Did you know that the land that is currently known as Moore Square was once referred to as the Baptist Grove ? source I happened upon this tidbit while browsing thru an old issue of our Wake Treasures Journal. The reference is in an article titled Reminiscences of Grandmother Mary Ann Towles in Volume 1, number 4, Winter 1991 , p15. Enjoy this picturesque description: 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...

  From NC Historic Sites: Details -  https://historicsites.nc.gov/news/events/annual-memorial-day-remembrance-event-1 "Following the American Civil War, a “Decoration Day” began in communities across America remembering soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Senator John A. Logan, a former Union officer on staff with Major General William T. Sherman, was instrumental in making this a formal national day honoring our fallen soldiers, which became Memorial Day. Join military living historians representing the American soldier of all time periods throughout our nation’s history. Program is Saturday  10am-4pm, Sunday 10-3pm." Memorial Day Events around the Triangle and free flags: https://triangleonthecheap.com/memorial-day-events-deals-triangle/ source Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames ...

Source This beautiful building  sure had a lot of lives. Extra points if you know the story without even looking. Do you know all the names and functions it had over its long life. Sadly, this beau tiful W ake county landmark that our ancestors would have strolled past on a leisurely afternoon is no more. You can read the wonderful twists and turns of this beauty's history in this Goodnight Raleigh blogpost Baptist Female University - built in  Built in 1899 at the corner of Blount and Edenton streets. Baptist University for Women - name change in 1904. Meredith College - 1909 was renamed again, " i n honor of Thomas Meredith , founder of the Biblical Reporter (1835) and an early 19th century advocate of higher education for women". The college was  housed here until the mid 1920's when it relocated to the present location. Mansion Park Hotel - from the mid 1920's until sometime in the 1950's. The hotel advertised itself as Raleigh's ...

Just look at this wonderful postal map of turn of the century Wake County. It will certainly help you visualise a quieter, more pastoral Wake County. I used this map recently to determine the location of a cemetery in the relocation zone of Falls Lake. Things look so different now.  Roads displaced by Falls Lake This map is available online from the North Carolina Collection at UNC . This is a rural delivery route map circa 1910 - 1919. It covers the whole county and provides a context that is just not available to us today. Take a look. Keep a link handy.  Source: Wake County c.1910-1919, US Postal Delivery Routes I bet you will be visiting this map as often as I will.  Visit the Wake County Genealogical Society  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

Enjoy this wonderful old Public Works Map of Raleigh in 1914. There are many location names I recognize and a few I don't. How about you? View full map in high resolution here  at the North Carolina Maps Collection at UNC digital library. It has been added to the interactive overlay feature. Overlay version is here .  Enjoy a browse and compare to the same locations today! Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

Farming was the life and survival of early Wake County. As early settlers entered and settled the land that is now Wake County, farming became the chief occupation in the area once shelter was secured. Today, we see our farms disappearing at an alarming rate. According to county officials Wake lost 20% of its farmland in the last 9 years. At the current rate all unprotected lands will be developed in the next 25-50 years. An ordinance called the Farmland Preservation Program aims to conserve Wake County’s nearly 700 farms and help combat North Carolina’s disappointing ranking as the second highest state in the nation for farmland loss .  While we as genealogists can not effect much change in the face of this sweeping progress, we can do what we do best.  We can shine a light on the local heritage farms that remain; recognize and write about their important place in our history and survival; and drop the names of the farms and their stewards so that current and future res...