Citizen-Times: Site of long-held bluegrass jam may be in jeopardy

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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A jam session at Mrs. Hyatt’s Oprahouse on Brevard Road. Photo by Jason Sandford

From my story in today’s Asheville Citizen-Times about the future of a bluegrass jam spot known as Mrs. Hyatt’s Oprahouse:

A decades-old bluegrass jam that’s seen everyone from amateur pickers to Grammy winners play in its circle may be in jeopardy, according to a member of the family that has hosted the weekly gathering.

Karen Cogdill Reilly is mounting a campaign, asking the public to support the jam at its location in a small garage at 627 Brevard Road near the WNC Farmer’s Market. The garage is lovingly known as Mrs. Hyatt’s Oprahouse by a loyal following of banjo pickers, fiddlers and fans of bluegrass. It’s been home to regular jams since the mid-1970s, and it is named for 95-year-old Nelia Hyatt, Cogdill’s grandmother.

Cogdill Reilly said Monday she’s afraid the property will be sold and the site of the musical meet-up will be lost.

Check out the Facebook page for Mrs. Hyatt’s Oprahouse for more on this developing story. There’s a FB event inviting people to come out to the jam on Thursday in support of the event. The event listing says Mrs. Hyatt’s home is going to be demolished next week.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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3 Comments

  1. Media Watcher September 5, 2012

    The Citizen-Times article says this:
    Property owner Terry Cogdill, Karen Cogdill’s brother, said Monday he had no comment on the situation.

    “It’s absolutely nobody’s business,” he said. “It’s my property.”

    Buncombe County Tax Records make it appear that Mrs. Hyatt is still the owner, but “C/O TERRENCE COGDILL 21343 FULTONHAM CIR ASHBURN VA 20147”

    The reporter for the Citizen-Times should have clarified the ownership status and the family conflict between sibling grandchildren. Why was Mrs Hyatt herself not interviewed? Are there other Hyatt children/grandchildren to be interviewed? Some in-depth reporting would be helpful.

    Reply
  2. Suzanne September 5, 2012

    Who owns the property now?

    Reply

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