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December 19, 2012May 27, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Carrier Pigeon

We have just mailed the 2012 Rockbrook Carrier Pigeon to this years campers and staff. The Carrier Pigeon is the camp’s annual yearbook featuring stories, poems, drawings and photographs of the summer. The Carrier Pigeon has been published each year since the camp was founded in 1921, making it one of the best resources for the history of camp. This makes this years copy the 91st edition of the Rockbrook memory book. The Carrier Pigeons are wonderful treasures filled with Rockbrook memories and fun times. Here are some samples from over the years:

Carrier Pigeon writings 1926 — The Carrier Pigeon, 1926

The Aim of the Pigeon

“Like ghosts passing to and fro, good times come and good times go.”

Good times do come and go as swiftly, but the Pigeon is going to help us keep our good times with us. The little funny incidences and all the pleasures that go toward making up this happy summer of ours are going to pass more slowly because of the Pigeon. Certainly, time will pass as quickly, but the memories will remain.

In the long winter to come, we will be able to laugh and talk over the good times at camp. Not only that, but we will be able to pass on our happiness and share it with others- the others that are not with us now. All because of the Pigeon that will bring back our memories at Christmas time.

We will never forget it it, this happy summer of ours, It is the aim of the Pigeon to do this, to serve as a record of happy memories. With your help it will succeed. – K. Wallingford, Junior Editor

Camp writings book 1980 — The Carrier Pigeon, 1980

To Me Rockbrook Means-

togetherness around a campfire

Jean and Sarah Scott playing their guitars

And everyone listening and enjoying the soft music

Making crafts and going home and sharing them with your family

Sitting on the hill in the evening watching the sun slowly

fade behind the proud tall mountains

Rockbrook I thank you for the Happy days you gave me. – Muffy Howard

We hope you have many happy memories of your time at RBC and if you have any copies of your old Carrier Pigeons we would love to hear from you. Please share with us any of your favorite camp poems, memories, stories and photos.

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December 7, 2012May 27, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Rockbrook Tie

The most distinguishing feature of the Rockbrook Uniform is the Red Rockbrook Tie. The tie has been part of the camp uniform since Rockbrook was founded in 1921. This made us wonder…what is the origin of the Rockbrook tie?

After doing some digging, it looks like that many of the early girls’ camps like Rockbrook had a tie as part of their uniform. While they come in many different colors, they all share a similar element- the Friendship Knot. It appears that the history of the friendship knot in camping came from the Girl Scouts. According to the Girl Scouts, the Friendship Tie (and knot) stand for the “tie that binds all girls and women who are part of the world association of Scouts”. The knot is a sign of the continuous friendships they share. Nothing could be more true for all of our Rockbrook girls and women all over the world. The red Rockbrook tie is surely a symbol of the Spirit of Rockbrook that binds us all together!

Vintage camp photos of women in ties — Rockbrook Uniform, 1920’s

modern camp girls in ties — Rockbrook Uniform, 2012

We also found a wonderful poem that speaks to the beauty of the Friendship Knot. While we are not sure of the author, we know that they definitely went to camp!

The Friendship Knot

This knot is women in friendship true,
And interlaced with memories, too.
Of friendship found and share by you,
That times and miles cannot undo

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November 6, 2012May 27, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Rockbrook Girls Ahead of their Time

Did you know that Rockbrook was founded only 2 years after women earned the right to vote? The 19th Amendment was passed on June 4, 1919 and Rockbrook officially opened on July 6, 1921. Nancy Carrier, founder of Rockbrook, was certainly ahead of her time in creating a space for young women to come to gain independence, learn skills, make friendships and take part in adventures. It is hard to imagine the excitement a camper must have felt to pack up and ride the train to Brevard and stay at camp for 8 weeks! Here are some wonderful historical excerpts from an early camp catalog that describe the adventures.

“For 25 years camping parties have gone out from Rockbrook, thus they know by experience how far the first hike may go, where is the best spot for a moon-light supper and in what sheltered coves tents may be pitched for a stay of several days. They know where the coldest springs lie hid; when the huckle-berries are ripe on the top of the ridges’ and on whose property a canoeing party may camp.”

“Hiking. Here at Rockbrook, it means a well regulated walk amid scenes of unsurpassed beauty with a party of congenial comrades. The over-night hikes, taken after the girls have learned to climb up and down, to make camp and to care for themselves and others, are among our most popular sports.”

“The Pisgah National Game Preserve is within reach of both riding and hiking parties from Rockbrook. The forest regulations are complied with so that campers may enjoy the camping and fishing if they wish to do so.”Thanks to strong, empowered women like Nancy Carrier, we think Rockbrook Girls have always been ahead of their time! Here’s to many more years of fun, friendship and adventure in the heart of a wooded mountain.

