31:
164:, who bought the land, to create African-American subdivisions. These neighborhoods continued to be predominantly African-American until the late 20th century, but numerous residents were displaced because of urban renewal. He also sold real estate for development in this area as an agent on behalf of Hayes, a developer and librarian, son of
260:
Pearson and his family lived in a home behind the general store he operated in West
Asheville. His wife was Annis (Bradshaw) Pearson. They had two daughters, Iola Pearson Byers and Annette Pearson Cotton, and one son, Edward W. Pearson Jr. He also had his eldest son from a previous relationship with
185:
there. One of the largest agricultural fairs in the
Southeast, it attracted thousands of visitors of all races from all over Western North Carolina and South Carolina. Attractions included amusement park rides, games, livestock shows and cash prize competitions in categories ranging from baked goods
273:
in 2014 for the 100th anniversary celebration of the fair that
Pearson first organized in 1914. Activist and artist DeWayne Barton revived the Fair in 2010 as the Burton Street Agricultural Fair. As of 2023, the Burton Street Agricultural Fair continues to be held annually at the Burton Street
171:
In addition to his real estate ventures, Pearson operated a general store, organized the
Mountain City Mutual Insurance Company, and ran a mail order shoe business called Piedmont Shoe Company. The general store in West Asheville was the home base for these operations.
241:
180:
Pearson's commitment to improving the lives of
African-Americans in Asheville extended to recreational activities and community life. He donated Pearson Park in the Burton Street Community to the City of Asheville. In 1914, he organized the
198:, Asheville's first black semi-professional baseball team. The Royal Giants played at Oates Park on Asheville's south side and sometimes at Pearson Park. Baseball was not a full-time career for his players, many of whom held jobs at
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117:, in 1906, where he became known as the "Black Mayor of West Asheville" because of his influence in African-American neighborhood development and community life.
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Pearson's legacy has been commemorated in
Asheville with a community identification sign in 2008 as well as larger-than-life mural painted on the back of
186:
to flower arrangement. The Fair was held annually until 1947, a year after
Pearson's death, and was later revived as the Burton Street Agricultural Fair.
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After moving to
Asheville, Pearson began development of Burton Street (then known as Pearson Park) and Park View neighborhoods, working with
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Pearson was very involved in community organizations. In 1933, he organized and was first president of the
Asheville branch of the
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Asheville Design Center, Western North
Carolina Alliance, and Burton Street Community Association (Summer 2010).
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on insurance, business, religion and law, including courses at the Chicago Correspondence School of Law.
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Community Engagement | October 2023 | October 7: Burton Street Ag Fair at Burton Street Community Center
137:, where he enlisted in the US Army. He was a Buffalo Soldier (9th Cavalry Troop B) from 1893 to 1898 in
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133:. He completed local public school to the fourth grade. Interested in mining, he moved to
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Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia
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356:
138:
680:"Baseball in the Carolinas: 25 Essays on the States' Hardball Heritage (review)"
357:"URBAN RENEWAL IN ASHEVILLE: A HISTORY OF RACIAL SEGREGATION AND BLACK ACTIVISM"
852:"Burton Street community begins planning for agricultural fair, seeks partners"
755:
703:
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113:
veteran, civil rights leader and pioneering sports enthusiast. He moved to
876:"Recreate Asheville - Asheville Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan"
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770:
105:(January 25, 1872 – July 4, 1946) was an African-American entrepreneur,
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88:
Iola Pearson Byers, Annette Pearson Cotton, and Edward W. Pearson, Jr.
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904:"Past & Present: The Story of Burton Street in West Asheville"
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655:"Visiting Our Past: Untold stories of Asheville's Riverside Park"
148:, Illinois. He supplemented his early formal education by taking
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Pearson was a member of several fraternal groups, including the
572:. Buncombe County Special Collections Library. 2014-02-07.
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National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
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In 1921, Pearson also founded and became president of the
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Pearson was born in 1872 to Sindy and Edward Pearson, in
229:. He was also president of the Asheville chapters of the
1004:
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
625:"Asheville Archives: Royal Giants take the field, 1916"
144:
After being discharged from the Army, Pearson lived in
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and the North Carolina Negro Improvement Association.
183:
Buncombe County and District Colored Agricultural Fair
952:
Burton Street Neighborhood Association (2023-08-29).
