MAY DAY Is an ancient festival originating in Europe at the beginning of Summer. Many celebrated with a May Queen, May Pole, and other traditions. Most early American schools held some kind of celebration for students in which they performed various talent feats. Fuquay Spring High School was no exception. Recorded here by Mr. Prince, we can see the outdoor event held in front of the “Old Red Building” on Academy Street. No date was recorded with these photos but it appears to have been between the opening in 1918 and when the 1927-28 building was added on Ennis Street. The photos are not of good quality but still interesting historically.
Student Performances
The public sat along Academy Street to watch the performances. A number chose to “hang out” in the windows behind the performers. Whether they had any part in the event is not clear. For May Day the children were showcased and the public enthralled.
The King and Queen and the Crowd
Robert Prince and wife were deeply involved in recording the history of our town. We have received a number of his photos of historical event in our town. Mr. Prince began work at the Bank of Fuquay as a youth and rose to the Presidency.
Collecting mail from the station, he actually missed the picture with his high school graduates in 1922 as recorded in our school house display. Mrs. Prince was a beloved teacher in the Fuquay Springs High School English department to whom the 1928 annual was dedicated.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Prince on the steps of their home on Main Street.
The Princes were at home on N. Main Street. Note that the snow pictures in earlier articles showed Mr. Prince and his home. Here the couple pose on the front steps. This structure was eventually moved and redone as a dwelling near Fuquay Consolidated.
On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate our 250th birthday.
The Fuquay-Varina Museums invite you to begin the participation for our 250th Birthday with these events around our state for April 2025. Our local story of the Fuquay Brothers serving in the Revolution may or may not be factual. See the article entitled “What we know about the names of our town: Fuquay & Varina” on Historically Speaking, Dec 2, 2022. However, we do want to begin the celebration for our 250th American Birthday and to let our members know of planned events.
Following is list of April 2025 early celebration events from our state historical news.
Mothers of Mountain Music: Blueridge and Beyond April 5, 2025, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site 288 Alston House Road, Sanford, NC 27330
America’s 250th: The Women of Brunswick April 12th, 2025, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Historic Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site 8884 St Phillips Rd SE., Winnabow, NC 28479
Revolutionary Randolph: Col. David Fanning and the War at Home April 17, 2025, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Asheboro Public Library 201 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203
The New Bern Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Invite You to Participate in the 250th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord April 19, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 pm Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2514 3850 Butler Road, New Bern, NC 28560
McDowell County: America 250 Kick-Off Celebration April 26, 2025, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm The Historic Carson House 1805 Hwy. 70, Marion, NC 28752
Street scene maybe 1927 snow with service station and Boothe/Keith building on right. (Prince Photo) Snow scene shows Booth/Keith building and also Johnson’s Drug est. 1937.
Another fixture on Main Street will be going away.: T. R. Ashworth, Inc. The business occupied an office building, a site formerly of a service station and a warehouse at this location.
Ashworth building after the office occupied the downstairs portion. (Woolard photo)
The office of T. R. Ashworth housed in the two story brick building was on two lots of the original property of T. Anna Harrison on Main Street, conveyed to several individuals including J.R. Boothe and S. S. Rogers . There are references to a Boothe building on the lot and a picture of the building dates from what appears to be the famous snow storm of the late 1920’s. it is not known exactly what business was operational here in those years.
Keith Building as office for Ashworth. Upper floors were not really used during this era. (Woolard Photo)
The property was in the hands of Boothe, Rogers, and in 1931 T. W. Brewer and the Trustees of Wake Forest College. Finally the property ended up in the holdings of E. L. Keith.
Stephens-Lloyd Hardware 1940’s partnership in Keith Building, later Ashworth’s office. (N. C. Archives photo)
In April 1948, Keith leased the Keith Hardware building and the Keith Warehouse building to I. J. Stephens and J. H. Loyd for five years. These two brothers-in-law operated on Main Street Stephens and Lloyd Hardware Company as a partnership in the brick building Their business was closed when Lloyd moved to Wilson. I. J. Stephens continued their main operation in Varina on Broad Street for many years.
Street from Johnson’s Drug to the Keith building shows Service Barber Shop which occupied part of building. The building between Johnson’s Drug and the Keith Building has had several occupants over time. Note Parkers before it moved across the street into the old theater. (Ashworth photo)
The office building was purchased by T. R. and Rheunelle Ashworth in 1954 and opened as their office. Joe does not know what all the upstairs was used for in the hardware days. For many years, Ashworth rented the front part of the building to Service Barber Shop and kept the back and side portion as an office.
ORIGINAL station: the early days before the site was improved. Note buildings beyond up to FSBC roof. Does not show street through area. (Honeycutt photo)
The service station portion of T. R. Ashworth was known as Bethune’s Gulf Service Station when the Ashworth family took over the business. That property was in the estates of A. M. Barham and W. J. Ballentine before purchase by Ashworth. This original service station buildling located where the metal awning and gas pumps were installed was demolished by Ashworth in 1968.
Note Prince’s store between Johnson’s Drub and the Keith building during the 1940’s. Here the Esso stations show between the Gulf station and the FVBC site. (Woodrow Johnson photo)
Between the service station and the original Fuquay Springs Baptist Church, there were several other buildings which left Main Street. Clarks’ Esso was one of those, as was a pizza location. The pictures show some others. Fidelity Bank took over the church property and other areas adjoining Ashworth’s there in 1979 when they moved into the current building from their original Bank of Fuquay farther down the street.
