Creedmoor is a town of approximately 600 souls, all loyal and true Americans. All the good that is found in a town inhabited by good and contented people is right in the small confines of Creedmoor. Steady growth and progress is marking the town’s life and it now finds itself confronted with the same problem that confronts Durham—city extension. The town derives most of its revenue from the farmers although a hosiery mill and two planning mills contribute their portion of funds into the coffers of the town’s treasury. Situated on the Seaboard Air Line branch line running from Durham to Henderson, the town gets a fairly good train schedule and this is a material factor in the development of the town.
Granville county has no town within its borders that surpasses Creedmoor and the surrounding territory in many ways. Oxford, the county seat, is larger and a more beautiful place, it’s true, but it is also a much older town. Creedmoor contributes a large amount of money in the form of taxes to the county treasury for use in building up the county. Its school system has meant much for the education of the youth of the county.
Definite information of the origin of Creedmoor seems to be lacking and hard to get. The town was not incorporated until the year 1905. Many years prior to that time the town was in existence, however. In the early part of 1800 two villages or settlements, Dutchville and Mt. Energy, were located in Granville county with the portion now comprising Creedmoor being the mid-way point. Later on a store was erected by John Royster at the mid-way point and through his efforts a post office was secured. It was named Creedmoor by the post office department, the name was derived from a town in Scotland, it is thought. Mail at that time was delivered by a star route from Franklinton to these points.
Creedmoor became a station in 1888, according to a statement of Col. Cameron when, through is and others efforts, the present railroad line between Durham and Henderson was established. The coming of the railroad spelled the success of the little hamlet for with its advent the town began to grow. The settlement of Dutchville and Mt. Energy were then moved. The village grew to such an extent that in March 1905 the town was incorporated, and now it is a thriving town.
J.L. Peed was the first mayor of the town, and associated with him was a board of commissioners composed of the following men: J.F. Sanderford, I.W. Bullock, S.C. Lyon, C.V. Garner, and R.H. Longmire. It fell upon these far-sighted men to lay the foundation of Creedmoor. Many obstacles were met by them in their work of planning the town but through perseverance and strict adherence to right principles, these were all surmounted. The task of making the first ordinances and laws governing the conduct of the people of the town was one of the first tasks, after which came the duty of building up the town. Their tenure of office was not without its troubles, however. One of the first controversies to come up was the laying of the streets for the town, and this resulting in the putting into effect of a plan of streets that was entirely unsatisfactory. Upon the work of this body of men the town received its inception into the world as an incorporated town and the ruling bodies that came after them had only to build on to the foundation they had begun, the timbers of real town government and progress.
Creedmoor proper covers an area of 800 yards by 1,400 yards with a population of approximately 400 people. Lying immediately adjacent to the town limits, however, reside 200 additional citizens, giving the town a population of around 600 people. Creedmoor is not unlike Durham in that a large portion of the citizenry reside outside the city limits. Unlike Durham, though, the people on the outside have the same advantages at the same price as do those on the inside, with the man on the outside getting it without paying city tax. The advantages offered there to the suburban sections to come into the town are considered not as good as proves to be the case in Durham. I tis considered likely that at some future time, not far distant, the corporate limits will be extended to take in the outlying sections.
During the 18 years since the town was incorporated the town has of course experienced steady growth. In 1905 there were 35 qualified voters while at the last election there were about 150 qualified voters.
Doc Aiken, R.H. Fleming, D.P. Wagstaff, and S.C. Lyon were among the pioneer builders and to their work and far-sightedness in planning the town owes much.
A Farming Section
Tobacco and cotton are the foremost crops raised in Granville county and the farmers are among the most prosperous in the state. Upon the success of their crops depends much the good or bad conditions of the town. Tobacco is grown in large quantities and through the adaptability of the soil for tobacco, excellent crops are raised practically every year. This year promises to be one of the banner years, with large crops and good quality tobacco.
Creedmoor has only one tobacco warehouse—the Globe—and this is operated by the tobacco co-operative marketing association. The farmers who each year dispose of their crops from the floors of auction warehouses bring their tobacco to the Durham market. The co-operative association is declared to be very strong in and around Creedmoor with general satisfaction being shown by the farmers who are members of it. During the past selling season a large amount of tobacco was marketed on the warehouse floor here.
Many farmers of the county will bring their tobacco to Durham to sell, as was mentioned above. The distance between the two places is so small that the operation of an auction system warehouses in Creedmoor is considered unnecessary. The usually good prices paid for the golden week on the Durham market has made it well worth the time of the farmers n bringing their crops there for sale. Many of the farmers will this year dispose of their crops in the same manner and due to the good season they have had in growing tobacco it is expected that good prices will prevail.
Other products of agriculture are raised near Creedmoor also. Practically everything grown in this section of the state is found there.
Business District
The business district of the town is the feature of the town. Stores of all descriptions are located in the large and prosperous section. Stores of practically every type found in the larger cities are doing good business, showing that many of the citizens believe in patronizing the home enterprises as much as it is possible to do. Many of the buildings are excellent brick structures, and, taking everything into consideration, it is a business section in which the people can feel justifiable pride in.
