Lot 35
Southwest Corner of Churton and Tryon streets
Uncertain Use
1768
Sauthier presents only two structures on this lot, both of which are solid buildings, possibly private dwellings. However, he drew no kitchen gardens to support those who might be residing in these dwellings. Consequently, their purpose is uncertain.
Also unknown is who owned the buildings. One early deed indicates that in 1771, Julius King sold the portion of the lot on the corner of Churton and Tryon Street that contained one of the buildings; however, no surviving deed records when King purchased the property or from whom. Portions of the lot were owned by Edmund Fanning, who owned the adjoining lot 34. During the Revolution, Fanning’s property was confiscated along with the other properties owned by Loyalists.
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Little is known of Julius King. In Orange County Superior Court records, he is sometimes listed as “Junior King.”
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There is little evidence that this lot was used commercially at this time, even though it was already subdivided by 1768.
Detail of lot 35 from the Sauthier Map
with Edmund Fanning's estate to the west and lot 25 to the south
Young & Turner
1768
Around 1812, John Young and Josiah Turner Sr. entered into a partnership and purchased this lot in order to operate a blacksmith shop. Wagons were among the items they produced. Young lived on the property. His house was described as “containing seven rooms, with four fire-places; also a kitchen, smoke-house, corn-crib, and an excellent blacksmith shop with four forges.”
(L) During the 1800’s, smiths created and repaired important tools and equipment, including nails, horseshoes, plows, scythes, hinges, and other hardware.
(C) Anvils, hammers, tongs, wedges, and chisels were the key tools of a blacksmith. Many were hand-made by the smith.
(R) A blacksmiths shop in Fuquay Springs, NC. Photo taken in 1935 by the WPA.
John Young was called “Captain,” possibly for service in the Revolutionary War. He died in 1822.
Josiah Turner Sr. (1782-1874) was born in Caswell County. His father James was a farmer and had served in the infantry during the American Revolution. Josiah learned the trades of a blacksmith and a tinsmith. Around 1808, he moved to Orange County where he continued to farm, amass land, and work as a smith. He was elected sheriff in 1810 and held the position for the next eight years. In 1816, he married Eliza “Betsy” Evans (1790-1873), niece of Elizabeth “Eliza” Estes (See Lot 36).
Portraits of Josiah Turner and his wife Eliza “Betsy” Evans Turner from the collection of the Orange County Historical Museum.
In addition to his blacksmith business with John Young, by 1820, Turner had gone into business with James S. Smith, making stills. In addition to his blacksmith business with John Young, by 1820, Turner had gone into business with James S. Smith, making stills. A May 17, 1820 notice in the newspaper indicated that the two men had been in business with Jeff Jeffers in a firm that bore Jeffers’ name and sold sheet copper, lead, pewter, tin ware, tea kettles, as well as scrap and old copper. Upon Jeffers death, Turner and Smith held a public sale and then continued in business together.
After Young died, Turner inherited the business. He first sold off Young’s tools and other “property,” including slaves. Then, Turner sold the lot and moved the forge to Lot 80.
Advertisements by Josiah Turner in the Hillsborough Recorder:
(L) July 12, 1820, for the still-making business
(C) December 25, 1822, selling John Young's possessions after his death
(R) May 4, 1825, selling the lot
In 1829, Turner began a mercantile business with William H. Phillips called Josiah Turner & Co (see Lot ?). The partnership ended in 1833. Three years later, Turner purchased Phillips’ home on the southwest corner of Churton and Orange streets. Turner continued to achieve great success in business and by 1850, he was the second largest landowner in the county with an estimated worth of $25,000 according to the census. After the Civil War, he lost his wealth, and in 1872, he had to sell most of his holdings to pay his debts.
