Lot 36
Southeast Corner of Churton and Tryon Streets
Fresh Bed Tenement
1764
Early surviving deeds indicate that merchant John Campbell purchased this lot in 1764. The lot then passed into the hands of John Cook and then James Munro (Monro, Monroe).
The 1768 Sauthier map depicts two houses on the lot at that time, one which straddled lot 26. The remainder of lot 36 is filled with garden plots and outbuildings. Whether Campbell or Cook lived in either of these houses in unknown. According to a 1783 deed, Munro lived on neighboring lot 26. Several deeds recorded in 1783 state that at least one of the dwellings on lot 36 was being used as a “fresh bed tenement.” Historically, the word "tenement" meant any permanent residential property used for rental purposes. Whether the entire dwelling was being rented to one household or to several individuals is unknown.
Detail of lot 36 from the Sauthier Map
Cornwallis' Head-Quarters?
1781
During the American Revolution, Lord Cornwallis and his troops occupied Hillsborough for nine days in February 1781. Historian and illustrator Benson Lossing visited Hillsborough in 1848 and sketched two buildings used by Cornwallis during his stay: one he identified as “Cornwallis’ s Office,” the other as “Cornwallis’s Head-Quarters.” Lossing explained that the office was used by Cornwallis for “hiring his tarryings in Hillsborough, after driving General Greene out of the state.” He described the headquarters as being "a large frame building situated in the rear of Morris's Hillsborough House on King Street,” and stated that it was also used for lodging by the American Continental generals Horatio Gates and Nathaniel Greene as well as “a large number of the members of the Provincial Congress.”
In his 1839 map, William Bailey identifies a building straddling lots 36 and 26 as “The Cornwallis House.” Although Bailey was working from a distant memory, his identification of this building with Cornwallis has credence since James Munro, the owner of the property at the time of Cornwallis’ occupation of Hillsborough, was a Loyalist. Therefore, Munro might have been inclined to allow Cornwallis to use his tenement. This idea can be supported by the fact that Cornwallis had enough of a relationship with Munro that one month after Cornwallis’s stay in Hillsborough, he personally wrote a letter to Munro, offering him a commission to serve as a captain in the Royal Provincial army. (Munro supposedly declined the offer but in 1784, Munro applied to the Commissioners of American Claims through the Exchequer and Audit Department in London for reparations for property lost. On that document, he is listed as being a “Major.” The application and examination papers are stored in London so we have not been able to determine how he was able to use that title or if he was deemed to be entitled to reparations).
The idea that Munro's tenement was Cornwallis' headquarters can further be supported since Munro's tenement, (which was still a boarding house in 1848) was located "in the rear of" where historians believe the Hillsborough House was situated. Also, given its proximity to the building used for the meetings of the Provincial and state legislatures, Munro's tenement most likely housed representatives to these assemblies. Historians had previously identified the Hillsborough House itself as the headquarters; however, Lossing clearly states that Cornwallis' headquarters was “in the rear of” the famous tavern. Although not directly abutting the tavern, Munro's tenement was “in the rear” of it to the north, approximately forty feet away. A July 29, 1885 article in the Durham Recorder notes that when James Webb Jr. and his brother were building their new store on Lot 26, they removed buildings “in the rear” to afford “plenty of light and room.” If “in the rear” meant “north” then the article would be describing the same building. However, if “in the rear” meant “directly behind,” then Cornwallis’ headquarters would have been where most historians believe the Hillsborough House itself was located (see Lot 26).
(L.) Portrait of Charles Cornwallis
(R.) "Cornwallis's Head-Quarters" in Hillsborough drawn by Benson Lossing
John Estes' House and Rental Property
1783
Munro’s property was sold at auction by the Sheriff and purchased by John Estes in August 1783. Estes bought and sold many pieces of land in Hillsborough, but several deeds reference that he lived in the house on lot 36 that straddled lot 26 and that the other house was used as rental property. Since the North Carolina State Legislature met across the street in the Episcopal Church from 1775-1783, legislators were probably among his tenants.
