Bunn House Bricks: A History Frozen in Time

A recent chilly morning left our new fountain frozen! As we gazed at the sparkling crystals, we couldn’t help but admire the bricks all over again.

A few years ago, the Pack Memorial Library featured an exhibit including bricks from the Asheville area. How is that relevant? Bunn House was built in 1905 by one of Asheville’s most well-known brick masons, Albert Bunn.

A brick manufacturer and contractor from Birmingham, England, Albert lived here with his wife, Kittie, and three children. His youngest son, Robert D. Bunn, owner of Bunn Antiques in downtown Asheville, inherited the home from his father, and lived here for many years with his wife, Fannie. When we purchased the house in 2013, much of the original structure was retained, including hardwood floors and some of the small architectural details, in order to feature the home’s rich history.

From the moment you enter the Bunn House’s brick-framed gates, the warmth and charm of these handmade bricks is apparent. This harmonious flow of color and texture connects the entire house. The rich glow of these lovey bricks gives the entire house a distinctive feel throughout:

We’re so grateful that we uncovered more bricks during our renovations. Using them in the construction on of the fountain made it seem instantly connected to the rest of the house, as if it had always been there. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Asheville’s bricks, we would encourage you to read this article from the Pack Memorial Library, which stated:

I didn’t feel like the exhibit could be complete without a “Bunn brick” referring to the bricks made by Albert and his son William “Albert” Bunn at their brickyard on Clayton and Charlotte Streets which existed circa 1875 to 1928. The Bunns built their second, larger home at 15 Clayton Street in 1905, from their own bricks.

We’ve always prided ourselves on our thoughtful renovations, and we’re thankful that we’ve been able to preserve these beautiful bricks as part of a glimpse into Asheville’s history.