Roanoke Rapids: Visionary mill hub on the North Carolina frontier
In 1893 Armstrong Chaloner urged Northern capital to back a cotton town in the South by tapping water power. He found Roanoke Rapids, now Eastern North Carolina’s leading power and industrial center with major plants from Virginia Electric & Power Co and Simmons textiles. The town sits near two railroads, near the Virginia line, and prospers with mills, lumber, and paper products amid a growing business community.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Armstrong Chaloner
Cotton Belt
Roanoke Rapids
North Carolina
Carolina Division
Virginia Electric & Power Co
Roanoke Rapids Rapids
Seaboard Air Line
R. R
Atlantic Coast Line R. R
Norfolk
Portsmouth
Newport News
Virginia Line
Great Simmons Company
Beautyrest
Abu Ites
Long Lost Map and Roanoke Rapids Development History
A reproduced 1890 map likely by Major Thomas Emry outlines the Roanoke Rapids area as it developed around the Great Falls Water Power project later Roanoke Rapids Power Co. It describes land transfers by R N Ivey N A Hamilton B T Beckman and L Ivey totaling 2284.64 acres for planned improvements and notes local business leader Mr. Smith’s extensive property, radio and tire business, and role in building and promoting the town.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thomas Emry
Roanoke Rapids
Great Falls Water Power Development Co
Roanoke Rapids Power Co
Virginia Electric & Power Co
Moore
Emry
R. N. Ivey
N. A. Hamilton
B. T. Beckman
L. Ivey
Smith Service Stations Grow Roanoke Rapids Enterprise
Smith Service Stations Inc established about six years ago operates two Roanoke Rapids locations Sid Street with Roanoke Avenue and 10th Street with Roanoke Avenue. They are the town’s only retail tank car dealers and are owned by J. C. Smith J. P. Grizzard and G. C. Grizzard whose civic and business leadership boosts local progress.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smith's Service Stations, Inc
Sid Street
Roanoke Avenue
10Th Street
Roanoke
Rapid
Smith
Messrs
J.C. Smith
J. P. Grizzard
G. C. Grizzard
J C Smith Sells Only His Own Properties of Which He Has Lots
J C Smith returns to Rosemary in 1905 from Wilson North Carolina where he was born and raised. He began in the grocery business with his uncle, attended public school, and later worked for the Rea Toke Rapids Power Company. He served in the navy yard at Portsmouth during World War I and joined the army in 1917, training at Camp Wadsworth and going overseas with the unit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rosemary
Wilson
J. C. Smith
Rea. Toke Rapids Power Company
Also Mentioned on This Page
Quartermaster Corps
America
Tw Smith
Stariers 9
Old
Rosemary Ection
Lincoln Heights
Roanoke Rapids Building & Loan Association
the Avenue
Philco
R. C. A. Crosley
Atwater Kent
Presbyterian Church
Ed Shell
Shell
Mous Seiberling
General
Halifax
Warren
Bertie
Hertford
Northampton
Quaker State
Pennsylvania
Perty
Great Falls
PMFG
IMP
Halifax County
Rnivey Tl.emry
MA Hamilton B.T Bockover Livey
C.jones
Yen Taner WE
Ivey
ROVER
Emry Trac
Roanoke Building & Loan Association
The
American Legion
Distributors of
Seiberling Due
R.c.a.victor
Crosley
Kelvinator
Roanoke Rapids Township
Imperial Theatre
Roanoke Rapids, N. C
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!