The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-19

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or stone house. For the first two years
lie occupied Il little wooden building
near his present store, but in January,
1885 the building he now occupies was
completed and he moved into it and
there he has been ever since. selling
groceries and snuff. 1t was his large
trade in the latter article that gave
him the sobriquet among the country
people Of Snuff Bill Upchurch."
This ancient building is. if possible.
more unique and interesting than its
occupant. There has hardly been a
change in it. even to the arrangement
Of the goods on the shelves, since Mr..
| pchurch moved into it 81 years ago.
1t is one Of the landmarks of Raleigh
filled with a store of historical relics
that true antiquary might revel i'm
for months and not exhaust The
same old wooden clock ticks on the
mantle in the room back Of the store,
that was there GO years ago, and it
keeps good time For this Mr.. Up
church has been offered almost fabul-
Gus sums and as YOU examine its queer
shape and antique design YOU catch
Yourself wondering if it too. like the
old grandfather's clock" in the song
viii now stop never to go again. On
the inside of the door 10 this room is
the following record. written in chalk.
and as plain now as the day it was
made April 20, year 1888, snow fall
ing at O'Clock a, m, still falling at 2
p. m"
This said Mr.. Upchurch, as he
lighted his old fashioned tallow dip,
70 illume the darkness of the room,
so that the reporter might read twas
written by my brother-in-law, Hen
derson Register iii 1888"
The store room is not more than
20x20 feet and one can see at a glance
that no modern innovations have been
allowed to creep in and disturb the
ancient order of things 4 customer
of % years ago would recognize it at
once. The counter is arranged Just as
it was then, the cracker and soap boxes
occupy exactly the same places and
positions they have held for the last
quarter of a century. The bladders Of
snuff are just as they were when our
grandmothers sent to town for "some-
thing TO dip" and cautioned our fathers
to be sure to 90 to Snuff Bill Up
church's'' to get it.
But all this too is to now undergo
change. The business tomorrow
passes into the hands of Mr.Upchurch's
grand-sons, Vernon and Bailey Up
church.
The work Of remodelliDg the build
ing will begin at once and it will be
converted into a handsome, modern
store with new and large stock of
goods / imagined there was a touch
Of sadness in the voice of the old gen
tleman as be made this announcement
and added. Il have seen Raleigh grow
up around me, the new and handsome
buildings giving place to the old, now
! too am going to get out OF the way
and let the BOYS take the BUSINESS"
Mr.. Cpchurch has many relatives IN
this city and county. He is the faith
or Of Mrs. w. II. Dodd Mrs. w. q. Up
church, Chas ID. Upchurch, Mrs. Sim
Pool, Mrs. Moring, Mrs. Logan Harris.
Mrs. T.. 4. Carter, Geo. Upchurch, Reid
Upchurch. and John IIoIleman Up
church. He was for many years treas
tlrer of the city, and though he kept
no books, but carried his accounts in
his head. he was never known to make
a mistake during the whole time he
was in office. He kept his private
business in the same manner. There
was never an honester man born,
said II prominent citizen yesterday,
speaking Of his retirement from bust
ness.
Mr.. Upchurch is the oldest subscri-
Der of the News and Observer in Raj
egh II began taking it when il was
started in 1876" ne said, land I've been
regular subscriber ever since.