Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Home tour to highlight first 50 years of Saluda’s history

 

SALUDA—Those interested in local history will have an opportunity to learn more about the first five decades of Saluda’s existence next month as the Historic Saluda Committee holds its biennial Historic Saluda Tour of Homes on Saturday, June 8.

The tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature seven historic properties constructed between the 1880s and the 1930s. 

Before the first passenger train ascended the Saluda Grade on July 4, 1878, Saluda had been known as Pace’s Gap for nearly 100 years. However, the arrival of the trains marked a significant turning point, forever altering the area’s landscape and identity. 

By February 1881, the growth of Pace’s Gap had escalated to the point that it was chartered as the town of Saluda, which then became known as one of the most exclusive resort towns in western North Carolina due to the influx of wealthy families. Many built grand Victorian summer homes that survived the Great Depression, and today, many are still in the possession of the original families. 

“During this time, work was plentiful, and many came to Saluda seeking employment. Locals who had settled here before the 1880s capitalized on this prosperous period,” said Historic Saluda Committee Chair Cindy Tuttle. “They sold their land to the newcomers, assisted in the construction and maintenance of properties, and provided various goods and services to accommodate the influx of new residents. The homes on our tour represent these significant years: the 1880s to the 1930s. In addition to the homes, for added interest, we will share images around Main Street reflecting what the commercial properties looked like during these first five impactful decades.”

The Historic Saluda Committee will also raffle off an original painting featuring Pearson’s Falls by the late William H. Ryan, previously of Saluda. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Real Estate office on Main Street and at the Visitor Center on the day of the tour. The drawing will be held after the Historic Saluda Home Tour. 

Tickets for the tour are priced at $25 per person and will contribute to the ongoing preservation efforts led by the HSC, ensuring that Saluda’s unique stories and landmarks endure for generations to come. Tickets are available at Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Real Estate, Mewdlic’s, Heartwood Gallery, the Saluda Historic Depot, and from members of the Historic Saluda Committee. 

For more information, visit www.historicsaluda.org.