The Farmer's Hotel
c. 1826
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Despite his attempt to sell Young’s house, no records indicate that Turner was successful in this endeavor. Instead, an advertisement in the Hillsborough Recorder states that Turner began operating a hotel in the house named The Farmer’s Hotel. Although Turner continues to own the property, in 1837, William Piper assumed the management of the hotel. His tenure did not last long. In 1838, Richeson Nichol became the proprietor. Despite Bailey’s notation that an “old tavern” was located on this spot in 1839, it was presumably The Farmer’s Hotel since the hotel was still in operation in 1847, now under the management of A.C. Murdock.
William Piper (c.1802-1868) was the son of John Piper who owned close to 600 acres along the Eno River near Few’s Mill. William was educated at the Piper-Cabe schoolhouse. In 1831, he attempted to revitalize his family’s business that included a blacksmith shop, a grist mill, oil mill, sawmill, wheat threshing machine, and wool carding machine. Unfortunately, the mill operation failed the following year. After running The Farmer’s Hotel for a year, Piper became a schoolteacher and was instrumental in establishing Pleasant Green Methodist Church. He later moved to Granville County, NC where he died.
Richison Nichol (1787-1858) was a magistrate of the Hillsborough police and served as a town commissioner. He also owned the Orange Hotel (Colonial Inn) from 1841-1856 and ran a "Cash Store" in the 1840s (see Lot 6).
(L) A February 24, 1837, advertisement in the Hillsborough Recorder announcing that William Piper was now the proprietor of The Farmer's Hotel, formerly conducted by Mr. Turner.
(LC) William Piper's bill of fare as it appeared in the Hillsborough Recorder: on August 19, 1837
(RC) Richison Nichols' January 3, 1839, announcement of his management in the Hillsborough Recorder
(R) A.C. Murdock's advertisement in the Hillsborough Recorder on September 30, 1847
Cave and Holland Dry Goods
c. 1830
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In 1826, Samuel Simpson of New Bern became the owner of the section of the lot on the corner of Churton and Tryon streets. Three years later, he decided to sell the dwelling that he had recently built. It was two stories and contained six rooms as well as a stable, kitchen, and other outbuildings. It also boasted of a piazza across the northern end of the house along Tryon Street.
Although not recorded, the dwellings became the property of Hudson Cave and James Holland who used it to operate a dry goods store. Holland lived in the home. When the business decided to relocate to Chapel Hill in 1838, they sold the property.
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Hudson Cave (b. 1796) worked for many years as a physician in Chapel Hill. He was involved with Whig politics and real estate, buying and selling many properties in Chapel Hill. In 1842, both he and Holland declared bankruptcy.
(L) A December 20, 1838, announcement of Cave and Holland’s removal to Chapel Hill in the Hillsborough Recorder.
(R) An advertisement for the sale of the property that appeared in the Hillsborough Recorder on January 10, 1839.
An 1800s dry goods store.
Pleasants Tailor
c. 1838
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When Cave and Holland vacated their store, Robert F Pleasants moved in and started a tailoring business. He advertised that he was prepared to execute his work in a “superior style” with the latest fashions.
Robert F Pleasants (1806-1886) married Anne Hancock (d. 1876) in 1829. They had eight children, four boys and four girls. In 1850, they lived with seven family members and two other individuals. One was an 82-year-old white man of seemingly no relation. The other was a 40-year-old mulatto woman, presumably a domestic servant. Of the family members residing with him, one was a 20-year-old whose occupation was listed as “lecturer.”
Pleasants was a member of Eagle Lodge for more than fifty years and served as Masonic Tyler, the guard of the outer door of the lodge. He also held the positions of tax collector and policeman in Hillsborough. Interestingly, he was the jailor in Hillsborough in 1835 when the jail was burned by Henry Harris, who was accused of trying to incite a slave rebellion in Southampton, VA.
Pleasants was a member of the Presbyterian Church and is buried in the Old Town Cemetery, although his grave is not currently identified.
(L) A November 29, 1838, announcement of Robert Pleasants' tailoring business in the Hillsborough Recorder.
(R) A May 23, 1839 advertisement for Pleasants' business.
