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Local figure

Collier Cobb Jr.

Collier Cobb Jr. was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 1938, served seven terms and chaired the board from December 1942 to December 1952. When he left, the new board thanked him for his leadership, and he cited the county's school improvement program and the start of a new courthouse.

Source: DigitalNC: The News of Orange County, December 4, 1952, page 1

Also found in catalogs as Collier Cobb.

1893–1982 · Dates from the Library of Congress · Library of Congress authority record ↗

2 works about Collier Cobb Jr. are indexed here.

Life and Orange County connections

Storylines this person is part of, in date order. Each has its own page.

StorylineThe failure of the Chapel Hill Insurance and Realty Company, 1927–19301927–1930 · 12 events · When the Chapel Hill Insurance and Realty Company failed on November 2, 1927, with liabilities of $634,000, its receivers set about selling its Chapel Hill and Carrboro properties as land values slumped. They held a first auction that December and sold the insurance department in 1928. Spring auction bids in 1928 were too low to recommend to the court, and later bids for the Strowd farm and four brick stores on Franklin Street also fell short. Sales in 1929 brought prices the Weekly put at about half those of three or four years earlier. By October 1929 the liabilities were down to $121,000 and the stockholders' equity was gone, and in 1930 the receivers expected to be discharged. StorylineOrange County's property revaluations, 1930–19631930–1963 · 13 events · Orange County passed over a general revaluation of property for taxes in 1937 and postponed one in 1945, and when it hired professional appraisers, the county's valuation rose by about 89 percent. Assessors were appointed in 1930 for a 1931 revaluation. In 1937 the commissioners chose a review of the tax lists instead of a general revaluation, and in 1945 the wartime labor shortage postponed another. In 1947 a board of assessors inspected nearly every tract, and the valuation was raised. In 1952 the commissioners hired the J. M. Cleminshaw Company to revalue all property at market value, and some 40 citizens protested its values in 1954. In 1963 Associated Surveys of Greensboro began the next ten-year revaluation. StorylineBeer, repeal and the 1933 liquor vote1933 · 5 events · In 1933 Chapel Hill and Orange County split over alcohol. Restaurants in Chapel Hill, where a law had barred alcohol within four miles of the University since the early 1800s, began selling legal beer on May 1, and the county issued 18 retail beer licenses, 10 of them in Chapel Hill. That fall advocates of repealing the 18th Amendment nominated Collier Cobb Jr. for Orange's one seat in the state convention, and the dry forces named J. J. Ward. On November 7 Orange voted 1,169 to 807 against a convention. Chapel Hill was the only precinct for repeal, while Carrboro voted heavily against. The state went dry by a wide margin, so the convention was never held. StorylineOrange County’s elections of 1936, 1938 and 19401936–1940 · 10 events · In the 1936 Democratic primary for governor Orange County stood by its native son, A. H. (Sandy) Graham, giving him 2,754 votes to 817 for Ralph McDonald and 230 for Clyde Hoey. In the July runoff the county went for Hoey, and B. J. Howard of Chapel Hill won the runoff for the state House. In 1938 Carl T. Durham became the Democratic nominee for Congress, the county executive committee voted 7 to 6 for Collier Cobb Jr. to take Durham's place on the commissioners ticket, and every Democrat on the county ticket won by a wide margin. In 1940 three Chapel Hill candidates entered the Democratic primary for the House, and the election board chose to re-list voters.

