The Plank Road
Seagrove first became famous because of the Plank Road built in 1851.This was a part of the Plank Road that ran from Salem, NC to Fayetteville, NC. The road was the longest road of its type in the United States covering over 129 miles. The plank was free from mud and considered to be an all weather road. It not only helped the local farmers and manufacturers get their products out to market, but it also brought new people with different manners and customs through the area which allowed the local people a tie to the rest of the world. The civil war came and then the railroads were built offering cheaper rates. The Plank Road began to lose money and was soon discarded.
How Seagrove Came to be
In 1889 there had been talk of building a railroad connecting Asheboro to Troy, but it was not until the Page family of Moore County looked things over in 1895, that it become reality. Depots were built along the new railroad line.
A train depot located near Henry Yows residence and store needed a name. This is was the beginnings of the Town of Seagrove. Why Not Community and Post Office were already established, but they were located about one mile east of the second train depot, so a new name had to be chosen for the depot that was located near Henry Yows residence and store. The Page family esteemed the work of civil engineer, Edwin Seagroves, so highly that they honored him by making
this depot his namesake. However, when the painter came to put the sign on the ends of the building, he ran out of space on the board so he simply left the last “s” from the spelling of the name. The depot has been known as Seagrove since that time.
The first depot was used for 9 years before burning. A new building was erected in 1905 down the road from the first one by Jefferson Auman who furnished the lumber from his sawmill and built the station for $35. The first station master was Thomas J. Ellis who also operated the first post office located in the depot. The appearance of the train everyday was an exciting event which brought the mail and passengers as well as local residents who were returning with news from other areas.
By 1913 there were several businesses and store places in the local area of the depot. The barrel shop, roller mill, dresser plant, the Newsomes blacksmith shop, general store, the school had just opened and the new highway 70 (currently highway 220 or Broad Street) was being built , coming right through Main Street. The village that had grown up around the depot felt the need of an organized council. D.A. Cornelison and Frank Auman were appointed to go to Raleigh and have a new town charter established putting Seagrove on the map. The first officers said incorporation shall consist of D.A. Cornelison, Mayor and G.H. Cornelison, Frank Auman, W.J. Moore, T.N. Slackand E.M. Brown as commissioners.
A train depot located near Henry Yows residence and store needed a name. This is was the beginnings of the Town of Seagrove. Why Not Community and Post Office were already established, but they were located about one mile east of the second train depot, so a new name had to be chosen for the depot that was located near Henry Yows residence and store. The Page family esteemed the work of civil engineer, Edwin Seagroves, so highly that they honored him by making
this depot his namesake. However, when the painter came to put the sign on the ends of the building, he ran out of space on the board so he simply left the last “s” from the spelling of the name. The depot has been known as Seagrove since that time.
The first depot was used for 9 years before burning. A new building was erected in 1905 down the road from the first one by Jefferson Auman who furnished the lumber from his sawmill and built the station for $35. The first station master was Thomas J. Ellis who also operated the first post office located in the depot. The appearance of the train everyday was an exciting event which brought the mail and passengers as well as local residents who were returning with news from other areas.
By 1913 there were several businesses and store places in the local area of the depot. The barrel shop, roller mill, dresser plant, the Newsomes blacksmith shop, general store, the school had just opened and the new highway 70 (currently highway 220 or Broad Street) was being built , coming right through Main Street. The village that had grown up around the depot felt the need of an organized council. D.A. Cornelison and Frank Auman were appointed to go to Raleigh and have a new town charter established putting Seagrove on the map. The first officers said incorporation shall consist of D.A. Cornelison, Mayor and G.H. Cornelison, Frank Auman, W.J. Moore, T.N. Slackand E.M. Brown as commissioners.
Seagrove School
On April 3, 1911, it was ordered by the county school board that “the community around Seagrove in Richland Township be given a district on the following conditions: that they build a school house at their own expense in keeping with
the need of the people to be served and the educational idea of the county not to detriment of Blalock or any other district, and as near the center of the proposed district as possible for the best interests of the patron of the school in said district.”
Lewis Parks gave the land and building, a vacated flour mill, on the condition that it would revert back to his family if the school was ever dissolved. Henry Yow and others furnished the money to buy necessary items for the school. Madison Farlow agreed to furnish the lumber for remodeling the building and all the neighbors agreed to provide the labor needed and by that winter the school was ready for the pupils. Miss Romie Yow was the first teacher.
the need of the people to be served and the educational idea of the county not to detriment of Blalock or any other district, and as near the center of the proposed district as possible for the best interests of the patron of the school in said district.”
Lewis Parks gave the land and building, a vacated flour mill, on the condition that it would revert back to his family if the school was ever dissolved. Henry Yow and others furnished the money to buy necessary items for the school. Madison Farlow agreed to furnish the lumber for remodeling the building and all the neighbors agreed to provide the labor needed and by that winter the school was ready for the pupils. Miss Romie Yow was the first teacher.
Lucks Incorporated...
Lucks Incorporated was founded in 1947 as Mountain View Canning Co. by Alfred Spencer and Ivey Luck. Clay Presnell joined the company in 1948. People would bring garden vegetables and meats to the plant for canning. In 1950 the plant canned Pinto Beans, Great Northern Beans and Blackeyed Peas. In 1953 the name of the company was changed from Mountain View Canning Company to Lucks Incorporated. It served the area for several years for employment of the community. It was sold several times before it went completely out of business.
Click on the link below to view the original 1915 Constitution and By-Laws of Seagrove Council No. 327.
| 1915_constitution_and_by_laws.pdf |
| 1916_deed.pdf |