Pleasants continued to list his occupation as “tailor,” even on the 1880 census when he was in his 70s. His obituary stated that he remained in the profession until a few months before his death at the age of 80. Whether he continued to maintain a store is unknown. The 1863 map does not show anyone on the northern half of the lot. By 1888, Pleasants was presumably no longer in business, if indeed, he was still alive. The Sanborn map does not depict any businesses on the lot at that time except an icehouse.
As these Sanborn maps depict, no commercial activity occurred on Lot 35 for many years with the exception of an icehouse.
(L) 1888; (C) 1894; (R) 1911
(L) This photograph, taken in 1938, shows lot 35 without any commercial activity.
(R)The Browning family home as it appeared in a November 9, 1972 article in The News of Orange County discussing plans to remove the house and create a parking lot.
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Hickory House/Hillsboro Cafe
c. 1947
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The Hickory House restaurant opened for business on March 1, 1947 in a brick building believed to have been constructed specifically for this purpose. Fred Cates Jr. acted as the manager of the restaurant for many years. Mamie (1906-1993) and Emory Winston “E.W.” Godfrey (1904-1968), were in charge of service and the kitchen. The couple had previously operated the Little Pep Café (See Lot 26). The restaurant quickly became a gathering place, especially for events like fellowship breakfasts, sorority chapter dinners, and showers for a “bride-elect.” One of the features of the Hickory House, which might have helped with its popularity, was that it was the first business in Hillsborough to be air-conditioned.
(L.) A February 27, 1947 article in the News of Orange announcing the opening of the restaurant.
(C. L.) A May 6, 1948 notice in the local paper about the air conditioning.
(C.R.) A June 3, 1948 ad
(R.) Rumors spread around the community that the Godfreys were leaving. They took out an advertisement on October 13, 1949 in the News of Orange to refute the claims.
In 1953, when Ann and Charles Crawford purchased the Colonial Inn on King Street, the Godfreys left the Hickory House and managed the restaurant at the inn. After being closed for a month, the Hickory House reopened with Mr. and Mrs. Connie Howard as the proprietors. Their tenure did not last long. Later that year, Fred Cates was advertising that the Godfreys were back. Only this time, it was Mava and L.C. Godfrey.
In 1955, Stuart Adler purchased the business. At the time he bought the restaurant, Adler had been living in Washington DC, but he knew the local area well, having worked at “Harry’s” in Chapel Hill from 1929-1936.
(L) A May 18, 1953 advertisement in The News of Orange County for the new management of the restaurant.
(C. Top) The October 1, 1953 announcement that the Godfreys were once again managing the restaurant.
(C. Below) A January 30, 1955 ad in the Durham Herald-Sun for the restaurant.
(R) Beginning in the spring of 1956, advertisements appeared in The News of Orange County for Summey Shoe Shop that was located at the Hickory House. This business was later across the street (See Lot 26) The ad is from August 23, 1956.
​According to longtime Hillsborough resident and columnist for the News of Orange, H. Gee Coleman, down the alley between the Hickory House and the building next door, the Hickory House operated a “beer joint.” Unfortunately, no image of this drinking establishment is available.
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By 1960, the name of the restaurant had been changed to the Hillsboro Café.
The façade of the building was altered in late 1990 and the interior may have been modified as well. By the end of the decade, the building was torn down.
A section of a watercolor by Marsha Cates Stanley that depicts the Hillsboro Café and the private dwelling owned by Allen Browning.
Gilmore Flower Shop
c. 1963-c.1978
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According to a December 24, 1987 article in the Durham Herald-Sun, Mae Jackson Gilmore, who was always called “Jack,” went into the floral business in 1953 after years of “doing all the flowers in Hillsborough for free.” Her husband George suggested the idea. Since she was self-admittedly “the world’s worst procrastinator,” he rented a building without telling her.
Over the many years that she was in business, Gilmore's shop changed locations. However, current Hillsborough residents who lived in the town during the 1960s and 70s remember it being on Lot 35 and the parade photograph below from the early 1960s, clearly shows that it was at 125 N. Churton, next to Pope's 5¢ and 10¢ store.
