Chronology

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1. Reconstruction and the New South · 1866–1899

2. 1884
   Chapel Hill Randall speaks on North Carolina folklore at commencement

   Graduating with the class of 1884, Randall was class prophet at the Class Day exercises in the Chapel and gave the commencement speech 'North Carolina Folk Lore', which met with unusual applause.

3. 1888
   Orange County Samuel M. Gattis becomes chairman of the Orange County Democratic executive committee

   In the year he began practicing law in Hillsborough, Gattis was elected chairman of the Orange County Democratic executive committee and a delegate to the party's national convention.

4. December 1888 to 1894
   Hillsborough Samuel M. Gattis becomes clerk of the Orange County superior court

   Judge Gilmer appointed the young Hillsborough lawyer clerk of the superior court after Dr. Pride Jones resigned. Gattis was elected to the office in 1889 and held it until 1894.

5. April 13, 1891
   Property or economic transaction · Union and Churton streets, Hillsborough Hillsborough Methodist Church buys its first parsonage from C. M. Parks

   The church bought about nine-tenths of an acre at Union and Churton streets, with a house that became its first parsonage. The trustees were H. N. Brown Sr., S. M. Gattis, J. A. Harris, O. J. Forrest and James Hedgepeth.

6. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

7. 1908
   Construction or physical change · 158 West King Street, Hillsborough A Queen Anne house is built on West King Street for Samuel Mallett Gattis

   The two-story house at 158 West King Street was built for lawyer Samuel Mallett Gattis, former clerk of superior court and Speaker of the state House in 1903. The Gattis family also rebuilt the lot's old wellhouse that year.

8. 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.

9. November 11-19, 1917
   Health or relief action · Hillsborough Orange County raises about $2,000 in a Y.M.C.A. war fund drive

   A Y.M.C.A. drive ran November 11-19, 1917, led by N. W. Brown, G. K. Collins and T. M. Grant. At a packed court house rally on November 18, with Maj. John W. Graham presiding, pledges reached $1,400, and the rest of the $2,000 was raised afterward.

10. July 4, 1918
    Publication, speech or performance · Chapel Hill Orange County holds a Fourth of July war rally on the UNC campus

    At the Governor's request the UNC Summer School invited the county to its July 4, 1918 celebration, and at least 3,000 people came for a parade, a flag raising and S. M. Gattis's address in Memorial Hall. The county Council of Defense met in Gerrard Hall, and Adolph Vermont's pageant on French-American friendship played in Battle's Park.

11. September 12, 1918
    Publication, speech or performance · Hillsborough A War Savings rally in Hillsborough welcomes home wounded volunteer Jim Cheshire

    On the night of Registration Day, September 12, 1918, a crowd packed the court house for a War Savings rally to hear two of Pershing's soldiers. One was Jim Cheshire, the first man to volunteer from the town and the first to come home, sent back wounded to train troops. That day 1,727 county men registered for the draft.

12. July 16, 1919
    Naming or commemoration · Hillsborough Hillsborough holds the county homecoming celebration for returned soldiers

    On July 16, 1919, about 15,000 people came to Hillsborough to welcome home Orange County's soldiers and sailors, with a parade, Gov. Bickett's address at the court house and a dinner for about a thousand guests in Cameron Park. J. Cheshire Webb chaired the celebration, and the county Red Cross voted $300 toward its cost, money the celebration fund turned out not to need.

13. 1921
    Construction or physical change · Grimes Dormitory Masons lay the cornerstone of Grimes Dormitory

    Masons from Hillsborough's Eagle Lodge and Chapel Hill's University Lodge laid the cornerstone of Grimes Dormitory. Past Grand Master Samuel M. Gattis of Eagle Lodge ran the ceremony and gave the address.

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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 1, 2026.