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 87 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Work begins on a concrete bridge over Morgan Creek on the Pittsboro road Work began on a new concrete bridge across Morgan Creek on the Pittsboro road just above the Purefoy mill, with Collier Cobb Jr. setting up a rock crusher nearby to supply the stone. It was part of the new road from Chapel Hill to the Chatham County line, on which work was to begin the first of December. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Morgan Creek near Purefoy's mill, Pittsboro road, south of Chapel HillSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), December 1, 1921, p. 5
  2. The Service Insurance Agency buys the insurance business of the failed Chapel Hill Insurance and Realty Company After weeks of bidding, the Service Insurance Agency of Collier Cobb Jr. and W. deR. Scott bought the insurance department of the Chapel Hill Insurance and Realty Company, then in receivership, for $7,250. Judge Bond confirmed the sale in Durham, and it took effect at noon the next day. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Milton E. Hogan Place: Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, January 27, 1928, p. 1
  3. The Chapel Hill post-office plaza is raised to the level of the sidewalk The sunken plaza in front of the post office was raised to sidewalk level, with small lawns planned at each end of the building. Collier Cobb Jr. did the work to a plan of the postal authorities. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Henry Roland Totten Place: U.S. Post Office, East Franklin Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, April 6, 1928, p. 1
  4. The lowered sidewalk on Franklin Street's south side is finished By October 3, 1930, Cobb and Homewood had finished regrading and paving the south Franklin Street sidewalk from Columbia Street past the bakery, at about $1,500 assessed on the abutting owners, and the town was planting grass in the strip left for new trees. Retaining walls and interior steps were built for the two stores left above the new level. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: South side of Franklin Street from Columbia Street to the bakery, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Columbia Street, Franklin StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, October 3, 1930, p. 1
  5. Work begins on paving Cameron Avenue west of the campus Cobb and Homewood began laying an 18-foot concrete strip down the middle of Cameron Avenue from the Carolina Inn to the top of the hill at Mallett Street, with M. J. Kent in charge after Roy M. Homewood was hurt in a truck wreck. Collier Cobb Jr. expected the pavement ready for traffic by about August 3. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Cameron Avenue, from the Carolina Inn to Mallett Street, Chapel Hill · Also named: M. J. Kent, Roy M. Homewood · Also mentions: Carolina Inn, Mallett StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 10, 1931, p. 2
  6. Chapel Hill opens a new concrete pavement on Cameron Avenue from Columbia to Mallette Street Collier Cobb Jr. opened to traffic a concrete pavement on Cameron Avenue between Columbia and Mallette streets, 1,200 feet long and eighteen feet wide. The Board of Aldermen, which the Weekly called the city council, had allotted $5,000 for the link, which the Weekly said gave the southwestern part of town a paved way to the Carolina Inn. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Cameron Avenue, Columbia Street to Mallette Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Carolina InnSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, August 7, 1931, p. 1
  7. Orange County Young Democrats tell their delegates to oppose a party stand for repeal Meeting at the court house in Hillsborough, the Orange County Club of Young Democrats elected W. E. Thompson, Collier Cobb Jr. and Gilbert W. Ray delegates to the state convention at Wrightsville Beach and instructed them to vote against any resolution pledging the Young Democratic Clubs to the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, leaving members free to vote as they chose in the November referendum. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Gilbert W. Ray, W. E. Thompson Place: Court house, HillsboroughSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 7, 1933, p. 4
  8. Orange County repealists name Collier Cobb Jr. their candidate for the repeal convention Meeting in the court house at Hillsboro, advocates of repealing the 18th Amendment nominated Chapel Hill road contractor Collier Cobb Jr. by acclamation as their candidate for Orange County's one seat in the state convention. Sam Gattis, the chairman, explained the referendum law. Place: Court house, Hillsborough · Also named: Sam GattisSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, September 29, 1933, p. 5
  9. Orange County votes against repeal while Chapel Hill votes for it In the referendum on repealing the 18th Amendment, Orange County voted 1,169 to 807 against a convention. Chapel Hill was the only precinct for repeal, 438 to 277, and gave Collier Cobb Jr. 428 votes to J. J. Ward's 280; Carrboro voted 236 to 60 against and gave Ward 243 to Cobb's 47. The state went dry by a wide margin, so the convention was never held. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Paul H. Robertson Place: Orange County precincts · Also named: J. J. WardSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 10, 1933, p. 1
  10. Civil Works approval and a tar contract assure hard surfaces for Chapel Hill's dirt streets With the town's application approved by the Civil Works Administration, its Raleigh headquarters let the tar contract to the Barrett Company on January 8 for surfacing most of Chapel Hill's dirt streets in tar and crushed stone, at an estimated $28,000. Collier Cobb Jr. was to supply the stone using the University's crusher; the aldermen's committee had added Glenburnie, the east ends of Rosemary and North, Pickard lane and other streets after residents protested the first layout. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill streetsSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, January 12, 1934, p. 1
  11. Local investors buy the Graham Court apartments and form the Realty Investment Company William deR. Scott, Collier Cobb Jr. and Roland P. McClamroch, with W. C. Goley of Graham, bought the Graham Court apartments on McCauley Street from the Virginia Trust Company and incorporated the Realty Investment Company to own and manage them, with Goley as president and Scott as secretary-treasurer. The Weekly called the sale one of the first signs of a pick-up in Chapel Hill real estate. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Roland P. McClamroch Place: Graham Court, McCauley Street, Chapel Hill · Also named: W. C. Goley · Also mentions: McCauley StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 9, 1934, p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, December 20, 1935, p. 1
  12. Chapel Hill Rotarians start a campaign for better roads in Orange County On Collier Cobb Jr.'s motion the Rotary Club named a committee to go before the State Highway Commission and ask a fair share of road money for the county, which he said even its main highways lacked. He singled out Highway 54 from Graham through Chapel Hill to Nelson and the old, crooked Chapel Hill to Durham road. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Chapel Hill to DurhamSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 17, 1936, p. 1
Show all 87 dated events
  1. The county Democratic committee names Collier Cobb Jr. to replace Carl Durham on the commissioners ticket After Carl T. Durham was chosen as the Democratic nominee for Congress, the Orange County Democratic executive committee met in the court house at Hillsboro and picked Collier Cobb Jr. of Chapel Hill to take his place as a candidate for county commissioner. With 13 of its 15 precinct members present and county chairman A. H. Graham presiding, it voted 7 to 6 for Cobb over R. E. Hughes, a Cedar Grove farmer, a closer contest than Cobb's supporters had expected, the Weekly said. People: Alexander H. "Sandy" Graham, Carl T. Durham Place: Court house, Hillsboro · Also named: R. E. HughesSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 4, 1938, p. 1
