Articles in regional publications that pertain to a wide range of North Carolina-related topics.
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for "Greenville Times / Pitt's Past"
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22960
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“Astrophobia” is the fear of lightning and tornadoes or more commonly the fear of the sky. In this collection of different odd occurrences, several strange rituals are described. For example, people used to shut windows and doors and pull down the shades during a lightning storm. In 1856, Richard Williams was killed by lightning in Greenville and the Presbyterian Church spire was struck by lightning several times. In 1901, black hail fell 18 inches deep below Ayden. A meteor passed over Greenville in 1857 making a shrill noise, a meteor fell near St. John’s Church in 1935 and an Aurora Borealis was witnessed in 1859. In 1903 a tornado struck the Swift Creek Schoolhouse while it was in session. Another memorable situation occurred when many Pitt County residents witnessed a UFO.
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22961
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Greenville Silk Company operated from February 1839 until March 1841, with a cocoonery and mulberry trees at Bensboro. Distilleries In 1810, Pitt County had 727 distilleries producing 29,400 gallons of whiskey and brandy worth around $12,000 annually. Dr. Noal Joyner attempted to raise Persian tobacco in the 1800s. In 1887, residents found gold near Bethel.
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22962
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A proposal to build a plank road began in the 1850s to link Greenville to Raleigh in order to bring Greenville out of economic isolation. Stock shares sold for $25.00 and raising $33,000.00 for the new road. Slaves began construction began in 1851 and slave-owners paid $12.50 for use of slaves. In 1853, the road to Wilson, completed at a cost of $1,453.00 per mile, roughly followed the same path as Highway 264. Two villages, Marlboro and Walshville, developed because of the road.
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Record #:
22963
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At different times called the Clark Hotel, Eagle Hotel, Union Hotel, Macon House, Hotel Macon and the Macon Hotel, this building had an important place in Greenville's past. Margaret Salter first sold lots to Richard Evans in 1826. After passing through several hands, the property was bought by Dr. John G. James (1823-1888), who sold it to E.B. Moore. Moore lost it because of debts to J.B. Cherry. Cherry, however, allowed Moore to operate the hotel. Later, the property went to Charles Skinner, who sold it to Mary Harrington. In 1922, she sold it to Dr. Louis C. Skinner. The building was demolished during the 1960s--a victim of redevelopment.
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22964
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Kammerer presents two unusual stories from the Courthouse. In March 1884, a black man named John Handy owed $26.00 in debt and offered himself for lease on the Court house steps for cash or credit to pay his debts. The other story from March 1883, concerns the theft of meat. The trail of dragged meat lead to finding it buried. A trap was set up to catch the thief if he returned for the meat. The next day, a dog was found in the trap and the man had the dog arrested for allegedly stealing the meat. The Court found the dog innocent. Even though he was found in the trap doesn’t mean he stole the meat.
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Record #:
22965
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Edward and Robert Salter operated the first store in Greenville, originally called Martinsborough, in 1776. In Nov. 1778, George Wolfenden advertised he had erected a fulling mill to dye cloth about 10 miles above Red Banks. In the tour journal of William attmore in 1787, he described Greenville as a village consisting of about fifteen families and a place of some trade. Merchants mentioned include Josiah Wright, James Easton, Reading Blount, Holland Johnston, Grove Wright, James Stewart, John A. Judkins, Franklin Gorham and Benjamin M. Selby. The article discusses other businesses that developed through the 1830s.
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Record #:
22966
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ECU has had many memorable homecoming celebrations throughout its history. Homecoming can be tracked back to Founder’s Day celebrated on Mar. 5, 1932 and a sort of Homecoming took place thereafter every year on the Saturday closest to March 8, the day the school was founded in 1907. The first homecoming associated with a sport occurred in 1936. There were no Homecomings during WWII. The Homecoming of 1946 was known as “Veterans Homecoming and May Day.” The homecoming became an annual event after the November 8, 1947. In 1950, “Capt. Teco,” a towering paper mache pirate was unveiled and in 1952, the first mascot, a Great Dane named “Buc” made his appearance. In 1953, the first Homecoming Queen was crowned and afterwards many more homecoming firsts occurred and memorable performers came to Greenville.
