Lot 99
Northeast Corner of Churton and Tryon Streets
Mason's Ordinary?
c. 1759
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Jacob Mason bought and sold many lots in town. The lost deed books recorded Mason purchasing and selling lots in 1759 as well as in 1761, 1762, 1764, and 1766. While it is unknown which lots pertained to which years, his 1766 sale is clearly recorded as the transfer of lot 99. Accordingly, Mason most likely built the original structure on the property. The foundations and walls of this dwelling are incorporated into the house that exists today. It was a 20 x 30 foot building, the smallest size required under Churton’s plan for the town, and it was constructed of tree-nailed posts and beams and covered by finished wood. The structure faced Churton Street.
In addition to his real estate transactions, Mason operated an ordinary, receiving a license from the county every year from at least 1757-1760. Although not definitively known, his ordinary was most likely located on lot 99 as it was on the edge of town, where travelers from the north would be entering.
Section of the 1768 Sauthier Map showing lot 99.
It depicts a two-story rectangular dwelling abutting the main street, a one-story building to the northeast, and fields planted to the east.
Cathrin Lockhart and the Lockhart Family Ordinary
1766
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Little is known about Cathrin Lockhart. She has been assumed to be Catherine Bennett (c. 1727-1792), who married Samuel Lockhart (1716-c.1756) around 1744 in Augusta, VA. Records from Norfolk, VA indicate that a Catherine Lockhart received a substantial bequest in the 1760s. This inheritance could account for her being a widow with sufficient funds to purchase property in Hillsborough and raise a family on her own.
What is known is that Cathrin Lockhart had at least six children who lived with her in Hillsborough. Three of her daughters married into families with wealth and/or social standing. Her daughter Elizabeth married Rector George Micklejohn of St. Matthews Anglican Church. Daughter Jean married Michael Holt. The Battle of Alamance was fought on their property. Daughter Sarah married James Farquhar, a captain in the American Revolution who fought at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge. They lived on a large farm in what is now Caswell County.
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In 1789, her son William Lockhart Sr. (d. 1808) purchased the three adjoining lots on E. Tryon Street. When Cathrin died in 1792, she was buried near her home in what became the Lockhart-Phillips Cemetery. William Lockhart inherited the property and received a license to operate an ordinary in Hillsborough that same year. Whether this was the first year he operated an ordinary on Lot 99 is unknown, but it is likely that the ordinary had been a family business and continued as one. When he died, William was also interred in the cemetery on Tryon Street, as were his wife Sarah (d. 1813), their children, and their grandchildren who inherited the property.
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Cathrin’s grandson William Lockhart Jr. became the Hillsborough postmaster in 1807 and a member of the House of Commons in 1817.
Also of note, in 1763 and 1765, a Thomas Lockhart applied for a license to operate an ordinary “in his dwelling.” His relationship to Cathrin, if any, is unknown. There is no surviving marker or record indicating that he was buried in the Lockhart-Phillips Cemetery.
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Based on the 1768 Sauthier Map, historians speculate that the small one-story building depicted with the "X" on the roof was the ordinary operated by Mason and the Lockharts and that the red two-story dwelling was the private home of Cathrin Lockhart and her family.
Lockhart heirs continued to own the property until 1842 when it was sold to Richeson Nichols.
Cathrin Lockhart's 1792 Will and the Lockhart-Phillips Cemetery on Tryon Street
William H. Brown
c. 1839
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According to JL Bailey, William H. Brown (1807-1866) was living on this property in 1839. However, a deed for the sale of the property to Brown was not recorded until 1844. The Bailey map shows two structures on lot 99 and no other buildings on Tryon Street until the Methodist Church which was on lot 102. Of the two buildings depicted by Bailey on lot 99, a smaller building is identified on the corner of Churton and Church streets as “William Brown Shoemaker,” while a larger building to the north on Churton Street is labeled as a storehouse. The relationship of these two structures to the ones illustrated by Sauthier is unknown.
Section of the Bailey Map illustrating lot 99 with two buildings labeled 20 and 21. (Map reproduced by historian Mary Claire Engstrom)
Bailey also lists a business on lot 6 as “Billy Brown’s Shoe Shop.” (See 'Lot 6") Sources discovered thus far are inconclusive as to whether William Brown is “Billy” but one can assume so because William was a known shoemaker. Whether he used the Lockhart house as a workplace is also unknown. Most likely, it was his residence and all business matters – making shoes, repairing them, and retail operations – were handled at the other site.
