Boardinghouses were popular lodgings in the early 20th century, especially for single women, widows, travelers, and families moving from rural areas to the city. Thomas drew from his experiences at the boardinghouse and the menagerie of tenants, giving him ample fodder for his novels, plays, and stories.
Thomas did eventually return to Asheville in 1937 and, for the most part, was greeted graciously. For many, his huge popularity as a celebrity author outweighed their dismay over any public humiliation from the book.