John Estes (1745-1799) held several positions in the local government, including town commissioner in 1784 and Register of Deeds 1795-1799. During the American Revolution, he served under General John Butler as an Assistant Commissary of Purchases and Issues. He was captured by Loyalist David Fanning on September 12, 1781, the same day that Governor Thomas Burke was apprehended. Estes was imprisoned for a year in Charleston, SC and then returned to Hillsborough.
(L.) John Estes’ signature on a document relating to his work as commissary.
(R.) Eliza Estes served as the executor of her husband’s estate.
(L.) This page from the sales of John’s personal property in settlement of his estate indicates that many of John and Eliza’s belongings were sold to cover his debts, everything from plate warmers to wash basins and curtains.
(R.) In 1807, Eliza took William Cain to court to recover a debt of £100 owed to her husband. Cain was a plantation owner and government official.
William Barry Grove and Rental Property
1795
In 1795, due to Estes’s many debts, Joseph Hodge, the Sheriff of Orange County confiscated lot 36 and sold it, along with several other properties Estes owned, to William Barry Grove (1764-1818) of Fayetteville. Grove was a practicing attorney who had served in the state legislature while it met in Hillsborough. Accordingly, he may have boarded with Estes. However, at the time Grove purchased the property, he was serving as a US Congressman and had no reason to reside or even own property in Hillsborough as the capital had already been moved to Raleigh. Deed records suggest that the Estes remained in their house. Therefore, it is likely that Grove rented to them.
Interestingly, Grove’s wife Sarah was from Haw River and moved to Fayetteville when they married. After his death, she returned to Hillsborough with her children, and purchased the house that later became the Burwell school. She lived there with her children from 1825-1826.
Although a US Congressman and one of the original trustees of the University of North Carolina, no portrait of William Barry Grove survives.
(L.) This 1818 broadside announced his death and funeral plans. An artist’s representation of his home on Rowan Street in Fayetteville, NC.(L.)
Eliza Estes' House and Boarding House
1800
Within a year after her husband’s death, Eliza Estes purchased all of the properties that had previously been sold at auction. William Grove sold them to her at a loss for himself, suggesting that he may have bought them as a favor, and held the properties until the Eliza was able to recover them.
Elizabeth “Eliza” Carver (1759-1845) married John Estes in January 1780, during the American Revolution. They had one child, a daughter named Peggey who was born and died in 1786. After her husband’s death, she never remarried.
Eliza is listed as the head of her household in the censuses of 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840. In 1820, she was recorded as living with five white males over the age of sixteen, three white females over the age of 10, and twenty-two slaves.
In 1830, she was 71 and was recorded as being between sixty and seventy, living with nine white females between the ages of ten and twenty, and thirty-seven slaves.
Given the number of people living with her, one can assume that she continued to rent rooms. Additionally, given the number of girls living with her in 1830 as well as their ages, one can assume that she was renting rooms to girls who were boarding with her while attending school, especially since the Hillsborough Female Seminary was located on a lot on Tryon Street that was adjacent to her property.
Like many others during the early years of Hillsborough’s history, Eliza was involved in real estate, buying and selling lots in town and owning farm property outside where her many slaves toiled.
Eliza Estes was a founding member of St. Matthews Church.
(L.) When she died, Eliza Estes died, her age was believed to be ninety-six. However, she was only eighty-six.
(R.) Estes’ will was protracted. She made many changes to it over the years. This codicil specifies that the property she is bequeathing to her niece Eliza Estes Evans Turner was separate “from the control of her husband and any liability for his debts.”
Mary Jane and Henry Bagley's House and Boarding House
1846
In her will, Eliza Estes bequeathed lot 36 and its buildings as well as ten slaves to her niece Mary Jane Evans. The property was held in trust for Mary Jane until she married Henry Bagley in 1846. Little is known about either of them. Henry was listed as being a farmer in 1850 with real estate valued at $1,500. His age, along with his wife’s is listed as 36, indicating that they were married at the late age of 32. They had no children.
Ten years later, they are listed on the census as being 48 years old and running a boarding house, with real estate valued at $1,600 and a personal estate worth $8,000. At that time, they held one slave and owned two slave houses.
