hillsborough « Cosmic Observation

POTD: Fire Department

Posted on July 17, 2021 Updated on July 17, 2021

Our little town’s Fire Department, captured with cool cloud formations. ~Vic

Hillsborough Fire Department — 06-28-2018

Picture of the Day

This entry was posted in Photography, Picture of the Day and tagged american photography, camera hound, camera nut, cameraphone, cloud formation, cloud formations, clouds, cool clouds, cosmic-observation photography, downtown hillsborough, evening walk, hillsborough, hillsborough fire department, hillsborough local, hillsborough photography, image, north carolina photography, orange rural fire department, photo, photo of the day, photograph, photographer, picture, POTD, samsung S7, shutterbug, snapshot, stupidphone.

Town Tuesday: Twin Chimneys 1768

Posted on August 11, 2020

Another one of Hillsborough’s oldest homes. ~Vic

Twin Chimneys Image One — Photo Credit: Library of Congress
Historic American Buildings Survey
February 1965

Twin Chimneys, so named for the paired chimneys in each gable end, is sited on a hill on West King Street, directly across from the Colonial Inn and the Parks-Richmond House […]. An iron gate from Stewart Iron Works in Cincinnati, Ohio, separates the house from the pedestrian traffic of the sidewalk. [It] is reputedly a pre-Revolutionary house, however, the exact date of construction is not known. It is important to note that a house is sited at the exact location on the 1768 Sauthier Map of Hillsborough but, it cannot be assumed that the houses are the same.

Twin Chimneys Gate Image Four — Left side gate.
Photo Credit: Pinterest

This is a most delightful old house, with four huge chimneys and a second-floor balcony, from which a view of the busy thoroughfare, King Street, may have been enjoyed down through the years. The lot on which it stands was once owned by Edmund Fanning.

It is interesting to know that this house was the setting for the old romantic novel, “Joscelyn Cheshire.” According to the story, the heroine concealed her lover in the attic to protect him from Cornwallis’ army. The house served at one time as Hillsborough’s Post Office.

Archibald DeBow Murphey was a North Carolina politician known as the “Father of Education” in his state for his proposals that benefited public works and public education. [Murphey] died at Twin Chimneys in Hillsborough on February 1, 1832. He is buried at the Presbyterian Church […]. The town of Murphy, North Carolina (despite its spelling) was named after him.

Additional Information & Sources:
Twin Chimneys Photos (Library of Congress)
National Register of Historic Places Inventory (PDF) (North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources)
Twin Chiimneys (Open Orange NC)
Joscelyn Cheshire Full Text (Project Gutenberg)

This entry was posted in Thoughts and tagged 1768, 1965, 2019, 2020, american photography, archibald murphey, camera hound, cameraphone, cincinnati, colonial inn, cosmic-observation photography, edmund fanning, evening walk, february, garden gate, hillsborough, hillsborough photography, hillsborough presbytarian church, historic american buildings survey, images, inn at the teardrop, iron gate, joscelyn cheshire, july 14, library of congress, may 20, murphy, national register of historic places, north carolina department of cultural Resources, north carolina photography, ohio, old house, open orange, open orange nc, paired chimneys, parks-richmond house, photographer, photos, pictures, pinterest, post office, pre-revolutionary, project gutenberg, sara beaumont kennedy, sauthier map, shutterbug, stewart iron works, town tuesday, twin chimneys, west king street.

