Articles in regional publications that pertain to a wide range of North Carolina-related topics.
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8221
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Maxton, has had several name changes. Originally it was a rail depot between Charlotte and Wilmington. Adopting the name of a local creek, the town first called itself Shoe Heel. This name was changed in 1877 to Tilden, after Democratic presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. In 1879 the town's name was mysteriously changed to the Scottish name “Quhele†and then again renamed Shoe Heel in 1881. Finally in 1887, the name Maxton was adopted in reference to the Scottish name prefix “Mac.†This name has remained since then.
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8222
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Many North Carolina traditions and superstitions are observed during the Christmas season. Proctor highlights several of these folktales. Included are holiday charms such as using the previous year's Christmas Yule log, stepping into a house with your right foot, wearing a new suit, tasting plum pudding, and eating mince pie. It is a good omen if Christmas falls on Sunday but bad if it falls on Saturday. Included also are actions that will result in bad luck such as pruning evergreens, having a loaf of bread break while cutting it, and crossing your knife and fork while they are on a table. Superstitions surround not only Christmas but New Years as well. For example, if a dark-haired man comes to your house New Year's morning, it is a good sign, but if a woman or a light-haired man comes the following year will not go well.
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8223
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On the night of June 12, 1928, the town of Mooresville welcomed an unexpected visitor. Captain Emilio Carranza, a famous Mexican pilot, attempted to fly non-stop from Mexico City to Washington, D.C. Flying in his plane, the “Excelsior-Mexicoâ€, Carranza hoped to place Mexico in aviation history. This did not happen. While flying over North Carolina, Carranza ran into dense fog and made an emergency landing in Mooresville. The following day, the national press flooded the town before Carranza continued toward Washington D.C. Although he did not accomplish his goal, Carranza was welcomed as a hero when he landed in Washington. After staying in the United States for a month, Carranza decided to attempt another non-stop flight from New York to Mexico City. After taking off on July 13, 1928, Carranza failed to land in Mexico as expected. The wreckage of his plane was found soon found. He had flown only 100 miles before fatally crashing in New Jersey.
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Record #:
8224
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The Shannonhouse home in Pasquotank County is rumored to be cursed and given its history, this may be true. Thomas Shannonhouse built his home along the Albemarle Sound in 1816 and left it to his son, John. Ellanora, John's daughter, was given a pony by her father for her 16th birthday August 7, 1866. Six weeks later, Ellanora was thrown from the pony and sustained fatal injuries, dying in the home on September 20. Ellanora's death pained John dearly, and he cursed the home, wishing that anyone who inhabited it in the future know the pain he felt. Since then, at least one member of every family that has lived in the Shannonhouse home has died inside it. Many of these deaths have been mysterious, with un\r\nknown sounds coming from within the home and disappearing when an occupant died. Some occupants have seen a teenage girl, dressed in white, riding a horse by the house but later found out that no one was there. The last person to experience the home's curse died in 1969. Since then the empty house has fallen into ruin.
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8225
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Born near Scotland Neck, Halifax County, in 1829, Peter Evans Smith became an ingenious inventor. He developed a new drill bit that decreased the time it took to cut through iron, a new cotton planter, a spark arrestor for wood-burning locomotives, and a railcar switching device. His most famous invention was a lighted buoy which was patented in 1876. Smith placed lighted buoys in New York's harbor but never received the one hundred thousand dollars promised to him. Throughout his life, Smith always kept the Sabbath and never worked on projects on Sundays. Because of his Christian beliefs, he did not sue the state of New York over unpaid royalties.
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Record #:
8226
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Elizabeth L. F. Ellet recently published The Women of the American Revolution. In this book, Ellet describes the lives of several extraordinary women. This article focuses on one of these women, Polly Slocumb, wife of colonial army captain Ezekiel Slocumb. Polly remained at their plantation outside of Wilmington, North Carolina, while Ezekiel served in the military. Following the battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781, Mrs. Slocumb encountered the notorious Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, who made camp on her property and quartered in the Slocumb home. Tarleton commanded three troops of British dragoons and was known for his cruelty toward both soldiers and civilians. Mrs. Slocumb withstood Tarleton's tirades against the American rebels with her terse banter. Contrary to his reputation, Tarleton did not burn and destroy the property but left the home intact.