Tom Ashworth at the improved station. Note the Boothe building on the left beside the garage. (Billy Ragsdale photo) Tom with the T.R, Ashworth Gulf truck as the business expanded. (Heulon Dean Photo)
The Ashworth family came into the picture when T. R. Ashworth returned from World War II service. For several years, Max Ashworth operated the station business. Tom Ashworth expanded the business to become the Gulf Oil Distributor and Tire Service over the years. Eventually T. R. Ashworth used a warehouse located on highway # 42 (demolished when Judd Parkway crossed) for the expanded business.
Entire complex from Main Street with Keith building as office and warehouse behind gas pump cover. (Woolard photo)Warehouse at T. R. Ashworth on the back side. (Woolard photo) Not sure if this was any part of original Keith warehouse.
Joe Ashworth, son of Tom, says he returned from college and graduate school in 1977. Tom continued to be active in the operation of the business from 1977 until his death in 1993. Joe continued the operation until 2024 when he sold the properties to Fidelity Bank.
Street Front with bank on site of previous buildings and church. What appears to be street was not always there but used by Ashworth and Bank. (Woolard Photo)
Sadly, another long-time family institution has left the scene. Fidelity Bank, first a fixture on Main Street as Bank of Fuquay, will now expand their operation. The property will have a new use at some point. The museums have asked for the large sign to be saved as an artifact from T. R. Ashworth and gifted to the museums collection.
Other pictures of Main Street at different times will be valued if readers can add them to our collection at the museums.
NORTH MAIN STREET FROM ACADEMY TO JONES ON THE EAST SIDE
The most recent news change involves the area which ran from Academy to Jones as one travels South on Main. This is the potential site offered for multi-use development by the town in recent news broadcasts.
Our earliest pictures show the street scene believed to be during 1927 when Main Street was being paved the first time. Townspeople and school children came out to watch the big event.
Main Street in this block was paved in 1927 according to photos by Robert Prince as “the road building machine” operation here shows.
The brick building located to the north of Planters Warehouse bearing the words ? Equipment and Manufacturing has not been further identified to date. We hope someone may be around who remembers this establishment. It was there when the street was paved. Donald Cotton remembers a grocery store in that vicinity but is not sure of the brick building.
Road building is clearly marked along Main just beyond the warehouse. Two houses, unidentified at present, occupied what would become future businesses.
Planter’s Warehouse occupied this area in the 1927 snow storm and is still there in the 1959 Dean aerial photo. There are two houses which we have not identified beyond the warehouse toward Academy Street on the left. We know Mr. & Mrs. Prince lived on the right in the house pictured here (it was later moved over near the Consolidated school.)
Robert Prince was filmed during the 1927 snow storm. The warehouse on the left, his house on the right and the Fuquay Springs Baptist Church beyond on the right.
South of the warehouse, Louis Wade constructed the second Fuquay Theater following the fire which destroyed the original theater on South Main between the Bank of Fuquay and Proctor Barbour. We have records that this theater reopened in 1946, built the same year the fire destroyed the first Theater. Wade sold operation to several out-of-town firms over time.
This building was eventually closed as a theater and sold at auction. A picture of the building and bill of films exists in the museums display.
A play bill of the theater was found. A picture and other materials are in the museums collection.
It is this area of N. Main Street which has completely vanished and is now “open for development’ that we focus on next. Parker’s Furniture moved from across the street into the old Wade’s Theater according to Charles Parker in the 1970’s. Parker constructed another metal building next door which housed their furniture business until they sold to the town.
Parker’s Furniture moved from across the street and from Broad Street in Varina, consolidating into the old Theater Building and a new metal building between this and the Post office. Upon Parker’s closing, the area was purchased by the town.
Next door on the south side, Mitchell Chevrolet had a parking lot for their automobile business. During the Centennial Celebration, the Centennial Commission sought this corner desirous to commemorate the Centennial Year for the next 100 years. On that was built Centennial Square which has become a concert venue and parking lot. This planned commemoration of the centennial for the next 100 years may be short lived, the future uncertain to date.
Centennial Square alone is left on the east side of main today. Woolard photo.
On the site of the Planter’s Warehouse, a new post office was constructed in 1965. This was the last business constructed by A. Y. Hairr within the town. After the Post Office moved to Judd Parkway, the Post Office building was converted into the FV Police Station.
Planter’s Warehouse is identified during the 1920’s on what later would be the Post Office. It was still here in photos of the 1950’s.In 1965 the Fuquay-Varina Post Office moved into these new quarters on Main Street.
With the moving of town hall into the John Byrne Building (which was constructed by Bob Barker originally), the Police Station removed to Judd Parkway and the old Post Office became vacant until it was demolished by the town in 2024.
Eventually, the Post Office was renovated for the Fuquay-Varina Police Department and remained there until moved to Judd Parkway. After that the town was in the process of purchasing all the east side of the block.
Next door, Hardees became the first fast food in town under Mayor Alfred Johnson. Last this site was the foot doctor’s domain until the town was able to purchase this lot. When the town completed purchase of this block the current open space was the result along N. Main. Today a developer is sought to construct a multi-use building upon most of the area according to the town’s advertisement.
The sites of Parker’s Furniture, the Police Station, and the Foot Doctor all are removed. Woolard photo.
