In preparation for two articles I’m currently working on, I’m uploading a small book about a man named Blum Hiliary Vestal, who will figure prominently in one and to some degree in the other. B.H. Vestal was a prolific evangelist who began his career in the early 1900’s after a miraculous conversion. He travelled inContinue reading “The Life of Blum Hiliary Vestal”
Author Archives: Abandoned NC
Researchers exhuming the body of “Marshal Ney” in hopes of DNA testing.
The old stories are all new again. Despite all the past efforts and the various learned men and women opining on the matter, it looks like there might finally be conclusive proof as to whether the man who immigrated to America and died in Mocksville was actually one of Napoleon’s most trusted men.Today, French researchersContinue reading “Researchers exhuming the body of “Marshal Ney” in hopes of DNA testing.”
The Bugle Boy Who Was Buried Twice
Thomas Boyd Speaks was born in Union Grove, NC in 1901 to John Peter (J.P.) Speaks and Gillie Lutissen Templeton. Thomas’ father John was a local farmer who lived just off NC-901 and had been in the community his whole life. With a sizeable property of almost 100 acres, he was probably able to keepContinue reading “The Bugle Boy Who Was Buried Twice”
Photo of the Day: The Fort
I found this in some of my old files. I think it’s Fort Fisher at Kure Beach.
The Minish Axe Murder
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”-Jeremiah 17:9 1883 was a bloody year in Iredell county. It’s another one of those spots in history where unseen forces conspired to display mankind’s depravity in uniquely awful ways. In addition to the story we’re going to look at today, thatContinue reading “The Minish Axe Murder”
Photo of The Day: The Guest House
This interesting looking house in Davie county seems to be undergoing something of a renovation and hopefully can prevented from further deterioration.
Olive Branch Church
The little hill in Davie County where Olive Branch Methodist Church once stood has been in use for over 200 years in one way or another.The church was organized on paper in 1804, but before that met in an old log schoolhouse building in roughly the same area. It may have been in use forContinue reading “Olive Branch Church”
Photo Of The Day
I’m going to try something new moving forward. I come across places that don’t always warrant a full explore, aren’t really abandoned, or are places I simply don’t have the time to look into. These places usually produce a picture or couple pictures and I may never see them again, but that’s no reason notContinue reading “Photo Of The Day”
Against my better judgement.
I’m now on Instagram. I’ll post updates there as well for anyone who isn’t interested in signing up for the mailing list or checking the site every so often. Might be an easier avenue to communicate with me as well.
September, 1975 in Statesville. Murders, rape, and a John Doe.
Humans seemed naturally wired to look for patterns in life. Sometimes coincidences have meaning and sometimes they are statistical improbabilities. Either way, the mind naturally wants to create order from chaos, and the more we do that, the more likely we are to refute the randomness of events that share the same space and timeContinue reading “September, 1975 in Statesville. Murders, rape, and a John Doe.”