HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
Henderson County's 1935 farmers market sits on the documented site of Hendersonville's public gallows, where two brothers were hanged in 1872 for Klan-linked murders.
221 N Church St, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Curb Market is free to browse. Haunts of Hendo ghost tour (includes Curb Market lot as a named stop) separately ticketed — see fareharbor.com/embeds/book/hauntsofhendo/items/
Access
Wheelchair OK
Flat urban lot, accessible sidewalks throughout
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1935 · Post-Civil War Racial Violence (KKK Era) · Henderson County Public Execution History · Henderson County Curb Market (est. 1924)
The site at North Church Street held Henderson County's public gallows through the post-Civil War era. On July 18, 1872, Govan and Columbus Adair — convicted of murdering the Weston family in what sources connect to Ku Klux Klan activity in western North Carolina — were publicly hanged here. The execution was documented in the New York Herald. Public executions of this kind were common in the 1870s South and drew large crowds; they also took place at a moment of intense political violence throughout the former Confederacy.
The gallows ground stood vacant for decades before commercial use transformed the block. The Henderson County Farmers Mutual Curb Market was established in 1924, initially operating on Main Street under umbrellas before moving to a King Street location. The present building on North Church Street was completed in 1935, placed directly on the documented site of the old hanging gallows. The mtnlaurel.com regional history source explicitly identifies the current market building as constructed on 'the site of the old Hanging Gallows of Hendersonville.'
The market has operated continuously since its founding, through World War II and into the present day, making it one of western North Carolina's longest-running farmers markets. The Haunts of Hendo ghost tour identifies the lot as 'haunted' and makes it a named stop in their downtown walking route.
Sources
The Haunts of Hendo ghost tour — Hendersonville's commercial walking tour covering 1.1 miles of downtown — names the Curb Market lot as a dedicated stop, citing 'wandering figures' as the reported phenomenon. Tour guide Sebastian, who bills himself as the 'Curator of Haunted Experiences,' presents the site's execution history as context for the reported activity.
No independent paranormal investigation reports specifically documenting encounters at the Curb Market lot are available in verified sources. The site's dark history is documented: two men were executed here in 1872 in connection with Klan-linked murders. Whether the 'wandering figures' reports stem from that history or are a feature of the tour's narrative framing has not been independently verified. The combination of documented executions and a market that has operated on the same ground for nearly a century makes the site a legitimate dark tourism destination regardless of paranormal specifics.
The current 1935 market building stands on the documented site of Henderson County's public gallows. Visitors can view the site and browse the active farmers market, which has operated continuously since 1924. The grounds are publicly accessible.
Hendersonville's commercial ghost tour names the Curb Market lot as 'Wandering Figures at the Curb Market Lot,' covering the gallows history and reported post-execution paranormal activity. Part of a 1.1-mile downtown walking tour.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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