The area to the north on Main was in 1927 open land. This became the Farmer’s warehouse, then Cornell Dubilier, then Bob Barker and a new owner today. This includes the two warehouses along Woodrow Street and Jones, now occupied by a church and other businesses. Barker added what is now the John Byrne Building on the corner of what was warehouse property. The was purchased and remodeled by the town to house municipal functions in 2022.
Beyond the machinery, is visible the two warehouses which were formerly Farmers’ Warehouse, then Cornell Dublier, then Bob Barker, and now other businesses occupying the remainder of the block. The back corner which last housed the Fuquay Independent and a several small shops on S. Fuquay Avenue were earlier removed by the town and have served as parking lots. Woolard photo.
This east side block of North Main has thus shown multiple “faces” over time. What the future face might become is to be determined. Main Street is indeed “a changing.”
Many people who were not here some years ago are wondering just what Main Street might have looked like. Let’s look at what is here now and how it has changed over time! Let’s take a look at what used to be in some of the spots now empty.!
For some it will be a journey down “memory lane” and a good deal of nostalgia for the past. For others it will be “an amazing trip” a bird’s eye view of what has been here in our past. Unfortunately, some people just rejoice with change, all things “new” and forget the past. However; we can, our historians hope, both remember and preserve—- celebrating today while sincerely honoring those generations and achievements which made us what we are!
We begin with this: PART ONE
THE THOMPSON-HOWARD BUILDING: 1914
Main Street Post Card circa the pre 1916 fire and about that year when sidewalks were installed. Dietz and Isaacson occupied the middle of three stores. This is believed to show the original brick building whose walls survived the Fire of 1916.This undated photo is after the rebuilt inside from the Fire of 1916. Clearly the three stores remain under awnings with Elliott’s having its sign visible.Main Street below the Building Housing Elliotts Pharmacy , the undated photo of stores south of the Thompson Howard Building.
Our oldest pictures of Main Street show the Thompson Howard Building, better recognized by many as Elliott’s. Pharmacy. The awning covered buildings down to the “meat market” all have new occupants today and the street boasts parallel parking. Today the recent former “Elmo’s” part of the building has been refurbished with the exterior intact and a new interior for the Lighting Store and apartments. In the past, that upstairs was home to the Recorder’s Court and offices of mayors, lawyers or others, all of which evidence was removed for the new apartments. The former pharmacy right-half of the building known as “Elliotts” remains intact and unoccupied under a new owner. We hear rumors that someone in Ice cream may decide to preserve and save this historical site!!
Originally, the brick structure was home to three businesses on the street level in the building owned by A. W. Thompson and E. A. Howard. Upstairs was accessed by an entrance from Main Street and another from Depot Street with open access to the businesses, courtroom and offices over all the three downstairs establishments. The original 1914 building was rebuilt after the 1916 fire within the remaining brick walls.
We know of the 1914 occupants by the accounts of the 1916 fire. Three businesses housed on the street level were destroyed—-Fuquay Drug Company owned by A. G. Elliott; Deitz and Isaacson, general merchants; and Fuquay Hardware Company. Upstairs were Dr. C. E. Check, Dr. J. R. Edwards, dentist, and A. J. Fletcher, lawyer.
Though the years following the fire, upstairs businesses changed frequently. Some people went to their beautician, some their lawyer, and many remembered getting their polio shots in a big open area. Skinny Ashworth remembered going to a court session and Jewel Ballentine Stephens attended a meeting in the courtroom relative to hiring the publisher of the Independent, Todd Caldwell.
The Dec 7, 1939, Independent pictures Elliott’s Pharmacy with the new black front. At that point the other two stores seem to be occupied by Kress’s Five and Dime.
Elliotts sports its new black glass front from 1939. Main Street circa 1939-40 with Elliotts black front and three clearly visible stores in the building shown in a postcard.Another view of Main taken by Woodrow Johnson during WW II to send to troops serving overseas clearly before the 1954 division between Elmo’a and Elliotts. Note the original location of Elmo’s on Main.
In 1954, when Hurricane Hazel paid her visit, the building was undergoing its transition to two establishments downstairs with a brick wall constructed to divide the upstairs storage for each. The court and all related town business had removed to the new municipal building on S. Fuquay Ave. in 1951. At this point there appears to have ended all other occupants besides the two owners from downstairs.
Curtis Holleman took over Elliotts Pharmacy after “growing up” with the establishment. His was the last pharmacy to occupy the right side of the store. When Elliott first opened A. G. Elliott, Sr. merged several older drug stores under Fuquay Pharmacy. The public loved the lunch counter for a generation—pimento cheese sandwiches and orangeades.
The upstairs building in 2009 was very much vacant except for storage. During this Centennial Year, pictures were taken recording the state of the upstairs so we could partially preserve the past. The museums feature a picture of the courtroom at that point along with what we presume to be one of the benches of the courtroom. From the Elliotts side, we have preserved one of the interior doors from upstairs.
The museums filmed upstairs over both firms in 2009. This was one view in a room showing debris following the expansion on back in 1954. Elliotts last front which existed during the Centennial Year and thereafter until the closing in 2013.
The last two older businesses in the Howard Thompson Building were Elmo’s and Elliott’s. Elliotts’ closed in 2013 after 99 years and has been vacant since. Elmo’s left the building and gave place to the Lighting Store in 2022-23. Originally A. N. Johnsons, the Elmo Company actually began in 1911 next door to the Thompson Building.