771:"Asheville's black history honored on Burton Street"
415:"E.W. Pearson: "The Black Mayor of West Asheville""
92:
84:
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61:
40:
21:
449:. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing.
248:. As a freemason, he was elected to the office of
684:NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture
388:. p. 9 (section D. Neighborhood History).
364:MA History Thesis, Western Carolina University
447:Legendary locals of Asheville, North Carolina
8:
994:20th-century African-American businesspeople
801:"A Q& A: DeWayne Barton on E.W. Pearson"
398:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
238:Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America
999:African-American history of North Carolina
29:
18:
413:Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail.
826:"History survives at Burton Street fair"
541:"Black History Month: Edward R. Pearson"
355:Nickollof, Steven Michael (April 2015).
210:and the former George Vanderbilt Hotel.
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231:Universal Negro Improvement Association
35:1937 portrait of Edward W. Pearson, Sr.
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1009:20th-century African-American people
954:"Burton Street Neighborhood Profile"
623:Calder, Thomas (February 26, 2019).
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508:"Burton Street Neighborhood Profile"
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438:
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327:"Renaissance Man: Edward W. Pearson"
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570:"A Valentine for E. W. Pearson, Sr"
514:. November 22, 2015. Archived from
141:, during the Spanish-American War.
215:Blue Ridge Colored Baseball League
202:, on trains or in hotels like the
14:
769:Bowe, Rebecca (August 13, 2008).
678:Mueller, Thomas R. (2004-03-05).
928:"Burton Street Agriculture Fair"
781:from the original on 2019-03-01
718:from the original on 2019-03-01
635:from the original on 2019-02-26
576:from the original on 2019-03-01
489:from the original on 2019-03-01
337:from the original on 2018-09-02
305:from the original on 2018-08-31
902:Tejeda, Ricardo (2022-07-26).
379:"Burton Street Community Plan"
271:Burton Street Community Center
1:
824:Blake, Barbara (2012-09-09).
166:President Rutherford B. Hayes
16:African American entrepreneur
850:Forbes, David (2012-03-01).
261:Edna Parker named William.
194:In 1916, Pearson formed the
131:Burke County, North Carolina
805:The Asheville Citizen Times
740:. Charleston, SC: Arcadia.
653:Neufeld, Rob (2018-07-01).
55:Glen Alpine, North Carolina
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597:Shea, James (2010-09-26).
445:Frazier, Kevan D. (2014).
103:Edward Walton Pearson, Sr.
23:Edward Walton Pearson, Sr.
419:bcht.exploreasheville.com
115:Asheville, North Carolina
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599:"Community revives past"
121:Early life and education
96:Sindy and Edward Pearson
830:Asheville Citizen-Times
659:Asheville Citizen-Times
603:Asheville Citizen-Times
386:Asheville Design Center
274:Community Center park.
246:Prince Hall Freemasonry
139:Fort Robinson, Nebraska
299:West Asheville History
295:"Edward W. Pearson Sr"
196:Asheville Royal Giants
162:Rutherford Platt Hayes
150:correspondence courses
80:Annis Bradshaw Pearson
880:The City of Asheville
738:Baseball in Asheville
736:Ballew, Bill (2004).
696:10.1353/nin.2004.0024
512:Asheville City Source
799:Lunsford, Mackensy.
111:Spanish–American War
221:Other organizations
208:Battery Park Hotel
135:Jellico, Tennessee
908:Explore Asheville
176:Agricultural fair
156:Business ventures
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72:July 4, 1946
989:1946 deaths
984:1872 births
127:Glen Alpine
978:Categories
963:2023-11-22
938:2023-11-22
913:2023-11-22
885:2023-11-22
861:2023-11-22
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580:2019-02-28
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522:2019-02-28
493:2019-02-28
424:2023-12-29
341:2018-09-01
309:2018-09-01
278:References
68:1946-07-04
47:1872-01-25
756:630551978
712:153979246
704:1534-1844
483:Tiki-Toki
465:880861826
93:Parent(s)
779:Archived
716:Archived
633:Archived
574:Archived
487:Archived
394:cite web
335:Archived
303:Archived
244:and the
190:Baseball
85:Children
146:Chicago
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265:Legacy
256:Family
240:, the
77:Spouse
708:S2CID
382:(PDF)
360:(PDF)
752:OCLC
742:ISBN
700:ISSN
461:OCLC
451:ISBN
400:link
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