  2. Orange County Democrats sweep the county offices In the general election every Democratic candidate in Orange County won by a wide margin: S. W. Andrews was re-elected register of deeds, 2,146 to 475, S. T. Latta Jr. was elected sheriff, A. W. Kenion clerk of court and Grover C. Bivins treasurer, and Collier Cobb Jr., J. Ed Laws and Ben F. Wilson county commissioners. Roland McClamroch of Chapel Hill won the House seat over W. H. Sparrow, John W. Umstead Jr. and Joseph H. Warren the two Senate seats, and Carl T. Durham carried the county for Congress 1,966 to 199 over write-in candidate Oscar Barker. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Samuel Weldon Andrews, Roland P. McClamroch, John W. Umstead Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Alonzo W. Kenion, Samuel T. Latta Jr. Place: Orange County · Also named: S. T. Latta Jr., Grover C. Bivins, J. Ed Laws, Roland McClamroch, Joseph H. Warren, Oscar Barker, Carl T. DurhamSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 11, 1938, p. 1
  3. WPA crews regrade and wall the grounds of the Orange County Training School The WPA transformed the grounds of the Orange County Training School, Chapel Hill's Black school, with a broad new entrance road from Church Street, gravel walks, stone walls against washing, and grading for a playground, a regulation football field and parking. School board member Collier Cobb Jr. and engineer Ralph M. Trimble supervised, and the board meant to ask the state highway commission to surface the road beyond the town limits. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Ralph M. Trimble Place: Orange County Training School, Church Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 19, 1939, p. 1
  4. Louis Graves's Weekly takes up J. L. Morehead's call to give Franklin Street a Williamsburg look Durham attorney J. L. Morehead, for years the attorney and financial adviser of the town government, urged the mayor, the aldermen and other citizens to make the Franklin Street business block as handsome as the campus and residential streets, pointing to the business street of Colonial Williamsburg as proof it could be done, and Louis Graves's Chapel Hill Weekly reported his plan favorably on March 22, 1940. Later accounts credit Graves's paper with the campaign. Joseph Hyde Pratt, John M. Booker, W. D. Carmichael Jr., Collier Cobb Jr. and George Watts Hill backed the plan, and architect Archie Davis gave the planning commission watercolors showing owners how to remodel. People: Louis Graves, Joseph Hyde Pratt, William D. Carmichael Jr., George Watts Hill, Archie Royal Davis, John M. Booker, Collier Cobb Jr., John Lindsay Morehead Place: Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also named: Archie Davis, W. D. Carmichael Jr. · Also mentions: Franklin Street business blockSearch the index · NC Digital Collections: M. Ruth Little, The Town and Gown Architecture of Chapel Hill, 1795-1975 (2004), p. 68 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, March 22, 1940, p. 1; Chapel Hill Weekly, March 22, 1940, p. 2
  5. Orange Democrats choose John W. Umstead Jr. for the state House and keep their county commissioners In the Democratic primary John W. Umstead Jr. won the nomination for the House with 2,085 votes to 993 for Roland McClamroch and 418 for Raymond Stainback, losing only the South Chapel Hill precinct. Commissioners Collier Cobb Jr., J. Edd Laws and Ben F. Wilson were renominated over Dr. S. A. Nathan, and Orange gave Congressman Carl Durham 2,991 votes to 422 for his three opponents. People: Collier Cobb Jr., S. A. Nathan, Carl T. Durham, Roland P. McClamroch, John W. Umstead Jr., Ben F. Wilson Place: Orange County · Also named: Roland McClamroch, Raymond Stainback, J. Edd LawsSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 31, 1940, p. 1
  6. Orange County's taxable valuation reaches $14,642,000 Commissioner Collier Cobb Jr. told the Chapel Hill Rotary Club that the county's taxable valuation stood at $14,642,000, about $100,000 above the year before despite a $128,000 cut in the assessment of the Durham Hosiery Mills property in Carrboro. Chapel Hill township, at $5,805,000, paid about 40 per cent of the county's taxes and received 22 per cent of its school money. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange CountySearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 31, 1940, p. 1
  7. Orange County gives the Democrats sweeping majorities in the 1940 general election Orange County voted Roosevelt over Willkie 3,671 to 1,100 and returned Carl Durham to Congress, John W. Umstead Jr. to the legislature, and Democrats Collier Cobb, Wilson and Laws to the county board, each with about 3,700 votes against fewer than 800 for the Republicans. The Weekly called the majorities the largest the party had ever piled up in the county. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Carl T. Durham, John W. Umstead Jr. Place: Orange County · Also named: Collier CobbSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, November 8, 1940, p. 1
  8. The General Assembly meets in Chapel Hill to honor the University's South American visitors The legislature came from Raleigh and met on the campus, the Senate in Gerrard Hall and the House in Memorial Hall, then held a joint session in Memorial Hall where Mayor John M. Foushee, Governor J. Melville Broughton and Victor Andres Belaunde of Peru spoke to honor the South Americans at the University's midwinter school. The town gave the legislators a barbecue in the University dining hall. People: J. Melville Broughton, Collier Cobb Jr., John M. Foushee Place: Gerrard Hall and Memorial Hall, UNC campus, Chapel Hill · Also named: Victor Andres Belaunde · Also mentions: Gerrard HallSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, January 31, 1941, p. 1
  9. Orange County beats its quota for North Carolina's ambulance plane for Britain In a drive led by Collier Cobb Jr. and F. O. Bowman in Chapel Hill and Owen Robertson in Hillsboro, Orange County gave $663.15 to the Old North State Fund, which was raising $75,000 to buy an ambulance airplane as North Carolina's gift to Britain. Hillsboro raised $231.70 of the total. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Owen S. Robertson, Frederick O. Bowman Place: Chapel Hill and Hillsboro · Also named: Owen RobertsonThe Chapel Hill Weekly, August 15, 1941, p. 1
  10. Chapel Hill appoints its first town planning commission After more than a year of urging by the Chapel Hill Weekly, a Town Meeting on April 4, 1941 named a committee of John M. Booker (chairman), W. D. Carmichael Jr., Clyde Eubanks, Joseph Hyde Pratt and H. G. Baity to study the look of the business section. Its report, taken up at a Town Meeting on April 21, asked the mayor and aldermen to appoint a five-member Town Planning Commission to plan for stream-valley land, zoning and parking and to have a consulting architect pass on the designs of new and remodeled buildings. The aldermen then created the commission by ordinance, and by November it was at work with Baity as chairman and Pratt, Collier Cobb Jr., L. J. Phipps and J. P. Harland as members. It set the Colonial Revival look of downtown for the next decade. People: William D. Carmichael Jr., Herman G. Baity, Joseph Hyde Pratt, Clyde Eubanks, John M. Booker, Collier Cobb Jr., Luther James Phipps Place: Chapel Hill · Also named: J. P. Harland, W. D. Carmichael Jr.Search the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Chapel Hill Town Hall, National Register nomination (OR0327), p. 10 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, April 11, 1941, p. 1; Chapel Hill Weekly, April 18, 1941, p. 4; Chapel Hill Weekly, November 28, 1941, p. 6
  11. Orange County's officers face no opposition in the Democratic primary C. A. Bivins, chairman of the county board of elections, announced that every county officer would run again without a primary opponent, so the clerk of court, sheriff, register of deeds, coroner, board of education and county commissioners would stay in office. John W. Umstead, Jr., was also unopposed for the county's seat in the state house. People: Houston J. Walker, Collier Cobb Jr., Samuel Weldon Andrews, Ben F. Wilson, Kemp S. Cate, James S. Compton, Alonzo W. Kenion, Samuel T. Latta Jr., Charles W. Stanford Place: Orange County · Also named: C. A. Bivins, John W. UmsteadSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, April 24, 1942, p. 1
