Battleboro, North Carolina
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[edit] Overview of Battleboro, North Carolina
Map of Battleboro, North Carolina This is an article that appeared I believe in the Rocky Mount Telegram possibly around 1975. It gives a good synopsis of the history of Battleboro. The town of Battleboro in Edgecombe County was incorporated in 1873, but the community’s history dates back more than 100 years before the town’s incorporation. The first name mentioned in connection with land transfers on the Battleboro area was that of Elisha Battle, who is reported to have bought land from the Earl of Grandville in 1742. The town’s recorded history states that Cornwallis defeated the militia at Swift Creek about 2 miles north of the town in 1781. Battleboro came into existence about 1835. It was known as Battle’s Camp, taking this name from Joseph Sumner Battle who had a contract to build 8 miles of roadbed for the newly incorporated Wilmington and Weldon railroad. The name became Battle Station and the town was incorporated as Battleboro in 1873. The first train to pass through Battleboro made the trip in 1839. The railroad was later known as the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, which extended north to Richmond and south into Florida. The railroad company management selected Battleboro as the site for its shops but could not buy the necessary land so the facility was built in Rocky Mount. The first mayor to serve Battleboro after its 1873 incorporation was Captain B.B. Guion. The first policeman was a black man named Boney Mangum. He gained fame for arresting John Henry Taylor and Robert Fortune, the men who were later convicted of the murder of Robert Hester. Well-known early Battleboro family’s included the Braswells, Marriots, Williams, Vicks, Rawlings, Wards, Philips, Battles, Powells, Bryans, Gorhams, Fishers, Bensons and Popes. Business boomed in Battleboro during the years just before 1900 and for several years following that date. Stores were operated by Otis and Jim Edwards and by T.P. Braswell and Son. Joe Hobgood operated a sawmill and foundry. The gristmill was run by A. T. Stewart. Paul Benson owned a music store. Noah and Willie Hill ran the barbershop. James Lindsay and his wife were the most versatile of all. They operated a business, which included a market, an ice plant, a cleaning plant and a dining room. Battleboro Oil Mill operated a gin, which produced cottonseed meal and hulls. One year the company ginned 7,000 bales of cotton. The first tobacco market was opened in Battleboro by T.P. Braswell and Son. A tent served as a warehouse. A storm came after the first day of sales and the tent was blown over with the papers on the first day’s operations being scattered hither and yon. The market did not survive the disaster. The date was 1885. The first street lights in town were oil lamps mounted on posts. They had to be filled at intervals as well as being lighted at night and extinguished each morning. The amount of light produced was quite limited. According to a deed dated October 2, 1895, and recorded in February, 1906 Nathan Harris gave one acre of land to William Bellamy, William Manning, Hardy Manning, and Malachi Penny of Edgecombe County and Cary Whitaker, Kadar Mulder and James Whiter of Halifax County for the use of a Methodist Episcopal church. The church building was erected on this land but was later destroyed by fire. During the Civil War and immediately following there was only one church building in Battleboro. On the site of the present Episcopal Church stood a free church, which was also known as “A Meeting House.” Any sect or creed was free to worship in this church. In 1878, James E. Mann was appointed Presiding Elder of this area Methodist District. Battleboro was in the area. During the same year, John Andrews held a two-week revival. Enough interest was developed following the revival for a Methodist church to be organized. A building was erected in 1879, presumably on the site of the Methodist church, which had burned. John Andrews was the first pastor. This church built a parsonage in 1891. A Sunday school was operating during the same year. The first Baptist Church celebrated its one 100th birthday in 1968. Battleboro Baptist Church was organized in 1881. And early pastor was W. O. Rosser. Saint John’s Episcopal Church dates back to Rev. Richard H. Jones, who was appointed a missionary to Edgecombe County in 1868. He lived in Battleboro and held regular services in Rocky Mount. Rev. Elliot White Bumstead became rector of the Church Of The Good Shepherd in Rocky Mount in 1887. He was active in establishing an Episcopal mission in Battleboro, which led to the founding of Saint John’s in 1905. A disastrous fire swept Brattleboro’s business district in 1902. Almost every operation of any kind was wiped out. The people set out with resolution to overcome the tragedy and some were back in business before the end of the year. A Mr. Ward owned and operated the first telephone system for Battleboro. His were party lines. He later sold to the Rocky Mount system. The Braswells and Marriotts had a private line between Battleboro and Rocky Mount. James W Price is reported to have been the first rural mail carrier in Edgecombe County with Henry Taylor holding the distinction for Nash. A racetrack for harness racing of horses operated for several years beginning in 1911. The number of physicians who grew up in the Battleboro area and practiced there or elsewhere, and the number that came there to practice adds up to a fantastic total. The list includes Dr. John D. Marriott, Dr. H.B. Marriott, Dr. J.P. Bunn Jr., Dr. Blair Bryan, Dr. A. W. Deans, Dr. George Battle, Dr. Ivan Battle, Dr. Roy Fleming, Dr. Major Fleming, Dr. John Wier, Dr. J.W. Whitehead and Dr. Lewis Gorham, a dentist. Battleboro postmasters evidently love their jobs. Only four people have held the position from 1900 to 1975. J.B. Stoke held the office from 1900 to 1911. When he died in 1911, his widow who later became Mrs. J.W. Fisher served until 1931. J. J. Hathaway was postmaster from 1931 to 1935. Mrs. Clyde Benson took over in 1935 and left in 1975. Among the earliest and best-preserved plantation houses in Nash County is Black Jack, built around 1800 by John Hilliard. He and his son Dr. Robert C. Hilliard both served in the House of Commons in the early 1800s. The interior of the house includes extensive woodwork in the late Georgian style. The house is named for the huge oaks that shade the yard. “Glenburnie” is the house Julius Tillery built near the village of Tillery in the early 19th century. This large plantation house is built in the tripartite form that was extremely popular in Halifax County and is surrounded by several fine examples of plantation outbuildings. “Glenburnie” is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The town of Battleboro is run by a mayor and five commissioners. All are elected for two-year terms.
[edit] Architectural History of Battleboro, North Carolina
[edit] Buildings in Battleboro, North Carolina
See: Category:Buildings in Battleboro, North Carolina, USA
[edit] Buildings in the National Register of Historic Places
| Buildings of State Significance | Address |
|---|---|
| St. John's Episcopal Church, Battleboro, North Carolina | E. Main St. |
| Buildings of Local Significance | Address |
|---|---|
| Bellamy-Philips House | SR 1522 |
| Meadows, The, Battleboro, North Carolina | NW of Battleboro on SR 1510 |
| Old Town Plantation | Off NC 97 |
[edit] Design and Building Firms in Battleboro, North Carolina
