Guide to North Carolina Highway Historical Markers March 2020 Edition 1 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 ELON UNIVERSITY G-24 BATTLE OF ALAMANCE Founded as Elon College by the Christian Church in 1889. Coeducational. Burned in The militia under royal Governor Tryon 1923; rebuilt 1923-26. defeated the Regulators at this point, May 16, 1771. Williamson Avenue in Elon.1949 NC 62 at Alamance Battleground southwest of Burlington. 1939 G-54 7 ALEXANDER MEBANE First Monthly Meeting of Friends in central North Carolina, 1751. Present building is on the Brigadier general of North Carolina militia, original site. member House of Commons, conventions 1788, 1789, and U.S. Congress. His home stood SR 1005 (Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road) at nearby. Snow Camp. 1957 US 70 in Mebane. 1951 G-76 SNOW CAMP G-55 ALEXANDER WILSON Settled by Quakers in 1749. Cornwallis camped in area after Battle of Guilford Courthouse and Teacher in Piedmont area from 1819 to 1867; used home of Simon Dixon as headquarters. operated own school in Alamance County, 1851-67. Home is 1 mile, grave is 3 1/2 miles SR 1004 (Snow Camp Road) at Snow Camp. northeast. 1960 NC 54 at NC 119 northeast of G-81 Swepsonville.1951 W. KERR SCOTT G-58 Governor, 1949-1953; United States Senator, HENRY JEROME STOCKARD 1954-1958; N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture, 1937-1948. Birthplace is nearby. Poet, author of "Fugitive Lines" and other works; lifelong educator; president of Peace NC 119 northeast of Swepsonville. 1963 Institute, 1907-12. Home stood here. G-82 US 70 (South Church Street) in ALAMANCE COTTON MILL Burlington.1952 Built 1837 by E. M. Holt. Produced Alamance G-59 Plaid, the first factory-dyed cotton cloth south THOMAS M. HOLT of the Potomac. Stood here. Governor, 1891-93; cotton mill owner. Sponsor NC 62 at Great Alamance Creek bridge in of railroad development and state aid to Alamance. 1965 education. Home stood 350 yards S. G-89 NC 49 at SR 1941 (Holt Street) in Haw River. NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD 1953 G-60 Company Shops built here in 1857 for TRYON'S CAMP maintenance and repair of the N.C. Railroad. Closed in 1866. Before and after the Battle of Alamance, the Militia of Governor William Tryon camped Front Street at South Main Street in nearby, along Alamance Creek, May 13-19, Burlington. 1972 1771. NC 62 in Alamance. 1954 G-91 SPRING FRIENDS MEETING G-69 CANE CREEK MEETING Meeting house by 1761; Meeting recognized, 1773; Preparative Meeting, 1779; & Monthly Meeting, 1793. 8 SR 1005 (Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road) at SR 2338 (Stockard Road) west of Eli Whitney. Founder of Burlington Mills, 1924; success of 1973 rayon propelled world's largest textile company. "Pioneer Plant" 3/4 mi. S. G-95 B. EVERETT JORDAN 1896-1974 US 70 (North Church Street) at Beaumont Avenue in Burlington. 2007 United States Senator, 1958-1973, and textile executive. Jordan Lake named for him, 1973. G-128 He lived 1 mile NE. JOHN BUTLER NC 87 at SR 2171 (Saxapahaw Church Road) Orange County sheriff in War of Regulation, southwest of Saxapahaw. 1976 1770-1771; brigadier general, N.C. militia, 1777-84. Lived 1/4 mi. N. G-96 GRAHAM COLLEGE NC 2458 (Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road) at SR 2156 (Bason Road) in Swepsonville, 2011 Est. by the Christian Church, 1851, as Graham Institute; forerunner of Elon College. Burned G-134 in 1892. Stood 1 blk. west. WHITE FURNITURE COMPANY NC 87 (South Main Street) at West McAden Founded here in 1881 by David and William Street in Graham. 1979 White. Furnishings were sold widely. Plant was rebuilt after fire in 1923. G-111 BATTLE OF CLAPP'S MILL US 70 (Center Street) in Mebane. 2016 Troops led by Henry Lee ambushed British GG-1 cavalry of Banastre Tarleton one mile north, BATTLE OF ALAMANCE Mar. 2, 1781. Americans retreated under heavy British fire. Here was fought on May 16, 1771, the Battle of Alamance. Opposing forces were Colonial NC 62 at SR 1135 (Porter Sharpe Road) Militia, mainly from the eastern part of the southwest of Alamance.