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Updated: May 5, 2007
Blue Ridge Assembly Centennial Celebration 1906-2006
For the past couple of years, I have been collecting post cards featuring Blue Ridge Assembly. As my collection grew, I began including other Blue Ridge memorabilia. Blue Ridge Assembly is located in Black Mountain, NC (outside of Asheville). Founded in 1906 and hosting its first group in 1912, Blue Ridge is a YMCA conference center. It hosts various youth and adult conferences, professional conferences, family reunions, and camps.
Blue Ridge Assembly has changed names a few times. When the assembly was founded it was named Blue Ridge Association for Christian Conference and Training, but was known as just Blue Ridge Association. In 1933, after a reorganization, the name was changed to Blue Ridge College (not to be confused with Black Mountain College which started at the assembly in the same year). In 1944 the name was changed to Blue Ridge Assembly when ownership was transferred to the YMCAs of the South. Only a few cards use the long name of Blue Ridge Association for Christian Conference and Training, most just use Blue Ridge Association. No post cards are identified as "Blue Ridge College," instead "Association" was still used or simply "Blue Ridge NC" are used. The first post card in my collection, with a postmark date, using the word "Assembly" is 1948. See the Blue Ridge Timeline for other important dates in Blue Ridge history.
The main and oldest building is Robert E Lee Hall. Other buildings include: Heaton Hall (formally known as College Hall), Asheville Hall, Abbott Hall, Martha and George Washington Halls, Blue Ridge Center, Washburn Center, Weatherford Hall, Younts Hall, Gym, and lots of cottages. Other areas include: tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, Indoor Challenge Center (formally the pavilion), Alpine Tower and Challenge Course, fields, playgrounds, hiking trails, and a lake. For a PDF map of the Blue Ridge, click here.
Post cards offer a unique glimpse of the past. Places where buildings once stood and areas once used are now empty or used for other purposes (i.e.: the old Dining Hall behind Lee Hall, the pool / lake by Lee Hall, outdoor tent areas) . New buildings have been built where post cards once showed empty spaces (i.e.: Blue Ridge Center) . Take a walk through history to see some of the changes. (updated)
In the early days, Blue Ridge had its own post office in the basement of Lee Hall. On many cards, the postmark is "Blue Ridge NC." Cards in my collection with "Blue Ridge NC" postmarks range from 1912 to 1958. The post office no longer exists and cards are postmarked "Black Mountain NC." In the very early days the mailing address was simply "Blue Ridge NC" (no street address or ZIP Code). Today the mailing address is "84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain 28711."
Thumbnail views of the front and back of all cards are provided. At first glance a card may seem identical, but upon close inspection you will find small differences. Small differences can include: a slight difference in the picture, different roof colors, different front caption, different reference number, different location of the reference number, different stamp box, back paragraphs, different publishers, or different publisher markings. Some cards have been printed by several publishers. Scans have been done of each variation so you can see how post cards have changed. See if you can find the differences. If you need help use the Post Card Variations pages. Every used or postmarked card has been scanned so you can experience a first hand account of Blue Ridge history.
Post cards have been organized by publisher, catalog number, variation, then duplicates (used or postmarked of the same variation). Post card folders are included after all the standard cards by publisher (only cards of Blue Ridge have been scanned). Because cards are organized by publisher and catalog number, you will find older and newer cards mixed together. Publishers include:
APC = Asheville Post Card Company (aka Asheville Post Card and Pennant Co)
APS = Aerial Photography Services
ASC = Advertising Specialties Company
BBC = Brown Book Company
CCC = Carolina Card Company
CK = Color King
ECK = E.C. Kropp
HNM = Harry N Martin
HWP = Herbert W Pelton (also includes SH Kross Co-Pelton)
KOD = Kodak Photo Post Card (black and white, real photo post cards printed on Kodak paper)
SPC = Southern Post Card Company
UNK = Unknown Publisher (includes real photo cards without publishers and unmarked cards)
(HWP and SPC are some of the oldest Blue Ridge cards.)
