'Hanger Hall magic': Asheville's communal living, Victorian mansion celebrates 50 years

McKenna Leavens, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·3 min read
Hanger Hall mansion in Asheville's Chicken Hill neighborhood is turning 50 on Aug. 26.
Hanger Hall mansion in Asheville's Chicken Hill neighborhood is turning 50 on Aug. 26.

ASHEVILLE - The Hanger Hall residence in Asheville's Chicken Hill neighborhood is celebrating 50 years on Aug. 26. The man behind the iconic home ― Howard Hanger ― has provided a communal living space and welcoming others with open arms for the past five decades in his eclectic mansion.

Hall and his two daughters are hosting a 50th anniversary party on Aug. 26, celebrating with friends and former residents at 31 Park Ave. N.

The 15-bedroom mansion has been home to hundreds of people over the years, Howard Hanger told the Citizen Times Aug. 24.

Hanger Hall has hosted weddings, held the first "all girls" school in the area, and has been an open space for various community events.

Like his mansion, Howard Hanger has also played many different roles in his lifetime — touring the world with his band, founding a middle school for girls in Asheville that is still going strong and transforming a decrepit Asheville mansion into a 14-person communal home. It comes as no surprise that people from all over the world are flying out to celebrate Hanger Hall's 50th anniversary, and to celebrate Howard Hanger.

Howard Hanger outside of his home.
Howard Hanger outside of his home.

His youngest daughter, Kelsey Hanger, told the Citizen Times Aug. 24 that her father is beyond excited for the anniversary party and that the house doesn't mean a lot to just her family but also to the community.

"It's a sense of family that they may or may not have had growing up," Kelsey Hanger said about former residents who spent year of their lives in Hanger Hall.

Howard Hanger, 79, bought the house in 1973.

Howard Hanger, an ordained Methodist minister, retired as pastor of Jubilee! church in downtown Asheville two years ago after a 30-year run.
Howard Hanger, an ordained Methodist minister, retired as pastor of Jubilee! church in downtown Asheville two years ago after a 30-year run.

"It was so pretty to me, it was so classic. There was a tree growing right in the middle of it and people wanted to tear it down. This house is a special house, and I knew it somehow," he said, explaining why he made the purchase 50 years ago.

In 1999, the Hanger Hall private Middle School for girls held its first class in the house. Kelsey Hanger said her father created the school because he wanted his two daughters to be able to have a single sex education for that "transitional period of their lives."

When asked why he opened the school he said, "Well, for my daughters, why else."

The nondenominational Jubilee! community was also founded in 1984 by Hanger. The musician-turned-Methodist leader-turned-minister of Jubilee! retired in 2019 after 30 years. He still attends Jubilee! celebrations regularly.

Rev. Howard Hanger greets Beverly Devereux as she arrives at the 40th anniversary reunion of Hanger Hall on Sept. 1, 2013.
Rev. Howard Hanger greets Beverly Devereux as she arrives at the 40th anniversary reunion of Hanger Hall on Sept. 1, 2013.

Hanger is described by residents and friends as a leader who radiates with love, warmth and accepts everyone.

He told the Citizen Times that he knew immediately when he bought the house that he wanted it to be a communal living space. He still lives in Hanger Hall with 11 other people. They all share a kitchen, laundry room and the common areas.

His favorite part? The people of course, he said: "You never get bored. Never, ever, ever get bored. They're lovely, and I've enjoyed them so much."

More: Jubilee! to sell its downtown building, home since 1989; temporary move to Rainbow school

More: 'It's time to stir things up': Jubilee! founder Howard Hanger to retire after 30 years

'Hanger Hall magic'

Former and current resident Stephanie Winters heard of Hanger Hall through mutual friends in 1995 when she was traveling the world, touring as a professional cellist.

Former and current resident Stephanie Winters first moved into Hanger Hall in 1995 when she was traveling the world, touring as a professional cellist.
Former and current resident Stephanie Winters first moved into Hanger Hall in 1995 when she was traveling the world, touring as a professional cellist.

In the '90s, Winters would pass through Asheville frequently while touring and decided to stay awhile, she said.

Fast forward to 2022 when she was living in Copenhagen and decided she wanted to come back to the states. She emailed Hanger, asking if he had anything available at the mansion.

His response: "Come home."

The first time Winters saw the Victorian mansion, she said it was magical.

"I walked into the front door and saw the woodwork. It's like a museum. It's incredible, it's Hanger Hall magic," she said.

The view from outside of the Hanger Hall mansion.
The view from outside of the Hanger Hall mansion.

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McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hanger hall has been home to hundreds of people over 50 years