  12. Clyde Eubanks becomes president of the Bank of Chapel Hill The directors of the Bank of Chapel Hill elected Clyde Eubanks president to succeed the late M. C. S. Noble, with Collier Cobb, Jr., as vice-president and Roland McClamroch as secretary. Eubanks had been a director for more than 35 years and secretary since 1910. People: Clyde Eubanks, Collier Cobb Jr., Roland P. McClamroch Place: Bank of Chapel Hill, Franklin Street · Also named: Roland McClamroch, Collier Cobb, M. C. S. NobleSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 3, 1942, p. 1
  13. A fuel oil rationing committee is named for Chapel Hill and Carrboro Collier Cobb Jr. as chairman, J. S. Bennett and Brodie S. Thompson were appointed to ration fuel oil and kerosene for Chapel Hill and Carrboro under an OPA plan allowing enough oil to keep a house at 65 degrees, working alongside Moody Durham's rationing board. The committee urged householders with oil furnaces to change to coal where they could. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Brodie Thompson, John S. Bennett, Moody W. Durham Place: Chapel Hill and Carrboro · Also named: Moody DurhamThe Chapel Hill Weekly, October 16, 1942, p. 1
  14. Dwight Ray of Carrboro joins the Chapel Hill ration board Dwight Ray of Carrboro, the county draft board's registrar there and a Carrboro school board member, was appointed to the War Price and Ration Board in place of Winslow E. Williams of Carrboro, who had resigned. He was nominated by Civilian Defense coordinator Guy B. Phillips, Clerk of Court Edwin Lynch, county commissioners' chairman Collier Cobb, Jr., and board chairman M. W. Durham. People: Dwight Ray, Collier Cobb Jr., Edwin M. Lynch, Moody W. Durham Place: Town Hall, Chapel Hill · Also named: Winslow E. Williams, Collier Cobb, Edwin Lynch, Guy B. Phillips · Also mentions: Carrboro schoolThe Chapel Hill Weekly, January 22, 1943, p. 1
  15. Chapel Hill and Carrboro go over their United War Fund goal Contributions to the United War Fund in Chapel Hill and Carrboro reached $6,582 against a goal of $6,500, raised without a house-to-house canvass. The goal added $1,500 for the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and for weekend entertainment of servicemen at the Recreation Center, which the church women could no longer pay for. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Alexander H. "Sandy" Graham Place: Chapel Hill and CarrboroThe Chapel Hill Weekly, November 19, 1943, p. 1
  16. Governor Broughton names Collier Cobb Jr. chairman of the State Planning Board Governor J. Melville Broughton named Collier Cobb Jr., chairman of the Orange County commissioners, to head the State Planning Board, a body of leaders from across North Carolina charged with preparing the state for its postwar problems. The board's offices were placed in Chapel Hill on the second floor of the Institute of Government building. People: J. Melville Broughton Place: Institute of Government building, Chapel HillSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), February 3, 1944, p. 1
  17. Orange County commissioners adopt a $204,971 budget and keep the 88-cent tax rate On Monday, August 7, 1944, the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted the 1944-45 county budget of $204,971.13 exactly as advertised, up from $199,068.30 the year before, and kept the countywide tax rate at 88 cents. The tentative budget, set at a special meeting on July 10, called for $128,970.47 from current taxes and the rest from other sources. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 17, 1944, p. 1
  18. Orange County votes Democratic in the 1944 general election With 13 of 16 precincts reporting, Orange gave Roosevelt nearly three votes to one over Dewey, and only the Caldwell and Rock Springs precincts went Republican for president. W. Dennis Madry beat Alan T. Garrison for the state Senate, J. W. Umstead Jr. kept his House seat, clerk Edwin M. Lynch was reelected, and commissioners Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson and H. G. Laws won new terms. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Edwin M. Lynch, John W. Umstead Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Hubert G. Laws Place: Orange County · Also named: W. Dennis Madry, J. W. Umstead Jr.Search the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 9, 1944, p. 1
  19. Commissioners' chairman Collier Cobb Jr. lays a county revaluation plan before the Chapel Hill aldermen Collier Cobb Jr., chairman of the Orange County commissioners, told the Chapel Hill aldermen the county would raise the tax valuation of plainly under-valued property for 1945, naming Franklin Street business property, suburban lots selling far above farm-land values and some northern tobacco land. Place: Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Franklin StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, December 15, 1944, p. 1
  20. Mayor Madry names a citizens committee to study Chapel Hill's postwar housing Chapel Hill Mayor R. W. Madry appointed a Citizens Housing Committee under Oliver K. Cromwell to find out how much rental housing the Pre-Flight and V-12 "transit population" held, what would be free when they left, who planned to build, and what the University, town businesses and Carrboro's munitions plant and woolen mill would need. Madry warned that crowding would grow worse, as after the First World War, with married veterans already being turned away for lack of quarters. People: Robert W. Madry, Collier Cobb Jr., Vic Huggins Place: Town Hall, Chapel Hill · Also named: Oliver K. CromwellSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 12, 1945, p. 1
  21. Collier Cobb Jr. urges extending Chapel Hill's limits and zoning for growth Speaking to the Chapel Hill Rotary Club on August 8, county commissioners' chairman Collier Cobb Jr. traced the town's growth from a college village of 316 students in 1893 to one with more than 4,000 young people, said Chapel Hill had grown with no planning, and predicted 10,000 to 15,000 students within twenty years. He called on the University, townspeople and suburbanites together to seek legislation extending the town limits so building could be regulated by zones. Place: Chapel Hill (Rotary Club meeting)Search the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 9, 1945, p. 1
  22. Orange County opens its United War Fund drive The county's United War Fund campaign began on October 1 with goals of $9,000 for Chapel Hill and Carrboro and $4,065 for Hillsborough and rural Orange. Two weeks in, leaders reported less than a third raised and said people were slower to give now that the war was over. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Don S. Matheson, S. A. Johnson Place: Orange CountySearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 4, 1945, p. 1
  23. County road work hard-surfaces 12.1 miles in a single year Orange County roads received $422,000 in repairs in 1946, with 12.1 miles hard-surfaced and crushed stone spread on 92 miles, according to commissioners' chairman Collier Cobb Jr. The year's paving, mostly on the Orange Grove and Carmel Church roads, was more than the 9.3 miles surfaced in all the years from 1931 through 1945. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County roadsSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), December 19, 1946, p. 1
  24. Sheriff S. T. Latta defeats R. R. Thomas in the Democratic primary In the first peacetime Democratic primary after the war, Sheriff Sam T. Latta won renomination over former patrolman R. R. (Bob) Thomas of Carrboro, 2,008 to 1,481, carrying the Hillsboro box while Thomas led in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. James Webb was named state senate nominee unopposed, the first Orange County man so chosen in three terms, and George Hunt won the Hillsboro township constable race. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Samuel T. Latta Jr. Place: Orange County · Also named: S. T. Latta, R. R. Thomas, James Webb, George HuntSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 30, 1946, p. 1
  25. Orange County gives Carl T. Durham a large majority in his runoff for Congress In the Sixth District's second Democratic primary, Orange County voted 2,657 to 483 for Congressman Carl T. Durham of Chapel Hill over E. Earle Rives of Greensboro, a county margin larger than his 1,798-vote lead across the district. Caldwell precinct voted 124 to 1. People: Carl T. Durham, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County · Also named: E. Earle RivesSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 27, 1946, p. 1
