Parker, Charles Newton, 1885-1961

The Charles Parker papers are a collection of architectural drawings for the Grove Arcade in Asheville, North Carolina. In 1924, Charles Newton Parker (1885-1961) was hired to be the architect in the construction of the Grove Arcade, a shopping center commissioned by local multi-millionaire, E. W. (Edwin Wiley) Grove (1850-1927).

E. W. Grove made his money in the pharmaceutical business, and moved to Asheville in 1898 on doctor’s orders. During his time in Asheville, Grove found an interest in civic planning and urban development. Asheville became the outlet for his new hobby, and Grove had with aspirations of improving its downtown life and transforming it into a thriving city. As his first urban development project Grove built subdivisions. These started in 1905 with Grove Park, a subdivision on the north side of town. The centerpiece of this development was the Grove Park Inn, completed in 1913. It was a high class resort, with celebrity guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald. Other projects of Grove’s included: Grovestone (a quarry and gravel factory), Grovemont (a housing community in Swannanoa), and Battery Park (a hotel).

...