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I was eight years old when General LaFAYETTE visited Raleigh and everyone went to see him. Uncle carried (m)y brother and me. It was a proud day for me when he shook hands with me, and laying his hand on my head, said, “God bless you.”
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Uncle William SHAW had a store on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, and his dwelling house was on Wilmington Street. It was a large three story building with a beautiful garden, a large front, and a back yard. In one corner of the front yard, a big oak spread its branches over a large portion of the yard. Back of our lot was the Baptist grove.2 In the center of the grove stood a small wooden church, lighted with tallow candles in tin scones. The candles were lighted by a maiden lady, Miss Lucinda BRIGGS.The location is noted in this footnote:
2 The Baptist Grove is now what is known as Moore’s Square, across from the old City Market.Based upon other dates in the entry, this must have been ca. 1820.
"Oberlin was not part of Raleigh. It was a proud freestanding, self-sufficient community of former slaves, free blacks, and their descendants, founded after the Civil War. In 1914, a New York newspaper described Oberlin as 'a unique little village of nearly twelve hundred inhabitants. The neat-looking buildings are artistically painted, and the front yards are planted with rose bushes and other shrubberies.' Oberlin actually surpassed Raleigh on some measures of homeownership and education."Visit the N&O for Myrick Howard's account of saving the Hall House and the Graves home, formerly known as Oakcrest and the families they housed.
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"Despite its position as a state capital, in the early 1830s and with a population of barely 2,200, the city of Raleigh was small and underdeveloped and had been struck by a series of fires. One of these took the Capitol building in 1831 and along with it citizens’ collective morale. Without efficient transportation and communication to connect it with the outside world, the capital needed reinvigoration. That reinvigoration came, literally and symbolically, with the arrival of the Tornado, the first steam locomotive to enter Raleigh to inaugurate the state’s newly developing railroad..."Please read the rest of the story here.
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The first locomotive running in Raleigh in 1840, The Tornado. source |
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The remodeled North Carolina State House about 1831 by W. Goodacre. - source Looking not very much different from today with the exception of its wooden roof. |
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Photo: Monique Bunch |
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Photo: Monique Bunch |
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Photo: Monique Bunch |
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"...Olivia Raney Library, once known as Raleigh’s 'Taj Mahal.' The beautifully detailed Italian Renaissance building was erected in 1899, but sadly, this Hillsboro St. landmark is now long gone."It was replaced by the more modern version at 4016 Carya Dr in Raleigh in the mid 60's. Now, as the current facility awaits its own impending update, we can look back to enjoy this beautiful library building and its interesting local history. Many lovely relics of the original, including the tops of the Italianate columns, exist inside the entryway of current building. I sincerely hope that all these mementos of Raleigh past will be preserved in the coming makeover.
Folks waiting to board train at Seaboard Airline Depot! (source) |
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Logan's now (source) |
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The Orange Blossom Special regularly came thru Raleigh. (source) |