The Cashiers Historical Society is excited to share that they presented the 2024 Village Heritage Award to The Orchard Restaurant for their continued preservation of the Hawkins-Menninger House, located at 905 Highway 107 South, Cashiers. This award symbolizes our community’s commitment to preserving our beloved town.
The mission of the Cashiers Historical Society (CHS) is to preserve the heritage of the entire Cashiers Valley through stewardship, advocacy, and education. In 2003, CHS began taking a proactive role in preserving the Valley’s historical character by raising awareness for its historic buildings.
A preservation committee commissioned architectural historians to research and compile a list of historic sites in Cashiers. From this research, CHS established the annual Village Heritage Award.
The Orchard Restaurant is a prime example of thoughtful re-use of a historic structure in Cashiers. In the early 20th century, it was home to the Hawkins family, though additions, including the dining room and commercial kitchen, surround the original structure. In the 1940s, Edwin Arnold Menninger bought the property using it as a Summer home through the 1980’s.
Today, the Hawkins-Menninger House is now The Orchard Restaurant. Only the front of the original house remains visible: a one-story, vernacular building with a side-gabled roof, ivy-covered stone chimney, and an inviting front porch. The wood-shingle siding, gable roof, narrow-board oak flooring, and bead-board ceiling are all elements of the original home. We are grateful to The Orchard for stewarding this property into the 21st century by adaptively re-using it as a restaurant, now a beloved Cashiers institution.
A Preservation Celebration for The Orchard will take place on October 30th at noon in their dining room. The event is free and open to the public. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize a treasured landmark and connect with community members! Please RSVP to this email or by calling us at (828) 743-7710.
Knowing the history of an area’s buildings helps generations see the past. CHS is dedicated to preserving the Cashiers of yesterday and today for tomorrow.
By CHS Staff