Town Tuesday: Yellow House 1768

Posted on July 7, 2020 Updated on July 7, 2020

William Courtney’s Yellow House

This is one of a few of the oldest homes in Hillsborough. ~Vic

William Courtney Yellow House Image One — Downtown Hillsborough
Taken: 04-04-2020

William Courtney Yellow House Image Two — Steps leading from the driveway
to the front door.
Taken: 04-16-2020

William Courtney Yellow House Sign Image Three — Sign Marker

Additional Information:
William Courtney’s Yellow House 1768 (Facebook)
Walk Through Historic Hillsborough (Historic Hillsborough)
William Courtney’s Yellow House (Open Orange NC/Built date is wrong)

This entry was posted in History, Photography and tagged 1768, 2020, american photography, april 16, april 4, camera hound, camera nut, cameraphone, cosmic-observation photography, downtown hillsborough, driveway, facebook, hillsborough, hillsborough photography, historic hillsborough, images, king street, north carolina photography, old homes, open orange, photographer, photographs, photos, pictures, samsung S7, shutterbug, sign marker, snapshots, steps, town tuesday, william courtney, yellow house.

Town Tuesday: The Colonial Inn

Posted on May 26, 2020 Updated on May 27, 2020

Orange Hotel Ad 1867 Image One — Advertisement
1867
Image Credit: Rootsweb

The structure known today as the Colonial Inn was built on Lot 15 in 1838 as a hotel and was locally called Spencer’s Tavern […] but, was advertised as the Orange Hotel (a name which lasted into the 1880s). The structure was built for Isaac (Isaiah) Spencer (from Hyde County) who had purchased the property in late 1837. In 1841, Richardson Nichols purchased the property from Spencer and expanded the main structure. In 1856, Nichols sold the structure to the “Hillsborough Improvement Company” which consisted of Alfred, Henry and Cave Stroud.

Stroud family history has it that Henry’s wife (Sarah) saved the Inn from looting by Union troops by displaying her husband’s Masonic apron. Upon seeing the apron, a sympathetic Union officer, [whom] was a fellow Mason, protected the site from destruction.

The Colonial Inn 1870 Image Two — Strayhorn’s Hotel
1870
Image Credit: **Rootsweb**

William F. Strayhorn may have purchased or, at least, managed the business beginning in 1868 and, the property was purchased by local businessmen Henry N. Brown and Charles M. Latimer (who was also the county treasurer) in 1870. Brown and Latimer apparently lost the property through bankruptcy in 1872, with Strayhorn managing or operating the hotel until at least then. Perhaps related is that Strayhorn had been living in Twin Chimneys across the street from the hotel but, lost it due to financial problems in January 1869. [It] was purchased by David C. Parks in December 1872. In 1885, Parks sold the property to neighboring property owner Emily Pogue, who sold it back to Parks in 1888. [At] this time, it became known as the Occoneechee Hotel.

The Colonial Inn 1890 Image Three — Looking East
1890s
Image Credit: Rootsweb

In 1908, Thomas A. Corbin purchased the property and renamed the complex the Corbinton Inn. In 1921, W. L. Foushee […] purchased the property from a H. L. Akers and by 1924, renamed the hotel the Colonial Inn. In 1946, Paul Henderson purchased the property from Foushee […].

The Colonial Inn Image Four — Corbinton Inn
1915
Image Credit: Open Orange

During Henderson’s ownership, a “fine-dining” restaurant was added within the hotel structure. In December 1952, Charles and Ann Crawford purchased the property and business and, expanded the structure. They operated the business successfully until they, in turn, sold it to James and Maxine Freeland in 1969. The Freelands also expanded the structure and, continued the hotel and restaurant business at the location.

The Colonial Inn Image Five — Looking WSW
1960s
Photo Credit: **Open Orange**

It fell into disrepair for many years. When I moved to this town in 2011, it looked bad.

