Village Heritage Award
Celebrating the preservation of Cashiers’ historic charm
THE VILLAGE HERITAGE AWARD
The mission of the Cashiers Historical Society is to preserve the history of the Cashiers Valley through education, stewardship, and advocacy. CHS is especially active in efforts to preserve the historical character of Cashiers Valley through publications, events, projects, and awards.
An award given that represents CHS's stewardship mission is the Village Heritage Award. This award has been presented annually since 2003 with nominations by area residents. Community members nominate an old or new property that has been built or repurposed to keep with the Old Village feel.
The 2025 Village Heritage Award was presented to The Library Kitchen & Bar for their continued preservation of the Monteith-Jennings House, located at 184 Cherokee Trail in Sapphire, NC. The Library Kitchen & Bar exemplifies the thoughtful reuse of a historic structure.
Originally owned by the Jennings family, the property was once a working farm that supported their neighboring resort, the Fairfield Inn. The Monteiths lived in the farmhouse at the center of the property, which provided produce and livestock for the Inn. After E.H. Jennings’s death in 1947, the surrounding land was subdivided and developed into the Sapphire Valley resort.
The two-story, weatherboarded, side-gable house retains its original center-hall plan and much of its early wall and ceiling sheathing. As a critical part of the area’s early tourism history, the Monteith-Jennings House continues to serve the community through its adaptive reuse.
CHS is thrilled that The Library Kitchen & Bar has preserved this important site—now a welcoming restaurant known for its warm hospitality.
A Preservation Celebration was held on October 30th, featuring a community gathering and the unveiling of the Village Heritage Award plaque.
The Village Heritage Award committee members include Ann Austin, John Barrow, Lauren Carmichael, Dianne Cates, Daniel Fletcher, Amelia Golcheski, Anna Harkins, Helen Harmon, Lindsay Garner Hostetler, and Jim Robinson.
Village Heritage Award Recipients
The Library Kitchen and Bar : Monteith-Jennings House (2025)
The Orchard Restaurant : Hawkins-Menninger House (2024)
Cedar Creek Club : Fred Lupton House (2023)
McKee Properties : Minnie Cole House (2022)
Whiteside Art Gallery (2021)
Hotel Cashiers (2020)
Narcissus (2019)
Cornucopia (2018)
Sashay Around (2017)
Christ Anglican Church (2016)
Fiddlehead Designs (2015)
Dovecote House (2014)
Cashiers-Glenville Recreation Center (2013)
The Old Cashiers Post Office (2012)
The Cashiers Community Center (2011)
The Village Green Commons (2010)
Laurelwood Mountain Inn (2009)
Tommy’s Coffee Shop (2008)
Zonnie Sheik Cottage (2007)
Mountain Laurel Shops (2006)
Viewfinders Building (2005)
The Van Epp House (2004)
Alexander Gardens (2003)
Photos from the 2025 reception
Photo credit: NC Living Magazine
Nominations for 2025 are now closed. Submissions will reopen on August 1, 2026.
The purpose of the Village Heritage Award is to recognize and celebrate historic preservation in Cashiers. In selecting an award winner, the CHS Preservation Committee seeks to promote preservation of the village character of Cashiers and encourage adaptive reuse of existing structures.
Each year, the CHS Preservation Committee selects an award winner from nominated properties. Criteria used to choose the winning property include the following:
The property is located within these boundaries:
Highway 107 North to the Continental Divide
Highway 107 South to the South Carolina State Line
Highway 64 East to the Transylvania County Line
Highway 64 West to the Macon County Line
The architecture of the property is in keeping with the Old Village feel of Cashiers, with vernacular style, materials, and scale.
The property is an adaptive reuse of an older existing structure.
The property uses attractive landscaping with native materials.
The property has exterior lighting to allow for night sky visibility.
The property enhances our Village character and our sense of community.
The property complements area businesses.
In making a nomination, please note: How the subject property meets the criteria above. You are encouraged to include information about the property’s history and identify other ways in which the nominee promotes the preservation of the village character of Cashiers and encourages adaptive reuse of existing structures.
Nominations must be submitted using the form below. To submit in person or by mail, click the PDF icon to access and print the nomination form.
If submitting a paper form, please submit to:
Cashiers Historical Society
Village Heritage Award
PO Box 104
Cashiers, NC 28717