alumnae Archives

Home /
Camp Blog /

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

Leave a Comment

January 19, 2012May 28, 2020 • News • Charlotte Page

Congratulations Kristin and James!

We were so happy to learn of the recent nuptials of Rockbrook alumna Kristin Abele. Kristin and her husband James were married on January 14th in Key Biscayne, Florida. A mini Rockbrook reunion took place as Kristin’s sisters Lauren and Madi (both former campers), as well as Anne Romatowski and Kelley Hubbell were in attendance. Kelley, Anne and Lauren were even able to come to Florida a week early for a some fun adventures before the big event. Kristin reported that lots of camp songs were shared that week, even at the wedding. We love that Rockbrook spirit! Kristin even mentioned that many of the wedding guests could instantly recognize the special bond that all RBC girls share!

Rock and Roll Camp girls — Rockbrook Spirit

Here is an update from Kristin herself:

“As an update for me…aside from getting married…I started my own business, with my husband in fact. We own and operate The Found Gen, which is a story/scripting group based in Miami that offers writing and editing services with an emphasis on marketing to businesses–we write copy for websites, blogs, newsletters, email marketing campaigns, proposals, marketing presentations, film scripts, commercial scripts, keynote speeches and more–and now after our wedding, we’ve even started getting requests for wedding ceremonies now! And, I completed my first novel last year and now that the wedding has come and gone–i’m aiming to edit it and send it out to be published this Spring.”

Congratulations Kristin and James! We are so happy for you both.

Rockbrook Wedding Fun — Kelley, Kristin, Madi, Lauren and Anne

Leave a Comment

January 4, 2012April 6, 2024 • Counselors • Catherine Frampton

Summer Gardening

From homemade pizza, to felafel and feta salad, to Mexican tamales, the Rockbrook kitchen staff serves up top-notch culinary creations. While earlier days at Rockbrook didn’t offer the same international variety of foods, it could boast of a bountiful, sustainable, and local food source. A 1926 RBC brochure states that the vast majority of the food used at camp was produced at the Rockbrook Farm, located across the road from camp on Greenville Highway. The farm, which was personally managed by Henry Carrier, provided all of the fixings for a balanced, healthy meal: eggs, chicken, lamb, mutton, milk, cream, butter, and vegetables. Rockbrook even cured it’s own ham and bacon for the summer.

Rockbrook currently does not have any large-scale farming, however it does have a rich garden. Located on the lower sports field, the RBC garden was started in 2009 and has been growing steadily ever since. Campers enjoy maintaining a variety of plants, and are especially excited to pick ripened vegetables, such as squash, zucchini, edamame, bell peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Once picked and washed, these vegetables are featured in the dining hall’s salad bar. Below, you’ll find a few of our favorite shots from a garden workshop this summer, where campers delighted in making tussie mussies and building a scarecrow!

Leave a Comment

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.

Leave a Comment

December 6, 2011May 29, 2020 • North Carolina • Charlotte Page

The Heart of Rockbrook

The 2011 Carrier Pigeon, our annual summer yearbook, is at the printer right now in preparation for sending out over the holiday. It is filled with so many wonderful stories and memories of the past summer. There are so many highlights, we thought we would share a few with you! The fun, friends and feeling of Rockbrook never changes, whether it is 1921 or 2011!

Splashing and laughing
in the rocky creek,
with our tangled hair
and our soaking wet feet;
In the dining hall
we all loudly sing,
then at rest hour flop down
and don’t say a thing.

Cabinmates are like sisters,
and friends ever better,
everyone’s hoping
to receive a letter.
Walking along
a quiet forest trail
or running a brush
through a horse’s soft tail.
In hilarious evening skits
every girl has a part,
In this beautiful wooded mountain,
you can tell why we’re called the heart.
—Miriam E.

Leave a Comment

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!”

Leave a Comment

November 8, 2011July 30, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Summer Camp Dance

Vintage Camp dance NC — Rockbrook and Camp Carolina Square Dance, 1950’s

Who does not remember the excitement and nerves that came with your first summer camp dance? Multiple generations of Rockbrook Girls have participated in this summer ritual. The dances originally were held in our Dining Hall (see photo above) but are currently held in our Gymnasium. They are usually held once or twice a session, the dates of which are a highly guarded secret. The Hi- Up campers get to announce the dance to the camp and the reaction is quite loud and boisterous. It is a very light and fun experience with everyone dancing together, laughing and being silly. For those who are not interested in participating we also offer a separate activity that is equally fun! Feel free to share with us any camp dance stories that you have- we would love to hear them!

Leave a Comment

November 2, 2011May 30, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Basket Weaving at Rockbrook

One of the traditional mountain crafts that is still taught at Rockbrook today is basketweaving. Curosty, our weaving and basketry center, has been the home of this mountain activity since Rockbrook’s founding in 1921. With its location right next to the creek, it is the ideal sight to learn this ancient art. Campers soak their reeds (dried grass) in the creek for several hours until the reed is soft and pliable. Then they are able to weave them together to make baskets of all shapes and sizes. For the younger campers we provide a weaving base which helps them to arrange their reeds in the proper order. It is quite a special moment when all of your weaving efforts pay off and you have a functional art piece, handmade at Rockbrook!

woven basket from summer camp — The finished product!

Leave a Comment

October 25, 2011May 29, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

The Brevard Music Festival

We came across an interesting document the other day while doing some research for the Rockbrook archives that features Nancy Carrier, Rockbrook’s founder. We have mentioned in a previous blog post that Nancy Carrier was instrumental in the creation of The Brevard Music Center and served on it’s board of directors until her death in 1977. Here is a copy of the Music Center’s very first summer series from 1946, featuring a great picture of Mrs. Carrier.

Nancy Carrier, Founder of Rockbrook was instrumental in the founding of The Brevard Music Center

Leave a Comment

October 20, 2011November 27, 2020 • History • Charlotte Page

Rockbrook Road Trip 1930’s

We found some wonderful pictures of Nancy Carrier, Rockbrook’s founder, and her family on a road trip. The photographs are dated from the 1930’s. Nancy is pictured on the left in the first photograph and second from left in the middle photograph. She is also pictured at right taking a photograph. We can only imagine the adventures they had as they all piled into the car and hit the road. Other pictures we found show the same group camping out on a mountain top with a gorgeous view, riding in the car, taking photographs and hiking. It looks like quite an adventure! Nancy Carrier’s adventurous spirit continues today at Rockbrook!

If you haven’t seen this video about the history of Rockbrook Camp, it’s a “must see!”

Nancy Carrier and friends prepare for a road trip

Nancy and friend camping — Nancy Carrier, at right, enjoys a road trip with friends

Leave a Comment

Explore Topics

Sign Up for the Newsletter