Chronology

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1. Reconstruction and the New South · 1866–1899

2. 1884
   Appointment, election or service · Roberson's general store, Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Adam A. Kluttz takes over management of Dr. Roberson's general store

   Adam Alexander Kluttz became the active manager of Dr. Abner Benton Roberson's general store. He later opened stores of his own and built a brick store on East Franklin in 1893 and 1894.

3. about 1891
   Property or economic transaction · Central Hotel, Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Dr. Abner B. Roberson buys the Central Hotel and moves his drugstore into it

   After the hotel's owner, Jones Watson, died, Dr. Roberson bought the Central Hotel, moved his drugstore into it with Clyde Eubanks as druggist, and leased the hotel's management to 'Bunn' Patterson. Adam A. Kluttz opened a store called the Glass Front in the many-windowed west end of the building.

4. 1893 to 1894
   Construction or physical change · Kluttz building, north side of East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Adam A. Kluttz builds a brick store on East Franklin Street

   Kluttz bought half an acre from the heirs of John Wesley Carr and began a brick building just west of David McCauley's store. In 1894 he moved his general merchandise business across the street into it; the building later carried the number 149 East Franklin.

5. about 1894
   Property or economic transaction · Samuel Phillips house and law office, East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Adam A. Kluttz buys the old Sam Phillips house and law office

   After the owner, Margaret Miller, died, her only heir, Mary Jane Cooper, sold the old Sam Phillips house on East Franklin Street, with the old law office, to the merchant Adam A. Kluttz.

6. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

7. about 1900
   Chapel Hill Adam A. Kluttz buys the lot west of his store and moves its houses back to Rosemary Street

   Kluttz bought the property just west of his East Franklin Street store and had its two old houses moved to the rear of the lot, turned to face Rosemary Street, where they stood until 1963. He is said to have built a second store beside the first, run as a haberdashery.

8. December 10, 1910
   Chapel Hill A. A. Kluttz advertises his University Bookstore to students in the Tar Heel

   The student paper's list of regular Chapel Hill advertisers included A. A. Kluttz, whose University Bookstore advertised shoes, hats, underwear, pictures and souvenirs. A dentist, Dr. William Lynch, advertised an office in the Kluttz Building.

9. 1916
   Property or economic transaction · A. A. Kluttz store, East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Adam Kluttz sells his Franklin Street store to the Solomon Brothers, who keep his name on it

   After a heart attack, merchant Adam Alexander Kluttz sold his original store to the Solomon Brothers of New York on the condition that it go on carrying his name. B. Y. C. Buice became manager.

10. 1916
    Chapel Hill Professor W. S. Bernard rents the old Sam Phillips law office from the Kluttz family

    Professor William Stanley "Bully" Bernard rented the old Sam Phillips law office on East Franklin Street from the Kluttzes, remodeled the inside and made it his home.

11. 1926
    Life event · Kluttz residence, East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Merchant Adam Kluttz dies, and a deathbed remark is later linked to the phrase "southern part of heaven"

    Kluttz died in 1926. The book tells of a parson at his bedside likening heaven to Chapel Hill in spring and suggests this may be where the town's nickname began.

12. 1926
    Closing or ending · A. A. Kluttz store, East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill The store bearing A. A. Kluttz's name closes

    The Kluttz store shut, and Stetson D, a men's clothier, took its space. Its manager, B. Y. C. Buice, blamed too many like stores, cars and better roads drawing customers away, and credit buyers slow to pay.

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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.