The 1870 census lists Mary Jane Bagley as head of the household with five women living with her. Two if these women were her nieces ages 17 and 21. Another was Rebecca Jones, a dressmaker. The other two were Ann Smith, a black domestic worker and Ann’s two year-old daughter Martha.
Henry Bagley died in 1865. His death announcement stated that he was 53, had lived several years in Tennessee, and had a surviving sister. Mary Jane died in 1874. They are both buried at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Hillsborough.
Presbyterian Manse
1874
In 1874, the trustees of the Presbyterian Church purchased the property from Mary Jane Bagley’s estate to use as a manse. At that time, James H. Fitzgerald was serving as the pastor and the church was thriving. Membership increased significantly during Fitzgerald’s pastorate.
The 1888 Sanborn map identifies the building on lot 36 as a dwelling. The core of the building was 2 ¼ stories high. It was surrounded by a one-story section and had a basement in the rear. A large outbuilding was located to the east. This same image appears on the 1894 and 1900 Sanborn maps.
By 1905, the trustees desired a new building for their pastor. The church held fundraisers and a new manse was completed by September of that year.
(L.) The 1905 Sanborn map depicts the new structure. The outbuildings have been removed. The same image appeared in the 1911 map.
(R.) The new manse as it appeared c. 1970
Reverend H.S. Bradshaw and his wife Mary Nash Bradshaw were the first to occupy the new house. Dr. Bradshaw served as pastor until 1938 and was, according to History of the Churches of Hillsborough, NC, “loved for his genial disposition and is remembered as an excellent pastor and friend, who gave the best years of his life to the service of the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church.” During those years, Mary was the church organist and was active in many different aspects of church work.
(L.) Dr. Bradshaw at a picnic at Duke’s Farm c. 1910.
(R.) Dr. H.S. Bradshaw c. 1910.
Articles from the Orange County Observer:
(Up L.) 6-1-1905: reporting the proceeds of a Brunswick Stew fundraiser at the Masonic Hall. It raised $28.26, roughly $1,000 today, to be used for building funds for the manse.
(R.) 6-25-1905: announcing Dr. Bradshaw’s arrival.
(Low L.) 9-28-1905: relaying that friends of the Bradshaws were visiting at the completed manse.
In 1943, the manse was the home of Dorothy and Samuel Wilds DuBose. Reverend DuBose (1907-1998) served nine years as pastor, leaving in 1947. Later, he became dean of Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV.
C.M. Parks Mercantile Operation
1884
In 1875, the southern portion of Lot 36 was sold to David C. Parks who, in turn, sold it to his brother Charles M. Parks in 1883. There, Charlie Parks built a 120x30 brick building with two stories and a basement as well as two new warehouses. He first occupied this new building around the end of January 1884.
Charles M. Parks (1841-1922) engaged in many different enterprises including real estate, buying and selling tobacco, and investing in railroads. However, his primary occupation was as the proprietor of a general store. Parks was born and reared in Hillsborough. In April 1861, he enlisted in Company G (Orange Guards), 27th North Carolina Infantry, served as a hospital steward and surrendered at Appomattox. Upon returning to Hillsborough, he began working as a clerk for H.N. Brown. In 1871, he opened his own mercantile business in the Berry Building (see Lot 25). This store was generally called “Parks” or “The Brick Store.” In 1992, the Confederate Veteran magazine noted that, “By skill, wisdom, cordiality, and integrity, he built a business which few of our critics could at that time surpass.”
A July 29, 1885 article in the Durham Recorder described the store in detail:
“The basement is devoted to such heavy matters as grain, salt, iron, etc. The first floor, or principal salesroom is given up to staple and fancy dry goods, dress goods, notions, boots, and shoes, groceries, carpetings, shelf and builders hardware &c.; upon the second floor is carried an especially large line of trunks, or crockery, of clothing, duplicate stocks of sugars, coffee, &c. The front of this floor is handsomely fitted up for the millinery department.”
This article also noted that Parks made in excess of $100,000 annually.
