Robersonville

I am the hometown of Jerry Thomas and the band Parmalee. The earliest known citizens of the Robersonville area were the Tuscarora and Morotock Native Americans. However, according to various deeds, family bibles, wills and church records, settlers arrived many years before the Revolutionary War. One of the earliest known churches of the area was Flat Swamp Primitive Baptist Church, founded in 1776. Among the early settlers of this area was the family of Henry Robason, who is said to have been born in 1710 in England. Eventually the family name became "Roberson" and the family tree grew throughout the region. Before the Civil War, George O. Roberson and his father, William, owned a store originally located on the northwest corner of what is now known as Railroad and Roberson Streets. The local militia trained at this store during the Civil War. After returning from the war, George built a store across the street from the original one.I was born February 16, 1872, the first town in Martin County not located on the Roanoke River; so, I wasn't dependent on the river for communication with other settlements. Instead, the railroad was our main artery of communication and trade. I was named after Henry, William, and George Roberson. Of the 3 brothers, Henry D. Roberson is considered to be the "Father of Robersonville." He served as director, stockholder, and one of the foremost promoters of the railroad that ran from Williamston to Tarboro. It was first known as the Williamston and Tarboro R.R. but the name was soon changed to Seaboard and Raleigh R.R., then the Albemarle and Raleigh R.R. and is now part of the Atlantic Coast Line system. Although the Seaboard and Raleigh Railway Company would not be incorporated until late 1873, town founders envisioned it as a prominent trading center and market for western Martin County. Growing slowly during its first decade, after the railroadâ€™s completion in October 1882, the town had eleven general stores, two physicians, and a number of industries by 1884. The population was then 400 residents, with farm families and ambitious young men moving here because of our various entrepreneurial, educational, and social opportunities. Our first mayor was William W. Roberson. The original town commissioners were Henry D. Roberson, Staton Everett, and Eli Askew. Vance L. Roberson served the longest tenure of public service of any Robersonville citizen. Henry Staton Everett served longer than any other mayor here.
Postal Service began here on July 10, 1874 with Wilson T. Outterbridge, age 22, as the first postmaster. The population to be served at that time was 500. Mail was received and dispatched over the Seaboard and Raleigh Railroad. The original site is on the Northeast side of Main Street in the area of our old Motor Company building. Wilson Outterbridge is buried behind the Masonic Hall. Mrs. Geneva James Weaver served the longest term of any Robersonville postmaster. James H. Grimes, Thomas H. Whichard, Joseph Cornelius Crawford, Alexander Wynn, Hark Wynn, Buck Vick, Wade E. Vick, Reta Vick, Stephen L. Ross, Neva H. Ross, Orlando P. Roberson, Fountain Cox, and Lenward E. Thomas were others who served our post office faithfully.
The first electric plant was built around 1914 and was privately owned and operated. Around 1940, we contracted to buy current from Greenville. After WWII a contract was negotiated with Virginia Electric & Power. Later, we used Carolina Power & Light. At one time, J.S. (Jim) Simpson supervised the distribution and maintenance of our electricity. Today we contract with Electricities, Inc. Our water and sewage disposal system was installed in 1924.
As site of the countyâ€™s first tobacco market August 7, 1900, Robersonville embarked on a second, more expansive era of prosperity, civic progress, and development with a population that surged up to 1200 during the early 1900s. I was originally a rural trading center and market for agricultural commodities. Our tobacco market was once reported to be the largest in the world with a single set of buyers. Mr. J.C. Andrews was chosen as "soliciting agent" to seek subscriptions to buy the land necessary for the market. In 1903, he and Mr. J.W. Ferrell purchased the Carolina and Southern Warehouses. Taylor Warehouse opened that same year and was run by W.H. Adkins, J.H. Taylor, and R.A. Bailey. These warehouses changed hands and names many times. In 1930, the New Red Front Warehouse was built and operated by Jimmie Taylor and Jim Gray. In the same year, Haywood Everett and J.R. Morris were the managers of Central Warehouse. The Adkins and Bailey Warehouse, which used to be Taylor Warehouse was now under management of W.H. Adkins and R.A. Bailey. In 1947, the Planters Warehouse was built on the opposite side of town from the other three. Mr. E.G. Anderson and Mr. H.T. Highsmith were the proprieters of the warehouse. In the spring of 1968, the Adkins and Bailey Warehouse burned down. Mr. James E. Gray financed the rebuilding of a new warehouse on the same spot. The new Gray's Warehouse was opend in the 1968 season. In 1971, Planters Warehouse was purchased by Mr. Norman Hardee and Mr. Edwin Lee. They renamed it Hardee's Warehouse. Also that year, Gray's, Red front, and Central Warehouses were under the ownership of James E. Gray, Jim Gray, R.K. Adkins, and Jack Sharp, taking the place of his late father-in-law, Mr. Charlie Gray. In 1973, Mr. James E. Gray passed away and his son, Harry Gray, took over his position. The tobacco market in Martin County has dwindled in recent years. In fact two of our warehouses have been torn down, leaving big empty lots. Robersonville no longer has a tobacco market. Hardee's Warehouse is now owned by the Robersons. Gray's Warehouse is now a storage warehouse for Phillip Morris. Corn is now our biggest cash crop.