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Brown was involved in several business ventures including owning and operating a mill along the Eno River in West Hillsborough. This mill later became known as Dimmock’s Mill. In 1838, Brown became a town commissioner, a position he held for many years. He also served as a Superintendent of Common Schools from the creation of the school board in 1852, acting as chairman of the board for many years. Brown was a Democrat but as the Civil War approached, he became a member of the Union Party. Additonally, he was a member of M.E. Church South, and officiated marriages.
In 1847, he was paid $2 by the town for “repairing the side walk, bridge, &c. on Tryon Street.”
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The 1863 map bears the initials "W.H.B." on lots 99-101.
Upon his death, Brown’s estate descended to his wife Mary and their son Henry N. Brown, Sr. who was primarily a merchant (see Lot 26).
Brown went bankrupt in late 1870, and was forced by court order to sell the majority of his properties in North Carolina to pay off debts. The lots in Chaseville were sold mainly in 1871 and 1872, and the Freedmen’s town idea ended.
Selection from the 1888 Sanborn map illustrating lot 99
By 1888, four buildings are presented on lot 99 on the Sanborn map. Three of these structures faced Churton Street. On the corner of Churton and Tryon Street, is a 1½-story dwelling of considerable size, which is assumed to be the residence of the Brown family. Around this time, the house was remodeled in the Queen Anne style of architecture that was popular from 1880-1910.
Details from a c. 1900 postcard where Lot 99 appears in the background
(L) The dwelling when it still faced Churton Street
(C) The Tobacco Factory
(R) An October 27, 1877 article in the Orange County Observer praising Henry N. Brown's tobacco manufacturing operations.
H.N. Brown Jr. Tobacco Factory
c. 1888
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To the north, of the Brown family dwelling was a structure identified on the 1888 Sanborn map as “HN Brown Jr. Tobacco Factory number 86 4th District, Manufacturer of Plug and Twist Tobacco.” At that time, the main section of the building was a 2½-story high frame structure with a basement. A smaller one-story frame structure ran along the back and a one-story brick addition was attached on the north side.
On August 24, 1889, the Orange County Observer reported that, “Mr. Henry N. Brown Jr., is building an additional room to his plug tobacco factory. We are glad to see his business increasing to such an extent as to require more room.” A few months later, on January 18, 1890, the Observer also noted that, “Mr. H.N. Brown, Jr., has very much improved the appearance of his factory by a coat of paint.”
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​Henry Nichols “H.N.” Brown, Jr. (1864-1922) was the grandson of William Brown and son of Henry N. Brown. In addition to this tobacco manufacturing business, Brown partnered with his father and later his brother in a retail consignment business “At the ‘Corner’." In March 1900, HN Brown Jr. was reported in the newspaper as having left Hillsborough for Kinston, NC, where he was “superintending the manufacturing of brick for the erection of a cotton mill and stores.” By 1910, the census recorded that Brown was living in Hillsborough with his wife, child, mother, and younger brother. At this time, his occupation was listed as “none.”
Lot 99 as presented in the Sanborn maps (L.) 1894; (C.) 1900; and (R.) 1911
The 1894 Sanborn map shows two additional frame rooms had been added to the factory, one the same dimensions as the main building, the other a one-story structure behind the brick addition. However, both of the second-story spaces were vacant.
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The factory still appears on the 1900 Sanborn map, but it is recorded as being “rarely in operation.” The structure had been divided. The main building was now a prizing office. Prizing is the process of packing tobacco – layer by layer – into hogshead barrels. These hogsheads weighed up to 1,000 pounds.
Prizing barrels
By 1894, the northern half of the factory was being used as a general store, operated by Nathaniel William “N.W.” Brown (1868-1954). Nathaniel was the brother of Henry N. Brown, Jr. Also called “Nate,” he held various positions in the town of Hillsborough, including mayor, postmaster, and superintendent of schools.
(L) A March 24, 1898 advertisement for N.W. Brown’s store
(R) A January 26, 1895 ad for Brown’s bookstore which was presumably in the same location. Both ads appeared in the Orange County Observer.
Notices in the Orange County Observer in 1894, 1898, and 1899 reveal various attempts to sell portions of lot 99. In 1911, the Sanborn map shows that the main factory building was being used as a warehouse. The adjoining building on the north side was still a general store.
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Brown heirs owned the dwelling house on lot 99 until 1929. The front half of the house was then moved to an adjacent site and remodeled in the bungalow style.
