The Rankin-Bearden House (c.1846) is the oldest surviving wood frame house in the Asheville city limits and is noted in the National Register of Historic Places Inventory for the Montford Historic District. After over a decade of sensitive renovations, its owners won a Griffin Award for residential rehabilitation this year from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. The home features spectacular views of both the mountains and downtown Asheville. The architectural style of the home is Greek Revival with Italiante details, with a grand entrance and foyer, parlor, formal dining room, library, five bedrooms and baths, and nine fireplaces, seven of which are operable. In 2006, the Asheville City Council designated the property as a local historic landmark.

The Applewood Manor Inn
62 Cumberland Circle
Owners: Larry and Nancy Merrill

The Applewood Manor Inn is one of Asheville’s longest continuous operating Bed & Breakfasts. A colonial turn-of-the-century home, the Inn sits on an acre and a half of 'country in the city' surrounded by giant oaks, pines, maples and other trees. The house was completed in 1912 by Captain John A. Perry, and served as Captain Perry’s home until his death in 1939. The Inn is a typical New England style house with 6 foot original windows, shake shingles, 9 foot pocket doors, original brass gas sconces converted to electricity, and solid wood floors. The house will be eligible for application to the National Historic Register in 2012 when it has reached its centennial age.

The 1900 Inn on Montford
296 Montford Ave.
Owners: Ron and Lynn Carlson

The 1900 Inn on Montford is located in the very heart of the Montford Historic Distr

Built in 1915, this Arts and Crafts style house was the home of prominent Jewish merchant Gustav Lichtenfels and his wife Edna until 1959. It features an open layout, made comfortable by great iron radiators that must have seemed very novel at the time. The home retains many of the original electrical fixtures and oak and stained birch interior woodwork. The kitchen was recently remodeled with a period look. The cabinets incorporate cedar wood recycled from old storage closets found in the basement and the center island uses an enameled countertop from a 1930's baking table. The exterior has just been repainted - a mammoth task with its 40 foot high eaves and 54 windows.

ict. It exemplifies the Arts and Crafts style made popular in Asheville by noted society architect Richard Sharp Smith, supervising architect to the Biltmore House. Illustrated in his publication of 1901, My Sketchbook, the house is considered to be one of his finest residential commissions. Today, it is elegantly furnished with English and American antiques dating from 1730 to 1910. The inn has four large guestrooms and a five-room 1,000 square foot secluded third floor suite, Zelda's Retreat. The innkeepers have recently opened Griffin Cottage, a new carriage house at the rear of the property that contains two suites and a guest room.

333 Montford House
Owners: Vic and Sharon Fahrer

Parkside ca. 1896 Queen Anne. Parkside exhibits many features from the popular Queen Anne style. The two and one-half story residence is topped with a steeply hipped roof with multiple lower cross gables, asymmetrically placed on the facades. The first floor gable is detailed with a delicate fan ornament and a second story porch to enhance the main entrance. The balcony and porch railings are typical of Montford styles: the porch supports are elegant turned posts. The Queen Anne style lends itself to shingles, weatherboards, a wraparound porch and a variety of window sizes and types. The interior has been transformed into an art gallery of faux finishes. Jesse Fahrer, the artisan, has portrayed several woods, marbles and distressed leather throughout the house. This age old craft has provided the perfect backdrop for the décor. Several local historical figures of Asheville have occupied the house. Its first owner was Dr. Millender and his family. Later Archibald Nichols owned the house in the 1920’s while he operated Nichols Shoe. Co. and was vice president of Champion Chemical company. During the mid 40’5 to 50’s Paul J. Pless and his family occupied the house while he owned the Dreamland Drive-in Theater.

211 Montford Avenue
Owners: Jeff and Frances Tracy

Over one hundred years old (c1900), this house is an asymmetrical variation of the Colonial Dutch Revival style, with a gambrel roof projection, shingled wall surfaces, and stone trim handsomely sited on a large corner lot. The home was completed in 1891. William Whiting was an official of Whiting Manufacturing Company, a wood products firm, and moved into the house in 1910. In 1917 it was purchased by Morris Lipinsky, general manager of the Bon Marche store and son of the store's founder, Solomon Lipinsky.
The current owner/contractors, were awarded THE GRIFFIN for RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION by The Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions to Historic Preservation.