The Planter Bank and Trust company owns and occupies probably most the modern and best buildings of the town. It is constructed of white pressed brick and is two stories in height |The bank occupies part of the building. It is a strong institution with authorized capital of $50,000 and deposits of $250,000. It is the only bank this town affords and it is filling the needs of the people in such a manner that no additional financial institution is needed. Both the townspeople and the farmers make it their headquarters for all matters pertaining to finance. N.J. Boddie, a Durham boy, is president of the bank. He is filling a big place in the life of the town and has filled several offices of trust during the several years he has bene a resident there. One of the offices was of mayor. Other officers of the bank are J.W. Whitfield and H.D. Mangum, vice president; O.L. Mangum, cashier, and Miss Winnie Davis, bookkeeper. The bank is also the depository for the co-operative marketing association.
There are three general supply stores that are doing a big business with the people of the surrounding territory, handling many things necessary for the use by farmers in carrying on agriculture; there are four dry goods stores, four grocery stores, one drug store and other places of business.
The town has two garages, the Automotive Sales Company Inc. and the Creedmoor Auto Company. Both are strong firms, handling the best and most widely known makes of cars. The last named plans a great expansion of business. It has grown from a $10,000 business in 1915 to a $100,000 business in 1923 with the present year giving promise of even surpassing the mark of last year. The Star warehouse has recently been purchased by the firm and it is to be converted into one of the largest Ford sales and service places in the territory.
The town has one hotel, the Hotel Granville.
Manufacturing
Creedmoor has only one manufacturing plant—the Welwurth Hosiery company. The plant was recently taken over by the present corporation and was known as the Granville Hosiery mills. The plant is a one-story brick structure, having 100 knitting machines.
It employs approximately 30 employees and is now working full time. The company makes the 176 needle Heather brand of half hose. The company is now experiencing a shortage of labor but little difficulty is expected to be encountered in securing the operators needed in view of the excellent working conditions offered there. The company has an authorized capital of $50,000. N.J. Boodie is manager of the corporation, J.L. Davis is assistant manager. The mill’s capacity is 75,000 dozen pair of hose per (line omitted in newspaper) declared to be excellent, provided the bottom did not drop from the cotton market.
Electric power is furnished to (rest of sentence omitted in paper)
The mill is erecting some houses of the bungalow type for rent to its employees.
The town also has two lumber plants that are working full time.
Public Utilities
Electric power is furnished to the town by G.H. Dover, operator of one of the mills, for use in the lighting of the streets and homes as well as furnishing power to the industries. All lights go off at midnight every night and all people getting in late must go to bed in the dark.
The Granville Telephone and Telegraph company, operated by J.L. Conrad of Durham, gives the people of the town connection in the town as well as with the outside world.
School System
Creedmoor has one of the best schools in the county of Granville, teaching all of the courses necessary to equip the student for entrance into college or for taking their place in the world of commerce. The school has experienced a steady growth, making it necessary for additions to be made to the building from time to time. An addition is now under way whereby seven rooms will be erected, giving to the community a school building containing 13 rooms, a large auditorium, principal’s office and other innovations now being found in all of the most modern and up to date schools. It will have steam heat, water and lighting systems. The library contains about 500 volumes of excellent books and the students are showing their appreciation by reading them. The books enjoy a wide circulation. The old building was erected in 1907 or 1908.
The enrollment in the white school is expected to reach around 400 students, according to J.A. Pitts, principal. Last year 358 students enrolled but this year is expected to show a good increase.
The transportation of the student to and from the school has proved to be one of the big tasks confronting the school. The school serves the community for several miles outside the town and seven trucks were necessary last term to transport the pupils to schools. An addition of two trucks will be made during the coming term to take care of the increased enrollment.
The entire school plant, including the real estate and equipment, is placed at $100,000.
Mr. Pitts is performing a good work in the community as principal of the school. That he has filled his job to the satisfaction of the public is shown through his long period of service in Creedmoor. He has served in the schools for 11 years and for the past 7 years he has served without a break. He has taken a leading part in education in the country and is considered as being one of the most valuable men in the school service of Granville county. The school is conducted under the county system and is under the direction of the superintendent in Oxford.
Athletics on the highest scale is encouraged in the school and several excellent teams have been developed in the past terms. The prospects for the fall are declared to be bright and for the first time in some time efforts will be made to put out a football team.
For some time the school has been taking part in the triangular debating contests held under the auspices of the University every year, and great progress has been made long this line.
Agriculture and home economics are being taught on a large scale with two people giving practically all of their time to this work. The boys are taught the most modern methods of carrying on agriculture under competent leadership, while the girls are taught cooking, dressmaking and other forms of economics. Great good is resulting from these courses. Each year boys are sent to the state fair in Raleigh to enter the cattle judging contests staged there. The man in charge of agriculture and the home economics teacher also do work in the county, their positions being similar to those of county farm and home demonstration agents.