  26. County commissioners order an end to Sunday beer sales in Orange County At the request of the Rev. S. W. DuBose and the Rev. Charles S. Hubbard, the county commissioners ordered all licensed beer retailers in the county to stop selling beer on Sundays, effective October 1. The ministers said Sunday sales drew people from neighboring dry counties to Orange beer halls. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Charles S. Hubbard, Samuel T. Latta Jr. Place: Court house, Hillsborough · Also named: S. W. DuBoseSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 5, 1946, p. 1
  27. Orange County Democrats sweep the 1946 general election In a vote of about 2,500, Democrats won every county office: Sheriff S. T. Latta beat Luther Parker 1,892 to 845, John W. Umstead beat J. R. Evans for the House 1,881 to 697, and Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson and H. G. Laws were elected commissioners. Coroner H. J. Walker led the ticket with 2,018 votes and James Webb of Hillsboro was elected state senator. People: Houston J. Walker, Collier Cobb Jr., Carl T. Durham, Edwin M. Lynch, Ben F. Wilson, Samuel T. Latta Jr., Hubert G. Laws Place: Orange County precincts · Also named: S. T. Latta, John W. Umstead, James Webb, J. Ed Laws, J. R. Evans, Luther ParkerSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 7, 1946, p. 1
  28. The district board of health adopts the standard milk ordinance for Orange, Person and Chatham At its first meeting of the year, in Chapel Hill, the district board of health adopted the standard milk ordinance, to take effect July 1 in Orange, Person and Chatham counties, setting regular inspections of dairy farms and milk plants and rules for processing and handling milk. The board re-elected Dr. L. E. Fields to a four-year term. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill · Also named: L. E. FieldsThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), January 23, 1947, p. 1
  29. County commissioners approve an $85,000 remodeling of the courthouse interior After hearing architect H. Raymond Weeks's final tentative report, the commissioners gave the go-ahead to spend about $85,000 remodeling the inside of the century-old courthouse, with a basement, larger record vaults, jury rooms, judges' chambers, a courtroom balcony, heat, a sprinkler system and rest rooms for white and Black men and women, while leaving the exterior unchanged. The accountant, tax collector and other county offices were to go to a new office building. People: Howard Raymond Weeks, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 6, 1947, p. 1
  30. The county boards vote to put a $1 million bond issue for schools and county buildings before the voters Meeting jointly, the county commissioners and the board of education voted to submit a $1,000,000 bond issue, the largest yet proposed in the county, first to the Local Government Commission and then to the voters, with $235,000 for the courthouse renovation and a county office building and $765,000 for schools, split evenly between the Chapel Hill system and the rest of the county. Chairman Collier Cobb Jr. said the sum fell short of the needs but reached the legal limit. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Court house, HillsboroSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), April 17, 1947, p. 1
  31. Preservationists ask the county commissioners to spare the courthouse stair hall As the county commissioners passed the final orders for a $1,045,000 bond vote on June 10, a group led by Elizabeth Sunderland and Eva Gatling of the Duke fine arts faculty asked them not to tear out the front stair hall of the old courthouse in the planned interior remodeling. After also hearing a telegram from playwright Paul Green, the board said it would revise the plans to leave the stair halls alone except for repairs. People: Paul Green, Collier Cobb Jr., Howard Raymond Weeks Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough · Also named: Elizabeth Sunderland, Eva GatlingSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 8, 1947, p. 1
  32. Orange County revalues its real property and hears taxpayers' complaints After a three-man board of assessors, Zeb C. Burton, Roland McClamroch and Sterling H. Hunt, inspected nearly every tract and new valuations went out to more than 5,000 owners, the county commissioners sat as the board of equalization and review from June 25, with about half the complaints coming from Chapel Hill township. They finished on August 11, calling the revaluation, expected to add at least $5 million to the tax books, one of the best pieces of county work in years. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Roland P. McClamroch Place: Courthouse, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill · Also named: Zeb C. Burton, Roland McClamroch, Sterling H. HuntSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 26, 1947, p. 1
  33. County commissioners adopt the 1947-48 budget and an 85-cent tax rate The commissioners adopted a $288,933 budget for 1947-48 with a tax rate of 85 cents per $100, three cents below the year before, though most owners faced larger bills because of the revaluation. The budget added $4,400 for the new county recorder's court, raised the health department to $7,800, and cut a $49,400 special Chapel Hill schools request to $23,000. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Courthouse, Hillsborough · Also mentions: Chapel Hill schoolsSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 7, 1947, p. 1
  34. County commissioners choose Ira A. Ward as auditor and tax supervisor At a special meeting the commissioners picked Ira A. Ward, a 26-year-old Orange native, army air forces veteran and UNC graduate, from three applicants to succeed Gilbert W. Ray, who had held the post 19 years. Ward was paid $3,600 a year and took office on September 17. People: Ira Ward, Collier Cobb Jr., Gilbert W. Ray Place: Court house, HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 21, 1947, p. 1
  35. Chapel Hill aldermen create a permanent planning and zoning board The Chapel Hill board of aldermen unanimously passed an ordinance setting up a town planning and zoning board to chart a comprehensive plan for streets, parks, playgrounds, utilities and public and private property, with each recommendation to go to the aldermen after a public hearing. The five aldermen who had served on the temporary, unofficial planning board, among them Collier Cobb Jr., Vic Huggins and John Parker, became the permanent board. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Vic Huggins, Robert W. Madry Place: Town Hall, Chapel Hill · Also named: John ParkerSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 18, 1948, p. 1
  36. The district board of health extends its ordinances to Lee County The District Board of Health for Orange, Person, Chatham and Lee counties met at the Bank of Chapel Hill and extended the district's milk and excreta disposal ordinances to Lee County, which had joined the district in September 1946. Collier Cobb Jr. chaired the board. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Bank of Chapel HillDigitalNC: The Courier-Times (Roxboro), May 10, 1948, p. 1 (District Board of Health Holds Meet in Chapel Hill)
  37. Orange County voters return the incumbent board of commissioners in the Democratic primary In the May 29, 1948, Democratic primary, the largest primary turnout in years, Orange voters renominated commissioners Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson and H. G. Laws, who had run as a team, over M. L. (Steve) Allison and T. J. Wilkerson. Allison led until the two Chapel Hill boxes reported; the county also gave Kerr Scott its vote for governor and Carl T. Durham a majority of 1,963 for Congress. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Hubert G. Laws Place: Orange County · Also named: M. L. Allison, T. J. Wilkerson, Carl T. DurhamSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 3, 1948, p. 1
  38. County commissioners and school board name a citizens' committee to study capital needs Meeting jointly in the courthouse, the county commissioners and the board of education named a committee of fifteen citizens, Black and white, men and women, from all parts of the county to study county needs calling for capital outlay, as a first step toward a bond election the next year. State Senator James Webb of Hillsboro was asked to chair it and report by the December meeting. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Hubert Robinson, James S. Compton Place: Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also named: James WebbSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 7, 1948, p. 1
