Surry County Tales from a Storied Past and People
The article recounts Surry County history and notable anecdotes across generations. It covers early newspapers, Richmond's rise and fall, Tories’ strength, a cyclone that reshaped the county seat, wartime pardons, chestnut shipments, Mount Airy quarry quirks, Governor Jesse Franklin's image, and scenic road views toward the Blue Ridge and Pilot Mountain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mount Airy
R. F. Gilmer
Mr. Gilmer
Jesse Franklin
Surry County
Blue Ridges
Pilot Mountain
Rockford
Stony Knob
Leaders Winston and Armstrong in Revolutionary Surry History
Major Joseph Winston, namesake of the town, led Surry troops in the Revolution, uniting with Wilkes under Ben Cleveland and taking part in the Kings Mountain battle. He was awarded a sword by the 1781 Assembly. Colonel Mark Armstrong also played a notable role in the era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joseph Winston
Surry
Wilkes
Ben Cleaveland
Kings Mountain
Winston
Mark Armstrong
Mount Airy Plant Becomes World Leader in Automatic Toasters
The Proctor plant at Mount Airy, the largest toaster factory worldwide, was North Carolina's first small appliance industry site. It moved from Philadelphia in October 1957, aided by the Mount Airy Development Association led by Joe Fowler Jr. The Greensboro firm M. GUEST built the plant, supplying 360 jobs and a $750,000 payroll, with roughly half men and half women. Local hiring dominated key posts, and only twelve positions were filled from outside. The surrounding county history notes early Quaker and Moravian influence, Primitive Baptist presence from 1872, Mount Airy Christians in 1872, and Methodist organization around 1825, with sparse records available.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Proctor Company
Mount Airy
North Carolina
Proctor
Philadelphia
Westfield
Missionary Baptist
Movable strawberry garden aids Mrs Blalock
Mrs Fletzer Blalock of route 1 Norwood has a portable strawberry garden grown in three metal rings stacked in tiers. When she wants berries for breakfast she picks them just a few feet from her back door. The system uses little care and provides enough fruit for her needs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fletzer Blalock
Route 1
Norwood
Hopeful youths learn life lessons through their own experience
A reflective note suggests that parents should let young hopefuls discover life’s lessons via personal experiences, trusting time and independence to teach resilience and judgment.
Religious Groups History by Denomination in Elkin Area
1872 Methodist presence noted in Elkin. Presbyterians traced to 1858 with a communion at Mount Airy. Episcopalians dated from 1590 at Mount Airy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elkin
Mount Airy
Red Strings Organized in Surry During Reconstruction
During Reconstruction in Surry County ex-slaves and poor whites formed a military company named The Red Strings to counter the Ku Klux Klan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Surry
The
Red Strings
KKK
Also Mentioned on This Page
Sharpe Publishing Co., Inc
State Magazine
Sharpe Publishing Company
County
J. T. Brown
Yadkin Valley
Richmond
Forsyth County
Hell
Old Richmond
Danbury
Germantown
Joe Haynes
Revolution
Anchor
Willow St
Shop & Save
Discount House
Toaster Capital
Riverdale TV Sales
Glenn Thacker
Bill Coleman
Dial ST
N. C
ROYAL
Main Street
Mount Airy, N. C
Mia
Begoodrich
Tyndall Auto Supply
MAIN
Max Rones
Flippin
Fulk Hardware
Bones
Mount Airy ST
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!