171 Montford Avenue
Circa 2006
Owners: Michael McDonough and Caroline Yongue,

A new home and office sprouted from the footprint of a historic home lost in the 70's, with renovated ancillary buildings; a historic carriage house and a 1940's cottage. The new home is stitched into the historic streetscape with context-sensitive design elements, the design includes numerous sustainable features and strategies, while remaining responsive to a modern family lifestyle. Features include a solar hot water system, high efficiency wood burning fireplace, stained concrete floor and custom countertop, custom fireplace surround, with an abundance of regional wood species throughout. The ancillary buildings are tastefully designed to serve as guest lodging, and may also be open during the tour. Michael designed and built the new home, with Caroline. It received a Griffin award this year, and is featured in this December/January issue of Fine Homebuilding.

57 Short Street
Owner: Jesse Fahrer

The house was built in 1913 as a 4 room bungalow with a front porch and lap siding. Short Street at the time was the residence of African Americans who worked in downtown Asheville or at the larger homes in Montford that were in easy walking distance from their residences. They were the chauffeurs, housekeepers and maids according to an older resident, Willie Cohen, formerly of 55 Short Street.

It is unknown when a back shed was added for the kitchen and another bath. The home is presently approximately 1300 square feet of living space. The house was last owned by Ella Brooks who purchased it in the 1960s and lived in it until the present owner purchased it in June of 2004. It was in a complete state of disrepair with unsupported floor joists and non functioning plumbing. Wood was rotten everywhere and mold and mildew lived in a poorly ventilated basement. Powder post beetles damaged the wood siding and floors. Gutters on the roof were clogged and nonfunctioning allowing moisture to seep into the crawl space.

Some interesting items were found during the renovation, including pictures cut from a newspaper of boxers in the 1920s. Theses were found thumb tacked to what had been the exterior lap siding. The space was later enclosed for additional living space. Old postcards from 1912 were found in the chimney.

The house was gutted to the studs. The interior floor plan was left in tact, but a stairway was added to utilize the attic space as a bonus room. The original floor plan included two full bathrooms which were totally redone. The arts and crafts style of the house was recreated in the kitchen cabinetry and interior woodwork.

On the exterior, brick tarpaper was removed and new lap siding was installed. The porch on the front was repaired and the back addition was rebuilt. Aluminum windows were replaced with ones that would have fit the style at the time the house was constructed and arts and crafts exterior doors were chosen.

57 Short Street today represents a simple arts and crafts style bungalow with modern amenities.

28 Soco Street
Owners: Joseph and Wanda Newman

In 1901, jeweler William Shoffner and his wife Alice invested in several acres of land between Soco Street and Montford Avenue. They built this cottage as their residence. With its high roof, Doric columns, shingles, and beaded board accents, the frame house bridges Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts styling. Heart of pine flooring and bull’s eye molding highlight the interior. As the Shoffners developed the rest of their property, 28 Soco became a rental house with a long procession of tenants and owners. After unhappily celebrating its 100th birthday in rundown condition, the house won the Griffin Award for residential restoration in 2005. Now the two and a half story, 3,400 square foot home has a fresh start on its second century.

19 Soco Street
Owners: John and Vanessa Byrd

12 East Waneta Street
Owners: Ben and Cate Scales

Built in 1926, this small 900 sq. ft. cottage is the same design as the original portion of the house across the street at 21 E. Waneta (c1924). Historically it has always been a rental property, and had been modified several times prior to being fully renovated by the current owners in 2005. With refinished hardwood floors, full kitchen and bath remodels, and some minor re-configuring, the home is now back to being a classic, simple cottage. It is currently used as a furnished monthly rental, offering long, relaxing stays in the Montford neighborhood.

6 Aborvale
Owners: Rob and Lindsay Moody, the EcoBuilders

An urban craftsman style, this home was designed to fit within the historic character of Montford, with some modern twists, by Stephen Beili of Studio Dionisi Incorporated. The house is 1950 square feet. It is a gold certified NC HealthyBuilt Home, and energy star certified. It also has locally milled interior trim from other EcoBuilders jobsites. The house has three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.

• Tankless water heater
• 3 Light Wells
• 2 story book shelf
• Second story sleeping porch
• New urban craftsman style
• Fresh air introduction system