R.H. Whitfield is chairman of the board of education, O.W. Aiken is secretary and John E. Hart is the third member.
A Good Newspaper
The Creedmoor Times-News is the name of the newspaper published every week in Creedmoor, John E. Hart, veteran newspaper man, is owner and operator of the plant. Job work is done in addition to the work of running a newspaper. Mr. Hart formerly was a member of the Burlington News staff. The Creedmoor paper was established in 1913 with Mr. Hart at the helm and it has experienced an excellent growth. The paper now has a circulation of around 700, and covers the southern section of Granville, the northern section of Wake and part of Durham.
The Government
A mayor and a board of commissioners of three men constitute the ruling authorities of the town. In their hands rests the town government. Monthly meetings are held by the board for considering any matters pertaining to the town. Upon them falls the task of framing all town ordinances regulating the conduct of the town. Upon them falls the task of framing all town ordinances regulating the conduct of the town. B.T. Harris is the mayor and his associates are as follows: E.K. Morris, J.L. Rogers and C.E. Lyon. They are elected by the people and hold office for terms of two years each. The board this term is composed of men who have the interest of the town at heart and who are striving to aid in its progress.
The mayor also acts as judge in the local court. All violations of the law are aired out before him and in his hands rests the fate of prisoner at the bar. The people of Creedmoor are for the most part law abiding people. There is that element found in every community regardless of size that requires the strong arm of the law to keep them traveling the straight and narrow path. All cases coming up that are out of the mayor’s jurisdiction are tried in Oxford as are all cases appealed.
While the jail is no imposing edifice, it serves the community well. From the outside of the building escape looks to be easy for the prisoners incarcerated within its four walls. An inspection on the inside gives the lie to this, however, for it is equipped with modern steel cells. The man who gets away to freedom from one of them must be on his job.
Chief of Police
Manley C. Klapp is chief of police. That he is serving the town well is the opinion of all the law abiding people. His duties are multifarious. He must keep the law breaking element on the go, bringing any of them who flagrantly violate the laws into court; he is town sanitary officer; he keeps the streets in good condition and is also tax collector. The people of the town give him much praise for the manner in which he is cleaning up the streets and sidewalks of the town. Under his direction the weeds are being removed from all sidewalks and they are kept in a good condition. The streets are kept in good condition through filling in the holes that appear in them from time to time. The sanitary condition of the town is one of the biggest problems. But the chief has met the task squarely and the results are already visible. The criminal element of the town holds him in great fear, it is stated. A story is told on him since his arrival to take over his duties about a run in with the negro element. A meeting was in progress in a church and some negroes had blocked the sidewalk. The chief walked up to them, so the story goes, and ordered them to move on. One of the huskies gave the officer some “sass” to the effect that the officer might assist him to get off, lwhereupon, according to the story, Klapp walked up to him and handed him a Firpo wallop to the jaw, permitting the negro to hear the sweet birdies sing. Since that time the negroes hold him much in fear, it is said, and he no longer experiences any trouble in keeping order among them.
Mr. Klapp was formerly a member of the Durham police force.
The health of the people generally must be good since only one physician dwells in the town. The same applies to law and order there being only one lawyer in business there.
Two White Churches
The Methodists and Baptists are the only denominations in the town having churches. Both of them are very active and are headed by men who are liked and highly respected in the community. Through the church life the spirit of the people is kept contented and much good is being wrought through them. Rev. B.A. Royal is pastor of the Methodist church, while Rev. E.R. Harris is shepherd of the Baptist flock. N.J. Boddie is superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school, and O.E. Wheeler holds the same office in the Baptist institution.
Both of the churches are wooden structures. They are taxed to capacity every Sunday. The services alternate in the two churches with the services being held in the Methodist church one Sunday with the Baptists holding the services on the next Sunday.
The people are enthusiastic over the designation of the Creedmoor route from Oxford to Durham has the highway. With the paving of this project the town will enter in upon anew era, it is thought. It will mean the opening up of new territory and the building up of the section served by it. Some of those interviewed regarding the selection of the route declared that they would dislike to get anything that would work hardship on the people residing on the Stem route, but they felt that the present road between Oxford and Durham by way of Stem and Providence will be kept in its present good condition, thereby giving them a good route as well as giving the people of Creedmoor section a good road. The farmers will be greatly benefitted by the hard surfaced road, it was declared. It will better enable them to market their tobacco and the other products of the farm, bringing the farmer closer to town and the town nearer to the farmer.
The people of Creedmoor section took an active interest in the fight staged before Commissioner John Sprunt Hill and the road problem but the majority of the people expressed themselves as feeling confident that they would get the road since it required only a little study to determine the great need for it in winning community.
Photos on this page show the Baptist Church, school house, bank building, Cozart home and a typical home, which is the home of J.E. Hart, newspaper publisher.
From page 14 of the Durham Morning Herald, Aug. 19, 1923. Ads on the page include Pollard Brothers hardware store; Madam Wray, the scientific palmist; and mill work done at Durham Lumber Comapny
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