Raspberry Hill Bed & Breakfast was the first home of WC and WJ Nesbitt. In
approximately 1903, they bought the property that is now Raspberry
Hill. The Nesbitts lived here until 1926, at which time it was bought
by their friends, James Andrew Taylor and Martha Ellen Laughter
(pronounced “Lawter”) Taylor.
Mr. Nesbitt, a land surveyor and close friend of
Mr. Taylor, sold him 7 tracts of land he had surveyed at one time,
approximately 400 acres located in this valley area. Mr. Taylor passed
away in 1934 after living here about 8 years.
James Andrew Taylor brought his family down from
what is known as Bald Plateau, or Bald Mountain, only about 6 miles
from this property. Bald Mountain is one of the highest peaks in this
range facing the Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area. They owned approximately
53 acres on top of the mountain and would occasionally move their
cattle back and forth in Spring and Summer to graze in the valley
areas.
James Andrew Taylor had 13 children, 7 girls and 6
boys. By the time they moved to this location, most of the
children
were grown. One of the boys, Ralph Newlyn Taylor, was born in 1903 and
was about 23 years old when they moved to this area. He was the father
of Judy Taylor Van Roekel, one of the present owners of the property,
and lived in the house with the rolled roof on Highway 9. The boys and
girls worked hard doing their farm chores. They were industrious,
hard-working and godly people, very creative and very innovative.
Looking down the valley to the right, visitors will see a house that is
in disrepair that was the home of John Randolph Taylor, one of the sons
of James Andrew Taylor. Somewhere between 1934 and 1936, John Randolph
Taylor and Mrs. Van Roekel’s father, Ralph Newlyn Taylor, built
the little white church on the corner of Stroud Valley Road and Highway
9.
The house that is now Raspberry Hill Bed &
Breakfast was subsequently sold to one of James Taylor’s
daughters, Essie Taylor. Miss Taylor never married, but she lived here
during the 1956 to 1960 era for a period of time, after which the house
was abandoned for some 40 years, except for the occasional weekend or
summer vacation visitor. It was at the end of that time that Herb and
Judy Taylor Van Roekel purchased the property. After spending a couple
of years cleaning up the property, since it had been abandoned for such
a long period of time, Herb and the Van Roekel’s daughter built
the green-roofed barn that is a short distance from the main house. The
upper level of the barn is a woodworking shop, and the lower level will
be a gift shop for those who enjoy purchasing antiques and
collectibles.
This parcel of land sits on 30 acres that front
the headwaters area of the Broad River. Different from the French Broad
River, this river travels East and actually empties into the Atlantic
Ocean at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Before it gets there, it forms
the lake called Lake Lure that is located near Chimney Rock, North
Carolina.
During the renovation of the main house, major
structural repairs were needed throughout. The kitchen and dining room
floors were totally replaced, and that work has been completed.
Renovations have been kept in the context of a 1930’s- to
1940’s-style home. Much of the furniture located here was
furniture that was used in that period of time, and some was actually
acquired from other sources.
As visitors walk through the house, especially
through the bedroom sections, they will see many different chests and
suitcases that are full of memorabilia from the house. We invite guests
to look through and read some of the letters and the information that
was left by the family. Some are actual sermon notes from individuals
who became pastors, and some are just letters that were sent back and
forth from the family. We certainly hope our guests will enjoy them and
please return them when finished reading.
One of the more interesting portions of the house
is the sun porch that is located on the second floor. The sun porch at
one time was screened in, and many of the neighbors have talked about
taking naps there in the summer and enjoying the cool summer breezes
that come through that part of the house. Additionally, as you walk
through the bedrooms, you will notice the metal wire nails hanging from
the ceiling which were used to hook string from the light fixture to
the bed, enabling them to get into bed and then turn the lights off.
This house and John Randolph’s house were the first two homes in
the area with electricity. Even though it was somewhat minimal at the
time, the Taylors put in an under-shot turbine and generator, meaning
the water went under the wheel that turned the generator to produce
power for the John Randolph house and this house. As it turned out, one
of the floods took out the power source, and since the electrification
of the rural area did take place soon after, there was no need to
replace it. Outside the rusty-roofed barn is the turbine, and inside is
the original generator.
Downstairs in the great room, guests will note the
metal fence wire nails in the ceiling. One of the family members has
explained that they were there to be able to hang the quilting rack, so
that when the ladies and children had a quilting party, or
“quilting bee” as they were known, they could hang the
quilting rack from the ceiling and stand around it to do the quilt
work.
Located in the barn are at least 26 quilts that
were hand made by the family. Martha Ellen Taylor made much of her own
fabric with a loom that is located in the Ralph N. Taylor home, located
on Highway 9. Additionally, in the china cabinet that is located in the
great room downstairs, you will find some of the memorabilia that was
actually found in the house. One of the staff will be happy to explain
to visitors what is there. There is much more to be dispensed in the
future.
One of the concerns about this particular piece of
property has been that occasionally the river would flood and spill
over its banks, and the bridges would get washed away. The bridge in
front of the house was actually built by DOT personnel on their
vacation time and should withstand any raging torrents that come down
that river, even when it totally covers the bridge and spills into the
road behind it. The water has been over the bridge twice in 2004.
Walking around the property behind the older barn
with the rusty roof, guests will notice that there is a walking trail
to the right-hand side. Neighbors have stated that this walking trail
was the original wagon trail that was used by the locals to go from
Black Mountain to Old Fort. It crossed the river several times, and one
of the places was up the road in the pasture. It then came around
behind the house, following the hillside down to the Old Fort Road, now
called Stone Mountain Road.
Raspberry Hill is so named for the large wild
raspberry patch located behind the house on the hillside that leads to
one of the three natural springs on the property. Guests are invited to
enjoy picking the raspberries in June and July when they are ripe.
We look forward to your visit at Raspberry Hill Bed and Breakfast.
