This story was originally published in The Citizen-Times.
WEAVERVILLE- A year or so from now when shoppers pull into Northridge Commons, they’ll get a little glimpse of history.
Built in 1878 by Albert Weaver, a son of town father Jacob Weaver, the home will be preserved and moved about 500 yards from its current site. The white-and-green wood frame home, where Albert Weaver lived with his wife Tobitha, will be at the entrance to Northridge Commons, an 83-acre development that will include a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a Lowe’s Home Improvement store and other retail stores.
“They contacted us and said they would like to save it, that they would like to donate it to us,” said Marge Turcot, executive director of the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. “Also, they will donate the land for us to move it to.”
The society will have to pay for moving the original home, on Monticello Road, an expense Turcot hopes will not exceed $100,000. The society will not move a newer addtion constructed behind the home, which is named Sunnycrest.
The project’s developer, The Carolina Group LLC, said the home will move about 500 yards, from one side of the center entrance to another.
“It is a beautiful old house,” said Steve Vermillion, a principal with the Carolina Group.
Vermillion said he could envision someone living in the home or it being used for commercial purposes. Jim Coman, president of the Preservation Society, said he foresees the society selling the home to someone who will use it for offices.
“Realistically, there’s not anybody who would want to live there right at the entrance to a shopping center, but it would make a perfect location for a professional office,” Coman said.
The society has formed a committee to arrange the move, Coman said. Like Turcot, he’s excited that a piece of the Weaverville’s history is being saved. No one has lived in the home recently.
The northern Buncombe town, home to 2,500 residents, was established around 1850 and named for the Rev. Montraville Weaver, who gave land and money to establish Weaver College in 1872.
John Boyle, Citizen-Times
