Needham Broughton High School - Latipac Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

Page 7 text:

state was divided. They were Edenton, New Bern, Wilmington, Hillsboro, Halifax, Salisbury, Fayette- ville and Morgan. All these streets either surround or run perpendicular to Union Square. In fact, they were named then, just as they are found named to- day. The commissioners also decided that the streets perpendicular to Union Square were to be 99 feet wide, the others 66 feet wide. Each of the nine com- missioners had a street named for him. These men were named Hargett, Dawson, McDowell, Martin, Blount, Person, Harrington, Bloodworth, and Jones, and hence the streets. Lenoir Street got its name from the Speaker of the Senate at the time, Cabarrus, from the Speaker of the House. Lane Street was named in honor of Joel Lane, the former owner of the land. Davie Street was named for General William Richardson Davie, of Revolutionary fame. The boundary streets were called North, East, South, and West. The area of the city was one square mile. The General Assembly adopted the plan laid out by the commissioners. It remained unchanged until 1856 when the limits were extended one-fourth of a mile each Way. The following streets were added: Swain, named for Davie L. Swain who had been a legislator, Solicitor, Judge, Governor, and -President of the University, Linden and Oakwood avenues, Watson, Haywood and Elm streets. Othere were Boylan Avenue, for William Boylan, Saunders, for ,Romulus M. Saunders a member of the General As- sembly and of Congress, Judge and Minister to Spain, Peace, for William Peace, a leading merchant, for whom Peace College is named, Betts Street, John- son Street for Albert Johnson, who was connected with the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, Polk Street, for Col. William Polk, Tucker Street, Smithfield Street, for the town of Smithfield, Cannon Street, for Robert Cannon, a leading citizen, Battle Street, for Mr. Kemp P. Battle, later President of the Uni- versity, Manly Street, for Charles Manly, Governor, Fowle Street, for a governor, Blake, Pugh, Worth, Hunter, Jenkins, Railroad, McKee, Canister and Grape Streets. A The nine commissioners who laid out Raleigh also soldthe iirst lots. The price of these lots varied from S60 to 85263. The proceeds from the sale of these lots were used to build the first statehouse, where the General Assembly met for the first time in November 17941. The Statehouse was built of brick, made at the 390 5 nl ff' fxxwls ,r , ' xx' r r-'las- :f'-sf . :fi ll N 'N sg' II1: ',i ' 1 sz, Wil!! I G 'M xii' 4 Wy.. f, -7 175 - E1 we -'35, - 'E an E- I. E 5 5 .:-3 . I .1 H. r ...X ' . Ii A ,, l 5 I 1 I sl l . ii d 7 ll? ' ,SE ' fy' X F k s xg r 6 N ei' 4 ' ' .. , 'L 11 nl' lg it ' l Ll' '2'l l 1ll It 5l51 1u wu State brick yards, which were located on Harrington and Hargett streets. Though somewhat smaller, the interior arrangement was about the same as that of the present Capitol. The exterior was very plain. The front faced the east, as was a custom of the time, though it looked down both Newbern Avenue and Hillsboro Street. There was no other public hall in the city. Therefore, it was used for dinners, celebra- tions, theatrical performances, and religious services of all denominations. The Canova Statue of Wash- ington that was placed in the Capitol attracted visitors from far and near. The Governor's Palace was built at the foot of -.f ll-AWWA ' , -ap' Wgf4A'.0 . A 1 -V.-'wily' , ,gin-fnibg A 4 'J . ,- 'V P1 fig -- ff he will it if-A, is-Jml,2,5Fl'1a Rei L fe 'ire--rg.,-, Q 2,451 XS 3 gz:q?fi:L1f.:s' 4 'lg.,-..,. ' lf, P5113 1 35:-,?1!'g'1.21 - qx ,- -r Jill' JI ,J V, ax... ,. , ,---.r.,- -a ,.- ,, 'N -f .Hi llpll , ,A - 1' s,ygj?,.A' ij,r,.. 4? iw T'. i1i!'f '4. . -- -', .,1,'1ii' IEW lieu - 'ml f -- 4.. - - -. H- '-J- f- -41.5 .. -1-as J -nigf' -1? - -. 1-as - C. -' A ., '-- - xb- 'A -. vig 'A Xie' - whyviv gf-it in'.:.:5u:4-15-i q -.nn 1 ' Gig- Sla y,-onxg Q .guy X. v ,sl-,Z J! 2!?Jr. ,-or A: .1 ,ig w ,. ' I , Q ,, if , ,, fi ' . ' 1651 -'.?' fnz-4 -wax., ..a1.:a..-af-ms L..-1-.4 le'-J-'a 4' ' .- 55, 11- - eg. ' f ff:-'Af-,-'Ei '?k17 Hr- -1--, ,4',,:+-W tf!fFf'1e rC'.f.1f:-3 :L 'g-,l--ff Q..-,'-1 -.rU.UP1:f-1.VF- '-.oglrdfgwdl 2.14:-,fi-,-7, sick..--5 -4 App'-1 ,:'y..-2:4 -.,JT2g5Q.v'wf .--,fy ' N ' ' ' ' ' ' ' r ' A' ' A' 7 ' 'I' I' ' '4 f .'.'...'..'J-1,-u 'f','If 'fmt -T'1'r,1 .fl- - f as V - 4 .. ' -. . V I . ,,. fr. ,J , 1, , ,K .5 ' M- V t W J

