Skip to content

Orange County Indexed

Chronology

Key events from Orange County history: 100 highlights to start, then the full chronology of 6,171 dated events and 63 storylines, each connected to the index. A storyline gathers many dated events into one history, such as the Regulator crisis.

Search and filters

Search and filters · 1 active

32 dated events match your filters.

Searched the full chronology of 6,171 dated events and 63 storylines, not only the highlights. Showing 1–32.Back to highlights

Earliest first. Scroll sideways, or use the arrows.

32 dated events
1921Early twentieth century
  1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944
  2. Alexander H. Graham acquires the Hasell-Nash House on West Queen Street

    Property or economic transaction · Hasell-Nash House, 116 West Queen Street, Hillsborough

    After more than ninety years with the Nash family, the house passed in 1921 to lawyer Alexander H. Graham, later lieutenant governor and a grandson of Governor William A. Graham. The Grahams sold it on August 20, 1935, to Dr. H. W. Moore, who had it restored with architect Archie Royal Davis.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Hasell-Nash House

  3. Archie Royal Davis becomes architect for the University of North Carolina

    Appointment, election or service · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

    The Durham architect Archie Royal Davis took the post of university architect at Chapel Hill in 1940. He then helped give Franklin Street's business district its Colonial Revival look, designing several store buildings and painting watercolor views to persuade owners to rebuild in that style, with backing from George Watts Hill and town leaders.

    People: George Watts Hill · Archie Royal Davis

  4. Louis Graves starts a newspaper campaign to give Franklin Street a Williamsburg look

    Publication, speech or performance · Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

    Feeling the business district looked shabby beside the new campus, Chapel Hill Weekly editor Louis Graves began praising Colonial Williamsburg's shops in editorials. Joseph Hyde Pratt, John M. Booker, W. D. Carmichael Jr., Collier Cobb and George Watts Hill backed the plan, and architect Archie Davis gave the planning commission watercolors showing owners how to remodel.

    People: Joseph Hyde Pratt · William D. Carmichael Jr. · George Watts Hill · Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: The Chapel Hill Weekly

  5. The Carolina Theatre is built on East Franklin Street to a Williamsburg design by Archie Davis

    Construction or physical change · 108 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

    The new two-story brick theatre at 108 East Franklin Street, with a steep roof, dormers and brick pediments and arches, was the one building in the 100 block of East Franklin to follow the Williamsburg plan.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Carolina Theatre (1942)

  6. Archie Royal Davis's plans for the Naval Armory are settled and building begins

    Construction or physical change · NROTC Naval Armory, 221 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill

    After weeks of argument with consulting architect Arthur C. Nash, Durham architect Archie Royal Davis had his design for a Georgian Revival armory approved in mid-September 1942; R. K. Stewart and Son began building it late that year for about $41,000, meant as a temporary building to be replaced after the war.

    People: Arthur Cleveland Nash · Archie Royal Davis

  7. The Navy Pre-Flight School's armory is completed near the campus tennis courts

    Construction or physical change · Navy Pre-Flight Armory, near the tennis courts, UNC campus, Chapel Hill

    A semi-prefabricated armory and rifle range designed by Archie Royal Davis for the Pre-Flight School was finished near the tennis courts, a short walk from Navy Hall. It was a separate building from the NROTC Armory.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Navy Pre-Flight School

  8. Dr. H. W. Moore restores the Hasell-Nash House with architect Archie Royal Davis

    Construction or physical change · Hasell-Nash House, 116 West Queen Street, Hillsborough

    Dr. H. W. Moore restored the Federal-style Hasell-Nash House on West Queen Street with the help of architect Archie Royal Davis, who extended the rear of the two side wings around 1943.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Hasell-Nash House

  9. Navy Hall opens as the Pre-Flight School's visitors' entrance and cadet lounge

    Founding or opening · Navy Hall (later Jackson Hall), UNC campus, Chapel Hill

    Designed by Archie Royal Davis and first drawn as a temporary office and hostess building, Navy Hall opened in March 1943 with offices for the Pre-Flight School and recreation rooms for cadets; the public was invited in on March 21.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Navy Pre-Flight School

  10. Civil rights era · 1945–1975
  11. A row of Colonial-style stores fills the 300 and 400 blocks of West Franklin Street

    Construction or physical change · 300 and 400 blocks of West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

    As downtown pushed west after the war, an unbroken row of Williamsburg-inspired shops went up along West Franklin Street, many designed by Archie Davis.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  12. Archie Royal Davis becomes architect for the Orange County schools