  39. Kenneth Jones heads the Community Chest drive among Chapel Hill's Black residents In Chapel Hill's fall 1948 Community Chest drive, run from headquarters in the Strowd Motor Company building, Kenneth Jones headed the canvass among the town's Black residents. The Chest supported eight service groups, among them the Negro Community Center. People: Kenneth Jones, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Negro Community CenterSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 14, 1948, p. 1
  40. Orange County casts its largest presidential vote and returns the Democratic ticket Orange voters cast 5,843 votes for president, the most in the county's history: 3,523 for Truman, 1,813 for Dewey and 362 for Thurmond. Kerr Scott, J. Melville Broughton, Carl Durham, State Senator James Webb, Representative John W. Umstead and Commissioners Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson and H. G. Laws all won easily; the county was one of 29 to favor raising legislators' pay and voted against the amendments on debt limits and property taxes. People: W. Kerr Scott, Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Hubert G. Laws Place: Orange County precincts · Also named: Harry S. Truman, James Webb, John W. Umstead, J. Melville Broughton, Carl DurhamSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 11, 1948, p. 1
  41. New county board reappoints Judge Phipps and names Jerry Stone recorder's court prosecutor Sworn in for a new two-year term, the county commissioners chose Collier Cobb Jr. chairman, reappointed L. J. Phipps of Chapel Hill judge of the county recorder's court for its first full term and named Jerry Stone prosecuting attorney in place of J. R. Farlow. The board also asked the State Highway Commission to use its whole county force on road upkeep after the rains and gave the capital-needs committee until February to report. People: Luther James Phipps, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also named: Jerry Stone, J. R. FarlowSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), December 9, 1948, p. 1
  42. County commissioners ask the legislators for a lien on welfare recipients' property Meeting with Senator James Webb and Representative John W. Umstead, the Orange County commissioners asked for a state law letting counties place a lien on the taxable property of welfare recipients and opening welfare lists to the public. Chairman Collier Cobb Jr. said county welfare spending had grown from $75,420 in 1940 to $156,733 for 1948-49. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also named: James Webb, John W. UmsteadSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), January 6, 1949, p. 1
  43. The county fact-finding committee presents its report on Orange County's needs The 15-member fact-finding committee headed by Senator James Webb gave the commissioners a 31-page report calling for an elected county school board, a 6-3-3 school plan with senior high schools at Hillsboro and Chapel Hill, new Black consolidated schools for the northern county, Efland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro, a new courthouse office building and a county garage. Chairman Collier Cobb Jr. called the needs 'staggering' and put the school work alone at over three million dollars. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also named: James WebbSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 10, 1949, p. 1
  44. County commissioners back a bill giving them power over beer licenses Unhappy with lax beer dealers, the Orange County commissioners approved a local bill for the legislature that would let them refuse beer licenses at their discretion, where the law then required them to grant any qualified applicant. They also opposed a statewide bill that would leave licensing to the state revenue commissioner. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Hubert G. Laws Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 10, 1949, p. 1
  45. County commissioners hire Archie Royal Davis to design the new courthouse The county commissioners approved a contract with Chapel Hill architect Archie Royal Davis, for 5 percent of construction cost, to design the courthouse to be built with the $250,000 voted in 1949. His preliminary Colonial plan put the courtroom and the main county offices on the floor facing Margaret Lane and the health and welfare offices on the ground floor, and the board declined the school board's request to buy the old Latta dairy building for offices. People: Archie Royal Davis, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also mentions: Margaret LaneThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), April 6, 1950, p. 1
  46. The League of Women Voters holds a forum for county candidates in Chapel Hill The Chapel Hill League of Women Voters brought the contested candidates for county commissioner, sheriff, register of deeds and the Board of Education before the public at the Town Hall, with William Cochrane of the Institute of Government as moderator. The candidates answered questions the League had sent ahead and then questions from the audience on property assessment, the $1 tax rate, the old courthouse and medical care for the poor. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Samuel T. Latta Jr. Place: Town Hall, Chapel Hill · Also named: William Cochrane · Also mentions: Institute of GovernmentSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 18, 1950, p. 1
  47. Orange County turns out in record numbers for the 1950 Democratic primary About 7,000 of the county's 8,964 registered voters went to the polls, the heaviest vote on record in Orange, and gave Senator Frank P. Graham about 75 percent of their votes for the U.S. Senate. Sheriff S. T. Latta and Register of Deeds J. Ed Laws were renominated, Sim Efland unseated commissioner Ben F. Wilson, and Harry P. Breeze edged school board member Zeb C. Burton. People: Frank Porter Graham, Sim Efland, Collier Cobb Jr., Ben F. Wilson, Samuel T. Latta Jr. Place: Orange County's 16 precincts · Also named: S. T. Latta, J. Ed Laws, Harry P. Breeze, Zeb C. BurtonSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 1, 1950, p. 1
  48. Commissioners adopt a $1 county tax rate to carry the school and courthouse bonds The commissioners formally adopted a $419,814.60 budget and a tax rate of $1 per $100 valuation, up from the 85-cent rate the county had kept for years, as they had pledged during the 1949 bond campaign. The budget raised county officers' salaries, paid for a new deputy sheriff and two-way radios, and set aside $16,000 to heat and renovate the old courthouse. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 10, 1950, p. 1
  49. Commissioners contract to tear down the old school office on the new courthouse site The commissioners approved a contract with Louie Murray to demolish the old wooden building on Margaret Lane used by the county Board of Education and clear the site for the new courthouse, with the salvaged materials as his pay. The building had gone up about 1914 as a tobacco warehouse and later served as a skating rink. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Margaret Lane at Court Square, Hillsboro · Also mentions: Margaret LaneThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 7, 1950, p. 1
  50. Commissioners let a contract to heat the old courthouse The commissioners awarded a $13,200 contract to Alliance Plumbing and Heating Company of Durham, low among five bidders, to heat the century-old courthouse from boilers in the jail building, and $960 to a Durham firm to weatherstrip and repair its windows. At the same meeting they set uniform office hours for the courthouse. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Archie Royal Davis Place: Old Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 7, 1950, p. 1
  51. Ben F. Wilson attends his last meeting after 12 years as a county commissioner Ben F. Wilson of Efland ended twelve years on the Orange County Board of Commissioners, which he had joined in 1938, at its November meeting, where chairman Collier Cobb Jr. said the county had never had a better commissioner. In a statement Wilson said he had tried to serve all citizens alike and had worked for both bond issues; Sim Efland, who beat him in the spring primary, took the seat in December. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Sim Efland, Ben F. Wilson Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 9, 1950, p. 1
