History Holly Springs, North Carolina

1 history

1.1 native americans
1.2 pre-1800
1.3 19th century
1.4 civil war
1.5 late 19th century
1.6 world war i
1.7 depression
1.8 world war ii
1.9 1960–1980
1.10 1980–present

history

native americans

the tuscarora indians used area around holly springs hunting ground prior colonial settlement. tribe fled north carolina around 1720 escape influx of europeans , became sixth nation of iroquois.

pre-1800

the town of holly springs grew around fresh water springs, believed original holly springs , near intersection of avent ferry road , cass holt road. these roads linked raleigh cape fear river , fayetteville linking hillsborough smithfield.

early 19th century

by 1800, crossroads had spawned village, including general store built richard jones, baptist church, , masonic lodge. these followed sawmill , cotton gin.

archibald leslie, scottish tailor, arrived in community around 1817, opened tailoring business , store , began construction of house near springs. 38-room mansion, known leslie-alford-mims house, located off avent ferry road near town hall.

holly springs baptist church, established in 1822, town s first successful church. masonic lodge #115 formed in 1847, , in 1854 two-story lodge building erected. building served 1 of town s first schools. holly springs academy opened doors in 1854 prepare young men admission wake forest college. 2 years later, first floor of lodge used school local girls. lodge honored historical-site plaque in fall of 2006.

civil war

during civil war, north carolina seceded union. captain oscar r. rand recruited willing men of ages join governor zebulon baird vance s 26th infantry regiment in confederate states army. on single day @ battle of gettysburg, during assault known pickett s charge, 13 of 14 commanding officers died. 81 soldiers out of unit of 880 lived tell story.

with men of town gone, both schools in holly springs closed, , holly springs became virtual ghost town. when union army receded northward, holly springs lay in path. bands of marauding robbers known bummers raided area farms , homesteads, taking food, supplies, silver, clothes , of value.

also during war, two-week period, segment of union army encamped near holly springs , set headquarters in leslie-alford-mims house. reported mrs. leslie hated yankees bitterly loved home more, treated them cool civility. may have protected house destruction, fate of many other grand southern houses. mrs. leslie said have “charmed soldiers didn t burn house down, did chickens.”

the little community of holly springs had appeared on way becoming bustling town, civil war left community economically devastated. families moved away. exodus encouraged construction of chatham railroad through village of apex, giving neighboring town link outside world holly springs did not have. historian m. n. amis described holly springs in 1871 deserted village.

late 19th century

the town of holly springs established in 1877.

in 1875, george benton alford moved successful mercantile business middle creek township holly springs , instrumental in beginning economic revival in community. year later bought leslie house, centerpiece of village. on years made significant additions , improvements house until became 1 of largest mansions in wake county, 1 of few own ballroom.

alford, businessman , politician, started several businesses including mercantile store, sawmill, cotton gin , holly springs land , improvement company, , eventually, general assembly granted town charter. started newspaper, cape fear enterprise, used promote town. got other prominent men in community join him in seeking charter of incorporation cape fear , northern railroad, became durham , southern railway.

during post-war period, several attempts made revive holly springs academy, none successful. time, children taught in private homes, , first co-educational school, serving 125 students, opened masons. in 1906, town addressed need larger , better-equipped facility educate children. under leadership of raymond a. burt, j. carter, , women s school betterment association, 10 acres (40,000 m²) near springs purchased (this was, in time, site of library , cultural arts center). first bell rang classes in 1908.

world war i

by point, alford wealthy man, , had dreams of turning holly springs industrial city of 10,000 people. town’s population had not increased great deal, holding @ around 300, business community , schools drawing outsiders. flourishing village once again struck down war start of world war i. young men went off fight, , many others went away work in war-related industry.

the depression

in 1923 alford died, leaving town without effective voice in political circles. came great depression. bank of holly springs, established before turn of 20th century, failed in 1924. holly springs experienced difficulty during time, although wpa funds used build school auditorium. town missed out on new federal road-building projects being carried out provide employment.

world war ii

world war ii did world war had done, drawing more young people away holly springs war and/or cities jobs. @ close of war holly springs faced depleted population. during 1950s, while piedmont cities booming, holly springs stagnant.

1960–1980

during 1960s, population stabilized @ around 580, town installed fluorescent street lights same time highway 55 (main street) widened. general clean-up effort netted town award state appearance committee. racially town became less balanced stronger minority population existing late 1980s. during period several black businesses flourishing: dry cleaning business, barbershop, 3 neighborhood stores, , local gathering place of packhouse built 1 of town s prominent black citizens name of george grigsby, whom grigsby avenue (previously called old fuquay road) named. town board consisted of many of prominent black citizens, among them burnis lassiter, cora lassiter, james norris (holly springs first black mayor), john mcneil, edison perkins, george kimble, , preacher beckwith. later, in 1980s other prominent black citizens joined town council, among them nancy womble, reverend otis byrd, , 1 remains on town council today, parrish ham womble.

during period town hired dessie mae womble, first black female chief of police in state of north carolina. segregation gave way integration, holly springs school blacks closed, , many of students sent surrounding communities further educations. beginning of era of busing community, continued until late 1990s when holly springs elementary school on holly springs road opened.

1980–present

it not until town built first sewage plant in 1987 real growth occurred. 1992 before holly springs, in line spillover increased populations in cary , apex, boomed. population increased 900 in 1992 estimated 6000 in 1998 25,000 in 2010.

holly springs community library, part of wake county public library system, , cultural arts facility opened in december 2006.

holly springs branch library

on july 18, 2006, announced pharmaceutical company novartis building manufacturing facility in holly springs , employing approximately 350 produce flu vaccines using new technologies. manufacturing facility built on 167 acres (0.68 km) in holly springs business park off n.c. 55 bypass. construction completed in late 2008. novartis s investment @ least $267 million usd , reach $600 million usd.

bristol-myers squibb expressed interest in county-owned land along n.c. 55 bypass @ future interchange of interstate 540. county expressed desire allow proposed landfill site used economic development sold company. however, county leaders refused relocate solid waste transfer station @ entrance. when company decided not locate on site, wake county board of commissioners voted 5 2 proceed plans build landfill there.

for years, town leaders have become increasingly confident holly springs positioned experience high growth, propelled economic engine of research triangle park (rtp). @ distance of 18 miles (29 km), holly springs close rtp.

in 2007, ranked 22nd best small town live in, according cnnmoney.com evaluation.

the harrington-dewar house, holly springs masonic lodge, , leslie-alford-mims house listed on national register of historic places.

on april 16, 2011, large tornado touched down close holly springs town center, uprooting trees , destroying homes , buildings.