2019 North Carolina Historical Highway Marker Guide Book
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Guide to North Carolina Highway Historical Markers November 2019 Edition 1 © 2019 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History All rights reserved. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Susi H. Hamilton Secretary Office of Archives and History Kevin Cherry Deputy Secretary Division of Historical Resources Ramona Bartos Director Historical Research Office Joseph A. Beatty Research Supervisor Historical Research Office Ansley Herring Wegner Administrator, North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program North Carolina Historical Commission David Ruffin (2023) Chair Millie M. Barbee (2021) Mary Lynn Bryan (2023) David C. Dennard (2021) Samuel Bobbitt Dixon (2025) Valerie A. Johnson (2021) Malinda Maynor Lowery (2025) Susan Phillips (2025) Noah Reynolds (2023) Barbara Blythe Snowden (2023) Darin J. Waters (2025) Emeriti: Narvel J. Crawford, Alan D. Watson, Max R. Williams 2 3 District A District G District M Bertie Alamance Alexander Camden Caswell Alleghany Chowan Durham Ashe Currituck Granville Davie Gates Orange Iredell Hertford Person Surry Pasquotank Vance Wilkes Perquimans Yadkin District H District B Chatham District N Beaufort Hartnett Avery Dare Johnston Burke Hyde Lee Caldwell Martin Wake McDowell Tyrrell Mitchell Washington District I Watauga Bladen Yancey District C Cumberland Carteret Hoke District O Craven Robeson Catawba Jones Sampson Cleveland Onslow Scotland Gaston Pamlico Lincoln District J Polk District D Forsyth Rutherford Brunswick Guilford Columbus Rockingham District P New Hanover Stokes Buncombe Pender Haywood District K Henderson District E Anson Madison Edgecombe Davidson Transylvania Franklin Montgomery Halifax Moore District Q Nash Randolph Cherokee Northampton Richmond Clay Warren Graham District L Jackson District F Cabarrus Macon Duplin Mecklenburg Swain Greene Rowan Lenoir Stanly Pitt Union Wayne Wilson 4 Highway Historical Marker Program Districts The letter and number system for the historical marker program was arbitrarily created in order to give each marker a distinctive designation. There are seventeen lettered districts and within each district the markers are numbered. Occasionally a marker is retired from the system, creating a skip in numbers within a district. For about thirty years the retired letter-number combinations were reassigned as new markers were approved, but that is no longer the practice. Several skips in the numbering remain. About the Program ... In 1935 the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the establishment of the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program (Public Laws, Chapter 197). From that time forward, the program has been administered as a cooperative venture among state agencies. It is presently the joint responsibility of the Historical Research Office, Division of Historical Resources, Department of Cultural Resources, and the Traffic Engineering Branch, Division of Highways, Department of Transportation. The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program is one of the oldest such programs in continuous operation in the United States. Prior to 1935 the North Carolina Historical Commission, which had been established in 1903, and private organizations (such as the Daughters of the American Revolution) sponsored a small number of historical markers and plaques. The state program, modeled after one begun in Virginia in 1926, was an effort to standardize the practice of marking sites of statewide historical significance. The silver and black markers have become a familiar part of the state's landscape since the first one was put in place in Granville County on January 10, 1936. Over 1,600 state highway historical markers have been erected. At least one stands in every county. For young people, the markers may spark a curiosity that leads to further study of and appreciation for the historical development of the region. For visitors the signs may be their only exposure to the history of the Tar Heel State. For residents the presence of a state marker in their community can be a source of pride, a signal that an event of historical significance took place close to home. The Department of Cultural Resources and the Department of Transportation remain committed to the program as it moves toward its centennial. About this Edition ... The staff of the Historical Research Office decided in 2019 to publish the Guide to Highway Historical Markers electronically. Over the years, the ten editions have been popular references for the markers and state history. Keeping the guide current has always been a challenge. This version allows the program to present an accurate listing of markers to the public in a format that is both accessible and searchable. It will remain available and updated at the program website, https://www.ncmarkers.com. This electronic edition is based on the Tenth Edition, published in 2007, edited by Michael Hill. It was edited and prepared by Joseph Beatty with content and design guidance from Ansley Wegner and Sheilah Barrett Carroll. Southall Rose Jones and Chamberlain Silkenat compiled and formatted the first drafts. 