An 1887-1888 Account Ledger for Guano Sales and Collectibles Due in the Orange County Historical Museum’s Collection.
Advertisements for and an article about Parks' store in the Hillsborough Recorder
(L) September 29, 1887; (C) April 21, 1888; (R) September 22, 1888
A November 3, 1887 article in the Orange County Observer also described the business in detail. It noted, “Mr. P. has spared neither time nor money in fitting up an establishment here, second to none in the State and will compare favorably with large whole-sale houses in the Northern cities.” It also reported that that Mrs. Hassell and Miss Addie Smith, “two ladies of superior taste and qualification, they are kind, obliging and attentive to their customers,” and that the store had a beautiful ladies dressing room. By 1887, he was calling his main business "Bazaar Senior" and the millinery shop"Bazaar Junior."
By early 1895, Parks had partnered with fellow merchant James H. Hedgpeth to form Parks & Hedgpeth. In March of that year, they announced in the Orange County Observer that they had completed a new building on the site that had been occupied by Newman & Smith until the destruction of their building from the fire of 1894 forced them to move across the street (See lots 25 and 26). Accordingly, it appears that Parks ceased operations on Lot 36 at this time although the building he constructed on this lot continued to bear his name on the Sanborn maps through 1911.
H.W. & J.C. Webb
c. 1895
After Parks moved, the building was owned and operated as a general merchandise store by the firm called Jas. Webb Jr & Bro (see Lot 26). At that time, the original owner of the firm, James Webb Jr. was in his late fifties while his brother Joseph Cheshire Webb Sr. had died in 1893. In 1900, Joseph Cheshire Webb Jr. began working at the store. He was called Cheshire. In 1904, when James Jr. died, the firm was dissolved and the assets were acquired by Cheshire Webb and his uncle Henry Winder Webb. Their company was known as H.W. & J.C. Webb.
An August 25, 1910 article in the Orange County Observer extolled the virtues of the store, “With magnitude and completeness of a stock equipment comprising many departments this establishment is prepared to supply promptly the needs of the individual, the home and farm at prices guaranteed to be the lowest, quality for quality.”
Notices in the Orange County Observer:
(L) January 11, 1900, Cheshire Webb’s hiring; (C) March 28, 1901 advertisement;
(R) August 4, 1904, the dissolution of the firm.
Joseph Cheshire Webb Jr. (1879-1932) was educated at the Misses Nash and Kollock School in Hillsborough and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1899. He then attended Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, NY before returning home to work in the family business. He was a director of the Eno Cotton Mills and president in 1921. He was also a director of the Bank of Orange and a junior warden at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.
A 1908 receipt for merchandise purchased by Shepperd Strudwick from H.W. & J.C. Webb from the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum.
Bank of Orange
1904
Articles in the Orange County Observer appear to indicate that the Bank of Orange was founded in 1904 and was in existence until at least 1916. The newspaper printed many monthly reports, attesting to the health of the financial institution. The location of the bank is presumed to be the second building attached to the original Parks store to the south. While no bank appears on the 1900 Sanborn map, the new building on Lot 36 is labeled as a bank on from the 1905 Sanborn map through the 1943.
Sanborn maps show the expansion of Parks’ store. (Top) 1888, (Middle) 1894 with the edition of an open elevator (Bottom) 1911 with the edition of a two-story bank building
(L) This Watercolor by Marsha Cates Stanley depicts the large sign painted on the south wall of the Parks Store prior to the addition of the Bazaar Jr. Millinery building. The building sign was exposed during the 1960s when businessman James J. Freeland purchased the building and removed the smaller structures.
(R) A side view of the Parks building in 1938 showing two additional buildings on the South.
(L.) The three buildings as they appeared in 1939. This photo is a still from the H. Lee Waters film depicting scenes from Hillsborough. Courtesy of openorange.org
(R.) The buildings as they appeared in 1961 before being taken down.
Paul “P.C.” Collins served as Cashier from 1904-1936, when he became a part-time employee. For most of those same years, dentist J.S. Spurgeon served as the Bank President (See Lot 25).
