Since then the Society has restored and maintained the house as a tribute to the early settlers, as an example of remarkable mountain-crafted architecture, and as a gift to present and future citizens.

Benjamin Allison purchased the property in 1813. In 1815, when most mountain dwellings were log cabins, he built a two-story timber frame home with three rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs. The kitchen was in the house. At the time, Davidson River was an active area of commerce and was part of Buncombe County. Benjamin Allison was a man of some means to have built such an impressive home. In 1830 he sold the house and land to William Deaver who doubled the size of the house in the 1840’s and around 1860 added the Charleston-inspired double porches. William Deaver was a prosperous landowner, business man and community leader. He and his wife, Margaret Patton raised 7 children in the home and may have entertained many prominent people including Davy Crockett.

In 1861, Transylvania County was formed from parts of Buncombe and Henderson Counties. This event occurred at the same time that North Carolina seceded from the Union. The development of Brevard would wait until the Civil War ended. The people of this new county were divided in their allegiances between the Union and the Confederacy. William’s sons joined the Confederacy. HIs son, James, became a captain whose duties involved tracking local bushwhackers and deserters. In February of 1865, just months before the Civil War ended, some men rode up to the Allison-Deaver House and called for Captain Deaver. William Deaver, who was called Captain as an honor, went out on the porch and was fatally shot. The belief is that James was the target. The perpetrators have never been identified. Because of this event, the Allison-Deaver property is a part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails Program. The Deaver family lived in the home until 1945 and sold it to Carl and Mae Smith in 1952. Mrs. Smith lived in the house until her passing in 1985.

See links below for further information:

Digging The Past in Transylvania County

National Register of Historic Places

NC Civil War Trails