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Articles in regional publications that pertain to a wide range of North Carolina-related topics.

Taft's Landing, a Lost Pitt County Community

Record #:
23749
Author(s):
Abstract:
There once was a community known as “Taft’s Landing” located on Highway 33, seven miles from Greenville. Taft’s landing, which consisted of a wharf, large store, warehouse, house, tenant houses, outbuildings and steam cotton gin, was one of the most prominent landings on the Tar River. The landing began with brothers, Elias and Arnold Taft, who came here from Massachusetts and started a naval stores business.by 1811. A post office was established at Taft’s Store in January 1853 known as “Tarville,” with James Henry Taft as postmaster. During the Civil War, Taft’s landing was raided several times On Sept. 30, 1873, Taft’s Store was the site of a homicide when James H. Taft was shot and killed by the store clerk, Eugene Holliday. In 1879, a new Episcopal Church was established at Taft’s landing known as “Salem.” All the Taft family moved to Greenville and in March 1896 the store, dwelling house and warehouse burned at Taft’s landing. Taft’s landing soon faded from memory.