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2/18/2010 - Asheville's Historic Homes

In 1927, Homewood was built as Dr. Robert Carroll's private residence after  the construction of Highland Hospital was completed. Dr. Carroll  moved to Asheville in 1904 after his tenure at Duke University. Homewood is one of the most prominent buildings in Montford, Asheville's historic district. The English stone-manor was designed to reflect the architecture at Duke.  Additions were made over time including a 1,500 square foot piano room featuring cherry walls for his second wife, Grace Potter Carroll. Bela Bartok, the famous classical compser and pianist, visited Asheville and gave private performances at Homewood where he entertained the Vanderbuilts and the Fitzgeralds among others. Mrs. Carroll, who toured Europe as a concert pianist, taught piano lessons at Homewood. In the 1940's Nina Simone, the notable Jazz musician and activist, was one of her students. She was driven from South Carolina by her mother just for the occasion. Homewood was part of the Highland Hospital complex where Zelda Fitzgerald was treated and died in the 1948 fire that burned down the hospital. Today, Homewood is maintained as a banquet facility and is the only structure original to the Highland complex still standing.

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