MHA Annual Meeting - April 12, 2013

Mark your calendars: 

• Historic Murfreesboro Commission, Spring Meeting, Friday April 12, 2013
• The 47th Annual Meeting of the Murfreesboro Historical Association will take place at noon on Friday, April 12, at John's Seafood Restaurant, 315 East Main Street, in Murfreesboro.  Speaker will be Reid Thomas, Restoration Specialist, NC State Preservation Office in Greenville.   Elections of MHA Officers and Board Members will be held during the Annual Meeting.  (Personal note - it would be helpful if Annual Meetings were not always held in the middle of a weekday.  It makes it difficult for working members to attend. )  Cost is $15 per person, with a stated deadline of April 5.
• Jefcoat Museum's Annual Pork Fest will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Brady C. Jefcoat Museum.  Cost is $10.00 per person.

Murfreesboro Businessmen of Long Ago

 

 

And another piece of local ephemera: 

 

 

 

Murfreesboro Merchants', Business and Professional
Men's Association
Murfreesboro N.C.

 

 



More Ephemera

A few more examples of local ephemera (letterhead).

J. Lawrence Harrington & Co.,
Aulander NC, 1909

 

 

Tyler, Futrell & Co., General Merchandise
Roxobel NC, 1909 

 

 

 People's Bank of Murfreesboro NC
1906

 

 

Historic Murfreesboro NC Ephemera

It was great to see so many friends in Murfreesboro !

Last night I gave a short program for the Friends of Whitaker Library at Chowan University .  The talk was entitled The Stuff of History: Why Research and Academic Institutions Collect Ephemera. Unfortunately, I had a few "technical difficulties" with the PowerPoint, so I thought it might be helpful to add some of the images here to the blog.  Hopefully everyone will enjoy seeing the items in more detail (click on the image to see enlargements).

Most of the ephemera downloaded (over the next few weeks) will be historic letterhead from Murfreesboro and nearby communities. If you have additional information about the businesses or individual owners represented ----  please leave comments.  We would all like to learn more about these former local business leaders.

The letterhead has been found in various collections, and offers a fascinating snapshot of a place or time. Scholars of this subject point out that the rich illustrations and elaborate printing of commercial letterheads, billheads, and envelopes correspond with the dramatic rise in industrialization in America. According to one expert, the period 1860 to 1920 represents the heyday of commercial stationery. As commercial artists influenced the job printing profession, the illustrations became more detailed and creative.

R. Sewell, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Groceries

Murfreesboro NC 1898

D.C. Barnes, Attorney and Councelor at Law

Murfreesboro NC

Fentress Lumber Co. Manufactureres, J.E. Fentress, Manager

Murfreesboro NC 1898

Murfreesboro NC - Wesleyan Female College - 1882-83

Wesleyan Female College, Murfreesboro N.C.
E.E. Parham, A.M. President
Session 1882-83

Board of Corporators

Hon. D.A. Barnes - President
J.N. Lawrence - Secretary
J.N. Harrell
J.W. Hill
Jno. W. Harrell
H.T. Lassiter
G.N. Harrell
Rev. Wm. Grant
T.W. Mason
Jno. C. Lawrence M.D.
L.B. Kilby
L.C. Lawrence
J.T. Lewter, M.D.
E. Jacobs
S.F. Pearce
J.M. Wynns
Hon. J.J. Yeates

Faculty 1882-1883

Literary Department
E.E. Parham, A.M.
Mental and Moral Philosophy

J.T. Littleton. A.M.
Physical Sciences and Higher Mathematics

Miss Lelia Camp
English and Arithmetic

Miss Maggie Parham
English and French

Miss ---------
English Literature and History

Prof. J.T. Littleton
French and German

Prof. E.E. Payham
Latin

Miss Lelia Camp
Calisthenics and Elocution

Music Department

Prof. ----------
Piano and Organ

Mrs. Sue Montgomery Funk
Instrumental Music

Mrs. Blanche C. Myrick
Vocal Music

Art Department
Miss Ella L. Jester

Domestic Department
Mr. and Mrs. Parham


SESSION 1881-82

List of Students

Miss Mattie Ames Nansemond County, Virginia
Miss Lelia Adams Southampton County, Virginia
Miss Pattie Adams Southampton County, Virginia
Miss Natalie Applewhite Southampton County, Virginia
Miss Elma Bryant Southampton County, Virginia
Miss Blannie Britton Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Jimmie Cullens Harrellsville, North Carolina
Miss Linda Carter Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Annie Douglas Norfolk County, Virginia
Miss Minnie Durfey Harrellsville, North Carolina
Miss Mollie Futrell Northampton, North Carolina
Miss Gertrude Harrell Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Mary Lassiter Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Fannie Marks Warrenton, North Carolina
Miss Laura Morrisette Camden, North Carolina
Miss Carrie Moodie Greensville, Virginia
Miss Georgie Pipkin Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Belle Stevenson Northampton, North Carolina
Mis Lillie Vick Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Addie Walker Greensville, Virginia
Miss Ella Williams Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Annie Williams Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Indie Ward Northampton, North Carolina
Miss Lillie Whitehead Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Ella Whitehead Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Mary Wynns Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Jennie Wynns Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Miss Lucy Wynns Murfreesboro, North Carolina

German Only:
Miss Sallie Vaughan Murfreesboro, North Carolina

German and Music Only:
Miss Maggie Parham Murfreesboro, North Carolina


Origin and Location

This college had its origin in the desire of certain gentleman of Murfreesboro and the neighboring counties in Virginia and North Carolina, to promote the cause of Female Education, and especially to provide for their own daughters the best collegiate instruction in their midst, in that region of country in which they were born and were likely to live.

