Youngsville the Town

Economic & Social Growth

Town of Youngsville 

Established 1873 & Incorporated 1875  (Formerly Pacific 1845-1873) 

The North Carolina Act to Incorporate 

The Town of Youngsville

(Chapter 111, Laws of 1874-75, Ratified March 17, 1875)

First Town Commissioners:

(D.W. Spivey, James S. Timberlake, John Young Jr., A.T. Uzzle, Julius S. Clifton)

(Image from records from Mr. R.E. Cheatham - Youngsville Museum of History)

Youngsville Community: Recovery, Growth and Economic Prosperity

Youngsville and surrounding communities struggled on the slow road to recovery from the Civil War. In 1896 the Youngsville Tobacco Market was established.  In the same year the Eagle Tobacco Warehouse was built by the firm of Perry and Patterson who had been established in this local business since 1880.  In 1897 the tobacco business was on pace to growing and selling three million pounds of tobacco per year. Among the largest of Youngsville leaf dealers was J. T. Hart and Company, with a large well arranged factory, equipped for buying and handling the tobacco. In 1916 nearly three million pounds of bright leaf tobacco were sold on the Youngsville Tobacco Market alone.

Seeing a particular need for handling and storing tobacco, local men built warehouses and prize houses and enticed experienced tobacconists to come in from other markets. In 1890, Mr. James Duke made use of newly invented cigarette rolling machine to feed the growing market for tobacco and founded the American Tobacco Company in North Carolina. (See: "The New South.", Khan Academy). 

A cotton market was established about the same time as the tobacco market. In 1897, annual receipts were from 5,000 to 8,000 bales. A large cotton yard occupied much of the block across from the depot, between West Main Street and Franklin Street. Owners of cotton gins in and around town became prosperous. A highly developed type of early maturing pure sugar loaf cotton was produced in the Youngsville area (Pure Sugar Loaf Plantation). The seed from this cotton was in great demand and large quantities were shipped in the Southern part of the Cotton Belt each year. 

The road to economic growth and prosperity had begun.

Downtown Youngsville Early 1900's

Top Left:            Main Street Youngsville (1915)

Bottom Left:     Main Street Youngsville (1941)

Above:    Map of downtown Youngsville (1926) 

(Shows the location of the cotton yard, railroad freight station and the passenger station.)

The Churches of Youngsville

The Hotels of Youngsville


William T. Young Hotel 

Corner W. Franklin & Railroad Streets

(1897)

Businesses of Youngsville

The Youngsville Tobacco Market

(This market was established in 1896 by Burton H. Winston, James Sidney Timberlake, J.B. Perry, G.C. Patterson, J.W. Woodlief and Dr. Ivey G. Riddick)

Eagle Tobacco Warehouse

Cotton & Tobacco Yard Markets

Over the Years: Downtown Businesses:

Community Celebrations

"The Youngsville Church Bazaars were a traditional highlight of local history. Big two-day affairs were held at tobacco warehouses or any suitable building which was available at the time.  Tremendous luncheons and dinners were prepared by churchwomen who had widely known reputations as outstanding cooks and hostesses and were experts at making fancy items to sell." (Mrs. R.E. Cheatham)

Families and friends had memorable times working together at these annual events. More accurately stated it was a year-round endeavor, for people talked and planned through the year with ideas put into action come harvest time. Weeks ahead of the set date, a building was secured and scrubbed up clean as a whistle. Trucks were borrowed to begin the big move - tables, chairs, tablecloths, cooking equipment, even stoves were transported by truck.  All cooking was done from scratch, there were no modern day shortcuts.  Each cook or helper is remembered for his or her respective talent. (Turkey, whipped potatoes, patted oysters, stewed oysters, Brunswick stew, home made chocolate ice cream, baked pies and coffee.) As there were no restaurants in town in those days it was a real treat for townspeople ot eat out at the Bazaar. And its reputation drew friendly crowds from neighboring towns. 

Fun and fellowship were in abundance!   (Courtesy of: "Sketches of Youngsville and Pacific")

Education in Youngsville

Before 1900 and possibly some time afterwards, schooling seemed to be more of a private nature. There were private instructors on plantations and in homes in town. In some cases there were neighborhood schools referred to as field houses. (See: "Schools" Sketches of Youngsville, Mrs. R.E. Cheatham)

~1872 Rules for Teachers~

(Courtesy of "The Historical News" Vol. 39 No. 45-NC, October 2019)

Before the turn of the century young people furthered their education at the Oxford Seminary for Girls in Oxford, N.C. and at Horner's School for boys in Oxford.  Some students went on to Wake Forest College (est. 1834), Trinity at Durham and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Graded School

Youngsville

(1905-1925)

"The Graded School, of which every citizen is exceedingly proud, is succeeding and is being conducted most satisfactorily under the superintendent -

Prof. Conley and assistants." (5 Oct. 1906)

The Doctors of Youngsville

Dr. Albert N. Corpening  - Family doctor for 45 years - 

Former Chief of Staff of Wake Forest Hospital. Dr. Corpening delivered over 1000 babies in his career.  (Retired 2003)

(Dr. Corpening and his wife Mary Charlie were both very active with the Youngsville community.

They also donated the land, so Youngsville could build a Library - The Youngsville Library.)