Page 6 text:

7 J.. fl.. A4 iw... . . E AKE COUNTY was formed in 1771 from portions of Cumberland, Orange, and Johnston NM' counties, because it was grievous and burden- some to many of the inhabitants thereof to attend the courts, general musters, and other public meet- ings that were at such a great distance from their homes. A copy of the Charter of the county may he found recorded in the otiice of the Clerk of the Superior Court. It is signed by William Tryon, the Colonial Governor, and executed at New Bern the 22d day of May 1771. Wake County was named for Royal Governor Tryonis wife, whose maiden name was Wake, though srl-SPN? . p 'xxx ' A K S . N' Y - l we -M X W an N 7. , ,, E 'A N xx I . xo ' s . U x L X' T le 'wld X , ' . - iwirsr ' '--ask, , - v' 'zz-f .- '1-.insslfi - . y Q- QQ -xo, ..-fs -.fs X 1 - i -3 -s. Q 5 Xxx xv' 5 X 'H N 1 I N f ,v-'ww , X x if , , X Q 1 1 x V X 'i some authorities claim it was so designated in honor of Esther Wake, a sister of Lady Tryon. The county seat of Wake was originally Blooms- bury. This was the name of the homestead of Col. Joel Lane, who was the owner of vast estates in this vicinity. Bloomsbury was located on what is now Boylan Avenue and West Hargett Street. When the county was organized Bloomsbury became the county seat, and a courthouse, constructed of logs, was erected on a hillside in front of Col. Lanes' house. Subsequently, and until 1792, the county seat was known as Wake Courthouse. The General Assembly of 1787 met in Tarboro and considered the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, and recommended that the people of the state choose and dx on the place for the unalterable seat of government. In 1788, the convention met at Hillsboro and decided that this convention will not fix the seat of government at one particular point, but it shall be left to the discretion of the Assembly to ascertain the exact spot, provided always, that it shall be within ten miles of the plantation whereon Isaac Hunter now resides, in the county of Wake. In 1791, an Act was passed by the General Assembly to carry the Ordinance of 1788 into effect. Nine com- missioners, one from each of the eight Judicial Dis- tricts, and a ninth from the state at large, were ap- pointed to lay off and locate the city within ten miles of the plantation of Isaac Hunter. Five persons were appointed to - cause to be built and erected a state - ..,-,.. ......,.. ..v.a.,-, house sufficiently large to accommodate with con- venience both houses of the General Assembly, at an expense not to exceed ten thousand pounds. KA N. C. State Historical Society marker, that designates location of this plantation can be seen about three three and one-half miles north of Raleigh, on U S 1.1 The commissioners, in addition to their authority to select the site within the ten mile limit, were di- rected to purchase not less than 640 nor more than 1,000 acres, and to lay off a town of not less than 400 acres. The main streets were to be 99 feet wide, the remainder 66 feet wide. Twenty acres or more were to be allotted for public squares. After viewing the lands that were available, it was decided by ballot to take the Joel Lane land at Wake Courthouse. The maximum quantity of 1,000 acres allowed by law was purchased. The price was S3 for the woodland and fresh grounds per acre, and S2 for the old-field, the total being S2,756. A surveyor, William Christmas, worked for four days to lay of 276 lots that were to make up the city. His plan was adopted on April 4-, 1792. The commissioners then set out to name the public squares and streets. The Capital Square, which covers nearly six acres, was named Union. The four other squares, of four acres each, were named in honor of the Attorney-General and the Hrst three governors of the state under the Constitution of 1776. Caswell Square is the site of the State Board of Health. Nash Square is op- posite the Union Depot. Burke Square is at present the site of the Governor's Mansion. Moore Square is bounded by Blount, Martin, Hargett and Person streets. The name Raleigh for the capital city was 'drst suggested by Governor Alexander Martin. In naming the streets, the commissioners first honored the eight Judicial Districts into which the al. F , f ia 1 4 1 -. 1 4.4