  52. County commissioners and the welfare board meet on the rising cost of welfare Meeting jointly, the county commissioners and the board of public welfare looked for ways to slow the growth of welfare costs, chiefly the lengthening old age assistance rolls and the support of children born out of wedlock or abandoned. They agreed to ask the county's legislators for laws making all able children help support aged parents, requiring sworn statements of the children's means, allowing liens to stop transfers of property, and strengthening support and abandonment laws. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Grady A. Brown, Henry S. Hogan Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), December 21, 1950, p. 1
  53. Hillsboro's push for a vote on liquor stores collapses A move to get a special act letting Hillsboro voters decide on ABC liquor stores fell apart before the town board met on February 6. Three commissioners had promised to allow a vote, but the News reported that two of them changed their minds in the face of expected pressure from ministers, and supporters did not bring the matter up. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Louis Graves Place: Town board, HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 8, 1951, p. 1
  54. County commissioners drop a bill to zone along the new Durham boulevard On February 5 a Chapel Hill delegation asked the commissioners to seek power to zone 1,000 feet on each side of the new Durham-Chapel Hill boulevard. In two closed sessions the following week the board decided against it after the Institute of Government advised that the whole county would have to be zoned and that zoning one strip might be judged discriminatory. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Paul W. Wager, Richard Junius Mendenhall Hobbs, Louis Graves Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough · Also mentions: Institute of GovernmentSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 15, 1951, p. 1
  55. Orange County sells $750,000 in school bonds at less than 2 percent The Local Government Commission sold $750,000 in Orange County school building bonds, $735,000 voted in 1949 and $15,000 the commissioners had issued for the Hillsboro Negro School addition, to the Trust Company of Georgia and two partners at an average rate of 1.9282 percent. The commissioners had ordered the sale on February 19 at the school board's request. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Raleigh (sale); HillsboroughThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 15, 1951, p. 1
  56. County commissioners vote rent controls out of Orange County After a public hearing at which only two people spoke, the commissioners voted unanimously to end rent and housing controls in the county outside the towns, subject to approval by the federal Housing Expediter. Rents had been controlled countywide since the Second World War; Chapel Hill had dropped its controls on December 11, 1950. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Courthouse, HillsboroSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 26, 1951, p. 1
  57. Commissioners call a November vote on enlarging the Chapel Hill school district On a petition from the Chapel Hill school trustees, approved by the county Board of Education in August, the commissioners set a November 20 election on enlarging the Chapel Hill special school district and extending its 20-cent school tax over most of Chapel Hill township. Voters had to register anew, and the League of Women Voters campaigned for registration. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill township · Also mentions: Chapel Hill schoolSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 4, 1951, p. 1
  58. Bids for the new courthouse come in about $61,000 over the bond money The county commissioners opened bids for the ground and second floors of the new courthouse, leaving the basement unfinished for the time being; the low bids came to $311,355.46 with the architect's fees, against the $250,000 in bonds the voters had approved, and Coltrain-Graham Company of High Point was low on the general contract at $274,560. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Archie Royal Davis Place: Orange County Courthouse, HillsboroughThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), May 29, 1952, p. 1
  59. County commissioners leave the road to Governor Scott's new Orange County farm off their approved road list In an all-day review of road petitions the board approved 12 short roads totaling 5.3 miles but not the 2.5-mile road from the Efland-Cedar Grove road past the farm the Governor had recently bought, which served only four landowners; it agreed to approve that road only if the Highway Commission gave the county an extra 2.5 miles of allotment for it. People: W. Kerr Scott, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 19, 1952, p. 1
  60. The school board cuts its building request $48,000 so the courthouse can be built without a tax increase Meeting jointly with the county commissioners, the Board of Education agreed to cut its $109,000 capital outlay request by $48,000; with a $7,000 cut by the Chapel Hill school board and other savings, the commissioners said they could let the courthouse contracts and keep the county tax rate at $1.00 instead of raising it 5 to 7 cents. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Hillsborough · Also mentions: Chapel Hill school boardThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 19, 1952, p. 1
  61. County commissioners approve, on a condition, a state road through Governor Kerr Scott's Orange County farm After a long wrangle on July 7, 1952, the commissioners approved a petition to add to the state system a 2.5-mile road off the Efland-Cedar Grove road that ran through a farm Governor W. Kerr Scott had lately bought and served four homes, provided the highway commission gave Orange 2.5 extra miles for it. Commissioner Sim Efland pressed for the road, while Chairman Collier Cobb Jr. and R. O. Forrest held that approving it outright would break the board's rule of backing the roads that served the most people. People: W. Kerr Scott, Sim Efland, Collier Cobb Jr., Robert O. Forrest Place: Off the Efland-Cedar Grove road, northern Orange CountySearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 10, 1952, p. 1
  62. County commissioners sign the contracts to build the new courthouse On July 7, 1952, the Orange County commissioners signed contracts with the low bidders for the new courthouse: Coltrane and Graham Construction Company of High Point for the general work at about $205,300, and firms from Greensboro and Durham for the heating, plumbing and wiring. To stay within the $250,000 of bond money they struck plastering, millwork, fixtures and the boiler from the contracts, to be put back when more money came, and they chose a Tennessee brick that matched the older buildings in town over a cheaper one. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: New courthouse site, HillsboroughThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 10, 1952, p. 1
  63. The Bank of Chapel Hill finishes an addition that doubles its banking house In the summer of 1952 the Bank of Chapel Hill finished a year-long enlargement: a rear extension that made the building 135 feet long, more than doubled the lobby, raised the tellers' windows from six to eleven and added vaults, safe deposit boxes, offices and air conditioning. Several hundred people toured it at an open house; the bank, chartered in 1898 and opened in 1899, then held about $7.4 million in deposits. People: Clyde Eubanks, Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Bank of Chapel Hill, Chapel HillSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 7, 1952, p. 8
  64. Commissioners hire the J. M. Cleminshaw Company to revalue all county property On November 10, 1952, the county commissioners voted unanimously to have all property in Orange County revalued in 1953 by the J. M. Cleminshaw Company of Greensboro, for $44,000 to $47,900, the first full revaluation since a local board did one in 1947. Sim Efland argued the fee was too high but seconded R. O. Forrest's motion, and the board decided against a tax map. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Sim Efland, Richard Junius Mendenhall Hobbs, Robert O. Forrest Place: Courthouse, HillsboroSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 13, 1952, p. 1
