snippets ~ chatham history BLOG

This unique old grave marker in Bear Creek shows remarkable workmanship. The lettering is delicate and fancy, and it is likely that it was done by a local craftsperson with tools suited to leatherworking or some other craft. At that time, in our area, stone carving was not a full-time profession, but rather a sideline.

The stone is probably local, as it was unusual for stone to be brought in until much later, when rail transportation made it easier. Many--likely most--graves of the early 1800s in Chatham were marked by simple fieldstones with no inscription.

Sadly, we don't know whose initials were SDC. The name is not spelled out--though the month, October, is spelled in full.

If you are interested in helping us photograph Chatham's cemeteries and grave markers, contact us at CemeterySurvey@chathamhistory.org. There are many cemeteries not yet documented. We'd love to have your help!

More info about the cemetery in which SDC rests can be found here in CCHA's cemetery documentation: https://cemeterycensus.com/nc/chat/cem409.htm

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #GraveMarkers #Cemetery #1800s

A cold winter day in Siler City. Probably late 1940s, according to those who know their cars. They say the red jeep would not have been available until 1947. The other cars are older because new models did not come out during the war.

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #SilerCityNC #snow #winter #1940s

Shoppers in Pittsboro, 1939.

Photo by Dorothea Lange.

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #PittsboroNC #DorotheaLange #shoppers #JonesDeptStore #PilkingtonDrug #1930s

Farmers Alliance Store in Siler City. Notes on photo say it was taken around 1920, but the styles seem earlier. We think 1890s to 1900. What's your guess?

Check out the fancy hats.

From Duane Hall's Siler City collection. Original owned by Faye Johnson. Thanks to both for sharing!

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #SilerCityNC #FarmersAllianceStore #1900s #hats

This 1946 photo of Pittsboro shows a taxi on the right, as well as other interesting features of the town in an earlier time -- cute cars, Ford dealership right downtown, front-of-the-courthouse parking. Note--no clock in the courthouse cupola. That wasn't added until 2000.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #taxi #pittsboronc #1940s

The history of the Cartersville area and Gilmore Lodge was shared by the late Dr. Brooks Gilmore in a Chatham Historical Journal article that is available on the CCHA website.

A lot of interesting Chatham history is associated with this area--daring escapes from windows to avoid Tories, visits from Revolutionary War generals, the location where many of Chatham's Confederate soldiers were mustered in, and decades of hunting.

Learn more about the photos in the article: https://chathamhistory.org/.../PDFs/Journal/CHJvol16num1.pdf

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #GilmoreLodge #hunting #JohnBrooks #TickCreek #Cartersville

Jordan Lake didn't exist before 1970--and wasn't full until about 12 years later. Before the project began an extensive exploration of the archaeology of the area was required.

Today most of us are familiar with the lake, beaches, trails, and woodlands at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, but the area was not always a recreational space. After a devastating tropical storm in 1945, the government began to look at methods of flood control for the Cape Fear River basin. In 1962, the Army Corps of Engineers submitted a plan that recommended building three reservoirs. Ultimately only Jordan Lake was constructed.

A thorough archaeological investigation of the area to be flooded was required. The project’s archaeological surveys determined that there were about 350 sites in the area; two were the focus of extensive excavations. Archaeologists verified that Native Americans had inhabited the vicinity as far back as the Early Archaic period—or about 10,000 years ago. To this day the work stands as one of the largest salvage archaeology programs carried out in the state.

In addition to the investigation of Native American artifacts, several dozen cemeteries were identified and moved before the lake was flooded. Information about these is included in CCHA's Cemetery Survey on CemeteryCensus.com.

The Chatham Community Library has made available online three volumes about the archaeology of the lake area -- a study of the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area before the lake was built, digitized by the Internet Archive with funding from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Open any of the three volumes by opening the link that says "CLICK TO ACCESS THIS TITLE ONLINE" next to the volume you wish to view. Connect to the library record for the document here: https://bit.ly/3jbhitn

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #Jordan Lake #archaeology #NativeAmericanArtifacts

This salt-glazed stoneware jug was made by Chatham County potter Nicholas Fox between 1830 and 1850. The jug is stamped with both the potter’s name “N. FOX” and Masonic symbols. Fox's pottery was characterized by the inscribed bands seen on this jug, as well as a thumb or finger print at the handle.

Salt glazing was a technique used by stoneware potters to create a glassy surface. Salt glazing required firing the pottery at a high temperature that resulted in the clay becoming non-porous. This, combined with the salt glazing, meant that potters did not have to apply a glaze to the interior of the vessel. It could hold liquids and not seep, unlike earthenware storage vessels.

Nicholas Fox (1797-1858) and his family migrated from Pennsylvania to Chatham County, North Carolina, in the late 18th century. Fox and other family members became established potters in the area and trained other potters, most notably Nathaniel H. Dixon and John and Henry Vestal.

The jug is in the collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem. You can find additional photos and information on the Museum's website. https://mesda.org/item/collections/jug/1705/

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #pottery #NicholasFox #MESDA 

Chicken processing in Chatham County. 1950s?

Believed to be Siler City. Look at those skinny chickens!

From Duane Hall's Historic Siler City collection. Thanks for sharing, Duane!

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #chickenprocessing #SilerCityNC #chicken #1950s

Charlie Daniels was a North Carolina musician who found national success with hits such as “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” However, Daniels’ teen years were spent in Gulf, Chatham County where he founded his first band, The Misty Mountain Boys, at Goldston High School. Daniels passed away at 83 on July 6, 2020 in Tennessee leaving behind a music legacy combining many different genres such as bluegrass, country, rock and jazz with ties to Chatham County and North Carolina as a whole.

Learn more in a podcast about Daniels that was produced by Ella Sullivan for a Girl Scout Gold Award. You can listen and read it here:

https://chathamspast.wixsite.com/alookinto/charlie-daniels

#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHIstory #ChathamNC #CharlieDaniels #GulfNC #GoldstonNC