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October 10, 2012May 28, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Rockbrook in The New York Times

In our last blog post we shared some interesting information about the history of Farming at Rockbrook. During our research on the history of the farm, we also found a fascinating news article from The New York Times about The Carriers bringing the first motorized tractor to the area saving the farming season with their new machine. Mr. Carrier was in the automobile and tractor business down in SC, and that is how he came to Brevard in the first place. H.P. Clarke, founder of Rockbrook Farm and father of Nancy Clarke Carrier (camp founder) ordered an automobile from Mr. Carrier’s dealership. While delivering the car, Mr. Carrier met Nancy Clarke and their romance began. They would eventually marry and Mr. Carrier would relocate to Rockbrook Farm. It is during this time that Mr. Carrier joined Mr. Clarke in his farming business and eventually purchased the tractor that would come to serve such an important role in farming of the French Broad River Valley.

Henry N. Carrier of Brevard North Carolina — The New York Times, September 12, 1920

The article states that:

When Mr. Carrier took over Rockbrook and became a farmer, he carried his auto-traction interest with him. He had his car and his truck, and he got a couple of tractors. He sold one tractor to the town of Brevard for street and road purposes, and then the French Broad River got busy. It flooded the valley three times before May 1. Farmers who had lost their crops in the bottoms before began to despair. Not a grain of corn was planted in the whole valley, but then came a few precious days of dry warm weather and the tractor got busy. It plowed up whole fields in the time when a team of mules had previously covered only acres. It ran from sunrise until after dark, without a whimper. It carpeted the young green valleys with mighty areas of rich dark brown. The sound of its chug-chug as it sturdily turned its wide furrows from river’s bank to mountain side, echoed back from distance coves and told the wondering mountaineers that a new era had dawned on the French Broad. Excerpt from The New York Times, September 12, 1920

Isn’t it interesting that this bit of news made it all the way to The New York Times? Mr. Carrier really did save the day! It is said that not only did he lend out the tractor to local farmers, he also traveled with the tractor to teach his friends how to use the new gas powered machine.

From Plow to Tractor — Transition from plow to Tractor, The D.H. Ramsey Special Collection

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October 3, 2012May 28, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Rockbrook Farm and HP Clarke

Did you know that before Rockbrook was a summer camp it was well known in the area as a working farm? Henry P. Clarke, the father of Nancy Carrier, camp founder, was a well respected farmer in Brevard. After doing some research we have found that Mr. Clarke bred chickens, shorthorn cattle and even raised dogs. There was a large garden plot, muscadine grape vines and a dairy that was run by a family member of Mr. Clarke. When Rockbrook was founded in 1921 the farm provided all of the food and meat for the whole camp!

The chicken yard at Rockbrook Farm

While researching the history of the farm, we came across Mr. Clarke’s name in several publications. We learned that Mr. Clarke operated a kennel called Brevard Kennel. Here is a snippet from The Field Dog Book:

From The Field Dog Book

We also discovered an interesting advertisement in the back of The Country Gentlemen Magazine for Rockbrook Farms Shorthorn Cattle. Check out the ad as well as a birthing record of two of the cows Lady Mell and Minerva.

Cow announcement — Birthing Record, 1900

It is clear that Mr. Clarke was a man of many talents! In our next blog we will share a great article about Mr. Clarke “saving the farming season” with his new modern tractor.

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April 17, 2012September 17, 2023 • History • Charlotte Page

The Lodge Legend

Stone Hume Hotel — The ruins of the Hume Hotel, Dunn’s Rock, Transylvania County, NC

In the oral history of Rockbrook there is an interesting story of the connection between Brevard’s oldest hotel, The Hume Hotel and Rockbrook. Legend says that the stones from the hotel ruins were used by Rockbrook’s engineer Royal Morrow in the construction of The Junior Lodge at RBC. While we can not authenticate the story, it seems possible that the stones could have easily been used due to the hotel’s proximity to the Rockbrook property. As you can see in the photo above, the ruins lie just below Dunns Rock, on the current Island Ford Road right across from main camp. Currently there is a house on the site, but there are a few remaining rocks left from the 1840’s hotel. At the time it was built, it was the first hotel in Transylvania County. We may never know the real answer to the mystery, but we like to think of Rockbrook’s connection to such an important landmark. Check out this blog post from our archives for more information about the hotel.

Rockbrook Camp Junior stone lodge — Junior Lodge, do the stones match the old hotel?