The location was fixed at Murfreesboro, Hertford County, N.C., a place of 700 or 800 inhabitants, agreeably situated, and perhaps more healthy than any within the tidewater region, where the Baptist church has already established the Chowan Baptist Collegiate Institute.

The climate during the winter is especially mild. Pulmonary diseases and the typhoid fever, so fatal in the upper country and among the mountains, are of very rare occurrence here. In six years before the war, out of more than 700 students, there were but two deaths, and few cases of real illness; and in eight years since the war, with nearly 1000 pupils, there has been but one death and no very serious sickness. This testimony as to the healthfulness cannot be surpassed in any part of the country.

Within two hundred yards of the building is a valuable mineral spring. The water is cold, pleasant to the taste, and an excellent tonic. Those who have used it regularly have found it to be a specific remedy for dyspepsia and general debility.

The New Building

As us generally known, the first building, with the furniture, was totally destroyed by fire about four years ago. With a spirit most commendable and loyal to the demands of the higher education of young ladies, the Board of Corporators determined to rebuild as soon as practicable.

As the result of their untiring efforts and liberality, an elegant edifice now stands on the site of the old, admirably suited to the purposes for which it was designed. Situated in the middle of its spacious grounds, which are ornaments with shade trees and flowers, it furnishes ample room for out-door exercise and recreation. Containing all under one roof a spacious and beautiful chapel, parlor, dining-room, music rooms, high pitched and well ventilated dormitories, all heated by steam, it prevents exposure and affords all the anxious parents may desire, or that young ladies may need or health, comfort, and convenience.

The old furniture having been destroyed, all the sleeping apartments, as well as the other rooms are supplied with new and tasteful sets, not surpassed, if equalled, by our first-class institutions.

Apparatus

A new Philosophical and Chemical apparatus will be purchased in time for the session, enabling the Professor to explain and illustrate more fully the principles of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry.

College Library

Steps will be inaugurated at an early day to form a library of books on general literature, and efforts used to foster a taste for a careful and discriminating perusal of our best authors.

The young ladies have organized a Literary Society for mutual improvement in Composition and Elocution. They will thank their friends for contributions of money or books.

Board of Instruction

Under the new organization there is ab able and experienced faculty, consisting of eight or nine instructors.

The high grade of scholarship which gave prestige to the College and enhanced the value of its diplomas will be maintained.

Modern methods and appliances, when deemed valuable, will be adopted and used, and constant efforts will be made to add to the well merited reputation of the Institution for the extent and thoroughness of its course of instruction.

(etc etc etc)

Interesting New Book

An interesting new book was just published. Titled "The Nat Turner Insurrection Trials - A Mystic Chord Resonates Today", the work was written by attorney Walter L. Gordon III, and is available from Amazon.com for $13.99.

"Walter L. Gordon's A Mystic Chord Resonates Today: The Nat Turner Insurrection Trials is the first book by a legal scholar to examine the 50 trials of slaves and free blacks charged with insurrection. Of the 45 slaves tried, 15 were acquitted, an acquittal rate in excess of 30%. Of the 30 convicted slaves, nearly half were granted mercy. The Nat Turner insurrection was the crest of a wave of insurrections in Virginia between 1800 and 1831. After the Nat Turner insurrection trials there were no further slave insurrections in Virginia until John Brown's raid in 1859. In addition, it is the first book to compare the aftermath of the Nat Turner insurrection, the largest terrorist attack on American soil at that time, to 9/11, with an effort to draw lessons for today from the past. "

Although the book doesn't appear to mention Murfreesboro's role in the Nat Turner Story, it is an interesting account of the insurrection with special emphasis on the trials. For a detailed account of the events from Murfreesboro's point of view, consult Thomas Parramore's 2004 book "Murfreesboro, North Carolina and the Roots of Nat Turner’s Revolt".

Fannie Southall's Death

Raleigh Biblical Recorder, April 15, 1853:

(From Dr. Samuel J. Wheeler, on a visit to relatives in Mississippi. Samuel Wheeler at the time owned and lived in the Wheeler House.)

"My pen is sad to-night; news from Carolina renders me melancholy. A letter just received, contains the following morceau:

'When quiet and composure were brought about, they proceeded from giving away of the power of life. It was the calm preceeding death. As the lamp of life flickered in its socket for the last time, her consciousness returned, and reason reascended her throne; she recognized her father, who had been her constant attendant during the wild delirium that had supplanted her judgement, with her dying breath whisperedin his ear 'though I walk the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil' and died quiet and resigned. G.C.M.'

I had left this fair young being blooming in health and beauty but a few short months since, the life of every circle, the cynosure of all eyes;and hoped again to see her, and spend years of pleasure with her; but she is gone. I can only say, farewell, dear cousin. To relieve an aching heart, before closing my eyes in sleep, I penned the following lines:

'In memory of Miss .F. Southall, late of Murfreesboro N.C. ....

(Long poem follows. Dr. Wheeler had heard of Fannie Southall's death from his brother-in-law, Dr. Godwin Cotton Moore. She was the daughter of John W. Southall by his first marriage to Julia Johnson.)