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8227
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The Sheer Bliss Craft Center recently opened in Banner Elk. The center is named after and directed by gemologist Dot Bliss. Sheer Bliss is a non-profit corporation representing over fifty craftpersons. These men and women use the center to sell and market their crafts. In exchange, part of their profits go toward supporting the Sheer Bliss company. The center also functions as an educational center, where the Mayland Technical Institute offers instructional classes. Focusing on quality craftsmanship, consignors have developed a good working relationship with Sheer Bliss and rarely use written contracts between themselves and the center. A trusting relationship, therefore, has developed among all those involved in the Sheer Bliss Craft Center.
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Record #:
8228
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In 1967, John H. Foard founded the Blockade Runner Museum near Carolina Beach. The American Association for State and Local History commended the museum for its contributions to the study of local history. Though the museum drew visitors from all over the U.S., it was closed in 1982, by new owners. Most of the stock in the museum was already privately owned and to save it from being split up and sold, The New Hanover County Museum Foundation has been raising money from area residents to keep the collection together.
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Record #:
8247
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Beginning in 1886, the State Weather Service was managed by both the United States Signal Service and the N.C. Agricultural Experiment, part of what was then the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now North Carolina State University). The U.S. Department of Agriculture took over responsibility for the weather service in 1891 and renamed it the United States Weather Bureau. The Agricultural Experimental Station would send weather report telegrams to certain railroad stations where volunteers would then display signal flags that showed local weather conditions. In 1892, daily weather maps giving temperature, precipitation, barometric pressure, and wind direction were distributed to fifty locations across the state. A year later, 500 post offices throughout the state were receiving the forecast data reproduced on postcards by the railroad displaymen. Ever since it was established, the weather service, by whatever name, has lived up to its purposes of collecting weather data, disseminating practical information, forecasting weather, and warnings about frost or cold-waves.
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Record #:
8269
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The Sunny Side Oyster Bar in Washington is well known throughout the region. Run by C. T. Roberson, the restaurant specializes in steamed oysters and shrimp. Roberson has operated the store since 1945, when he took over the restaurant from his parents. What has made the Sunny Side such a success is the quality of food and a special “secret†sauce. Visitors can find the restaurant tucked away on the corner of Highway 64 and Highway 17.
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Record #:
8270
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Badin Elementary School in Stanly County has a new teaching aid. Painted by Susan Rice, a large mural fills the school's library. The mural includes lifelike nature scenes from around Stanly County and includes a variety of animals and plants. Measuring seventy-one fee high by nine feet long, the mural took over 600 hours to paint. Rice planned the project with school Principal Elvin Fisher. The mural created a lot of excitement as over 300 people came to the unveiling.
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Record #:
8271
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Casstevens discusses the life of Thomas L. Clingman, a historical figure he encountered while working on a thesis. During the Civil War, Clingman became associated with the “Clingman Raid.†It was rumored at the time Clingman led into Illinois a group of thieves that supposedly stole horses and terrorized local communities. Casstevens argues that Clingman probably had nothing to do with this raid because he was never caught or officially proven to have been in Illinois. The author also demonstrates how Republican leaders might have created the hoax to increase their support in the 1864 election. Included in the article is a brief biography of Clingman who was a North Carolina antebellum statesman born in Surry County.
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8272
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During the World War II military buildup, Fort Bragg faced a big problem. On the base stood a massive balloon hangar built during World War I. Needing space to expand, military officials wanted the building torn down. The building's sturdy construction and heavy timbers, however, ensured that completing the job would be no easy task. In 1941 a solution naturally occurred as the building burned down. Firefighters were quick on the scene, but they allowed the building to burn while ensuring onlooker's safety. The cause of the fire was found to be old wiring.
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Record #:
8273
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On his way to Los Angeles, Walt Disney spent a few short months, in 1924, working in Asheville. The 23-year-old Disney worked as a draftsman for Thomas A. Cox., Jr.'s engineering firm. Disney, however, did not find success in this trade, as he tended to include ornate drawings such, as tiny hands pointing to remarks and intricate arrows drawn in color. Disney was soon fired from his job and continued toward California. Several of his drafts are still on file in the Buncombe County Court House.
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Record #:
8274
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Lynn Banks Holt was a Confederate officer, a champion horse breeder, and a cotton mill owner. Holt, who was born in Alamance County, joined the Confederate Army on July 3, 1861. Taken prisoner twice, Holt was released from Union captivity on February 3, 1865. He kept a pocket diary throughout his captivity that included details on home remedies and poetry. Holt built the Oneida Cotton Mills in Graham following the war. With his financial success Holt began breeding champion trotting stallions, including the famous John R. Gentry.
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