Articles by Shane Williams

Colleges and Universities

High Point University

1836-1865

 

Business and Industry

Family Dollar Stores

1946-1990

  Family Dollar is a discount store chain, with headquarters in Matthews, North Carolina. The company operates over 7,100 stores in 45 states and in Washington D.C. As one of the first discount stores, Family Dollar expanded to over 6,800 stores in 44 states and competes with large companies such as Costco, Dollar General, and Wal-Mart.

Flu Pandemic (1919)

1916-1945

  From Spring 1918 to early 1919, North Carolina experienced the deadliest flu pandemic in modern times. An influenza virus spread throughout Europe, then North America, and eventually the globe. By April 1919, the virus infected one million North Carolinians and among them, 13,600 died.   

Places

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

1866-1915

Currituck Beach Lighthouse is located on the Outer Banks in Corolla, North Carolina. It was put on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1973; the lighthouse is the last brick lighthouse built on the Outer Banks.

African American

Hiram Rhodes Revels (1827 –1901)

1836-1865

A North Carolina native, Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate and in U.S. Congress

Political History

Josephus Daniels (1862 – 1948)

1866-1915

Josephus Daniels was a prominent journalist and newspaper editor from North Carolina. He purchased the Raleigh News and Observer in 1894 and became a leading “New South” political commentator.  He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of the Navy during World War I.  He later served as ambassador to Mexico under President Franklin Roosevelt.

Business and Industry

“Live at Home” Program

1916-1945

Governor O. Max Gardner implemented the Live at Home Program in 1929. The initiative encouraged farmers to increase food and livestock production in order to improve farm conditions and provide for year round family farm consumption.

Education

Mary T. Martin Sloop (1873 – 1962)

1866-1915

Mary T. Martin Sloop was a physician and educator from Davidson, North Carolina.  She played an instrumental role in educational efforts and reform in western North Carolina.  In particular, she established the Crossnore School for mountain children.

Women

Cornelia Phillips Spencer (1825 – 1908)

1836-1865

Cornelia Phillips Spencer was not only a North Carolina poet, historian, and journalist but also a leader in the reopening of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after it survived five, dormant years during Reconstruction.

Business and Industry

Drexel Furniture Company

1916-1945

Drexel Furniture Company began operations near Morganton.  The Appalachian Mountain company, in time, became one of the world’s leading furniture producers.

Business and Industry

Luther H. Hodges (1895 – 1974)

1866-1915

Luther Hodges was the 64th Governor of North Carolina (1954 to 1961). He also served as United States Secretary of Commerce from 1961 to 1965.Hodges was known for his role in creating Research Triangle Park.

Places

Oakdale Cemetery

1866-1915

Located in Wilmington, Oakdale Cemetery is the largest in the city, and many prominent Wilmingtonians are buried there. Oakdale is also known for being North Carolina's first rural cemetery.