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March 20, 2012December 29, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The NC Digital Library and Rockbroook

The Transylvania County Library recently contributed over 200 photographs and newspapers to the North Carolina Digital Library. The digital library includes a searchable database of the entire NC Digital Heritage Center Archives. With the ability to search images and newspapers from the early days of Brevard, we have had a great time finding out more about the history of Rockbrook and it’s founder, Nancy Clarke Carrier.

Our first article we discovered is from the Sylvan Valley News, Brevard’s first newspaper which was published from the 1890’s until 1916. The article is from May, 1908.

Nancy Clarke wins — Sylvan Valley News, 1908, Brevard, NC

Nancy Clarke was 19 years old at the time of this tournament. We know from past research that she was a student at Columbia College for Women, so possibly this was a school sponsored tournament? As mentioned in a previous blog post, The Rockbrook House featured a tennis court in the side yard. Perhaps this is where Nancy honed her tennis skills?

Carrier House Tennis Court — The Rockbrook House Tennis Court

When Rockbrook was founded in 1921, tennis was one of the activities offered that first season. With our new insight into Mrs. Carrier and her love of tennis, it is no surprise that she would include it in the activity roster. We continue to offer tennis today and know Mrs. Carrier would be proud to see her legacy continued! Stay tuned for more from the digital archives.

camp tennis 1940 — Rockbrook Camp Catalog, 1940

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February 9, 2012May 7, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Rockbrook House and Richard Sharp Smith

Clarke Carrier House, Brevard, NC — The Rockbrook House, 1930’s

The Rockbrook House, also known as The Clarke Carrier House, is located in the center of Rockbrook’s property. It was built in 1895 by Henry Peck Clarke, father of Rockbrook’s founder Nancy Carrier. Clarke hired Richard Sharp Smith, supervising architect of The Biltmore House, to design his mountain home. The house was completed in 1895, just a few months after The Biltmore Estate was completed. At that time, Smith opened his own architecture firm and began designing homes and civic buildings around western NC. He is considered to be one of the most prolific and influential architects during the 1900’s in the Asheville area. He, along with his firm Smith and Carrier, designed over 700 structures throughout western NC. His work is known for its Craftsman and Colonial Revival Styles, such as the use of pebbledash stucco on the exterior, half timbering, and diamond pane windows. These features are all part of The Rockbrook House. (Note the diamond pane windows flanking the front door).

As you travel the back roads of western NC, you are sure to spot examples of his influence around every turn. We here at Rockbrook are proud to share a piece of the architectural history of our region. Here are some other examples of Smith’s work around NC.

Kanuga cottage — Kanuga Conference Center Cottages, Hendersonville, NC

Annie West house — Annie West House, Asheville, NC

Anderson Audotorium Montreat NC — Anderson Auditorium, Montreat, NC

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December 13, 2011May 28, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Rockbrook Water Wheel Song

Did you know that in the 1920’s the power for most of Rockbrook was created by a water wheel? In 1923, a water wheel was installed just below the lake and dam to run the electricity for the camp. The water wheel came from the Federal Distillery right across the road from camp. The Distillery building is one of three in Transylvania county, and currently the only one still standing. The distillery is believed to have operated from the mid-nineteenth century until Prohibition when the wheel was removed and relocated across Hwy 276. The water wheel was such an important feature of camp there was even a song written about it! Check out the sheet music that we found in honor of Rockbrook’s Water Wheel.

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November 15, 2011October 2, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Swimming, Diving, I’ve Been Striving

Swim Lessons at Rockbrook Camp, 1920's — Swim Class at Rockbrook, 1930’s

Since 1921, Rockbrook has offered swimming lessons to campers of all skill levels using the Red Cross swimming system. In those early years swimming was required each day for every girl. After an 8 week session ( there was only one session of camp back then) you would be a fantastic swimmer! Rockbrook also taught Lifeguarding classes to the older campers to help prepare them as they developed into counselors themselves. One famous Rockbrook swim teacher was Helen Chiere, who taught swimming for over 25 summers. She taught generations of Rockbrook girls how to swim and was famous for her style of instruction which included sayings like “scrape the jelly off the belly” for learning the backstroke, or “pick an apple and put it in the basket” for learning the side stroke. Her humor and warmth helped all the junior campers have a great experience at the lake.

The camp lake is still the center of daily life at Rockbrook! Between swim classes, free swim, canoeing, kayaking and trips down the water slide it is always abuzz with activity. Most of the campers these days already know how to swim, but lessons and fun are still at the center of it all at the lake. And as the camp song says: “Swimming, diving, I’ve been striving, striving hard to pass my test, and before the summers over, I’ll be swimming with the best. Jump on the spring board, dive in, SPLASH!”

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