Seated in front of a family portrait of W.T. Weaver (L-R): Sally Lewis Rhoades, William Rhoades and Anne Rhoades Farquharson. W.T. Weaver, who amassed property in North Asheville in the 1890s, was the maternal grandfather of William, Anne and Verne Rhoades Jr., Sally's late husband.

If you were to stand at the intersection of Merrimon Avenue and W.T. Weaver Boulevard, you would see a single tree-covered corner that has resisted the press of commercial development. This is not by accident. It is the tip of ten acres of land, owned by the W.T. Weaver family and later the Verne Rhoades family for over 100 years. The land, with homes both past and present, has served as a green oasis for three generations.

This property is now a part of UNC Asheville, thanks to the foresight and generosity of the late Verne Rhoades Jr. and wife, Sally, and William Rhoades and wife, Betty. It comes to UNC Asheville as a combined gift/purchase.

“Verne had a great love for this homeplace, and I do as well,” Sally Rhoades, a longtime civic leader, said. “As Merrimon Avenue was developed, Verne and I felt it became more important to preserve and cherish what green space is left in North Asheville. We had many calls from developers interested in the property because of its frontage on Merrimon Avenue, but we didn’t want to go that route. For the past 20 years, we’ve had a strong interest in the property going to UNC Asheville because our feelings about conservation and community responsibility are values shared by the University.”

The property, located at one of UNC Asheville’s two main entrances, is appraised at about $6 million. The Rhoades family is accepting $3 million from the University, which will come from state funds set aside solely for property acquisition and from UNC Asheville’s trust funds. The remaining $3 million is the Rhoades family’s gift, one of the largest the University has ever received.

“This is truly a transformational gift for the University,” Chancellor Anne Ponder said. “This provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to preserve this cherished homestead that is so much a part of our rich heritage in Asheville. It is a particular honor to carry on the wishes of the Rhoades family in preserving a green corridor along Merrimon Avenue and W.T. Weaver Boulevard for the community for generations to come.”

Chancellor Anne Ponder (left) with Sally Rhoades, whose family donated 10 acres of North Asheville property to the University

Although there are no immediate plans for the property, long-term possibilities the University is considering include a “live-learn” eco-village for students and faculty. The University shares the Rhoades family’s goal to preserve the green corridor surrounding the property and the specimen trees, which have been designated a Treasured Tree Preserve by Quality Forward and Buncombe County.

Stewardship of the land and commitment to the community run deep in the Rhoades family. Verne Rhoades Sr., for whom UNC Asheville’s Rhoades Hall is named, was one of the first scientific foresters in Western North Carolina. He played important roles in the creation of Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and was well known as a visionary civic and business leader in Asheville.

He and wife, Dorothea Weaver Rhoades, donated land to the City of Asheville in 1947 to create Weaver Park. In 1961, the couple granted the right of way for the city to build W.T. Weaver Boulevard, named in honor of Dorothea's father. The boulevard provided access to the new Asheville-Biltmore College campus, now UNC Asheville. Later they donated property on the same road for the Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts headquarters.

Their sons, William and Verne Jr., donated several acres to UNC Asheville that are now part of the greenway along W.T. Weaver Boulevard.

“It was so important to Mother and Father that we retain this green corridor in the middle of town,” William Rhoades said. “Their values were very much in tune with the ecological outlook of today.”

Sidebars:

• A Tale of Two Families

• Sounds Familiar