The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-29


| Flat Rock. the old summer resort
in Western North Carolina, many
of the estates have changed own
erShip.
Few are now open for visitors
except by personal invitation Of
the owners.
Argyle, probably the first home
built there by Glow country" pco-
pie, was erected by Judge Mitch
ell King during the years 1880
81. 1t is still occupied by descend
ants Of this family, and for five
generations has been home to
the Kings.
Lying across the highway is
Kenmure, which was originally
known as Glenroy, the home OF
Dr.. Mitchell King, who had been
classmate and close friend OF
Bismarck during their college
years in Germany.
On the Little River road, the
first estate after leaving the high
way is Ravenswood, which was
built by Rev. John Grimke Dray-
ton, the founder Of Magnolia Gar
dens in Charleston. For 20 years,
Rev. Mr.. Drayton was beloved rec
tor of st. John in the Wilderness.
Connemara, the home of Capt.
Ellison A. Smyth, was built about
1899. by C. G. MemmInger., later
member Of President jefferson
Davis cabinet. During his owner
ship the place was known as Rock
Hill,-and it was fortified during
the War Between the States to
furnish refuge for people of the
community against depredations
of renegades and outlaws.
Saluda Cottages (oppOsite Con
nemaral now owned by Mr.. c. 2.
Cleveland. This place was first
owned by Count de CholSeul, who
came there about 1886. This gen
tleman had long been French con-
sui at Charleston, who occupied
Saluda Cottages during the time,
or a part of the time he was haV-
ING erected The Castle, a large
stone house in the style OF
| French chateau.
/ The Castle, which was near Mud
| Greek church, had beautifully
planted grounds and an elaborate
| " heated grape conservatory. The
! Castle later became the home OF
! Col. David Uruquhart, of New Or
leans, and Cora Brown Potter
spent some time there after the
War Between the States.
The first rectorv of the Epis-
copel church at Flat Rock was
built bv Charles Barring. This
place, known as Diamond in the
Desert, was sold to Richard
Lowndes about 1847, and it was
there, shortly after a banner had
been adopted by the Confederate
Congress, that this emblem was
first shown in North Carolina aft
er the State seeded.
No alterations have been made,
except to the porchcs, and 1t IS
now the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
c. B. Fretwell. Several specimens
of 'armored' pines are found
among the aged trees IN It's groves.
The Mountain Lodge which
Charles Barring and his wife built
in the centre of a large estate,
was begun about 1880. Near this
house, a large deer park was en-
| closed in high rail fence. The
tumble -down-stile, built after the
! fashion Of one at Stratford-on-
| the-Avon, is still on the place.
! This property. now known as
Heaven Trees is owned by DR..
and Mrs. G. E. Jones, and is on
Rutledge Drive, not far from Mud
Greek church.
Dulce far Niente, where Mr..
ron Lowndes now resides, was
built by his great-grandfather,
about 1886, though the house has
been enlarged and much altered
since then. This property was first
owned by William McAlpin, one
Of the first four men from the
'Iow country" who came to Flat
Rock.
Brooklands, where Mr.. H. Fl.
| Ficken resides, was the home of
| Edmund Molyneux, British consul
to Charleston and Savannah. The
| house built about 1S41 is of Eng
| lish type. and the grounds are laid
ont in true English fashion. 1t
later became the home, for many
years, of Maj. Theo G. Baker.
Beaumont, situated on the Ka-
nuga road, three miles from town,
was built by Mr.. Andrew john
stone, a Carolina rice planter,
about 1910. During the War Be-
| tween the States, a squad of men
who claimed to be soldiers, enter