  65. R. O. Forrest becomes chairman of the county commissioners When the new Board of County Commissioners took office on December 1, 1952, with R. J. M. Hobbs joining R. O. Forrest and Sim L. Efland, the members chose Forrest of Hillsboro as chairman in place of Collier Cobb Jr., chairman since 1942. The board reappointed Recorder's Court Judge L. J. Phipps, Solicitor John Q. LeGrand, accountant Ira L. Ward and the township tax listers. People: Richard Junius Mendenhall Hobbs, Sim Efland, Collier Cobb Jr., Luther James Phipps, Ira Ward, Robert O. Forrest Place: Courthouse, Hillsboro · Also named: John Q. LeGrandSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), December 4, 1952, p. 1
  66. Collier Cobb Jr. leaves the Orange County Board of Commissioners after fourteen years Elected in 1938 and chairman since December 1942, Cobb left the county board after seven terms, having missed only three meetings. The new board passed a resolution thanking him, and he pointed to the school improvement program and the start of the new courthouse. People: Richard Junius Mendenhall Hobbs, Sim Efland Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), December 4, 1952, p. 1
  67. The legislature drops Collier Cobb Jr. from the university trustees After eight years on the board, Cobb, chairman of the trustees' buildings committee for the Chapel Hill campus during the largest building program in its history, was left off the nominating list by the legislature's joint committee on trustees. He said he held no ill will. Place: Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, April 21, 1953, p. 4
  68. Chapel Hill's Citizens' Committee for Better Schools asks for a 20-cent school supplement tax Carrying a petition with more than 1,100 legible names, against 1,588 registered voters in the district, the Chapel Hill Citizens' Committee for Better Schools asked the county commissioners to levy a school supplement tax of 20 cents per $100 in the Chapel Hill school district so its schools could run above the state standard. No one spoke against it, and chairman R. J. M. Hobbs said the board would take it under consideration; in July the board set the supplement at 15 cents. People: Carl Smith (Chapel Hill businessman and county commissioner), Collier Cobb Jr., Richard Junius Mendenhall Hobbs, Charles S. Hubbard Place: Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough · Also mentions: Chapel Hill school districtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 9, 1955, p. 1
  69. The Chapel Hill Memorial Fund has a bronze tablet made for the town's World War II dead Trustees of the Chapel Hill Memorial Fund had a bronze tablet cast with the names of 26 men of the Chapel Hill community who died in the armed services in World War II, to stand on a stone base in front of Chapel Hill High School. The fund, raised by public gifts in 1946, also endowed a memorial book collection in the school library. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill High School, West Franklin Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · DigitalNC: Chapel Hill News Leader, July 4, 1955, p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill News Leader, April 7, 1955, p. 1; The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 7, 1955, p. 6
  70. East Franklin Street merchants open a customer parking lot at Columbia and Rosemary streets An association of 28 businesses and individuals in the East Franklin Street section opened the lot at 25 cents an hour, with the first hour free on a member's validated ticket; the News called it Chapel Hill's first customer parking lot. Monthly parking went on a second lot on Rosemary Street, the former American Legion Hut site, owned by five of the members. People: Carl Smith (Chapel Hill businessman and county commissioner), Harvey Bennett, Collier Cobb Jr., Vic Huggins Place: North Columbia and East Rosemary streets, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: American Legion Hut, East Franklin Street, Rosemary StreetSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 7, 1956, p. 8
  71. Mayor Todd names a committee to find a new industry for the Carrboro mill buildings After Pacific Mills announced on June 17 that Carrboro Mills, the town's only industry with about 380 workers, would close within two or three months, Mayor R. B. Todd named a Chapel Hill and Carrboro committee to work with the state Department of Conservation and Development in finding a new industry for the plants. Collier Cobb Jr. was chairman, and the Carrboro board endorsed the plan. People: Collier Cobb Jr., Lloyd M. Senter Place: Carrboro Town Hall, Carrboro · Also named: R. B. Todd · Also mentions: Carrboro MillsSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 26, 1958, p. 1
  72. The Mayor's Improvement Commission gives Chapel Hill a 20-year plan for downtown The privately financed commission handed the aldermen an 85-page plan, drawn by Durham planner Sam Hodges after two years of study, for traffic, off-street parking lots, new business development and an eventual civic center downtown. It urged putting nearly all parking meter revenue toward parking lots and naming a permanent improvement commission. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Downtown Chapel Hill · Also named: Sam HodgesSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), April 20, 1961, p. 3
  73. Chapel Hill-Carrboro merchants name Collier Cobb Jr. Merchant of the Year At its installation banquet at the Carolina Inn the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Merchants Association gave its new Merchant of the Year award, presented for the first time, to Collier Cobb Jr., insurance and bonds broker, former University trustee and former chairman of the county commissioners, who had chaired a 1961 study committee on redeveloping downtown Chapel Hill. Place: Carolina Inn, Chapel HillSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 15, 1962, p. 1
  74. Chapel Hill parents raise money to restore teachers' supplements A fund drive under the Chapel Hill Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, begun with a $500 gift from the School Art Guild and with Henry Brandis leading the campus canvass and Collier Cobb Jr. the business district, drew more than $16,000 from over 600 donors toward the $200 supplements cut from teachers' pay. The News said the response changed the school board's mind about seeking a school tax vote that spring. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: Chapel Hill · Also named: Henry BrandisSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 29, 1962, p. 13
  75. The Bank of Chapel Hill merges into North Carolina National Bank At the close of business on September 27, 1963, the Bank of Chapel Hill, founded in 1899, became part of North Carolina National Bank. Its office at 137 East Franklin Street made Chapel Hill the twelfth city in the NCNB system. People: Collier Cobb Jr. Place: 137 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill · Also mentions: Bank of Chapel Hill, North Carolina National Bank, East Franklin StreetSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, September 22, 1963, p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, September 25, 1963, p. 9; Chapel Hill Weekly, June 16, 1963, p. 8

People named in the same events

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Oral history interview with Mr. Collier Cobb Jr., 1974 (Chapel Hill Historical Society cassette)

1974

Collier Cobb Jr. of Chapel Hill, interviewed in 1974 for the Chapel Hill Historical Society. There is no summary of the conversation. Oral history cassette, Audiovisual Materials Collection, CHHS.012.

Included because: Its title names this person.

Records of the Board of Trustees, 1932-1972.

University of North Carolina (System). Board of Trustees · 1932

Minutes and committee files of the University of North Carolina System Board of Trustees from 1932 to 1972, 1,937 items in 2.4 linear feet, University Archives collection 40002, with a master microfilm made by the university library in 1999. Topics include campus buildings and planning, the design and construction of North Carolina Memorial Hospital, and trustees including Gordon Gray and George Watts Hill.

Included because: Catalog heading in the UNC record: Cobb, Collier, Jr., 1893-1982.

UNC

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