Chronology

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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. May 1904
   Founding or opening · Hillsborough The Bank of Orange opens in Hillsborough

   Started in May 1904 with $5,000 in capital, it was Hillsborough's first bank since the Civil War. Dr. J. S. Spurgeon was president and Paul C. Collins cashier for its whole life.

3. late September 1904
   Property or economic transaction · Bellevue Manufacturing Company, South Nash Street at Eno Street, West Hillsborough P. C. Collins buys the southern part of the future Bellevue mill site from J. W. Hooker

   Before the Bellevue company was incorporated, P. C. Collins bought the south half of the mill site near the West Hillsborough depot from J. W. Hooker; a later hand added that he acted as the mill's agent. Collins, a shareholder, passed the land to the company in 1905.

4. 1908 to 1957
   St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Hillsborough Paul C. Collins serves on the vestry of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

   Paul C. Collins sat on the vestry of St. Matthew's Church in Hillsborough from 1908 and retired as senior warden in 1957, one of the small group of families from whom the vestry was long drawn.

5. 1917
   Orange County Paul C. Collins leads Orange County's First Liberty Loan, and the county's banks sell $51,650 in bonds

   Hillsborough banker Paul C. Collins was county chairman of the men's committee for the First Liberty Loan. The four banks in the county sold $51,650 in bonds, $30,150 of them at his Bank of Orange; he went on to chair the second, third and fourth loans.

6. June 28, 1917
   Hillsborough J. Cheshire Webb is appointed chairman of the Orange County Council of Defense

   J. Cheshire Webb of Hillsborough was appointed chairman of the Orange County Council of Defense, with M. C. S. Noble, C. H. Robertson, Shepperd Strudwick, S. W. Andrews, John P. Hughes and P. C. Collins as members. He led the council through the war and the 1919 homecoming.

7. October 23, 1917
   Protest or organizing · Hillsborough A Liberty Bonfire on the court house square rallies Hillsborough for the Second Liberty Loan

   On the night of Tuesday, October 23, young Billy Hayes lit a Liberty Bonfire at the corner of the court house square, and seven speakers gave three-minute talks. The county's four banks sold $132,550 in second-loan bonds, and a women's committee under Mrs. James H. Webb raised $79,800.

8. May 9, 1918
   Award or honor · Hillsborough Orange County raises its Third Liberty Loan honor flag at the court house

   The county subscribed $99,150 to the Third Liberty Loan against a $75,000 allotment, and on May 9, 1918, raised its Honor Flag at the court house, with Judge Bond of Edenton speaking. Hillsborough had raised its own town Honor Flag at the cross streets on May 2.

9. October 1918
   Property or economic transaction · Orange County Orange County subscribes $331,700 to the Fourth Liberty Loan despite the influenza ban

   The county meeting planned for Liberty Day, October 12, 1918, was called off when the epidemic closed public gatherings, but Orange subscribed $331,700 against a $300,000 allotment. Hillsborough Township gave about $175,000 on a $55,000 allotment, and the women's committees raised $227,300.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 2, 2026.