An update to the investigation into whether a man who died in Davie county might be one of Napoleon’s commanders. Previously I had written about the exhumation of the mysterious teacher by a documentary crew from France who hoped to confirm or refute the old local tale. Well, the results are in. Sort of. WritingContinue reading “The Search For Ney Continues…”
Tag Archives: north carolina history
The Old Myers’ Place
The picture at the top of this page is of a house which no longer exists. Likely built in the early 1800s, it stood within the tip of a right angle created by what we today call Somers and Iredell Line roads in Hamptonville, NC. The house either fell or was demolished sometime after theContinue reading “The Old Myers’ Place”
Dr. Solomon Angle. Dentist, Jew, Confederate, Republican.
Dr. Solomon Angle was a Jewish confederate soldier, dentist, republican politician, and local celebrity.
Moss Chapel
It might not look like much today, but the history of this little Iredell county church goes back over 200 years. It is also unfortunately somewhat murky. As best I can discover, the earliest use of this land tied to what it would become was in the late 1790’s when Methodist evangelists began a seriesContinue reading “Moss Chapel”
Split Farm
I’ve seen this building several times over the past several years driving around but it always looked well kept and tended so I didn’t think of it as abandoned. Unfortunately, water damage has recently started to split the front of the house and caved in a portion of roof. I thought now might be theContinue reading “Split Farm”
The Johnson and Patterson Cemetery Rediscovered
Over the years, I’ve developed a knack for looking at a property and realizing that there’s more to it than might be readily evident to your average rubbernecker.Recently, on a trip down some back roads in Yadkin county a chance glance at a piece of land turned up something amazing. I knew from the wayContinue reading “The Johnson and Patterson Cemetery Rediscovered”
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
I haven’t been able to find a full history, but one can assume like many local churches St Matthew’s started as a revival or brush arbor meeting.By 1839, forty three people in total are requesting from the North Carolina Lutheran Synod someone “to break unto them the bread of eternal truth, to baptize their children,Continue reading “St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church”
Turner’s Grove AME Zion Church
It’s been difficult finding much information about this little church in print. In fact the only reason I know when it was built is the cornerstone has an inscription with the date September, 1907. It may have also served a dual role as a colored school in the 1920’s/1930’s.The land was originally granted to DavidContinue reading “Turner’s Grove AME Zion Church”
Photo of The Day: Set In Stone
To err is human, to forgive divine, but I would have had trouble with this one. I came across Charlie Tulbert’s marker today recording some stones for Find A Grave. I can only imagine the family gathering to mourn the passing of a loved one and realizing that the mason botched his name. I don’tContinue reading “Photo of The Day: Set In Stone”
Now and Then
Sometimes, the old buildings survive and prosper. This is one example from Union Grove, NC. This little building was once part of the Union Grove school but was moved across highway 901 when the new school building was built and turned into a small family grocery/gas station by Zeb and Betty Speece. It sat emptyContinue reading “Now and Then”