EDITOR’S NOTE: Strangeville explores the curious and unexplained stories that have long defined Asheville and Western North Carolina. The region is full of unanswered questions, from old folklore and local legends to eerie encounters, unsolved moments in history, and the true-crime mysteries that still leave people wondering. Each week, we look back with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, trying to understand why some stories take hold and why some can never be explained.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Over one hundred years ago, Asheville residents packed downtown streets and looked skyward as daredevil Harry Gardiner, known as the “Human Fly,” climbed the newly opened Flat Iron Building. Gardiner climbed the building without ropes or safety equipment to raise money for disabled World War I veterans.
Long before social media influencers and televised stunt performers, Gardiner was one of America’s most recognizable thrill-seekers. His specialty was climbing skyscrapers, hotels and landmarks with nothing but his hands, feet and nerves. Wherever he appeared, crowds followed. In May 1926, he brought that spectacle to Asheville.
A daredevil arrives in Asheville
Gardiner arrived in Asheville as the city was in the middle of a building boom, and new buildings were changing the downtown skyline. One of the newest additions was the Flat Iron Building, which had opened only months earlier. For 57-year-old Gardiner, the building became the centerpiece of a public fundraising campaign that combined spectacle, civic pride and support for disabled World War I veterans…