Page 8 text:

Fayetteville Street where the Memorial Auditorium now stands. It was made of brick that were later to be sold and used in the construction of the Centen- nial Graded School. The Palace was plain on the outside and uncomfortable inside, but it was con- sidered grand ,because of its size and resemblance to Governor Tryon's residence in New Bern. Until 17941 the governor's were not required to live in Raleigh. From then until 1798 they had to live here only six months in the year. In 1798 a, law was passed re- quiring them to make Raleigh their residenceg and if a governor planned to be away for more than ten days, he had to advertise his intentions In the Gazettes, which would correspond to the newspapers of today. In June 1831, the Statehouse burned. The State papers were saved, but the Acts of the Assembly were destroyed. . The statue of Washington was not removed, and the people of the City considered this a great loss, since it was a masterpiece of one of the greatest of modern sculptors, Canova. The bronze statue of Washington which stands today at the south front of the capitol was erected in 1857. From the time the Statehouse burned, until the Capitol was built the General Assembly usually met at the governor's Palace. The next year the General Assembly set out to provide the present fireproof structure. The first appropriation for the purpose was approximately S50,000. The commissioners, who had charge of the erection, soon found out that the 850,000 would barely pay for the foundation. However, they proceeded with their plans, and the law-makers became more liberal mak- ing appropriations that total S480,79-11.15. Two archi- tects were consulted, and a number of skilled laborers were employed, some of whom settled in Raleigh. Their descendants have been among the best citizens. The cornerstone was laid in 1833 and the building was completed in 1840. It was, at the time at least, and many competent judges think now, one of the most beautiful buildings in the United States. The columns and entablature were copied from the Parthenon, erected in Athens 500 B.C., in which Greek architec- tural art reached perfection. The dome and octagon tower, surrounding the rotlmda, are decorated after other Greek temples. Upon its completion the Capl- tol again became the center of Raleigh and its activi- ties. It has remained so until this day. At first the citizens of Raleigh had no voice in 'city government. In 1795, the General Assembly ap- pointed the seven Commissioners for a. term of three years. These appointments were renewed in 1798. In 1808, Raleigh was granted a charter. The Com- missioners and the Intendent of Police were to be elected by freemen, both Negro and white. The name mayor did not come into use until 1866. After 1875 the Commissioners were known as Aldermen. The Commissioners forced the citizens to patrol the city at night. These unpaid poliee'found action when there was disturbance among the slaves. A penalty of a S1 fine for non-attendance was provided in 1814. Then it was that some men made a living by serving in place of those that had rather sleep. Slaves, away from home after a designated hour were required to Link ut ul l nm my lriizk this .shi Lulu rain nu I Llp nhkx -PM -his -1 1- nh ill: U.. nik ,. g , fr 1. -- . . I. f - I 'I t 1.-J., ...ft '.,. ,, ' .l eliqp - 1 1 . 1 -. V , . 4 . ,Q 4 uv- . I .5 5 ' 3'-A 57- 1 If .54 -'Z n '-I l.,u. ,-ug. I., 4 awww . -sf, zl.r..Ef5asrSef'tfr, 'fin sw - mi .wife-f'fff'1-f - 4 if r V tmfd P .r ., f f- .. r x Win 4 W 7' 'fglj-. Z-jr,4Q:f:1vL,'l.-af 52-1xf:.l -Qf h,-:ggi-' fl? 15,-. V 1, - T.1F'3'.l?'.l'l,i.' l -' 4 I ' K 7' 'I ' IJ 'C ' ' I ' 'rl -A,-, .. '..,4. - . 1 . , . 4 '