The Colonial Inn Image Seven — 10-23-2016

The good news is, new owners are re-building. ~Vic

The Colonial Inn 2020 Image Eight — 02-29-2020

Additional Information:
The Colonial Inn Hillsborough (Facebook)
Old Town Cemetery (Hillsborough Government Site PDF)
Colonial Inn (Open Orange)
The Colonial Inn 1838-1969 (Rootsweb)
The Colonial Inn: It’s History & Significance (World Now PDF)

This entry was posted in History, Photography and tagged 1837, 1838, 1841, 1856, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872, 1885, 1888, 1908, 1921, 1924, 1946, 1952, 1960s, 1969, 2011, 2016, 2020, alfred stroud, american photography, ann crawford, calvin stroud, cave stroud, charles crawford, charles m latimer, colonial inn, corbinton inn, cosmic-observation photography, county treasurer, david c perks, disrepair, emily pogue, facebook, find a grave, fine dining, h l akers, henry calvin stroud, henry n brown, henry stroud, hillsborough, hillsborough government, hillsborough improvement company, hillsborough photography, hyde county, isaac spencer, isaiah spencer, james freeland, lot 15, maxine freeland, north carolina, north carolina photography, occoneechee hotel, old town cemetery, open orange, orange hotel, paul henderson, photographer, photos, restaurant, richardson nichols, rootsweb, snapshots, spencers tavern, strayhorns hotel, the colonial inn, thomas a corbin, twin chimneys, w l foushee, william f strayhorn.

FFTD: Dogwood Bloom

Posted on April 28, 2020 Updated on July 21, 2020

Dogwood Bloom Image — Dogwood tree in the center of town
heading towards the Colonial Inn.
04-10-2019

Flower for the Day

This entry was posted in Flower for the Day, Photography and tagged 2019, afternoon walk, american photography, april 10, camera hound, cameraphone, center of town, colonial inn, cosmic-observation photography, dogwood, dogwood bloom, dogwood tree, FFTD, flower, flower image, flower picture, hillsborough, hillsborough photography, historic town, north carolina photography, old town, photo, photograph, photographer, picture, samsung S7, shutterbug, small town, small town life, snapshot, town.

Yep…another new post heading. I will be doing a series of shots from my town. Hillsborough is one of the oldest towns in North Carolina and was the Capitol for a short time. It’s a very interesting, eclectic place. All photos are my personal collection. © ~Vic

Previous Post: The Town.

Boone Expedition Image One — Henderson–Boone to Kentucky Expedition Marker
March 17, 1775
Tablet metal from the USS Maine
Richard Henderson was the presiding judge when the Regulators attacked the Courthouse.
They burned his home in Williamsborough.
Taken 05-20-2019

Boone Trail Highway Image Two — Back of the Marker
Boone Trace or Boone Trail Highway &
The Trading Path 1700

Old Courthouse Image Three — Looking Northeast from the corner of Churton Street & Margaret Lane
Taken 04-04-2020

Old Courthouse Image Four — Looking Northwest from the corner of Margaret Lane & Court Street.
Back door.

Old Courthouse Image Five — Looking WNW from Court Street

Old Courthouse Image Six — Looking due South.
Front door.
The marker, above, is to the right.

This entry was posted in History, Military, Photography and tagged 1770, 1775, 2019, 2020, american photography, april 4, back door, boone expedition, boone trace, boone trail highway, churton street, clock tower, cosmic-observation photography, court street, daniel boone, front door, great grant deed, henderson-boone expedition, hillsborough, hillsborough courthouse, hillsborough local, hillsborough photography, historic hillsborough, historic town, History, images, judge henderson, kentucky expedition, march 17, margaret lane, may 20, north carolina photography, old courthouse, photographer, photographs, pictures, regulators, richard henderson, snapshots, stone marker, the old courthouse, the regulators, the trading path 1700, the war of regulation, town tuesday, uss maine, wilderness road, williamsborough.

Shutterbug Saturday: Training

Posted on September 21, 2019 Updated on September 22, 2019

My paternal grandfather was a firefighter, my brother-in-law is and my dad nearly was. I grew up going with my grandmother to my hometown’s fire department HQ, bringing lunch for my grandfather. When he retired, he worked dispatch.

As a Drivers License Examiner, I got to give road tests in firetrucks.

I was lucky to catch this. I was walking home from the local market. ~Vic