Today the Howard Thompson Building still remains on the corner of Main and Depot—one of our earlier structures still intact, with much history to remember. Let’s hope this old structure will remain with us under these new owners.
Opal, better known as “Trixie,” Porter was born in Martin, Tennessee in 1913. She developed an interest in art at an early age according to her daughter, Cheryl McConnell. Her first known oil painting at the age of 11 years was a winter snow scene done on the back of a poster. She was still painting at the age of 90 years or almost until her death on October 5, 2004.
Trixie met a Kentucky tobacconist named Vernon “Jack” Porter whom she married in 1933. The couple were blessed with two daughters, Beverly and Cheryl . Fuquay-Varina’s long connection with tobacco sales brought the couple to North Carolina in 1949. Jack was in the employee of North State Tobacco Company, a redrying plant here then.
The tobacco markets, two daughters, and many adventures later she had made a career for herself with work well renowned in our town. Head of residential design for Standard Homes Plan Service on Sunset Lake Road, she was responsible for many home designs in the area all found in their plan books during her 25 year career there.
Trixie was noted for her exuberance. One such incident involved her volunteering as a “sidewalk artist” for the Jr/Sr prom at Fuquay Springs High in 1963. She dressed the part for their “Evening in Paris” theme that year.
The wardrobes of many gentlemen in town may still possess one of her hand-painted neckties. Her daughter says she sold about 1,000 to individuals and men’s shops. Jack would model one on the various tobacco markets and come home with numbers of orders, even some from other countries. Eleanor Howard told us of one tie in J. E. Howard’s collection. Many other individuals have one or more of her original art miniatures which she sold out at the “Two Flags Over Fuquay” festivals every year. Cheryl has recreated copies of these in “My Mama’s Art.”
One of her most recognized paintings, “The Tobacco Man,” hangs in the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club Clubhouse. Trixie was Chair of the Arts Department in the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club, Woman of the Year 1953, and donor of the original painting to the club. The Art Department framed the painting and hung it over the fireplace during the 1956-57 administration when they completed the new brick facade over the chimney.
Joanna Johnson Proctor (from the Standard Homes family) picked one of Trixie’s originals, a depiction of the spring house over the Fuquay Mineral Spring, to represent the Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter 1034. Chapters designate an historic name when formed.
Cheryl has made a collection of her mother’s works and allowed the Fuquay-Varina Museums to realize some of the profit from sales. The museums still have a number of miniatures, Christmas ornaments, and even a package of notecards. Cheryl has access to many reproduction pieces. Trixie’s subjects ranged from tobacco life here to scenes at the beach and things in between. We are not sure of the subject or category of her First Prize entries into the GFWC Arts Festival but she brought fame to the club those years.
The Friends of the Museums are happy to recognize Trixie Porter for her contributions to our town’s history and her extensive work in all mediums from pastels to oil.
Shirley Simmons Sources: FV Woman’s Club archives, Fuquay Springs Quester archives, Cheryl McConnell’s contributions of pictures and material.
Miss Ellie Grayson Nicolson taught, according to Mrs. Edith Parker, for 30 years in the Cardenas and Fuquay Springs School. The earliest picture of her class was that of 1915 when she taught grades 1-3 at Cardenas. The students in grade one at Cardenas continued there several years when the Fuquay Springs School opened in 1918. Our belief is that Miss Ellie transferred to Fuquay Springs when Cardenas finally closed and remained there until she retired. The search for her retirement year is on-going.
The 1915 picture has the identifies of students at the time. Betsy Gunter, also, identified her father as one of Miss Ellie’s students at some point. We have found graduates of Fuquay Springs School who were proud pupils of Miss Ellie in the first grade. There may be others who can be uncovered.
Shirley Mudge (deceased), Donald Cotton Jimmie Wagstaff, Betsy Johnson (Gunter), Charles Parker
All of those years she was a boarder in the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. M. Judd. Proof of her residence there comes from Dr. Judd’s grandson, Charles Parker, who actually was “piloted” to Fuquay Springs School (Miss Ellie’s word for riding with her in her car.) Further evidence can be found in the 1930 and 1940 Federal census records which list her as a boarder in the Judd home.
Since the school year at the early Cardenas School would have not run the same as the Fuquay Springs School did later, Miss Ellie was listed as living with her parents in the 1920 census but was teaching here. Back in Macon again in the 1950 Census, she was head of the household and still listed as a teacher at age 71.
Charles believes that his grandfather secured Miss Ellie to teach at Cardenas (Dr. Judd was on the school committee for several early schools in Fuquay Springs.) but we could not confirm when her first year might have been. Since she was listed in the 1928 Yearbook (the first one edited by Fuquay Springs High School) we can document her tenure further. The next yearbook for the school in 1948 does not find her on the staff so she left sometime between 1942-1948. Possibly the terms 1915-1945 would have been the 30 years stated by Mrs. Parker but we can not be certain.
Miss Ellie was described as an excellent teacher by Charles. His favorite story was how she confiscated any marbles finding their way into her classroom and dropped them into her aquarium. At the end of each year, when she removed the fish, Charles became recipient of the marbles. He had great “marble trading stock.” he recalls. Betsy and Donald remember marbles as being dropped into a hole in the window sill in the “old red building” never to be seen again! Donald recalls her kindness as a teacher. (The museum has a jar of marbles rescued from the old red building when it was demolished.)