In 1936, Durham Loan and Trust took over the Bank of Orange. It would further merge with the other bank in Hillsborough, Farmers and Merchants in 1939 (See Lot 26).
(L) A July 14, 1904 announcement in the Orange County Observer about the opening of the Bank of Orange.
(C) A May 11, 1915 announcement in the Orange County Observer that the Bank of Orange was expanding its services.
(R) An April 30, 1936 notice in the Durham Sun describing the take over of the Bank of Orange.
1906 receipt for a 60-day loan of $7 from Shepperd Strudwick to E.B. Ray through the Bank of Orange from the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum.
Hillsboro Clay Manufacturing
1906-1910
With the prevalence of devastating fires in the late 1800s, the demand for fireproof building materials increased. Innovations in the mechanization of the trade, including many machines patented by North Carolina inventors, led to the establishment of brickmaking companies. The Hillsboro Clay Manufacturing Company was founded in 1906 to produce brick as well as drain and sewer pipe. The plant consisted of 139 acres with a superintendent’s house and three tenant houses. It had a capacity of 40,000 bricks per day and employed 30 men and boys.
The president and largest shareholder in the corporation was Shepperd Strudwick (1868-1961). Strudwick was an entrepreneur and benefactor of the town of Hillsborough. He served as the postmaster, helped found the Bank of Orange, and established the Bellevue Manufacturing Company, a textile mill built from the bricks produced by Hillsboro Clay Manufacturing Company.
In 1907, the company had to shut down operations for a short time because there was too much rock in their clay pit. It resumed as soon as a new pit was found. However, after a lawsuit by the company’s superintendent Harold Cropping, the business was auctioned and subsequently closed.
(L.) An August 1, 1907 advertisement in the Orange County Observer for wood needed to operate the kiln at the Hillsboro Clay Manufacturing Company, which identifies the company’s office as being located over the Bank of Orange.
(C.) Recent photos of the remains of the kiln and brickyard
(R.) An article in the Raleigh News and Observer on February 2, 1910 about the auction of the property
(L.) The minutes book from the company’s first board meeting with by-laws
(C.) A brick produced by the company
(R.) Documents from the company’s business
These items are all from the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum.
Coleman and Sharpe/Coleman-Laws Co.
1925
Claude Wilson Sharpe left his family farm in 1907 and began working for H.W. and J.C. Webb. He called the Webbs, “the finest people in the world to work for.” He remained with them until 1925 when he purchased the business with partner Harlan Coleman Sr. The firm lasted until 1935 when Sharpe sold his interest to J. Ed Laws. As Coleman and Sharpe, a significant part of the business had been clothing sales. Accordingly, Sharpe went into business for himself as a clothier (see Lot 25).
The new company, Coleman-Laws, sold farm equipment distributed by International Harvester Co as well as electronic appliances and other novelties. The farm equipment, under the trade name of McCormick-Deering, included such items as mowing machines, hay rakes and grain binders (used for harvesting wheat).
Advertisements for Coleman Laws in the News of Orange
(L.) December 12, 1949; (C) December 15, 1949; (R) June 12, 1952
Harlan Gay Coleman (1895-1983), a World War I veteran, retired in 1956 and the business was re-organized as Orange Farm Equipment under the ownership of Charlie Lowndes and Harlan’s son, Joe Coleman. However, Harlan Coleman continued to work for the company on a part-time basis. Later, Harlan G. Coleman Jr, who was known as “Gee,” worked there with his brother Joe.
City Garage and Service Station
c. 1925
In early 1925, the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church sold a parcel directly south of the manse to Josephine (1887-1975) and Wiley Pass “W.P.” Gates (1882-973). They built and an art deco filling and service station on the site that was called City Garage & Service Station. Mr. Gates appears to have been an attendant and mechanic at the garage. For reasons unknown, the Gates sold the property and the business a few years later.
(L) A photograph of W.P. Gates in his later years.
(R) City Garage in the mid-1920s. W.P. Gates stands in front, on the left side of the tow truck.