(L) The house after 1929 when it had been moved to face Tryon St. and still had Queen Anne embellishments
(R) The house as it appears in 2024.
Esso Service Station
1929
In 1929, the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (Esso) built and began operating a service station. The first owner of the business was Myron Lloyd.
Lloyd's Esso
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While in high school, Chandler H. Cates worked at the station. After his graduation in 1941, Cates began working full-time. Having a condition that prevented him from serving in WWII like his brothers, Cates instead purchased the business in partnership with his father around 1943. He operated a full-service station, not only supplying gasoline and oil changes, but also engaging in engine repairs for automobiles and small farm and lawn machinery.
Cates Esso and Chandler Cates c. 1945
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After the war, Chandler joined with his brothers Marshal and Madison to create Cates Oil Company, supplying oil and kerosene to country stores and farmers.
Chandler Cates was a member of Hillsborough United Methodist Church, Eagle Lodge No. 19, and a former member of the Board of Trustees of Central Carolina Bank. He was also a longtime member of the Hillsboro Fire Department and was instrumental in the formation of the Orange County Rural Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
Around 1955, the original Cates Esso building was demolished in order to build a more modern station.
These items from the old Esso station have been repurposed and grace the Hillsborough home of Nancy and David Cates. David is the son of Marshall Cates. The mirror (L.) was one of the front windows on the building while the window (C.) was from the ladies restroom on the side of the building.
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Cates Esso after 1955 with the Lockhart/Brown House beside it
In 1967, Cates Oil Company was so robust that the brothers sold the service station on Lot 99 to Valerie and Matthew Strum (see Lot 7). The Cates brothers purchased the old Amoco station across Tryon Street and moved their business to that site (see Lot 36).
The station changed its name from Esso to Exxon in 1972 in conjunction with the changes to Standard Oil. In 1975, Exxon, who had maintained ownership of the lot, sold the property to the Strums.
In April 1988, Exxon informed Strum that it would not renew his distribution agreement because his station was unprofitable, and Strum ceased selling Exxon gasoline in September of that year. He did, however, continue to operate the station as an automobile repair business and added a gambrel roof and second story to the building. Once Exxon had terminated its distribution agreement with Strum, it began negotiations with him regarding recovery of its underground storage tanks which were used to hold the station's gasoline. The two parties reached an agreement governing removal of the tanks. Unfortunately, the situation resulted in a 1993 lawsuit in which the Strums sued Exxon for mismanagement of the process.
Country Floral and Gift
1994
Brenda and Kevin Metz began leased the building from the Strums from 1994 to 1997.
Country Floral
The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce
2018 - Present
BThe Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1966. It encourages business development and economic growth through community collaboration. The Chamber functions as a marketing agency for its members and for the area, promoting special events and day-to-day activities that attract visitors and business considering relocation. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce is usually the first source of information for people relocating to this area.
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Board and Staff of The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce in 1966
(L) The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce in 2024
(R) Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce staff: Member Success Coordinator Erika Isley, Whitney Corn Past Operations Coordinator, Bella Tesoro Communications Coordinator and Chief Executive Office Scott Czechlewski
Walker Funeral Home
1922-Present
Houston J. Walker purchased the northern end of Lot 99 in 1917 and originally operated a country store on the site. In 1922, he and his son Allen H. Walker established a funeral home on Lot 6. Between 1925 and 1932, they built the two-story Craftsman-style house and moved the funeral home to lot 99. In 1936 the business expanded to Chapel Hill and then later it opened a third home in Mebane.
Originally, the business had a horse drawn hearse. Later it boasted a Packard ambulance and then it proudly added a Cadillac to its fleet.
Walker's Funeral Home in the early 1950s.
Image courtesy of Marsha Cates Stanley
Advertisements for Walker's Funeral Home in the Chapel Hill News
(L) August 4, 1950
(L) Portrait of Founder Houston Walker
(R) Houston Walker in the News of Orange, March 17, 1960
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Houston Walker died in 1970 at the age of 97, remaining active in his business until at least the age of 95. Walker was born in the Schley area, married Minnie Montgomery in 1897, and they moved to Hillsborough in 1919. He had as an Orange County Commissioner, school board member, town Alderman, and county coroner. Walker was also a member of the Hillsborough Masonic Lodge and the founder of Mars Hill Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and Treasurer.
Walker Funeral Home in 2024