Miss Ellie always maintained her family connections in Macon, NC or actually their home at Sixpound, in Warren County. Charles expressed great appreciation for her loyalty in that when engaged to her boyfriend who was killed in World War I, Miss Ellie never considered marriage to another.
At the time of her death she was survived by two nephews and one niece. Interestingly one of those nephews, Pryor Goode Nicholson, had followed her to Fuquay Springs where he married Delma Cotton (the sister of all the Cotton boys) who worked at Cotton’s Furniture in Varina. Pryor was recorded in the census as a bookkeeper in Varina and was buried at Wake Chapel Cemetery in 1979.
The daughter of John H and Elizabeth Shearin Nicholson, she was one of 3 girls and 3 boys. Born on October 8, 1879, she lived until her 91st year. Her burial was at the Nicholson Family Cemetery in Macon. NC. following her July 18, 1971 death.
The Greenhouse Picker Sisters have been interested in our “Miss Ellie” in connection with their new business to open in the old Cardenas School House in Fuquay-Varina. Our research is open for any further memories or details of “Miss Ellie” should anyone be able to provide this.
Two family descendants of the Fuquay Family have submitted research to the Fuquay-Varina Museums which shares additional information they have concluded in their Genealogy studies. We add this here for informational purposes, for public interest and for others who might be researching.
The Fuquay Family History by John Virden Fuquay pictures his ancestors, Benjamin Holden and Clara Jones Fuquay.
John V. Fuquay has deposited two copies of his notebook work on the Fuquay Family, pictures, charts and history. John’s compilation is a work with references to Jones, Hobby, Rowe, Spivey, Steele, Combs and many other lines in his extended family.
A descendent from David Crockett Fuquay’s son, Benjamin Holden Fuquay and Clara Augusta Jones, John lists nine children born to David Crockett and Louisa Partin.
In order he records the children as follows: – Nathan ira b. 1849, David Henry b. 1851, Civil Elizabeth b 1852 (died 1853). – Stephen Sampson b. 1854, James Warren b. 1856, John Lewis b. 1857, (died 1858) – Juan b. 1859 (died 1860) Aldridge Partin by 1861, Benjamin Holden b. 1864.
(This includes those children who died in infancy or early childhood and is the fundamental difference between his and earlier records in the collection.)
A generation before John lists 10 children born to Stephen Sampson and Sarah Ausley. He does not have birth dates and thus order of birth for all these children. Here we are giving his details:
– William (Billy) b. 1808 married to Frances Byrd d. 1899 or 1900 – Charity b 1822 married to Everett Branch – Sarah (no birthdate; married 1841 to John Wilbon – David Crockett b. 1816 married to Louisa Partin d. 1885 – Cynthia (Cinthy) b. 1820 married D. Hinton Wilbon d. 1918 – Nancy b. 1817 married __ Pearson – Mary (Polly) b. either 1812 or 1830 married James Matthews in 1859 – Ishum or Isham (never married) – Cybil (no data) – Elizabeth b. 1842 married Wiley J. Mill or Mills
(This includes some children not listed in earlier records in our collection.)
Another correspondant to the museums, Valerie Rushing informed us that she is a direct descendant from John Wilbon and Sarah (Sallie) Fuquay. Their daughter Charity Elizabeth Wilbon, she lists as her great great great grandmother and the wife of Wiley J. Mills. She lists Sarah and Cynthia as sisters married to brothers John Wilbon and Hinton Wilbon. Interestingly, Alsey Holland, of the Fuquay Springs Holland clan, was a witness on both marriage records.
We do not have the lineage between Rushing’s great great great grandmother down to her generation but she has corresponded with the museums and others in the past to inquire about our records. The work of John Fuquay supports the work of Ms. Rushing with daughters now listed as children of Stephen and Sarah which previous records given us did not include.
Ms. Rushing traces her line from a daughter of Wiley J. Mllls and Charity Elizabeth named Annie. She points out the connection of John A. Mills, (also a child of this couple) with Fuquay’s railroad history.
Miss Ruth Johnson took this ad from The Christian Annual for her genealogical work, p. 85.
Moses N Amis (1913) is quoted in Ruth Johnson’s Concerning Our Ancestors as stating that John Allison Mills, was the eldest of eleven children of Wiley J. Mills and Charity Wilburn Mills of Fuquay Springs. (The names Wilbon or Wilburn are assumed only differences in spelling. ) Mills organized the Mills Manufacturing Company and was President of the Mills Railroad which became the Raleigh and Cape Fear and then the Raleigh and Southport. The line was owned by Norfolk Southern and/or Southern since 1911 until purchased by R. J. Corman recently. Mills contribution to the history of the Fuquay-Varina community is known but his connection to our Fuquay name had not been touted.
John A. Mills portrait from Ruth johnson’s Book p. 77.
Miss Ruth details John A. Mills’ marriage to Miss Julia Isabella Johnson of Cardenas, daughter of W. W. Johnson and Rhoda Ann Jones Johnson. Since her work is largely a compilation of the Johnson’s kin, she does not trace Mills’ genealogy but does speak highly of his career and character. Her book details much of his accomplishments. Mr. Amis does say that Mills was the eldest of eleven, five of whom were girls. The four living sisters he names were: Mrs. J. L. Rowland, Mrs. D. T. Adams, Mrs. H H Utley, and Mrs. D. A. McPhail.
