Guided House Tours begin on the half hour
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Gather in front of the house
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Gather in front of the house
About the House
Benjamin Allison purchased the property in 1813. In 1815, when most mountain dwellings were log cabins, he built a two-story timber frame home with three rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs. The kitchen was in the house. At the time, Davidson River was an active area of commerce and was part of Buncombe County. Benjamin Allison was a man of some means to have built such an impressive home. In 1830 he sold the house and land to William Deaver who doubled the size of the house in the 1840’s and around 1860 added the Charleston-inspired double porches. William Deaver was a prosperous landowner, business man and community leader. He and his wife, Margaret Patton raised 7 children in the home and may have entertained many prominent people including Davy Crockett.
The Allison-Deaver House was slated for demolition in 1987 after its third owner, Mae Smith, passed away. Aware of the historic value of the house, a group of citizens formed the Transylvania County Historical Society and bought the house, barn, and nearly four acres of land. Since then the Society has restored and maintained the house as a tribute to the early settlers, as an example of remarkable mountain-crafted architecture, and as a gift to present and future citizens.
The Allison-Deaver House was slated for demolition in 1987 after its third owner, Mae Smith, passed away. Aware of the historic value of the house, a group of citizens formed the Transylvania County Historical Society and bought the house, barn, and nearly four acres of land. Since then the Society has restored and maintained the house as a tribute to the early settlers, as an example of remarkable mountain-crafted architecture, and as a gift to present and future citizens.