I am going to give you a tour, a few pieces at a time

I am doing everything I can to learn this tour script, and yesterday I drove myself around one section of Asheville over and over again. I was sure someone would report a stalker, but luckily no one did.

First, there are no eggs. They gave up on them. Carrie is taking her big chickens today and two silkies. I will try after that. There is thing on one of my chicken forums, but I cannot remember which, that everyone should have a hen start sitting on an egg on the 6th, so all will hatch at the same time, and we would upload photos. If the hens are still interested, I will let them have whatever they lay on the 6th. Until then, I will collect all. I will miss one of Carrie’s chickens,a large Rhode Island Red that we raised from a baby about five years ago. She is friendly and spoiled, and I have thought her to eat from my hand.

So, I am not going to give you the whole tour, as I have to keep something so that when you visit you will come with me. I am not putting tour names or such here, because I do not know if I am suppose to or not. I will put segments. Today you will get information of the Highland Hospital campus.

First, and in no specific order: Norburn Hospital 1927-1946

This was the first hospital in the Montford area. It was run by two brothers, Russel and Charles Norburn (only one of them a doctor), and it is now an apartment building. Many of the buildings in this area were used and rehabilitation during WWII.

The Rumbough House

The Rumbough House, built in 1894, is considered to be the oldest frame home in the area, and it is also the most impressive residence in Montford, which is an old residential area in Asheville. It was built for James Rumbough who has two distinctions. One, he was the first and only mayor of Montford when it was incorporated at the end of the 1800′s, before it was annexed into Asheville in 1905. Secondly, Rumbough is said to be the first person to cross the Appalachian Mountains in an automobile. In 2008, this home was sold for 2.5 million.

The entire north end of Montford became Highland Hospital. The buildings were used for treatment and doctor and nurse residence.The area now is mostly residential, with many holistic medical practices. It also includes two or three centers of Chinese Medicine. Psychaitrist Thomas Carroll opened the first mental hospital in the Asheville area, rightly named Dr. Carroll’s Sanitarium. In 1912 he moved it to the Montford area, renaming it Highland Hospital.

Highland Hall, a women’s psychiatric residence

One of his most prestigious patients was Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Dr. Carroll believed in diet and exercise for his patients, along with occupational therapy. Zelda painted, and she painted well. Most of her paintings were given away to friends and family, but one made its way onto Antiques Road Show in May of 2012, and its estimated value was over $20,000.

From 1936- 1948, Zelda was a patient of Dr. Carroll’s, on and off. In March of 1948, Zelda was a resident, and she had been released, but had decided to stay on an extra week. One night a fire broke out in the kitchen of the third floor (to this day it has been labeled arson), and the night workers could not get all of the women out, as they were locked in their rooms at night. Zelda, along with eight other women, died that night. By the time the fire department was called, it was too late.

My Beloved Homewood

Dr. Carrol met Grace Potter, a concert pianist (not to be confused with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) who was a patient in his hospital, suffering from exhaustion after a long tour. They fell in love and were married. Together in 1927, they had a house built that they named My Beloved Homewood.

Included in the house is a 250 seat recital hall. Grace continued to give concerts, and she also gave lessons. Her most famous student was Nina Simone, the jazz artist.

Nina was very young when she took lessons from Grace. It is said that when giving her first concert, her parents were seated in the back of the recital hall. Nina refused to go on until her parents were moved up front. Go Nina!

The house is now used for weddings. Book it today.

Tomorrow or the next day: The homes of Montford.