This connection of the Fuquay family with the Johnson family and others of Fuquay’s families is certainly one of the many advantages of genealogy research and the value of an archive such as that of the Fuquay-Varina Museums. We are delighted to note the research of both John Fuquay and Valerie Rushing as part of the materials which might be studied in our archive.
Further acknowledgment is given to the notation by John Fuquay that, while he can trace the Fuquay name back to French ancestry, he has “found more than one historical listing for a William (Guillaume) Fouquet in American History—-perhaps as many as a dozen” so that he believes further research might be needed to connect the correct Guilllaume to our William Fuquay.
Conversely, Martha Fuquay Cummings of the Huguenot Society of Virginia feels certain that she has connected with the correct Guiillaume Fouquet in her research. Thus, again, another reason for the Fuquay-Varina Museum archive and added research by interested persons.
Professor Dudley Marchi at North Carolina State University reported to the museums that he was compiling a history of Huguenot Families known to be in North Carolina. We do not have his work but know it has been completed. He did note the Fuquay lineage as being of interest when he visited our museum. ( His work, FraNCe: The French Heritage of North Carolina.)
Please help the Friends of the Museums continue in their efforts to establish this archive in our museum as vital to the history of Fuquay-Varina. Families and genealogy records are always solicited from any and all who might wish to add these to our collection. Kindly add these to our collection for future researchers.
Here is the Park as taken in 2023 by Gail Woolard. The first barn of 1938 is one of those endanger of being removed.
Too many times our corporations, governments and citizens seem to opt for erasure of our past instead of preservation, presenting their decisions as necessary to “Progress or Growth.” Another instance of such a possibility was called to the attention of the Friends of the Museums recently in a plan to destroy a portion of our Tobacco Barn Mini Park on Purfoy Road. Mike Matthews, the Facility Manager of T.E.Connectivity, and Don Anderson, formerly of Raychem Corporation, have worked to give us the facts of this park. The North Carolina State Preservation Office Review Coordinator, Renee Gledhill-Earley and Gary Roth of Capital Area Preservation have provided information and suggestions on these historic structures. Both support the effort to preserve these treasures while it can still be possible.
Fuquay Springs Questers visit with Mike Matthews at Tobacco Mini Park to review the site and informational plaques.
Nov 7, 2023.
The Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter # 1134 joined with the Friends to try to prevent this crisis for our TOBACCO BARN MINI PARK. We share this story with you believing the interests of the general public, when informed of the facts, would favor preservation.
An industry named Raychem, for which Don Anderson was Facilities Project Manager , purchased 118 acres on Purfoy Road in 1981. At that time the farm was worked by a renter or tenant family who lived on the property which included the barns and machinery in question today. Julius Baker Reality was the agent delivering the sale of the farm acreage to Raychem.
Raychem enlisted the expertise of Al Honeycutt from the Restoration Branch of North Carolina State Historic Preservation (Archives and History Department) to validate and produce the information regarding the barns. Out of his report came the information that these six tobacco barns were not only a rarity in Fuquay-Varina but an almost unheard of treasure within the state or nation. “You would have to drive all over the State of North Carolina to even manage to find barns built 10-15 years apart and here they are all on one farm,” is the way Don Anderson remembers the treasure of structures.
Generally a farmer built a barn, used it or had it suffer a fire calamity, and then constructed a replacement barn. However, on this farm, there were six barns, all determined to be of different time frames manifesting different construction methods and materials and even using different aspects of curing tobacco, the current money crop of that time.
Governor Hunt and Mayor Johnson reviewed one of the plaques at the dedication in 1982 presented by Raychem Vice President. Picture courtesy Don Anderson.
Raychem determined to work to preserve this Tobacco Barn Mini Park on its property leading to a very special dedication on May 10, 1982. Prominent among the attendees was then Governor James Hunt whose remarks included this historic statement, “ A lot of industry leaders would have seen as their first job to knock down the old barns and make way for new buildings.” He continued in his recognition of how the Raychem leaders exhibited “ respect for one another” and that is “what makes North Carolina great.” (Fuquay Independent, May 12, 1982)
Here is photo of barn information plaques placed on each as taken by Gail Woolard for our article.Barn Park Map as designed by Richard Bell is one of the plaques displayed in the Mini Park.
Plaques were unveiled that day as placed upon each barn. One plaque dates the barn and its structure; the second details the practices of tobacco farming. Among the six barns, Raychem also placed machinery, all found upon the farm at that time as attested by Don Anderson. The barns were determined to have been constructed between 1924-1948, first used in wood curing, then converted to gas.
Article shared by Mike Matthews from White House presentation
of Landscape Award.
The site subsequently received outstanding recognition. “Two that are of the greatest significance are the Triangle Development Award which was won in 1983 and the National Landscape Award, which was presented at the White House by Nancy Reagan in 1986,” Anderson shared a scrapbook of materials with the museums containing recognition by the American Association of Nurseryman, Inc. 1986, the Tobacco Institute, Washington, DC 1982, The Planning Department of Wake County 1982, and the Governor’s Business Award 1983.
Don Anderson shared the design of drive to visitors parking by the Mini Barn Park on the right.
All six barns have been preserved as the property owners became Tyco Electronics Corporation in 2006 and T E Connectivity Corporation in 2018. Anderson and Matthews agree that when T E Connectivity management agreed to sell 32 acres of the property to the Town of Fuquay-Varina which proposed to create an industrial mini park on the town’s portion, there was to be preservation of the Tobacco Mini Barn Park structures.
