Valley Rewind: Allanstand Cottage Industries

In this undated Edward. L Dupuy photograph from the Swannanoa Valley Museum’s collections, a Christmas tree stands decorated with carved angels, conifers, roosters, chickadees and small woven baskets, with a carved wooden manger scene framing its base. Labeled “Allanstand Craft Christmas Tree” by Dupuy, this tree may have been used by the Southern Highland Craft Guild (formerly Allanstand Cottage Industries) to display the work of local artisans. Allanstand Cottage Industries was started by missionary and teacher Frances Goodrich in 1902, with the goals of bringing money to women working in rural communities in the region and to promote the continuity of local craft traditions. Allanstand was transferred to the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild in 1930. Today the guild sells the crafts of its members at four locations in Western North Carolina.