5 6 ALAMANCE COUNTY G-30 G-2 HAWFIELD’S CHURCH BATTLE OF ALAMANCE Presbyterian, founded about 1755, three miles Militia under Governor William Tryon N.E. Henry Patillo the first pastor. Present defeated Regulators on May 16, 1771. Six miles building erected 1852. S.W. NC 119 southwest of Mebane.1941 NC 62 at I-85 south of Burlington.1936 G-34 G-13 TRADING PATH EARLY RAILROADS Colonial trading route, dating from 17th First public meeting to promote railroads in century, from Petersburg, Virginia, to the North Carolina, Aug. 1, 1828, was at Wm. Catawba and Waxhaw Indians in Carolina, Albright's home, which stood 4 mi. S.E. passed nearby. NC 49 southwest of Rock Creek. 1938 US 70 (North Center Street) in Mebane.1941. G-21 G-35 LINDLEY’S MILL TRADING PATH In a battle on Sept. 13, 1781, John Butler's Colonial trading route, dating from 17th Whig militia failed to rescue Governor Thomas century, from Petersburg, Virginia, to Catawba Burke from Col. David Fanning's Tories. Site 4 and Waxhaw Indians in Carolina, passed mi. S.W. nearby. NC 87 at SR 1005 (Greensboro-Chapel Hill NC 62 in Alamance. 1941 Road) in Eli Whitney. 1939 G-36 G-22 BINGHAM SCHOOL PYLE'S DEFEAT Founded as Mt. Repose by William Bingham Tory militia going to join Cornwallis's army ca. 1815; closed in 1827. Stood 1 1/2 mi. N. destroyed by Lee's Legion Feb. 1781 nearby on Later operated in Orange Co. Col. Michael Holt's land. NC 119 north of Mebane.1948 NC 49 (Maple Avenue) at Anthony Road south of Burlington. 1939 G-52 G-24 ELON UNIVERSITY BATTLE OF ALAMANCE Founded as Elon College by the Christian The militia under royal Governor Tryon Church in 1889. Coeducational. Burned in defeated the Regulators at this point, 1923; rebuilt 1923-26. May 16, 1771. Williamson Avenue in Elon.1949 NC 62 at Alamance Battleground southwest of Burlington. 1939 7 G-54 G-69 ALEXANDER MEBANE CANE CREEK MEETING Brigadier general of North Carolina militia, First Monthly Meeting of Friends in central member House of Commons, conventions North Carolina, 1751. Present building is on the 1788, 1789, and U.S. Congress. His home stood original site. nearby. SR 1005 (Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road) at US 70 in Mebane. 1951 Snow Camp. 1957 G-55 G-76 ALEXANDER WILSON SNOW CAMP Teacher in Piedmont area from 1819 to 1867; Settled by Quakers in 1749. Cornwallis camped operated own school in Alamance County, in area after Battle of Guilford Courthouse and 1851-67. Home is 1 mile, grave is 3 1/2 miles used home of Simon Dixon as headquarters. northeast. SR 1004 (Snow Camp Road) at Snow Camp. NC 54 at NC 119 northeast of 1960 Swepsonville.1951 G-81 G-58 W. KERR SCOTT HENRY JEROME STOCKARD Governor, 1949-1953; United States Senator, Poet, author of "Fugitive Lines" and other 1954-1958; N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture, works; lifelong educator; president of Peace 1937-1948. Birthplace is nearby. Institute, 1907-12. Home stood here. NC 119 northeast of Swepsonville. 1963 US 70 (South Church Street) in Burlington.1952 G-82 ALAMANCE COTTON MILL G-59 THOMAS M. HOLT Built 1837 by E. M. Holt. Produced Alamance Plaid, the first factory-dyed cotton cloth south Governor, 1891-93; cotton mill owner. Sponsor of the Potomac. Stood here. of railroad development and state aid to education. Home stood 350 yards S. NC 62 at Great Alamance Creek bridge in Alamance. 1965 NC 49 at SR 1941 (Holt Street) in Haw River. 1953 G-89 G-60 NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD TRYON'S CAMP Company Shops built here in 1857 for Before and after the Battle of Alamance, the maintenance and repair of the N.C. Railroad. Militia of Governor William Tryon camped Closed in 1866. nearby, along Alamance Creek, May 13-19, 1771. Front Street at South Main Street in Burlington. 1972 NC 62 in Alamance. 1954 8 G-91 G-120 SPRING FRIENDS MEETING KIRK-HOLDEN WAR Meeting house by 1761; Meeting recognized, Racial violence in Caswell and Alamance 1773; Preparative Meeting, 1779; & Monthly counties in 1870 led to martial law, under Col. Meeting, 1793. Geo. W. Kirk, impeachment & removal of Gov. W. W. Holden. SR 1005 (Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road) at SR 2338 (Stockard Road) west of Eli Whitney. NC 87 (South Main Street) in Graham. 2006 1973 G-126 G-95 J. SPENCER LOVE 1896-1962 B. EVERETT JORDAN 1896-1974 Founder of Burlington Mills, 1924; success of United States Senator, 1958-1973, and textile rayon propelled world's largest textile executive. Jordan Lake named for him, 1973. company. "Pioneer Plant" 3/4 mi. S. He lived 1 mile NE. US 70 (North Church Street) at Beaumont NC 87 at SR 2171 (Saxapahaw Church Road) Avenue in Burlington. 2007 southwest of Saxapahaw. 1976 G-128 G-96 JOHN BUTLER GRAHAM COLLEGE Orange County sheriff in War of Regulation, Est.