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Angier Depot |
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Evaluations of Accomplishments |
STORY OF THE QUILT SQUARE, THE ANGIER DEPOT, BY THE AMBASSADOR
.EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS CLUB FOR THE HARNETT COUNTY HISTORICAL QUILT, 1989 ANGIER DEPOT It
was in the early 1900's that the last rail was laid and the last spike
driven in what was known as the Durham and Southern Railroad. It was
little more than a tram-way leading from Apex in Wake County to the Jake
Williams farm in Harnett County. This tram-way was developed by the
Washington Duke family. Washington Duke, whose pack house, the
"damn Yankee’s" broke in, stole some of his tobacco, rubbed
it between their hands, filled their clay pipes and thereby obtained the
sweetest and coolest smoke that a Yankee ever had experienced. When
their mission "down south" had '0 ended, back home they went,
and in no time they were writing old Mr. Duke for more of 1.S North
Carolina "golden leaf". As a result of this, so tradition has
it, old Mr. Duke and his sons became the fore-runners and probably the
founders of the American Tobacco Company...thereby putting Durham on the
map. Col.
Angier owned and operated a plant at Cary, known as the Cary Lumber
Company and conceived the idea of building a railroad along the pine
ridge leading from Apex southerly to Harnett County... and supposedly
with the financial backing of the Dukes, he did build the railroad. A
station house was erected, and was generally occupied by the train crew,
who spent their nights there. The train made round trips daily from Jake
Williams' farm to Apex and back, staying over at night and leaving
promptly at 8:30 in the morning. On the way up, various sidings, of
either lumber or logs, along the line of the train were picked up. Four
or five such cars loaded down the little two-wheeler, bonnet smoke-stack
locomotive. This little engine was known by many as the "Little
Goat". As
yet no name had been selected for the station. Some suggested Williams,
others Williamsville and still others suggested Williamsburg or Williams
Station. Finally a compromise was reached and they named the station
Angier, in honor of Johnathan C. Angier, who played a major part in the
building of the railroad. The
depot was used regularly as the train passed through until sometime in
the 70's when Durham and Southern ceased their daily trips through
Angier. For several years, the depot was not in use, but through the
efforts of the Town of Angier and the Chamber of Commerce, the 'old
depot' was restored and is used for community activities. Adjoining the
depot is a caboose donated by Durham and Southern Railroad that housed
the Chamber of Commerce Office until August, 1992, when a need for more
space resulted in the Chamber Office being moved into the depot. Plans
are to use one room of the depot as a museum or history room. Submitted
by: Avis Hall, member Ambassador
Extension Homemakers Club Source:
Voices of Yesteryear By:
Betty C. Pleasant et. al. Raleigh:
The Graphic Press Quilt
Square: Row 7, Number 36 Embroidery
and applique by: Gladys Woodley and Becky Partin, members Ambassador
Extension Homemakers Club |
