A timeline of key dates and events in the history of Chiles House.
1870 Jun 15 James Madison “Jake” Chiles born Troy, Greenwood Cty, SC
1886 Mar. 24 Leah Arcouet Chiles born in Aurora, IL
1890 Original Kenilworth Inn built
1891 Town of Kenilworth organized by Senator Gazzam
1908 Jake Chiles first visit to Asheville
1909 Apr. 1 Original Kenilworth Inn burns down
1911 Jake Chiles incorporates Carolina Nova Cola Company (sold 1912)
1912 Chiles purchases 151 acre parcel where Kenilworth Inn stood
1913 Nov. Chiles and partners create Kenilworth Park Company
1913 Town of Kenilworth incorporated
1913 Kenilworth Development Corp. incorporated with E.G. Hester as president
1913 Chiles begins advertising Kenilworth development
1914 Sep. 14 Jake Chiles in fire in Asheville’s Langren Hotel
1914 Feb 16 Jake and Leah Chiles married
1914 Jake Chiles elected mayor of Kenilworth with 6 of 7 votes
1917 Dec. 28 James Richard Chiles (son) born
1916 – 1918 Kenilworth Inn re-built
1922 Construction of Chiles House begins
1923 Kenilworth Inn re-opens as luxury hotel
1925 Jun 1 James Madison “Jake” Chiles dies
1925 Leah assumes responsibilities for Kenilworth corporations
1926 Deed transfer: Chiles to First Nat’l Bank and Trust
1926 Leah Chiles and children move to Forest Ave
1927 May 23 Letter to Leah Chiles thanking for life improvements
1927 Phone directory list Earnest Alexander as resident of 21 Chiles
1928 Leah creates the Kenilworth Galleries
1928 Nov Leah elected first woman mayor of Kenilworth (and first in NC)
1929 June 30 Town of Kenilworth annexed to city of Asheville
1929 Aug 23 Kenilworth Realty Company defaulted assets sold at auction
1930 Kenilworth Inn and Co goes bankrupt with Asheville bank closures
1930 Phone directory lists LL Jenkins as resident at 21 Chiles
1931 Jul 22 Mr. and Mrs. Burton S, Frei noted in news reports as residents
1932 Phone dir. lists Mrs. Elizabeth and Miss Dorothy Churchman
1933 Aug 26 Newspaper ad lists 21 Chiles as a boarding house seeking tenants
1934 Jul 1 News ad lists 21 Chiles unfurnished house for rent for $80/month
1936-1937 Newspaper ads list 21 Chiles for sale
1937 News accounts list residents Mr. and Mrs. D. “Barney” Pearlman
1938 Sep 11 News ad lists house for rent unfurnished for $65/month
1940 Jul 21 Mrs. John D. Lineberger of 21 Chiles mentioned in news as “sick”
1941 Mar 9 Mrs. John D. Lineberger listed as hosting a bridge party in news
1942 Mar 15 House listed for sale at $16,500 “estimated value $86,000”
1946 Jan 20 Mrs. Amanda Wilson listed by newspaper as resident at 21 Chiles
1946 Sep 22 Mrs. William Dino, announces son Horace D’Ambrosio engagement
1947 June 1 J. Frazier Glenn and family take up residence at 21 Chiles
1947 Aug 15 J. Frazier Glenn dies at home at 21 Chiles
1949 Sep 27 Deed transfer Marie K. and William Dino to son Horace D’Ambrosio
1950 Jul 1 Deed transfer Horace and Evelyn D’Ambrosio to Marie K. De Medici
1951 Sep Deed transfer Marie K. DeMedici to John Chiles (son)
1953 May 26 Leah Chiles dies
1964 May Deed transfer John Chiles to John and Hope Ryan
2001 Nov 16 Kenilworth Inn designated historical landmark by NC
2004 Deed transfer Hope W. Ryan to Vanessa Crane and Jason Eller
2004 Jul 30 James Richard Chiles (son) dies
2005 Deed transfer Vanessa Crane Byrd to Kevin Gentry
2016 Oct 3 Deed transfer Kevin & Rhonda Gentry to Broadwater/Vaughn
2017 Process to seek historical designation for Chiles house begins
Chiles House 