Chicken Alley

The story of Chicken Alley appears in my new book, Exploring Asheville, Its History, Attractions, Mysteries, Ghosts and Tall Tales.

One of the most haunted streets in Asheville is less than a mile from the Arcade Building. It is just off Woodfin Street. It is actually an alley, Chicken Alley, a narrow walkway between North Lexington Avenue and Carolina Lane. As you approach the alley, you will pass by Building #6 on Woodfin Street with its tiny mouse doors. But the landmark that will announce your arrival will be the giant Chicken Mural painted by Asheville artist, Molly Must. While the mural celebrates the area’s rich agricultural heritage, it is the ghost of Dr. Jamie Smith that attracts many of the alley’s visitors.

In the late 1800s, Ashville had a rough and raunchy side. Asheville’s nearby forest and the navigable French Broad River fostered a growing logging industry in the area, and Asheville was where loggers went for entertainment and “good times.” And the Broadway Tavern at Chicken Alley was one of their favorite spots. Asheville’s Dr. Jamie Smith was one of its prominent physicians, although on the side he is said to have counted many of the loggers among his clients for treatment of injuries and social disorders. He too enjoyed the “good times” and was a regular at the tavern. Dr. Smith stood out from the other men in route to and from the tavern for his unusual attire—a wide-brimmed black fedora hat and long duster style coat with a silver topped cane in one hand and a medicine bag in the other. On his last visit to Chicken Alley’s Broadway Tavern, Doctor Smith met his end. He arrived just as a bar brawl raged and while trying to stop the fighting, he was stabbed in the heart and died instantly. A year later in 1903, the tavern was destroyed by fire.

People say that things die slowly in the quartz laden mountains—especially those who meet a tragic or untimely end. So it seems with Dr. Jamie Smith—his spirit lingers. Late at night (since his death in 1902—now well over 100 years) those who live in Chicken Alley and people passing through it have reported hearing a cane tapping on the pavement or seeing a man lurking in the alley—a man in a long coat and wide brimmed fedora and a silver topped cane.

[Author’s Note: Some say Doctor Smith’s spirit is looking for revenge, but most locals say he just wants another drink before departing his earthly bonds. As for the mouse doors, they are the subject of another story.]

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All of my books are available from your favorite bookstore, or click to find one near you. Ebook and print editions are also available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes and directly from Audible.com.
To purchase my latest book click on the title, Exploring Asheville .

Applewood Manor’s Porches

The word from Asheville is “Finished”—the final nail has been driven; the final brush of paint has been stroked. Applewood Manor’s porches, including my favorite, the Rocking Chair Porch, have been fully restored for the enjoyment of guest. Part 5 of my Stories from Applewood Manor is titled Tall Tales from Applewood’s Rocking Chair Porch. It includes stories like The Hearing Test below:

I was back on the Rocking Chair Porch at Applewood Manor after a wonderful breakfast and a morning nap. It was one of those perfect shirt sleeve days you get in the fall. There was four of us—me, Willie Underwood, Doc Thomason, and someone from New York, who along with his wife, was spending the weekend at Applewood. His wife was off shopping, and he didn’t have anything better to do than join us on the Rocking Chair Porch.

Willie was showing us his new six-hundred-dollar hearing aids. He was telling us how much money he saved since the ones his doctor had proposed were over $3,000. After a few minutes of hearing aid discussion, Doc said all the talk reminded him of a patient of his. His name was Gary Simpson and he had what he called a winery on Black Mountain. Gary Simpson, he said, was one of those men who was never in doubt even when he was dead wrong about something. Doc explained that Gary’s lumbago was acting up and he wanted something for the pain. Doc prescribed some anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers. With the lumbago taken care of, Simpson told the doctor that he and his wife seem to be having a communication problem and he wondered if his wife was losing her hearing. Doc went on to explain how he gave him instructions for testing her hearing. Then Doc did what he always does to us. He gets our interest up and then just stops like he is at the end of the story. Doc leaned back in his rocker playing with an unlit cigar in his mouth. Finally, I said, “Come on, Doc, what’s the rest of the dang story?”

