Known to everyone who lives in Flat Rock, has visited Flat Rock, or has even just driven through Flat Rock, the Wrinkled Egg stands out as the colorful anchor of Little Rainbow Row, the mini shopping mecca of our village.

It’s a fun and interesting journey to trace the building’s history. First, we find that its always been a retail destination of sorts and spent most of its existence as Peace’s Store.  In the 1900s, there were several small stores serving the community, but it was Peace’s Store that became the place to shop for everything from penny candy to a box of nails. It was also a gathering place, a place to stop for directions, a gas station and a place to catch up on gossip!

In 1847, roughly 410 acres were purchased by Henry Farmer (1) from a group of local businessmen. They felt the village needed a good hotel rather than a scattering of inns and taverns, so they gathered together what would be called the “hotel tract” made up of adjoining acreage.

They, in turn, became stockholders and sold to Henry Farmer to build The Farmer Hotel,  later the Woodfield Inn, now Mansouri Mansion, the oldest continually operating hotel in Western North Carolina. The hotel was built on the Buncombe Turnpike which served as the primary thoroughfare in Flat Rock.

As expenses grew, financial troubles came with maintaining hotel operations and by c1895, “Squire” Farmer had to mortgage the 17-acre parcel where he operated his brickyard and machine shop.  In 1900 that same parcel of land, on a prime corner in the village, the Greenville Highway and West Blue Ridge Road, was sold at auction to E. J. Francis (2).

He subdivided the property, built the original simple structure, then sold it to brothers  Luther and Melton Peace a few years later.  These two fellows were the day’s entrepreneurs, and often you’d find their whole family in the store, including their nephew Clarence.

The backroom, now the Flat Rock Bakery, was added for living quarters, and then the small room, now the “connector” room on the south side, was added for nephew Clarence to use as living quarters. Country stores are always fascinating, but Peace’s Store had to top the list. 

In addition to the “usual” flour, sugar, milk, jams, jellies and canned goods, you could get your hair cut in the store’s barbershop by the Peace’s brother in law.  It’s hard to imagine how a country store could possibly squeeze in any other activities, but in 1904, the school was being moved from East Flat Rock to Flat Rock into a building being built in what is now Flat Rock Center. While waiting for the building to be completed, school was held inside Peace’s store. (3) 

And in 1906, the very early days of mail delivery, Melton Peace was one of the first to deliver mail.  The gas pumps and front porch were added sometime in the 1920s, along with a big Amoco sign on the roof. 

Luther and Melton ran the store until about 1950, and then nephew Clarence ran the business until the 1980s and he died in the back room living quarters of the old store in 1984. 

Those who remember Clarence often describe him as a crusty character who tended to chase children away from the candy counter if he thought they were “lifting” from the candy bins! They didn’t care though - the store was a magnet for the village children. On the flip side, Clarence was an artist who painted in oils and was quite prolific. 

Historic Flat Rock, Inc. bought the store from Clarence Peace’s estate. They then placed a Preservation Agreement on it and sold it to David L. Galloway with the agreement in place. (4) The property was then purchased by Starr Teel, and The Wrinkled Egg opened first its doors in 1990.

When asked if the building is perhaps haunted by the ghost of Clarence Peace, Virginia Spigener, owner of the Wrinkled Egg, just laughs. “I don’t believe it’s haunted,” she says, “But when I first opened, the front door used to blow open just about every afternoon around 3:30. After a while, I just started saying, ‘Well hello, Clarence’ when that happened.” 

So now we’re full circle. We’d love to hear from anyone who might remember visiting Peace’s Store. Personal thoughts and memories always make history more interesting. 

Galen Reuther

Galen has called Flat Rock home for over 20 years. She is a life long writer of articles about things that interest her. Her book "Flat Rock" can be purchased from independent bookstores, Historic Flat Rock, Amazon or from Galen direct at leegalen@aol.com.

Notes:

(1)Buncombe County Deed Book 3, P. 724

(2)National Register of Historic Places, Flat Rock Section 7, P. 111

(3)”Postmarks” by Lenoir Ray

(4) A Preservation Agreement is a protective covenant, that ensures the property is kept in it’s intended condition in perpetuity.

Photos of Peace’s cash register from Historic Flat Rock, Inc. Cultural Center