Amoco Filling and Repair Station
1929
Partners T.E. Pope, Charles H. Robertson and Owen S. Robertson purchased the station in 1929 and it was called Pope-Robertson. Ed Pope (1888-1953) was the attendant and mechanic and Owen Robertson managed the station. It dispensed American and Amoco gas. The company distributed Permalube Motor Oil and Amoco products as well as fuel oil for home and business furnaces.
Owen Robertson’s primary business at the time was as manager of the Hillsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company in West Hillsborough. Robertson (1896-1985) was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, a World War I veteran, and later built a filling station on Exchange Park Lane around 1960 that became a store and then a restaurant.
The basement of the station was rented to Melvin Latta who operated a tractor repair shop (see Latta's Garage below).
(L.) An advertisement for Robertson Oil in the 1937 Hillsboro High School yearbook.
(C) A May 16, 1957 advertisement for City Amoco in the News of Orange
(R.) The April 11, 1963 announcement that Gilmore was buying the Amoco station.
After Pope’s death, Roland C. Scott became the owner of the business. Then, in 1956, J.L. Rosemond purchased the station. Rosemond renamed the business City Amoco Service and operated it with his son Clarence.
In 1963, George Gilmore of Gilmore Motors purchased the service center and continued to operate it as an Amoco station.
World War II Rationing Board
c. 1942
During World War II, the War Price and rationing Board used the building that had been Parks’ millinery and Coleman-Laws’ grocery store as an office. Harlan Coleman Sr. was the chair of the local board.
Rations books from the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum. These were owned by Betty June Hayes. Hayes would later serve as the Orange County Register of Deeds.
After the war, the building was used as a store once again. It was called Eno Gift Shop and was operated by Mrs. Ffances Coleman.
Latta Brothers Tractor and Farm Equipment Repair
1948
In 1948, the Coleman-Laws company purchased a building from a nearby at WWII US Army installation called Camp Butner. The structure had been used to house and repair vehicles in the camp’s motor pool. After the purchase, a storage building behind the Coleman-Laws store, that had been used by Farmers Mutual Insurance company, was razed to create space for a new business that would repair the farm equipment sold at Coleman-Laws.
Harlan G. Coleman Sr. then made a deal with Melvin Latta (1889-1982) and several of Latta’s sons to own and operate the shop. Until that time, the Latta family had been renting the basement of the Pope-Robinson Service Station. The move to the new building provided the Lattas with increased space to expand. Eldest son Claude Latta (1914-1999) was the primary partner in the enterprise. After his brothers left the business to pursue other opportunities, Claude continued to manage the store with Lacy Horn. Around 1974, his son Mike took over as owner and shifted the focus of the business to selling and servicing lawnmowers, chain saws, and other outdoor power equipment.
(L.) A January 29, 1948 article in the News of Orange announcing the establishment of
Lattas repair shop
(R.) Latta's Repair shop in 2024
Dr. Robert Murphey's Office
1958
The trustees sold the property in 1957 (for what appears to be $13.75 worth of stamps) to Katherine and Robert Murphey. The following year they acquired a new manse and Dr. Robert Murphey began using the building as his office. Until the mid-1970s, Murphey was the sole practitioner in town.
In 1978, Orange Family Medical Group, a nonprofit foundation, recruited Dr. Murphey and dermatologist Dr. John Reid to their newly established practice. Murphey moved to their offices on Cameron Street, where it continues to this day. The Murpheys lived down Cameron Street from this office, in the house on the corner of King Street known as William Reed’s Ordinary and Seven Hearths. They were responsible for extensive renovations and restoration work on the house.
Dr. Robert Murphey
Central Carolina Bank & Trust Co. and Suntrust Bank
1966
In 1961, Durham Bank & Trust and University National Bank of Chapel Hill to form Central Carolina Bank and Trust. A few years later, it established a Hillsborough branch on N. Churton Street. To accommodate the change in purpose for the building, both the interior and the exterior were re-designed. The two additional buildings constructed by Parks were removed and a drive-through window was added. The façade of the building was also altered to give it a “colonial” look that fit with the re-branding that the town of Hillsborough had embraced.