The Doc said, “Well, about a week later, Simpson was back in my office. I figured he just wanted more muscle relaxers, but I was mighty anxious to find out about the hearing problem. So, I asked him how the testing of his wife’s hearing had gone. And this is what he explained to me exactly as he told it:

“That’s why I’m here, Doc. I found out the problem alright! I did exactly what you told me to do. I was standing in the doorway to the kitchen and Mary Jane was across the room with her back to me standing in front of our stove. So, I called out to her. ‘Mary Jane what are we having for dinner?’ There was no reaction.

So, I crossed over to the center of the kitchen and I called out to her again. ‘Mary Jane, what’s for dinner?’ Still, there was no reaction. She continued doing whatever she was doing at the old stove.

I took two more big steps toward her and called out for the third time. But it was the same. She kept doing whatever she was doing.

So, I got up even closer. I was not more than eight feet away and I called out to her. This time I kicked it up a little louder and practically yelled, ‘Mary Jane, what’s for dinner?’

This time she bolted straight up, snapped around to face me, and put those hands of hers on her hips like she does when she is really irritated at me. And do you know what she said to me, Doc? “

She said, “You darn fool. I done told you three times, I’m cooking this chicken for dinner!”

Doc had this big smile on his face as he leaned back in his rocker and said to ceiling, “Yep, old Gary Simpson found out the problem with Mary Jane’s hearing alright!”

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The historic Applewood Manor (Circa 1912) is Asheville North Carolina’s
premier luxury bed and breakfast style boutique hotel.
For signed copies of Stories from Applewood Manor, that explores Asheville, North Carolina’s History, Mysteries, Ghosts, and Tall Tales, as well as other books by Tom Collins, go to TomCollinsAuthor.com. Unsigned print and eBook editions are available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes and directly from Audible.com.
Published by I-65 North, Inc.

All About Asheville

Western North Carolina and particularly the city of Asheville is one of our most popular tourist destinations. And AFAR, a leading travel media brand, recommended Applewood Manor as one of the best choices for visitors explaining that the bed and breakfast inn manages to capture Asheville’s essence.

There is feel about the historic Applewood Manor that is unique. It touches the past and shares the remarkable character and culture of Asheville—a romantic city that has been called many things: weirdest, happiest, quirkiest, most haunted place in America, Santa Fe of the East, New Age Capital of the World, Paris of the South, Beer City USA, and Land of the Sky.

There is more to do and see in Asheville than one can accomplish in a lifetime! Now those attractions and the many secrets, mysteries, and legends surrounding the city and the 1912 Applewood Manor are told in a new 266 page book, Stories from Applewood Manor.

The new book captures Western North Carolina’s spirit and personality in its five sections:

1. Stories About the Historic Inn

2. Moments in the History of the City

3. Things to Do and See in Asheville

4. Mysteries and Ghost Stories

5. Tall Tales from the Rocking Chair Porch

Stories from Applewood Manor is available on Amazon and other online bookstores and at Applewood Manor. Signed copies can be ordered from the author, Tom Collins, by going to tomcollinsauthor.com.

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For signed copies of books by Tom Collins, go to TomCollinsAuthor.com. Unsigned print and eBook editions are available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes and directly from Audible.com. Check out the latest book by Tom Collins, Stories from Applewood Manor, that explores Asheville, North Carolina’s History, Mysteries, Ghosts, and Tall Tales.  
Published by I-65 North, Inc.

Applewood Manor Makes News

The hospitality Industry magazine, Hospitality Design, reporting on Applewood Manor wrote, “A $1.5 million restoration revitalizes the historic B&B property with a worldly sensibility.” The article by Will Speros included the above picture of Applewood’s parlor or music room and continued as follows:

The historic Applewood Manor in Asheville, North Carolina has reopened following the completion of the first phase in its $1.5 million restoration. Recent upgrades to the 6,000-square-foot B&B include six refurbished accommodations and a slew of upgraded amenities.

“Having lived and worked in more than 20 different countries, I was inspired by boutique hotels such as Soho House, and we aim to bring that level of sophistication, engagement, curation, and service to reinvent the dusty bed and breakfast experience,” says Applewood owner and operator Stephen Collins, who also oversaw renovations with his wife, Robin. “For Robin and me, it’s highly personal, and we are looking forward to forming meaningful relationships and building traditions with our guests.”

