Asheville Oaks Inn

Asheville Vacation Rental

nly 17 years old and Bertha Katherine Meece was making her way in the world. She left her homeplace in Mills River, North Carolina and journeyed north to the mountains of Asheville to seek employmen t. What could a girl her age do to support herself in the early 1900’s in such a remote place as Asheville? Asheville was tucked beautifully in the mountains of the spectacular Blue Ridge. Founded in the late 1700’s, Asheville did not become a destination point until the 1800’s when thousands would travel by train, stagecoach or horseback to experience the restorative and healing powers of the cool, clean, crisp mountain air.
nd so the story begins, actually, in the year of 1895. Bertha Katherine Meece was born and a young man, George Washington Vanderbilt, was preparing to open his home to the public on Christmas Day, 1895. The home, a 250- room estate situated on 125,000 acres in Western North Carolina, was the product of five years of labor by hundreds of artisans and workmen. It would require hundreds of hands to maintain this landmark and it was here in 1912 that young Bert Meece found employment. Miss Bertha was employed as a house staff person and fate introduced her to another Biltmore House employee, Pete Taylor. Pete was 9 years her senior and living with his family on one of the estate dairy farms. Pete and Bertha were married in 1913 in the parsonage of All Souls Church in Biltmore. This spectacular church was designed in the Gothic style by Richard Morris Hunt and built by George Washington Vanderbilt and is the center of Biltmore Village.
wo years after their marriage, Bert and Pete Taylor purchased several acres only a mile south of their employer and thus began their dreams of a home and family. Clarence Leland Taylor, Jr. (Buster) was born in 1915 and Oliver Louis Taylor (Louie) was born in 1917. The Taylor home, completed by Mr. Taylor, Sr. (Pete) was in the area called Biltmore Park back in the early 1920’s. Miss Bertha’s father, Oliver Carson Meece came to live with Pete, Bertha and the boys and lived to be almost 100 years old. Miss Bertha loved her flowers and maintained spacious flower and vegetable gardens. Mr. Pete had a fondness for fruit trees and manicured landscaping. Even in 2003, there are a few neighbors who recall with detail the beauty of the old Taylor home.
iss Bertha died in 1961 and Mr. Pete in 1966. Their eldest son, Buster, had built a home across the road from his parents and died without heirs in 1986. Louie, the youngest son, passed away in 2001 and his two children Ann and Jim have been instrumental in providing memories of their grandparents and the home.
The Taylor home, 827 Fairview Street, was purchased in the late 1960’s by the Biltmore Church of Christ and used as a meeting place for several years. The third owners purchased the home in 2000 when there was discussion that the house might be destroyed. There was a dream that this once beautiful structure could be restored to her original splendor. Knowing nothing of her history, we began the laborious birthing of Asheville Oaks Inn. Upon entering through the original antique front door, you will feel the warm presence of the Taylor family and their many years of loving and living. The Perry-Stamey family hope you will also sense the respect for a dwelling that has protected a family through numerous wars, the Great Depression, the beginning and ending of lives and ultimately was given a second chance.
he grand centuries-old oak stands as a testament to possibilities and hope! We know you will treasure your visit to the mountains and hope your memories of Asheville Oaks will warm your heart and soul.