Fried Pies, Earl Scruggs and
“The Bird lady”

ete’s Cottage, affectionately named for Mr. Pete Taylor, the owner and builder of the two story cottage, stands in the shadow of Asheville Oaks Inn. Mr. Pete constructed a garage apartment and workshop in the early 1940’s. His original plan was to have some sheds behind the house to store his carpenter tools, garden equipment, chickens and the family goat called Ruby. During the early days of World War II he decided that a two car garage with a workshop and an apartment above would be just the thing to bring home some extra money. The scarcity of materials halted the construction and it was not until the end of the War that the structure was completed. Mr. Pete’s son, Louie, was married by this time with two children and needed a home. The garage apartment became their temporary residence while construction on a new house was completed.
Mr. Pete had a fine apple orchard on the property and his daughter-in-law, Harriet Taylor, took advantage of the bounty! It is with fondness that her children remember the delicious and aromatic fried apple pies their mama made in the cottage kitchen. What an autumn treat! Dried apples with sugar, butter and cinnamon wrapped in a soft dough and fried in butter and served with hot syrup. Mr. Pete was fond of making cider from his old apple press in the workshop although the children were convinced there was more than just juice!
ouie and Mr. Pete were musically talented and played numerous instruments. Mr. Pete was a fine banjo picker and Louie’s instrument of choice was the bass fiddle. Louie had purchased an exceptionally good banjo but since his preference was the fiddle he decided to look for a buyer. Word of the sale of the banjo traveled and a man from Tennessee came to investigate. He visited with Louie in the cottage and they picked and played and the sale was made. Yessir, Mr. Earl Scruggs returned to Tennessee and the Opry with the very banjo from Pete’s Cottage. Who knows, you might even catch a few runs of Smoky Mountain Breakdown late in the evening – if you listen carefully!
any folks rented the apartment from the Taylors but some were memorable characters. A widowed lady moved into the apartment with a most unusual hobby. She was a door to door salesperson and owned a car but could not drive. She had the finances to hire a driver who took her to call on customers each day. She had no family but loved birds! She purchased dozens of parakeets and filled her apartment with large professional-type cages. She raised numerous families of birds and would only sell them to folks she knew would love and care for them properly. Her failing health ultimately forced her to retire and give up her large family of “feathered friends.” With no family to care for her, the loving and generous Taylor family cooked for her, made certain she had necessary medical care and ultimately arranged her funeral service and burial.
e chose to maintain the original structure that Mr. Pete constructed during those difficult years of World War II. The upstairs oak floors are the original and much of the old glass and windows are vintage. You will notice an unusual wooden post in the living room that we elected to retain for its’ charm and history. The garage and workshophave been transformed into a living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and full bath. We removed the exterior stairwell and incorporated an interior stairwell from the living room. Upstairs is a sunny haven for three bedrooms, two baths, sitting room and laundry room.
We hope you enjoy the colorful history and warmth of Pete’s Cottage!

Stair Well

The Tailor Room

The Toile Room

The Sage Room

The Apple Press Bedroom