Other Blue Ridge Memorabilia (Extra Collections):
In addition to post cards, I collect other historical items related to Blue Ridge. Like post cards, these items a unique view of Blue Ridge. Besides post cards, my collection includes:
X1 = Student Conference cards from 1907 and 1908 held in Asheville NC (not held at Blue Ridge)
X2 = collection of cards postmarked Blue Ridge NC, but not of Blue Ridge
X3 = "Picturesque Blue Ridge" 1925 and 1926 (promotional booklets)
X4 = Southern Student Conference, Black Mountain NC June 17-26, 1913 (booklet, 4 1/2"x7")
X5 = Clemson College, YMCA Student Handbooks: 1922-23 & 1929-30 (pocket size books, 3"x5", only pages mentioning Blue Ridge are scanned; the 1929-30 handbook contains more information)
X6 = miscellaneous Blue Ridge items (old letter head, nametag, playing cards, china)
X7 = Lou Brown scrapbook / diary of woman's college conference held at Blue Ridge June 7-17, 1927 (she was delegate from Lynchburg College)
X8 = "Helping Win the War at Home and Overseas" 1918 (training schools for the YMCA War Work Secretaries, 16" x 11", folded; side 1 is in quarters, side 2 is a large aerial view of Blue Ridge)
X9 = Two promotional booklets for Lee School for Boys held at Blue Ridge: "A Message to the Mothers and Fathers of the Men of Tomorrow" - Lee School for Boys (9"x6") and "Introducing Lee School for Boys, Blue Ridge NC" (7 3/4"x10 1/2") (neither booklet is dated)
X10 = Letter written to Cornelia McCram (sp?) from Corlsie (no last name, sp?) (postmarked Blue Ridge NC Aug 16, 1927, written using Blue Ridge envelope and stationary, handwriting very hard to read)
X11 = Barbara Carlton collection of summer 1961 papers: essay award letter, 1961 Staff Photo with signatures on back and list of staff members, August 25, 1961 "Ridge Runner" staff publication (includes excerpt of her essay), two pages from photo album (11"x14")
X12 = YMCA Graduate School Bulletin, Vol 6 No 1, January 1936 (fold-out flyer)
X13 = Blue Ridge Bulletin, Vol 1 No 4, November 1937. "Royal Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains" written by Mrs. Bessie Lynn Hufford
X14 = Group Photos of conferences held at Blue Ridge Assembly
My collection also includes a few things too large to scan:
- YWCA Conference, Blue Ridge, Black Mountain NC, June 2 to 11, 1914 (photo by HW Pelton, Asheville NC C-796). Panoramic, black and white conference photo of women's conference taken in front of Lee Hall. They are holding signs and banners of their colleges. Original black frame, 26" long x 8" tall
- Blue Ridge NC felt pennant, green, picture of Robert E Lee Hall, 26" long x 8 1/4" largest side
Enjoy your walk down Blue Ridge memory lane. There are lots of cards and items in the Extra Collections, so take your time and come back often. Cards are added as my collection expands. New additions are listed in red on the Post Card Index Page.
Click on the double arrow below to start your tour. On each thumbnail index page, click the double right arrow to move to the next index page. Click the double left arrow to move to the previous index page. The picture of the house will bring you back to this page.
To see an enlarge view of any card, just click on it. On the enlarged views, click the up arrow to return to the thumbnail index page you were just on, the double left arrow for the previous enlarged view, the double right arrow for the next enlarged view, or the home button to return to this page.
For more information about Blue Ridge Assembly visit www.blueridgeassembly.org The Links Page also contains other interesting websites. The Post Card Index Page lists post cards by image name, description, postmark city, and postmark date.
If you have any questions about these cards or if you have cards to sell or trade, contact me at mmpe1433@dsli.com
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