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Bob Ferreira had a vision for Andrews and spent the last years of his life planning for the success of the small town he loved. He was
filled with hopes and dreams of what Andrews could be and encouraged others to get involved with their town.
In 2007, Bob and Maggie moved to Andrews from Coconut Grove, Fla., because of the uncontrolled growth and destruction of the sleepy little village that they had fought to protect in the tropical paradise. The couple had opened their home and large landscaped gardens to those in search of creative expression through live music, art exhibits, outdoor movies, dancing and community forums.
Bob said it was common for celebrities to show up at the parties. Paul McCartney came to one of the events, and Ziggy Marley, who was Bob Marley’s son, dropped in one night. “You never knew who would be there.” But the artistic little village that thrived in the 1960s through the 1970s was threatened with being demolished by urban sprawl, making room for shopping malls.
Originally, Bob was sent to this area by a group of investors to check out Robbinsville in 2005. He gathered what information he could, then took a different way back, a journey that brought him around the mountain to Topton, then on into Andrews. When the two-lane road ended, Bob said it opened up, and he saw the most beautiful valley that was surrounded by mountains in every
direction.
“Oh my God, it was breathtaking. What is this place, I asked. I was completely spellbound. I felt like Apostle Paul ,who was on his way to Damascus when a bright light from heaven shone around him. I absolutely fell in love with this place,” Ferreira said.
He drove on into Andrews and stopped at the Cole House Restaurant, where owner Lee Nichols confirmed this is where he needed to be.
Bob got involved with
the Andrews Valley Initiative Team that worked toward the revitalization
of the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, development of the 32-acre park, and worked with others on
the baseball park and fishing pier. The team supported the annual Earth Day Celebration and helped the Garden Club. He worked with the town administration on projects, including revamping the zoning regulations, rewriting the town’s comprehension plan, rehabilitation of the Ferebee Park and most important was Bob’s persistence in claiming funds for the town watershed, which was received.
Ferreira was a faithful advocate for moving the Town of Andrews forward since the day he moved here. There is no one who invested more time in trying to promote this town and secure the success of planned growth in our beautiful valley. Bob saw firsthand how unchecked development can destroy all that is near and dear to us.
I remembered what he told me several years ago.
“I have never lived in a town where people loved their town so much, but were unwilling to take some chances to save it. Old-time town planners used to say that when a town loses its hospital, and then the local newspaper, and finally its high school, it is finished.” Two of those have come to pass, and the third one is on the brink,” Ferreira said. “Perhaps many of us
who were not born and brought up here have a better appreciation of what is here, and why it is so important to keep something precious. I am an old man now and starting to feel my age, but I have not stopped dreaming and hoping that I will live to see Andrews return to the town it once was.”
On March 8, 2024, Bob’s dream ended when he passed away. He was a brilliant man, and his love for this town could only be measured in the hours he spent to make it better.
Kandy Barnard is a columnist for the Cherokee Scout. To talk about the Andrews Valley, call her at 828-361-3268 or email kandybarnard@gmail.com.