This is one of the barns slated fro destruction which we need to save as part of the park.
A town official told the Friends of the Museums that the three barns on their portion were offered to any takers but no one came forward to move them. Subsequently, when the Town of Fuquay-Varina sold the entire property to one industry, CCL Label, Inc. the plan became “demolish” the three old barns as part of an entrance to the site. Currently, CCL Label has a plant under construction and has been approached as a “good citizen” of our town to save the barns on the site rather than tear them down via a letter from the Friends of the Museums.
Interestingly, where Raychem won the Landscaping Award for preservation, not just of the barns alone, but of the pecan grove (one of a number which used to be found in our area) and of the four 200 year old oak trees, currently when land is sold companies and towns clear cut and everything is removed for “progress.” In 1986, the Raychem site was one of 18 projects chosen from 108 entries for this award. Noted in the article were its value for employee recreation, as an educational resource for public schools and preservation of environmental harmony.
Picture by Betty Vauthan in Nov. 2023 shows barns and the machine display in the park. Barn dated 1934.
Richard Bell, distinguished North Carolina Landscape architect and preservationist, who drew the landscape plan said of Raychem, “They’re very good people. They wanted to fit into the community.”
John Scott of Wake County Planning Department in a letter of April 1, 1982 stated that Raychem, “…went that extra mile at much extra cost’ and gave a showplace. “Now this is the right way to do things.”
Mike Matthews of TE Connectivity confirms that their employees use the mini park for special occasions. They play volleyball, pitch horse shoes and enjoy picnicking there. He states that he has arranged to keep the barns in repair with period wood and tin using expertise of carpentry and will continue to do that. He, too, is contacting the officials of CCL Label, his new neighbor, and suggesting that the two firms can share this site and make it a mutual project.
The Long Leaf Pine which has survived from the days of Navel Stores in our area. It also is in the area which was to be destroyed of the mini park. Photo by Betty Vaughan.
Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter 1134 visited the site with Mike Matthews for their November meeting. Pictures of all the barns, equipment and the site in general were part of the study by the Friends of the Museums and the Questers. Demolishing three of the barns would be tragic for the entirety of the park, cutting right across it. EVEN MORE tragic, is the discovery that that part of the site also includes an historic environmental treasure. A Long Leaf Pine of unknown years, bearing the scoring for collection of sap, still LIVES. This is indeed a RARE find. Preservation by cementing the damages has saved this old species. This representative of our Navel Stores Industry of North Carolina must be saved! The property also has another stump and portion of a tree, long dead, but an example of collecting sap to make turpentine, a valuable part of the history of our area and the state. Matthews is interested in how this can also be preserved.
Raychem, Tyco, and TE Connectivity have all three exhibited the kind of RESPECT which Governor Hunt boasted for North Carolina. Our hope is that CCL, Label will also understand and become a partner in PRESERVING rather than ERASING our Tobacco Barn Mini Park treasures. We believe the citizens of Fuquay-Varina will appreciate and validate such a preservation! Should we be able to convince both landowners to agree, Wake County Historic Preservation Commission might designate the Tobacco Barn Mini Park as a local landmark which has some property tax advantages. Whatever route, let’s PRESERVE not ERASE our history.
Sources:
Friends of the Museums, Letter to David Leverde and Mike Matthews, July 26, 2023 “First Lady Honors Raychem,” Independent, June 11, 1986. “Raychem Plant Dedication,” Independent, May 12, 1982 Wake County Real Estate Data “Raychem Company Tobacco Barn Exhibit,” Survey notes 1969, 2007, 2015, 2023 NC State Historic Preservation Office. Photos by Gail Woolard, State Quester President and Friend of the Museum, 2023 Photos by Betty Vaughan, Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter and Friend of the Museums, 2023 Interview and Tour by Mike Matthews, November 9, 2023 with Fuquay Springs Quester Chapter #1134 Interview Don Anderson, November 20, 2023 with Shirley Simmons, Volunteer Director, Friends of the Museums “Raychem plans to preserve aging tobacco barns,” Independent, July 28, 1981. “Raychem Site Incorporated History,” Independent, April 8, 1981. Scrapbook materials copied for the archives by Friends of the Museums from donor, Don Anders
Varina Branch meetinghouse built 1896, sold in 1942 for $95 when no longer used.
The Varina Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in the very southern part of Wake County and met in the very northern part of Harnett County in the years 1895-96. The church was the result of Elders William H. Ingham and Joseph A. Jorgensen, who were both missionaries from the Southern States Mission assigned to the North Carolina Conference (specifically Wake and Harnett County) as a field of labor. The church records detailed accounts of missionaries and their assignments during this era.
The other half of the story comes from the life of Durham Hall Smith. One of eleven children of William Smith and Susannah Hall, he was born October 22, 1829. Smith was a Confederate Veteran who had enlisted in the North Carolina Thirty-first Regiment, (one source says Company D; another source says Company C of Andrew Betts known as “the Chalybeate Guards”) Born in Orange County, he was then married and residing in Wake County. In 1861 he took his brother Thomas’ place leaving the younger brother to run the family grist mill and care for their mother.
Smith married Mary Winifred Whittington, daughter of Allen Whittington and Elizabeth Smith in Cumberland County. In 1895, they lived and farmed in the area off Wagstaff Road where they raised their eleven children.