The couple drew inspiration from luxury boutique properties across the globe, including a retreat in the South of France which is channeled within Applewood’s “secret” seventh room. The eclectic visual identity of the Applewood Manor comprises curated artwork and furnishings that range from Persian rugs to antique focal points like a Chickering upright piano and 110-year-old butler’s pantry. Contemporary pieces inject a juxtaposition of old and new into the property as well as an international flair.

The 1912 historic bed and breakfast inn has another unique feature. It has its own story book, Stories from Applewood Manor,—a collection of short stories that explores Asheville, North Carolina’s history, attractions, mysteries, ghost stories, and tall tales from the perspective of the historic bed and breakfast inn. There is a feeling about Applewood Manor that is unique. It touches the past yet shares the remarkable character and culture of Asheville—a city that has been called many things: weirdest, happiest, quirkiest, most haunted place in America, Santa Fe of the East, New Age Capital of the World, Paris of the South, Beer City USA, and Land of the Sky. The Manor and its city have many secrets, mysteries, and legends—some factual, some alleged, some exaggerated and some hard to believe at all.

Stories from Applewood Manor is available on Amazon.com and other online bookstores and is available for purchase at the Manor. Signed copies can be ordered from the author, Tom Collins, by going to tomcollinsauthor.com.

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For signed copies of books by Tom Collins, go to TomCollinsAuthor.com. Unsigned print and eBook editions are available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes and directly from Audible.com. Check out the latest book by Tom Collins, Stories from Applewood Manor, that explores Asheville, North Carolina’s History, Mysteries, Ghosts, and Tall Tales.  
Published by I-65 North, Inc.

Old Blue

Today I thought I would read from my new book, Stories from Applewood Manor. Old Blue is from the section of the book called tall tales. If you enjoy the story, you can purchase the book from Amazon and Barnes & Noble for $19.95. For some reason, Amazon is also offering the book from third parties at a higher price but select the Amazon option for the $19.95 price. Of course, you can also purchase a signed copy from www.tomcollinsauthor.com.

New Book Released

Stories from Applewood Manor, has been released and is available on Amazon and other online bookstores. That beats the targeted release date of June 10th by a full month!

So your favorite stories from Applewood Manor are now available in a 266 page paperback book. The stories are a testament to the rich history of the 1912 home turned bed and breakfast inn and the remarkable city, Asheville, North Carolina. There is more to do and see there than one can accomplish in a lifetime!

There is feel about the historic Applewood Manor that is unique. It touches the past and shares the remarkable character and culture of Asheville—a city that has been called many things: weirdest, happiest, quirkiest, most haunted place in America, Santa Fe of the East, New Age Capital of the World, Paris of the South, Beer City USA, and Land of the Sky. The Manor and its city have many secrets, mysteries, and legends—some factual, some alleged, some exaggerated and some hard to believe at all. The new book, Stories from Applewood Manor, captures their spirit and personality in is its five sections:

1. Stories About the Historic Inn

2. Moments in the History of the City

3. Things to Do and See in Asheville

4. Mysteries and Ghost Stories

5. Tall Tales from the Rocking Chair Porch

The new book is available on Amazon.com and other online bookstores and will be available for purchase at Applewood Manor. Signed copies can be ordered from the author, Tom Collins, by going to tomcollinsauthor.com.

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The historic Applewood Manor (Circa 1912)
is Asheville North Carolina’s premier luxury bed and breakfast style boutique hotel.

62 Cumberland Circle, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 254-2244 contact@applewoodmanor.com

Coming Soon

My new book, Stories from Applewood Manor, is targeted for a June 10th release. It is a departure from my prior seven books. Applewood Manor is a bed and breakfast inn (Circa 1912) in Asheville North Carolina. The book is a series of stories that explore the history, mysteries, ghosts, and tall tales about the historic Inn and its unusual city, Asheville. You can order a signed copy now for the pre-release price of $15.00 with free shipping vs. $19.95 when released.

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For signed copies of books by Tom Collins, go to TomCollinsAuthor.com. Unsigned print and eBook editions are available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other online bookstores. Audio editions are available on Amazon, iTunes and directly from Audible.com. Collins is also the resident author for Stories from Applewood.  The Applewood Manor is the longest continuously operating bed and breakfast style hotel in Asheville, The untra short stories are about Asheville including its ghost, mysteries and tall tales. Check out the latest Tom Collins Novel, Beyond Visual Range, available in print, digital and audio.  
Published by I-65 North, Inc.