Campus Overview

AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CAMPUS AND RESIDENCES

Robert Perry Smith Building - The Robert Perry Smith Building was the original structure built on campus in 1922, when Black Mountain Home (then known as the Mountain Orphanage) moved to Black Mountain. The building was first occupied in 1923, and cost $70,000. Children of the Asheville Presbytery (now the Presbytery of Western North Carolina) were invited to purchase bricks for the new building at three cents a brick.

At that time, the building was a large dormitory-style residence with common hall bathrooms, a parlor and a large dining room. Children were segregated into Big Boys, Little Boys, Big Girls and Little Girls. The Smith Building is now home to the Learning Center, Support Services and Administration.

Resident Houses In the 1990s, the aging dormitory where children were in bunk rooms segregated by age and gender has been replaced by family-style cottages. The remains of the old working farm have been replaced by a playground, nature path, ball fields, gardens and an expanded gymnasium and community room.

Each cottage has a large family room, kitchen/dining area, houseparent quarters, a laundry room, and three pods. A pod is a large divided bedroom for three children, with a shared bathroom and linen closet.

Watkins House - Watkins House was the first house built on the campus. The cost of Watkins House and the infrastructure were covered by an anonymous bequest of $1 million. That bequest stated that the fund established with the bequest was to be called the Mary McDonald Watkins fund.

Parks House - Parks House is named after David Parks, missionary to Korea, professor at Montreat College and long time president of the board of directors.

Rainbow House - Rainbow House is named for the many rainbows and double rainbows which appear over the valley.

Mountain House - Mountain House is named to commemorate the original name of the Home--Mountain Orphanage.

Barkley Building - Originally the administration building, Barkley now provides storage for donations downstairs and bunk rooms with a kitchen and meeting space upstairs.

Gym & Community Room - The full-court gym was built in 1930 and provided a play space not only for youth at the Home, but also for other young people growing up in the valley. Eventually, a Community Room and Exercise Room were added to the gym to provide additional facilities for the children.

First Presbyterian, Gastonia, Picnic Pavilion - The pavilion seats up to 250 people with bathrooms, a large cooker and a prep area. It is located near the Home's softball field.

Ray Campbell Independent Living Village - The village provides housing for youth who have earned a high school diploma or GED while in care at the Home. The village includes a cottage for up to eight boys, a cottage for up to eight girls and a volunteer bunkhouse that sleeps 54. There is also a Gathering Room and a private residence for the Independent Living Coordinator.