Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-07-27


figures being formed in the very Oldest
style. These latter show in distinct
contrast with the dark red color of the
general mass and are set in gashcd-out
matrixes in the narrow edge; the
whitened faces Of the figures are of dur
able cement, like plaster paris, and must
have been moulded in their present form
while the composition was in a liquid
state.
Various conjectures are afioat as to
its maker and his object; the former was
undoubtedly Col. John M. Patton or by
his direction; whether there are more OF
the same sort and why this particular
one should come to light in it's centennial
year, is it the key to hidden mysteries in
the old mansion and who will find them
out, are unsolved riddles.
Viewed in the lights of the oldest i'll
habitant the house in which the brick
was found, locally known as "thc old
Patton house" becomes a place where
the charms of remote tradition meet the
weird and ghastly romancing OF later
times, and as they relate history they
weave an old-fashioncd tale OF haunted
house.
When Buncombe's mctcs and bounds
were laid the record is that the court
was held at the house of Wi liam David
son, the grandfather OF Col. A. I. David
son, who then resided on the south bank
of the Swannanoa river at a point now
known as the Gum Spring." a short dis
| tance below Biltmore and near the old
Johu Patton house. Tradition has it
that some Of the logs in ths house in
| which the county was organized are yet
to be seen in the old barn OF the Patton
L
| The first order made by the officers Of
the ne " county was to lay out road
from this house of William Davidson to
Chcrryfield settlements. now Brcvard,
the Indian boundary on the upper French
Broad.
The building was erected in the year
on the brick, by Col. John M. Patton, in
the forks of the road, half a mile down
the river from the present station at Bilt-
more. and became a noted roadhouSe for
travellers. About 1880 carpenters were
imported from Tennessee to remodel the
structure, and it's logs were then Gov
cred in its present finish.
An inspection of the house shows uI
an old timer, built for easy comfort ir
the hospitablc Southern style, with open
pOrches across the entire front below
the spindling pillars giving place above
to rooms at either end. The chimneys
sho W their bulk outside, and their age is
clearly read in the Jagged rents and
seams that scar their height. The
proppcd up corucrs. the saggy. bulgini
lines and the gray and curling weather
boards all tell tale Of storm and decay
The interior is broken up with doZei
rooms, wainscoted in curious panel
closely cciled and embellished with sim
pie lines of molding. The woodwork
once adorned with grass-green paint, i
mottlod with the discolorations of sue
cessive coats and pcelings OF whitewas
and the refusal OF oil and water to mix
The great big freplaccs will take
cordstick and the story goes that back
logs never went out.
A crooked, boxcd-in stairway leads t.
the apartments above, finished muc
like those below with panelled mantel
and wainscot in faded glory of til
same green paint; the expansive garre
ldisclOses the rough hewn timbers OF tn
loriginal framing, once taut and stiff
wooden pins, but now wobbley-iointe
by the rack of the storms OF hundre
- winters; its inner walls are lined wit
snaky masses OF dead and twisted vine
the remnants of the rank growth ths
once forced its way from the outer sui
! shine.
When the hustle of Mr.. Vande
bilt's schemes began to change IL
face of nature, the place had becon
an ivy-clad ruin. with forlorne
aspect and the reputcd abode of ghost
hants. Boltless doors swung
and fro on their rusty creaking hinge
and the battered and broken sash
offered entrances and exits to ill-omen
creatures in their nocturnal flight. 7
N. spoilings of ages helped on the tales
tongucy guides when they spoke of foxt
owls and bats, uncanny witches al
their broth from toads and snakes al
nettles.
For half century the marvellous
nacity of superstition habited the hou
with fantastical creations, groans q
rattling chains, bloody bones and heat
spike-tailed devils cavorting in hideo
=, carnival and Gurus looking white thin
a-moving todes me, twcll e'en'mos' g
froze." The nearness of the rendezvo
- of spooks to the big road made ie
travel after nightfaD. A swapping tv
or twitteriug bird discounted the ru
bic of thunder in the ears Of the belat
darkey and made him hit the grit"
the shelter of the nearest quartz
within their cabins with ashy face a
bated breath he told of a "shore !
hant wild hufs and hawns, pawin' up
I yearth Of de big road by de ole Patt
house" whose fiery grasp he had elu'
' by the skin of his teeth.
In more recent times, or "sence
war" and until the ruin was made h
liable by its present owner, gay par
of young people from the city, gh
hunters for a night, made the ford
IlE rides of n ra W. and In he grueaomc glo