A Look Around Lake Junaluska: Early 1900’s
The Lake Junaluska Assembly archives contain an extensive collection of postcards, some dating back to the earliest days of the Assembly. Featured here are a few examples.
Colonial Hotel - 1922
The Colonial Hotel was built by Mr. and Mrs. T. L. McLees and opened in 1922. The McLees operated the hotel until 1954. Lake Junaluska Assembly assumed ownership of the hotel in 1971. Longtime residents of Lake Junaluska have fond memories of Sunday dinners served at the Colonial.
East Gate
The east gate served as the main entrance to the Assembly grounds for many years. The entrance was staffed by “Gate Boys” who collected a nominal entrance fee and provided information to visitors. When the Waynesville Bypass (U.S. Highway 19) was completed in 1947 the west gate became the main entrance to the grounds.
Junaluska Inn – 1917-1918
The Junaluska Inn was designed in the style of the grand hotels of the 1800s. All 130 rooms faced the lake and most had private baths. The inn opened, fully booked for the summer season, in June 1917. It was fully booked for its second summer season when it burned to the ground in the early morning hours of July 17, 1918. The cause of the fire was never determined. Today’s Lambuth Inn stands on the site.
Lake Sports
From the beginning, swimming and boating in Lake Junaluska were popular activities for area residents and visitors alike. In the summer of 1953, swimming in the lake was banned due to concerns about water quality. By the summer of 1954, a pool and had been constructed in the same location as the swimming area pictured here.
Memorial Chapel - 1949
The Memorial Chapel was built to honor Methodists from the southeast who served in any branch the Armed Forces during World War II. To help fund the construction, churches were asked to submit a list of names of members who had served, along with one dollar per name. Adjacent to the chapel is the Room of Memory which now serves as a columbarium. The chapel is a favorite spot for weddings and special worship services.
Mission Inn - 1922
Now known as Lambuth Inn, the Mission Inn was completed in 1922. It was built by the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South on the former site of the Junaluska Inn which had burned in 1918. First intended as a place for missionaries to spend their furlough time, the Assembly soon recognized the need to make it available as lodging for all guests. The name was later changed to honor Bishop Walter Russell Lambuth, referred to by many as the Great Missionary Bishop. The center section of Lambuth Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Shackford Hall - 1923
Shackford Hall, first known as the Religious Education Building, opened in 1923. Built by the General Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, it served as a place for training of Sunday School leaders and youth workers. It was named in honor of John Walter Shackford (1878-1969), son-in-law of Bishop James Atkins and founder of the Methodist Standard Training Schools. Shackford Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Stuart Auditorium
On June 25th, 1913, at the opening at the first conference held at the Southern Assembly, the Auditorium was the first – and only – completed structure on the Assembly grounds. The sides were open, the bare ground was covered with sawdust, and the seating consisted of flat wooden benches. Visitors now enjoy it as a fully climate-controlled space with theater-style seating and excellent acoustics. Although the building has evolved over the years, the original “steel umbrella” design is still visible in the interior. It was renamed Stuart Auditorium in honor and memory of George R. Stuart, one of the founders of the Assembly, following his death in 1926.
Terrace Hotel
Construction of the original Terrace Hotel was begun in 1914 by Dr. J. M. Rhodes, president of Littleton College located in Littleton, NC. Initially named College Inn, construction stalled repeatedly due to insufficient funds. Following the loss of the Junaluska Inn in 1918, the Junaluska Hotel Company purchased the College Inn property, completed construction, and renamed it the Terrace Hotel. Because the building could not be adapted for year-round use, it was demolished in 1973 to make way for the current structure.
Cherokee I
Originally christened the Oonagusta in 1914, the Cherokee I (also referred to as the Big Boat) transported guests and their luggage to and from the railroad depot on the south side of the lake to the hotels and homes on the north side. Moonlight cruises were popular as well, along with transportation from the boat house to the golf course. Today’s Cherokee IV provides guests with scenic tours of the lake.
The Cross
The Lake Junaluska cross was presented to the Assembly on July 10, 1922, by the Federation of Wesley Bible Classes of the Western North Carolina Conference. In 1994, it was replaced with an exact replica. The original cross was repaired and now stands at the Mount Shepard Conference and Retreat Center in Asheboro, North Carolina.
The Dam
Lake Junaluska was formed by the damming of Richland Creek which originates in western Haywood County and flows into the Pigeon River. The lake depth at the dam is approximately 35-40 feet. Today a park at the foot of the dam is a popular spot for picnicking and fly fishing.
Train Depot
The Junaluska Depot was constructed in 1915 and served as a transportation hub for visitors to the Assembly as well as delivery of building supplies and other local freight. The last passenger run was made in July 13 of 1948, but trains continued to run freight to the station until February of 1966 when the station officially closed its doors. In 1969 the depot was purchased and moved approximately 200 yards down South Lakeshore Drive where it was converted to a private residence.
Bell Tower
The Bell Tower was built in 1920 to house the bell given to the Assembly by C. E. Weatherby. In the early years, the bell was rung to summon visitors and summer residents to gather in the auditorium to listen to news reports. Today it rings each year on June 25 – one ring for each year of the Assembly’s existence. Engraving inside the bell reads: “The C.S. Bell Co. Hillsboro, Ohio; Steel Alloy Church Bell No. 44; 3-31-16.”