    Appointment, election or service · Orange County

    In 1948 the Durham architect Archie Royal Davis became architect for the Orange County school system. His work for the county included Cedar Grove and Efland-Cheeks schools for Black children, the first Cameron Park School building, Central High's 1959-60 main building and Central Elementary.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  13. Archie Royal Davis replaces H. Raymond Weeks as architect of the Cedar Grove school

    Appointment, election or service · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    When state school planners faulted H. Raymond Weeks's design in April 1950, the board sent him to W. F. Credle and Edward Waugh of the Division of Schoolhouse Planning, but Weeks would not rework it on short notice. By May the job had gone to Archie Royal Davis, who was also designing Lincoln High School in Chapel Hill; the board approved his preliminary plans in June.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  14. The county board accepts Archie Royal Davis's plans for Cedar Grove School

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    The Orange County Board of Education approved Davis's final design for the Cedar Grove school for Black children: a low, flat-roofed brick building with long bands of classroom windows.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  15. The board cuts the north wing and kitchen from the Cedar Grove School plans

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    To lower costs, the county board struck the six-classroom north wing, the kitchen, floor tile, clocks, bells, sidewalks and other items from Davis's design. The gymnasium was to serve as a multipurpose room partitioned into four classrooms until money for more space could be found.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  16. Cedar Grove School's six-classroom north wing is finished

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    The north wing Archie Royal Davis had drawn in 1951 was finished late in 1953 and closely matches the original classroom wing. With the new rooms the multipurpose room became the gymnasium and auditorium. Davis and board members Harry Breeze and C. W. Stanford inspected the wing in January 1954.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  17. Dr. Sidney and Christine Chipman move into their new house on Dogwood Drive

    Construction or physical change · 515 Dogwood Drive, Chapel Hill

    Dr. Sidney S. Chipman, who headed UNC's Department of Maternal and Child Health, and his wife Christine moved into a new house at 515 Dogwood Drive in May 1956. Archie Davis of Durham drew the plan and Parker and Elliot of Chapel Hill built it.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  18. The county board approves a cafeteria for Cedar Grove School

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    After voting in September to study the need, the board approved a cafeteria for 150 pupils at Cedar Grove at no more than $40,000, while again putting off new classrooms. Archie Royal Davis's plans for it were approved and sent to the state in October 1957.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  19. The county takes bids for a gymtorium and twelve classrooms at Central High School

    Construction or physical change · West Union and North Nash streets, Hillsborough

    H. F. Mitchell Construction Company was low bidder for two buildings at Central High, a twelve-classroom addition and a gymtorium seating about 1,200, designed by Archie Royal Davis. The whole project came to $266,094, and the gymtorium was nearly finished in February 1958.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  20. A kitchen and cafeteria are added to Cedar Grove School

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    A one-story brick kitchen and cafeteria, 78 by 49 feet, was finished behind the gymnasium late in 1958 to Archie Royal Davis's plans. One open dining room filled two-thirds of it, with the kitchen, dishwashing and storage along the north side.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  21. Central High's new gymnasium is finished after the fire

    Construction or physical change · Central High School (now Hillsborough Elementary), 402 North Nash Street, Hillsborough

    After the main building of Central High School burned in 1958, Archie Royal Davis designed a new school building and a gymnasium for the site; the gymnasium was finished in late 1958.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  22. Central High School burns

    Disaster or outbreak · Hillsborough

    On the morning of February 14, 1958, fire destroyed the 1936 main building of Central High School, Hillsborough's high school for Black students, including its office, auditorium and several classrooms. Students moved into a newly built structure meant for junior high use, and a new main classroom building designed by Archie Royal Davis went up on the site in 1958.

    Part of Segregated schooling and the rise of Lincoln and Central High Schools · 45 events

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  23. The school board orders a new main building for Central High on the day of the fire

    Construction or physical change · 402 North Nash Street, Hillsborough

    The night the old Central High building burned, the county board set aside $214,892 for a new 18-classroom building designed by Archie Royal Davis's firm. Construction went on through 1958.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  24. Archie Royal Davis's new main building for Central High goes up

    Construction or physical change · Central High School (now Hillsborough Elementary), 402 North Nash Street, Hillsborough

    After the 1958 fire, Archie Royal Davis designed a two-story, flat-roofed brick main building and a barrel-roofed gymnasium for Central High School. The main building went up in 1959-60; the campus is now Hillsborough Elementary.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  25. Cameron Park School in Hillsborough gets its first addition

