Wilkin's Garage
Wilkin’s Garage was located in Asheville. It was listed in the Green Book as “Wilkin’s—Eagle & Market Sts.” under “Garages.”1
Wilkin’s Garage was likely located on the backside of the YMI (Young Men’s Institute) building at 31 Eagle Street. The garage was not listed in city directories or in census records. Information about the building that has been passed down orally indicates that it sat at the center of the YMI complex of buildings during this time period.2
The YMI building was at the center of Black life in Asheville for decades. The YMI rented out space to Black-owned businesses and functioned as a community center. Its offerings changed over the years and included, at times, a branch of the Asheville library, a kindergarten, a gymnasium, housing, meeting rooms, and bathing facilities. The YMCA purchased the building in 1946 and continued the YMI’s work in the community.3
Since the business has not been located in historical records it is not clear who operated the garage. A good candidate is Joseph S. Wilkins, who co-owned the McCoy-Wilkins Funeral Home in the same building, or a member of his family. The garage’s car lot is now the courtyard of the Foundry Hotel.4
Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2022
Notes
1. Victor Green, 1940 Green Book, 35; Green, 1947 Green Book, 64; Green, 1948 Green Book, 61; Green, 1949 Green Book, 55; Green, 1950 Green Book, 61.
2. Tonia Plummer (YMI Staff) and Dewana Little (YMI Staff) in conversation with Lisa Withers, July 15, 2019.
3. NC Division of Archives & History, “YMI Building,” National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, May 12, 1977, https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/BN0020.pdf.
4. Miller’s 1940 Asheville City Directory, 577, 781; Tonia Plummer (YMI Staff) and Dewana Little (YMI Staff) in conversation with Lisa Withers, July 15, 2019.
Did you know?
- This entry was listed as “Wilkin’s--Eagle & Market Sts.” under the “Garages” category. A specific street address was not included in the listing.
- According to Asheville community members, a garage was located on the backside of the Young Men’s Institute (YMI). The YMI property consisted of a larger complex including the YMI, the foundry, and three brick buildings along Spruce Street. Wilkin’s Garage was in the middle of this complex of buildings. The car lot is now the courtyard of the present-day Foundry Hotel as of 2019.