In 2005, CCB merged with SunTrust Banks of Atlanta, GA which later turned into BB&T and moved out of the historic district.
Images of CCB under contrition in 1966 from the News of Orange.
The exterior and interior of SunTrust Bank around the time of its sale in 2016.
Images courtesy of openorange.org
Cates Oil and Propane
1967
In 1967, the building became the business headquarters for Cates Oil Company. This business was owned and operated by the three Cates brothers (See Lot 99), although Chandler Cates took a leading role. They sold and distributed heating oil, propane, and gasoline. The storage tanks as well as their fleet of delivery trucks were kept on Wake Street along the Eno River.
The business remained open until the late 1990s/early 2000s.
Advertisements for Cates Oil in the News of Orange.
(L) August 14, 1947; (R) November 21, 1961
An addition was added to the south side of the building and a front-gabled roof was installed, during the long tenure of Cates Oil.
Headquarters for the Orange Rural Fire Department
1968-1976
Chandler Cates served with the fire department for 60 years in different capacities including fire chief, beginning in 1970. In 1968, he worked with Marion Clark and the Hillsborough Exchange Club to formulate and execute an ambitious plan to put a formal rural fire department in place. The Orange Rural Fire Department was soon incorporated. One major issue for the department was that it had been relying on an old truck, purchased in 1951. Memberships were sold that raised money to purchase a new truck and equipment and oversaw the training of the firefighters. Cates and Clark also restored the department's old 1937 truck that was then used in town parades.
As the department grew, space became more limited. In 1976, the fire department moved to a new location on S. Churton St (See Lot 7).
The Orange Rural Fire Department c. 1969
(L-R) Chandler Cates, Marion Clark, John Rainey Lynch, Wayne Kendrick, Tyson Clayton, Brandon Lloyd, Allen Walker Jr., JE Latta, Ralph Thomas, Allen Lloyd, Charlie Williams, George Gilmore, Foye Cole, Sandy Davidson. Photos courtesy of the Orange Rural Fire Department
(L) The 1937 truck with S. Churton Street behind; (R) The 1951 truck.
The building as it appears in 2024, occupied by Speed Script, a pharmacy management company. Alan Arthur is the COO of Speed Script and its parent company Digital Simplistics.
Clements Funeral & Cremation Service
1979
Clements Funeral & Cremation Service purchased the former manse from the Murpheys in 1979. The company began constructing a chapel and making other changes to the structure in 1980.
Clements has been providing funeral and cremation services to Durham and the surrounding communities since 1956. The company began under the direction of Robert Wicker, Linwood Tew, Travis Clements and Edwin Clements, Sr. Their guiding principle has been, “Service not measured by gold, but by the Golden Rule.” In the Mid 1960’s the sons of three of the original owners began their employment and since 2000, a third generation of family members have joined the family business.
The Original Founders of Clements Funeral & Cremation Services
Above: Blueprints and Construction on Clements in Various Phases.
Below: Clements in 2024.
C3 Hillsborough
2018-Present
After SunTrust moved out of the downtown, Matt Fox, Gregg Pacchiana, and Scott Pasley teamed up to buy the building. They created C3 Hillsborough, a coworking space for local small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and others in our local community. The concept of a coworking space is to facilitate creativity, innovation, and sustainability. With a range of professions and expertise, this type of office space has been proven to produce a thriving network and community within itself.
Fox is an owner and partner of several downtown restaurant hubs including The Wooden Nickel (See Lot 25); Pacchiana was previously the president of Thalle Construction, a Hillsborough-based international construction company; and Pasley is a realtor with Churton Street Realty and owner of Nash Street Tavern, both of which are located in West Hillsborough. Other local people were involved with the project. Joshua Collins of Digital Butler did the company branding, outside flower boxes were done by local Mary Susan Reed Daniel, and all IT work was done by Eric Garrison with WTE Solutions.
(L) Matt Fox, associate Eric Gephart, and Gregg Pacchiana in the News of Orange County, June 1, 2022.
(C) The old bank vault has been repurposed into a conference room
(R) C3 Hillsborough in 2024