Three pieces of Asheville property that are all tied to the former Highland Hospital, where Zelda Fitzgerald (the wife of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald) died in a horrible fire, are up for sale. The properties in Asheville’s historic Montford neighborhood collective stand as some of the most historically valuable pieces of property in Asheville.
You can read some of the history of Highland Hospital below. The hospital was founded by Dr. Robert S. Carroll, a distinguished psychiatrist, whose house nearby was known as Homewood. The hospital was moved from downtown Asheville to Montford in 1909, and Highland Hall was part of the hospital’s campus. There’s a plaque on the ground near the big brick building marking the spot of the infamous fire that killed Fitzgerald. The Rumbough House was built in the late 1800s and repurposed as an administrative office for Highland Hospital.
From the National Park Service:
Highland Hospital, originally known as “Dr. Carroll’s Sanatorium,” founded by Dr. Robert S. Carroll, a distinguished psychiatrist. His program of treatment for mental and nervous disorders and addictions was based on exercise, diet and occupational therapy, and attracted patients from all over the country. The hospital was relocated from downtown Asheville to the northern end of Montford Avenue in 1909, and was officially named Highland Hospital in 1912. …
A variety of buildings built in Georgian Colonial, Norman and Arts and Crafts styles housed the patients and the facilities, most of which still stand today including Highland Hall. The campus also included Dr. Carroll’s home at 19 Zillicoa Street, known as Homewood. … In 1939, Dr. Carroll entrusted the hospital to the Neuropsychiatric Department of Duke University. It was during this time that on the night of March 10, 1948, a deadly fire broke out in the main building and took the lives of nine women. Among the victims was author Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Here’s more about the properties for sale, from the Beverly-Hanks & Associates Realtors website:
Rumbough House, 49 Zillicoa St.; asking price is $1.495 million
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Rumbough House was built in 1895, a turn-of-the-20th Century Queen Anne in the Montford historic district, rich with history. Many preserved features such as beautiful leaded stained glass, inlaid wood flooring, numerous fireplaces with art tile surrounds. With over 9,000 square feet, it’s perfect for a B&B, a corporate headquarters, a gallery, an event center, a family retreat or show house. The property most recently was home to a diagnostic lab. Here’s the listing. Here’s more history about the Rumbough House.
Highland Hall, 75 Zillicoa St.; asking price is $2.1 million
16,600-square foot office building for lease or purchase. Park setting, elevator, sprinkler system, .66 acres. Here’s the listing.
Homewood, 19 Zillicoa St.; asking price $2.150 million
Homewood is well-known today as an event space. Historic Montford and Highland Park, 13,143-square foot office/event center. Stone exterior, hardwood floors, high ceilings, extensively renovated with sprinklers, central HVAC, CATV wiring, ample parking. Here’s the listing.
To clarify regarding Homewood: The building is for sale. The associated wedding and event business is not for sale and is doing great.
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Wow! Homewood is an Asheville NC institution and major wedding venue for the area. I have photographed many weddings there. Here is to hoping that the next owner will continue as an event space.