    Construction or physical change · Hillsborough

    Three years after it opened, the county enlarged Cameron Park School with a second section of building, raised under Superintendent G. Paul Carr to plans by the architect Archie Royal Davis.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cameron Park School

  26. Efland-Cheeks School gets its first addition

    Construction or physical change · Efland-Cheeks School, Efland

    An addition went up in 1959 on the north side of the 1952 Efland-Cheeks School, which Archie Royal Davis had designed for Black children in western Orange County. A modern wing larger than the original school followed around 1980.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Efland schools

  27. Cedar Grove's advisory committee asks for two more classrooms

    Protest or organizing · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    Lonnie Thompson, Arthur Wells, Carter White, Wayne Compton and Oscar Beasley of the school's advisory committee asked the board for a two-classroom addition. The board agreed to consider it and in August approved Archie Royal Davis's plans with a $20,000 limit.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  28. Chapel Hill opens its Glen Lennox fire station

    Founding or opening · South Hamilton Road, Glen Lennox, Chapel Hill

    The town's second fire station, on South Hamilton Road in Glen Lennox, opened without ceremony when two pumper trucks moved in from the main station on Columbia Street. The aldermen had let contracts in February for the building, designed by Archie Davis of Durham and paid for from 1957 bonds.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  29. Mrs. Erle G. Hill restores the Patterson-Palmer House with architect Archie Royal Davis

    Construction or physical change · Mallett House (Patterson-Palmer House), 173 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough

    Owner Mrs. Erle G. Hill restored the Federal house on West Margaret Lane with architect Archie Royal Davis, replacing the roof, dormers, front portico, shutters and siding and returning the rooms to their first plan. By 1963 it was shown on Hillsborough's spring pilgrimage.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  30. Two classrooms are added to the south wing of Cedar Grove School

    Construction or physical change · Cedar Grove School, 5800 NC 86 North, Cedar Grove

    The two classrooms at the south end of the original wing, built to Archie Royal Davis's plans on bids taken in fall 1959, were finished by September 6, 1960, when the board inspected them with Davis and contractor Lindsay Fogelman.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Cedar Grove schools

  31. Orange County completes a new Agricultural Building in Hillsborough

    Construction or physical change · Hillsborough

    The county's new Agricultural Building, designed by Archie Davis, passed final inspection and the county's agricultural offices moved in. A dedication and open house were set for April 1.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

  32. Central Elementary School is built north of West Hillsborough

    Founding or opening · Central Elementary School, 154 Hayes Street, Hillsborough

    Planned as a segregated school for Black pupils next to Central High School, the flat-roofed brick and concrete building designed by Archie Royal Davis was finished a few years before desegregation and then served an integrated student body. Additions followed in 1975 and during the 1990s.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

  33. Two wings designed by Archie Royal Davis are added to the Carolina Inn

    Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill

    The third major addition to the Carolina Inn, designed by Archie Royal Davis in 1969, was largely finished by commencement in May 1970. Two wings on the Pittsboro Street side held a new cafeteria, ballroom and larger kitchen and forty-five more guest rooms, and the main entrance moved from Cameron Avenue to Pittsboro Street.

    Subject: The Carolina Inn

  34. Central Elementary School in Hillsborough gets a large addition

    Construction or physical change · Hillsborough

    Ten years after the first building went up, the county added about 18,700 square feet to Central Elementary under Superintendent George F. Williams, bringing the school to roughly 44,600 square feet.

    People: Archie Royal Davis

    Subject: Central High and Central Elementary, Hillsborough

Suggest a correction to an entry →

A dated event is a fact, filed on the page of the subject it belongs to: a person, a place, a theme, or a named event or history. Pages are subjects, with their own works and sources; the Place, community, or institution filter also gathers the institutions that recur in the entries without a page of their own. The page opens on the highlights; a search or any filter looks through every dated event and storyline, and each filter’s counts say how many entries choosing it would show alongside the others. A storyline is a longer history that gathers related dated events, and each storyline’s page lists its own. Counts give dated events and storylines separately. Dates come from the sources named on the cards and from the index’s event pages; where sources disagree, the card follows the county records. Entries marked approximate or needing research say so on the card; the rest were checked against the source named on it. The correction link under the entries opens the contact form; name the entry and its date and the Friends will check the source. Suggest an event →

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.

Two mice reading back to back against a leaf, with the hand-lettered words Friends of the Orange County Public Library
Illustration by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, gifted to the Friends 2026