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Record #:
22967
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It was after the great Greenville fire of 1879 that many saw the need for a fire alarm. In 1884, Col. Isaac A. Sugg formed the “Greenville Hook and Ladder Fire Company.” This group was made up of volunteer black men headed up by Sam O. Mason. The town bell was used as a fire alarm. In 1896, another volunteer fire company known as the “Hope Fire Company” was formed. In 1897 a fire bell was erected on the Court House square. In 1899, Fire Chief A. J. Griffin, obtained a 700 pound steel train rim as a fire gong and erected it over the fire station on Fourth Street. The fire gong was moved to the new fire station on Fifth Street in 1909 and was replaced in 1913 with a steam whistle. Before WWII the whistle on the electric power plant by the river was used as the fire alarm and in 1943 a fire siren was placed on top of City Hall.
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Record #:
22968
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Kammerer presents two newspaper articles describing Contentnea Creek Country in 1905 and Tyson’s Neighborhood in 1888. The articles talk about the history, growth and farms of these Pitt County communities. Some of the people mentioned include: Benjamin May, Dr. Robert Williams, Dr. J. N. Bynum, E. S. Parker, J. C. Cobb, James H. Cobb, Lawrence A. Cobb and R. J. Cobb.
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Record #:
22969
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Kammerer relates a letter sent to the editor of Tarboro's newspaper describing Pitt County's Christmas celebrations in 1871. For example, the epistle refers to mummers dressed as Don Quixote and Don Juan’s, parades, black citizens riding hogs in races and a jousting tournament and several other 1871 traditions.
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Record #:
22970
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Parmele, located in Martin County just over the Pitt County line near Bethel, was once called ”Junction.” It was here that several railroad lines came together. In 1891, E. A. Parmele of New York constructed a large steam mill there and opened a post office known as “Parmele.” In 1892, it received a telegraph office and in 1893, a city government was established. In 1899, the town was a completely "dry town," and consisting of two large sawmills, five general stores, several churches, Odd Fellows Lodge, Temperance Club, a school house and a town doctor, Dr. L. C. Ricks. On April 1, 1904, a fire ravaged the town. This fire caused Parmele to fade into history. However, in 1909, Professor W.C. Chance started Higgs Industrial School to educate African American people. And in 1910, Dr. Booker T. Washington visited Parmele on behalf of the school.
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Record #:
22971
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The Great Charleston Earthquake on Aug. 31, 1886 caused several aftershocks in Greenville and Pitt County that resulted in several incidents and reports in the area. The first tremor occurred about 10:54 pm destroying parts of Charleston, SC and was felt as far north as Chicago and New York. There were three more aftershocks. On Oct. 22, 1886 another powerful aftershock was felt in Greenville before 3:00 in the morning which caused some alarm.
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Record #:
22972
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The small community of “Whitehurst Station” or "Grindool" had a very rich social and educational history. The village of Grindool was developed by Samuel Clayton Whitehurst (1861-1932) after the railroad brought its line through the community in 1890. In 1892, Grindool consisted of Samuel C. Whitehurst’s store and post office, the depot, James I. Barnhill’s sawmill and B. T. L. Barnhill and B. M. W. James’ cotton gin. In 1893, Prof. C. H. James erected his “James Improved School” in Grindool. In 1910 the depot closed and the post office became known as “Whitehurst.”
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Record #:
22973
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Alfred Forbes (1829-1905) the son of Robert Forbes and Gracey Tyson, was a Greenville businessman in the late 1800s. He was married to Clara Jane Williams for thirty-four years and was the father of seven children. Alfred had numerous business interests and had various accomplishments related to the social, educational, business life of Greenville.
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Record #:
22974
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George Bacon Wood Hadley (1869-1933), born in La Grange, NC to Dr. Jacob Milton Hadley and Lizzie E. Kilpatrick, was educated at Davis Military Academy and was graduated from Western Maryland College. Hadley engaged in numerous business and farming activities. In 1912-1913, he built one of many fine, large homes on Evans Street. The home was demolished in 1973.
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