The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-03
DAY At LAURABURG
Some "reminiscences of its
Earlier Days.
Some Lively Scenes on the Streets Saturdays
Removal Of the Shops Did No Lasting
Hurt 10 the Town.
Especial to News ana Observer.

Laur1nDurg, N. u, sept. Z.-IHe pellllOn
for incorporation of Laurinburg was pre-
scented to the Legislature at the session
of 1877. Its first mayor was the late
Washington A. Gill; the father of Thos. j.
Gill. cashier of the Bank of Laurnburg,
and Mrs Walter II. Neal.
With the country people this new or
der of things was regarded in the light
of an infringement upon their rights, and
certain of them rebelled, came TO town
and raised cain to their own sorrow In
these days, just following the reign OF
terror brought about by the Lowry gang
knock-downs, drag outs, shooting aud cut
ting scraDes were a common occurrence
on Saturday, and the town marshal had
his hands full. l recall one of these Sat
u"days: Street conditions were such as to
call forth the displeasure Of my old
friend Col. Steve Thomas, who put his
trusty gun in the hands of one Ivey-the
streets were lined with people, and lead
ing him to one side of the thoroughfare,
the Colonel said, "Ivey, just fire down to
the left, you know" Fortunately, Ivry was
prevented and boodshed from Col. Thorn
as gun was averted.
In those days the railway shops were
located here and the employees contributed
largely to the population as we'll as to
the Golfers of merchantmen. For sew
cral years there was frequent talk of the
shops being moved and this caused a
constant unrest, which prevented growth
OF a permanent nature. Indeed the shops
were looked upon as the sole life of the
town. Finally these went and crisis
was reached For awhile it looked as if
all that was needed was a funeral service.
Property deprecated in value. The mer-
chants felt the sting of the loss of trade
and the impression went broadcast that
Laurinburg was dead.
This was the best thing that could
have happened to the town. OF course
many suffered but so soon as her people
awoke to the conditions "a general awaken
ing was on and the old town was resur
rected, and a new life begun-a life
that marks growth of stability. Though
crippled often by fire, there arises from the
debris larger and more substantial build
ings. In former days the homes were
all cottages-today homes, palatial al
nest dot the streets while factory whis-
ties rend the air, the products of these
going out into the markets of the world
Thes sturdy Scotchmen-no better people
ever lived than are to be found in and
around Laurinburg-are building we'll
The future of the town is as bright as
the monday sun. 1t is now county-seatl
and the court house of Scotland county
is we'll under way. 1t is patterned after
the Iredell county court house, in
design, with some Improvement in the
plan and will be thing of beauty. The
foundation of the county Jail, too, is being
layed. This ms. not be needed but in
obedience to the law it is being erected.
To stimulate this splendid people to
greater effort and greater accomplish
ment even than present success, is a back
country surpassed by none. Great strides
have been made in agricultural lines. A
drive from Laurnburg to the farms
around is well worth ones while. TIE
soil is rich, the farmers are intelligent
and the present state of cultivation is
first class. To average a bale of cotton
to the acre throughout the community is
small yield. Indeed, many farms sur
pass this and produce frequently two to
two and half bales per acre. There
will not be more, it is thought, than
60 per cent of a crop made this year, and
yet with rain at intervals of ten days for
the next month there are crops within
a stones throw of the town that will
yield two bales to the acre. With such
pect the growth of Laurnburg in the
next decade to be in nature phcnomi-
nal.
The burnt district is rapidly being re-
built and soon large two and three story
brick buildings will have taken the place
of smoking debris and the picture pre-
scented will be one of interest to the
visitor and of pride to citizens. Promi-
nent among the merchants here are: w
d. James, Robt. +. Lee, McDougald &
Sons, Prince & Blue, L.. A. Monroe Mercer
& Wright, j. T. Holland, Fields & Bro,
Dr. G. d. Everington, j. c.. Morgan, j.
+. McNair. Will Cameron, NJ G. Mckay,
Miss Mittie Sanford.
Laurinburg High School opened today
with between seventy-flve and hundred
pupils. The faculty is composed of Profs.
Wyche and McRae, assisted by Miss Kate
Grey Allen, of Raleigh who arrived Sat
urday to take charge of the primary de-
partment. Besides the above school an
excellent primary and music school is con-
Quoted by Miss Agnes McGeachy with Miss
Annie Rose in charge Of the kindergarten
department.
Water works, electric lights and a mod
ern hotel are among the improvements
promised in the near future.
The Glenn House is the old Catholic
church enlarged and fitted up
in hotel shape. 1t is we'll kept and is
named after that splendid Irish American
gentleman the nobie-hearted James Ma
glenn, so long connected with the Seaboard
Air Line Mr. and Mrs. Jones, of the
Glenn House, are very attentive to their
guests The drinking water used at the
Glenn is brought in twice day from
mineral spring some two miles distant,
to The north of the town.
Ny residence here was period of
twelve years and a most delightful one.
/ recall, that at the age of eighteen
years, | supplied the local page of the
first issue of the Laurinburg Enterprise,
now the Exchange. At the age of twenty
one years l married my wife, whom 1
met here and yesterday, September
list, was the eighteenth birthday OF my
first born, who first saw the light in the
old town SO much love.
This visit to my old home and to my
old friends, after an absence of dozen
years, has been a most delightful one.
They compliment me on my connection
with the News and Observer and further