Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-10-19
History OF Henderson
= Related To Rotarians

Henderson, it's birth and growth,
was most graphically described by j.
H. Bridgers to the members of the
Rotary club at it's regular meeting
last evening at the Vance hotel.
S. T. Peace had charge of the pro-
gram, and presented Mr.. Bridgers.
There was one visitor, Frank Nc
Neny, of Dallas, Texas, guest of A. T.
McNeny.
Mr.. Bridgers outlined the history
of the city from the institution of the
Lewis Reavis deed of about 1910 for
10 acres Of land to the Raleigh and
CASTOR railroad upon which the pres
ent freight and passenger station of
the Seaboard Air Line railway is sit
uated. The speaker said this land ex-
tended along either side of the rail-
road from about the intersection of
Breckenridge street with Garnett,
north to the Henderson Granite and
Marble works, and on the east side of
the railroad from the present vince
theatre to a point near the Brecken-
ridge street intersection. The land ex-
tended back about 200 feet east of
William street.
{ Mr.. Bridgers talk was based upon
so years of experience with the city.
The speaker traced what has hap
pened since the land grant to the rail-
road
I'm 1841 he continued, a charter was
granted the city, and at this point he
suggested that plans be made for the
observance of the Tooth anniversary
III !,
a Homecoming Week. The speaker
told of experiences gained by actual
connection with the city since 1889
through official life. He told of most
of the important events, such as big
fires, formation of Vance county in
1881 establishment of city water
works in 1890, formation of the Amer
lean Tobacco Co., in Durham in 1890,
and it's effect on the population and
tobacco market of Henderson at that
time. He related that there were 60
tobacco merchants and manufacturers
in 1890. He traced the highlights in
the formation of the churches and
schools here and in formation of the
county.
He described the period of 1880 to
derson struggled to exist. During this
period, the first textile mill was es
tablished at North Henderson, and to-
bacco farmers began large scale pro-
duction, bringing more cash money to
the farm people.
In 1904, a sewer system was estab-
ished here, and street paving was
Begun, modern steam power plant was
erected, later being purchased by the
Carolina Power and Light Company;
another bank, the First National, was
organized in 1904, and the period from
1904 to 1914 was described by the
speaker as 1.-The Golden Era of Hen
derson." Every business and every
person, he said, had money and there
were no failures nor bankruptcies
during that period.
The speaker dal not discuss the pc
Rod from 1914 to the present time,
declaring that he would not dwell on
the uncertainties of 1918-28 period.
The talk was thoroughly enjoyed b.
the Rotarians, many of them learning
for the first time some vital informa
! ton about Henderson and its early
business.
An interesting detail in Mr.. Bird
gers talk was the purchasing of $780,
600 bonds by the city of the Durham
and Northern railroad, with the I'M
derstanding the line was not to go in
to Oxford. The line did not go into
Oxford until the Seaboard bought tie
bonds and laid the track from Dicker-