(L.) The Flower Shop seen in a 1960s parade down Churton Street.
(C.) Jack Gilmore in front of her shop (probably not the one on Lot 35).
(R.) A December 17, 1980 advertisement for the Flower Shop in the Herald-Sun
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Jack Gilmore was an avid gardener who loved local history. She helped to establish the Hillsborough Garden Club, served as its president for many years, and was active with the Orange County Historical Museum. In addition, Gilmore gave talks on horticulture, wrote articles for the newspaper, and helped the community in any way that she could.
During her 34-year tenure as owner of the business, the Flower Shop moved locations. By the early 1980s, it was at 118 S. Churton on Lot 6. After suffering a heart attack in 1986, she passed the torch of ownership to Robin Smith in January 1988.
(L.) A September 25, 1958 article in the Herald-Sun for a fashion show presented by the Hillsboro Business and Professional Women’s Club. Gilmore provided the flowers for the stage decorations; (C.L.) Jack and George Gilmore on the porch of their home; (C.R.) Jack Gilmore decorating Churton Street for the holidays; (R.) Mack Gilmore with her grandson Randy Gilmore, a photo that he lovingly keeps in his office.
Colonial Service Station
1964
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Colonial Service Station opened in May 1964. The structure replaced a private dwelling that had been built between 1894 and 1900. It was a Phillips 66 station, selling Kenan Oil distributed products. Its original manager was Fred Albert. Other managers included Johnny Johnson, Hugh (Hew) Wells, Fred Albert, and Jim Dawson.
The Kenan Oil company was established in 1935 by Frank H. Kenan (1912-1996), shortly after he graduated from the University of North Carolina. The company became Kenan Transport, a $50 million-a-year Chapel Hill-based petroleum distributor and hauler. At one time, it was the largest transportation company in the Southeast. Kenan also worked in land development, creating and managing landmark properties. He was one of the original directors of the Research Triangle Park.
(Above) Two views of the Colonial Service Station
(Below) Frank Kenan (left) at one of his other stations
In 1986, Kenan Oil sold the property to Doris and Ken Collins. The station building was extensively remodeled in 1988 and became a restaurant called Tyron’s Table. It was operated by Cathy Collins and Peter Jacob.
Around 1991, it became a bank: first Orange Federal Savings & Loan, then Centura Bank.
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Does anyone have photographs of these businesses? If so, please contact us.
Centura sold the property to the Town of Hillsborough in 1995 to use for town offices. It is now an annex for the police station.
Hillsborough Historical Society/Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce?
1969
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The 1969 Telephone Directory lists the Hillsborough Historical Society as being located at 127 N Churton, which would be in the same brick building that Gilmore Flowers occupied, one door north. However, no evidence in the files of the Hillsborough Historical Society indicates that it maintained an office there. Minutes from that time record that HHS met in the courtroom of the old Orange County Courthouse, where the Orange County Historical Museum operated.
The Hillsborough Historical Society was founded in 1962 by a group of interested citizens. Among their many activities, they filed applications for buildings to be included in the National Register of Historic Places, gave historic walking tours, and published newsletters and journals. The officers in 1969 were: Dalton H. Loftin, President, Don S. Matheson, Vice President, Marion Clark, Treasurer, and Marjorie K. Hopewell, Secretary. In 2007, HHS and the Orange County Historical Museum merged to form the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County.
(L.) Minutes from the February 2, 1969 meeting of the Hillsborough Historical Society.
(R.) Brochures from the Spring Homes Tour held annually by HHS
​In the 1969 phonebook, the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association (See Lot 99) is listed only as being on Churton Street. Yet a December 10, 1964 article in the News of Orange, reports that the organization would be moving from King Street to “space next to Gilmore Flower Shop on North Churton.”
Lot 35 in 2024. It now houses the Hillsborough police station and its annex building