Podium crafted by Durham Hall Smith
Durham Hall Smith “ had had a dream in which he saw two men coming up the path to his house bringing a book with them,” according to the church history. When Ingham and Jorgensen arrived that day, Smith recognized them as from his dream. They invited him to a meeting that evening in the local school house which some members of the family identify as the Rawls School. The elder Smiths, in their 60’s, walked to the meeting and home again that night. Smith told his wife this was what he had been waiting for from his dream.
According to church history, Smith dug out the little creek which flows under Wagstaff Road and members of his family were baptized there on September 15, 1895. The record also says that several hundred people witnessed the baptism out of curiosity about the new religion.
The Elders confirmed them as members of the Church. Other members were added to the Church. There was heavy persecution of this new religious group as they met in the schoolhouse, other places, and ultimately in the corn crib. As a result, John Gardner of the Rawls Community, whose daughter had married into the Smith family, donated an acre of land for a building in 1896.
Timber was cut by the Smiths on their farm and hauled to the Harnett County site to construct the building which housed 90 people. D. H. Smith served as Elder there until he died in 1899. He carved the podium which the family donated in the 1990’s to the church. His daughter-in-law, Corenna Smith, wife of Vivian Smith, donated an organ and served as organist. The family made a quilt to raise money to purchase hymnbooks.
Home of Vivian & Corenna Smith on Depot Street. Picture with some of children not dated. Courtesy Blanche Keith, et al.Vivian & Corenna Smith about 1911
Retha, Daron, & Netha are three oldest children
Courtesy Blanche Keith, et al
Vivian I. Smith, the seventh child, married Corenna Alvin Baughcom of Raleigh. He and his bride moved home in 1907 (the town was incorporated as Fuquay Springs in 1909). Vivian was a building contractor, well known in the area, who retired and operated a jewelry store with clock and watch repair over what was Elliott’s Pharmacy for some years.
Depot Street: V I Smith’s Watch shop sign
Photo may have been from Fire of 1946 clean up (Fidelity Bank photo)Congregation: Picture of the entire congregation circa 1920
Info on congregation: 1920-21 Courtesy Blanche Keith, et al.
Meantime out at Rawls, “The little building became the central headquarters of the state” for a time, according to their church history. When membership declined, the church missionaries would use the home of Durham’s son, Vivian, as a meeting place. Located at 301 Depot Street in Fuquay Springs, the missionaries received mail there and often they say 15-18 persons spent the night sleeping on the floor when the family did not have enough beds for the visitors.
Children of Vivian Smith 1915-16
front: Naera (left) Callis (right
back: Daron, Netha, Retha Courtesy Blanche Keith, et alChildren of Vivian Smith 1922
Netha, Retha, Daron, Callis, Naera, Blanche, Thelma
Taken on Depot Street in Fuquay Springs , Courtesy Blanche Keith, et al
Eventually, the family of Vivian Smith comprised the total membership in the Varina Branch and more members lived in Raleigh, so church activity was moved to Raleigh, circa 1939. On November, 25, 1942 the Varina Branch building was sold for $95. The land reverted to the Gardner family in Rawls and the church at Salt Lake held the money for a future permanent meeting house. The small building, located adjacent to the then Rawls Community Club, was used for storage until a developer demolished it for a new housing project in 2009. Mattie Rawls and others of the community remembered services when the church met there.
Vivian and Corenna Smith seated
Probably dated circa 1922 Courtesy Blanche Keith, et al
The home of Vivian and Corenna Smith was demolished on Depot Street in 2004. Members of the Smith family, especially Blanche Smith Keith, donated many records, pictures and family and church history to the Fuquay-Varina Museums.
The Fuquay Independent of 1980’s recorded some of this history. Especially noted were the difficult experiences of the family members because of their beliefs. However, the little church, called the first LDS Church in Wake County, was actually located in Harnett County for most of its history.
LDS Church on Johnson Pond Rd., Courtesy Gail A. Woolard
several wards meet hereLDS Church at 2540 Highway # 55 West, Courtesy Gail A. Woolard
several wards meet here
In the 1890s, the Varina Branch was the only LDS congregation in all of Wake and Harnett counties. As of 2023, there are now 29 congregations meeting within 11 meetinghouses. Since 2011, the church has built two new meetinghouses in Fuquay Varina, with one being on Johnson Pond Road and the other on Highway # 55 West towards Holly Springs. These meetinghouses currently host five congregations (Fuquay-Varina Ward, Sunset Lake Ward, Lake Benson YSA Branch, Swift Creek Ward, and Holly Springs Ward).
Sources: Scrapbook of Smith Family in Fuquay-Varina Museums Collection Alan M. Smith, “Durham Hall Smith’s Conversion and the Missionaries That Baptized Him and His Family,” database, FamilySearch, Durham Hall Smith (29CP-QB5), Memories. Alan M. Smith, “Durham Hall Smith’s Experience in the Civil War,” (printed copy from family research) James Stephens, a Church Historian for the Raleigh South Stake. Fuquay Independent, 1980’s article without author, Notes: Fuquay-Varina History from Mattie Rawls, Gardner family, Rawls Community Club, et al.
Pictures courtesy Blanche Keith and family to the Fuquay-Varina Museums collection. Current Church Pictures: Courtesy Gail A. Woolard
