Editing to add more photos - 11/2/25 Despite much competition in the way of scheduled events for the day, we had a great turn out for the Shiloh Celebration on October 18. The audience was interested and engaged in the history of the Shiloh Community founded in the late 1820's by Free People of Color. They were equally excited to learn of the Free Black Patriot, Jesse Harris that many in the community can claim as kin. The weather was beautiful. It was an all round perfect day. Here are some photos of the day. Click image to view larger. Photos by Belle Long of Wake County Historical Society and Barbara McGeachy of Wake County Genealogical Society. Photo Details clockwise from upper left - Our audience awaits; Belle Long of Wake County Historical Society opens; Lynette Barber and Will Ellis provide beautiful music; Mills Cemetery presentation by Saundra Russ Cropps; Jermaine Pulliam - Deputy Grand Master of Prince Hall, dist.19 presides over the wreath ceremony at Rev. James H. Dun...

If you missed out on the Wake Haunts series from last year, read about all of local ghosts here ! Get by these spooky locations as soon as you can. The most recent that I have visited is the Andrew Johnson house. Not too spooky on a hot Sunday afternoon in August, but I still wonder... Which window and who is waiting there? source Happy Halloween. Stay ghosty! Access all Wake Haunts posts. 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 - info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

Something is pulling my attention to Raleigh/Wake County around the turn of the century (1900's). It was a time of accelerated growth and prosperity. Perhaps it is that parallel that with today's frantic growth pace that has me looking backwards.   I started looking at the historic neighborhoods that built up in the early 1900's: Glenwood   - c.1905. It's development a direct result of the streetcar line providing access north and west. Boylan Heights  -  c.1907. Built on 180 acres of the William Montfort Boylan Mansion on the western outskirts of Raleigh. Cameron Park  - c.1910. Built on land that half a century earlier was Cameron Plantation. Bloomsbury - c. 1914. It's construction signaled the transition from streetcar access to automobile access as Raleigh expanded ever outward. Trolley time in Raleigh ( source ) As I did more research, I  became amazed and a little unsettled at the historical, cultural and sociological details that are u...

President Barbara McGeachy was in attendance for the Fair held on Oct. 4. Here is her report - I had a great time this morning at the NC Archives & State Library Family History Fair in downtown Raleigh. We had a good turnout and lots of people signed up for our email list. The talks were recorded and are already available on YouTube on the "statelibrarync" channel as "2025 Family History Fair: African American Genealogy and History" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3jeTTB3C48 WCGS Table -Oct 4 -  NC Archives & State Library Family History Fair 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 -  info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

  View the original post for details and registration.   Free with registration. We look forward to seeing you. 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 -  info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

October is NC State Fair month. The Fair was established in Raleigh back in 1852 by the North Carolina State Agricultural Society. There is a great blog post from UNC Library at this link.            October 1853: The North Carolina State Fair You can also check out the programs of the Fair through its history. Have you seen the program from the year you were born? Here is mine!     State Fair Ephemera     1956 NC State Fair program link Have fun browsing. 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 - info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

Do you have ancestors and relatives in Cary? If you/they have been there awhile you will enjoy this new record set available online. This attention grabbing Centennial beard and Parade schedule from the 1971 Centennial Parade featured in The Western Wake Herald in April, 1971 are just the tip of the iceberg of what you will find. Also included are deeds, land grants and other records, correspondence from  Elizabeth Reid Murray, biographies, architectural sketches of some of the memorable historic buildings around Cary, and a whole host of photos and memorabilia that you did not know you needed to see.  Update from North Carolina Digital Heritage Center via Facebook: "Interested in the history of  Cary, NC ? Research files documenting the change in the community from small farm town to major suburb of Raleigh over the 20th century are now online thanks to our partner  Page-Walker Arts & History Center ." Link to NC Digital blog post describing the collecti...

Abandoned cemeteries are everywhere and they leave traces if you know where to look.  Have you ever noticed this one resting in plain view in downtown Raleigh? An unassuming crumbling stone wall is the beacon proclaiming this corner lot of Booker and Hill streets as someone's final resting place dating back to the early 1800s. According to historians it may date back to the 1830 and be a part of the "Welcome" property of Henry Seawell (1774-1835).  Read the full story from Heather Leah at WRAL5 source 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 - info(at)wakecogen(dot)org