The growth of new industries brought new residential areas which opened to provide homes for the townâ€™s increased population - most notably "New Town" , a residential neighborhood that would become one of eastern North Carolinaâ€™s most cohesive and civic-minded early 20th century African-American communities.
The newly acquired prosperity, improved educational opportunities, and modern municipal services fostered a lively cultural and social life in town where entertaining diversions and several cultural, civic, and social groups flourished. Even during the Great Depression economic expansion slowed drastically in Robersonville, but we thankfully benefited from state and federal relief programs. Inexpensive sports and popular social pastimes, such as baseball and bridge, also eased the hardships for many during those rough years.
We soon developed into a leader of the industrial revolution which has characterized the economy of Martin County in the last half-century. In 1910, the Robersonville Hosiery and Manufacturing Co. was incorporated. In 1912, the firm was reorganized as Robersonville-Tar River Hosiery Mill, Inc. Today, the ruins of the old hosiery mill can be seen on the corner of Mill Street and Railroad Street. Most of the industry here in the early part of the 20th Century focused on the handling of agricultural or lumber products. We had a large cotton ginning plant, lumber mills, and grist mills. Southeastern Tobacco Co. operated a large tobacco redrying and stemming plant for many years.
Some of the early industries were not directly related to agricultrure. The D.B. Parker Buggy Co. began in 1903 and operated until its product was replaced by the automobile. The paving of Highway 64 was a major event and provide another important artery through our town. Established in 1905, the Carolina Brick Co. made ornamental bricks with a capacity of 30,000 daily. Since the late 1950's, a wider range of industry has appeared. In 1958, a poultry processing company was opened by Austin Farms. This plant was later purchased by Central Soya of Anthes, Inc. and then later owned by Perdue. Many at Robersonville High School a few blocks away, will never forget the smell of burning chickens. Also in 1958, Robersonville Manufacturing Co. was chartered as a maker of children's clothes. It expanded and was acquired by Blue Gem, which had its origins as the Hamilton Pants Manufacturing Company. Later it was changed to Southern Apparel. Robersonville Products Co. opened in 1970. As a division of Hallmark, it produced display fixtures for retail stores. After closing in 1993, the bulding was used by Empire Brush Company. Also in 1970, Blue Ridge Shoe Co. opened and began making children's shoes. Later the building was bought by Sandra Manufacturing Co., a sewing plant later known as Generation II, Ithaca Inc., and Caraustar.
Robersonville is pleased to welcome Microcell, an environmentally friendly industry, to our community. Microcell Corporation, based in Raleigh, has renovated the old Caraustar building. The 80,000 square foot (7400 m2) fuel cell manufacturing facility adds 100 jobs to the area. The company's headquarters, including research & development, are located in the Research Triangle Park. The facility, equipped with clean room production areas, focuses on manufacturing the company's automotive and distributed generation fuel cells to meet product orders from its strategic partners and other customers. "Microcell is moving beyond research and development and is preparing for product commercialization. We anticipate the need for environmentally clean energy technologies to significantly increase in the next decade. Microcell projects to be a major player in this field." At the center of the company's technology is the "microcell" design concept. Its extrusion-based scalable process for cost effective large-scale production, and the plug and play core technology distinguishes it from other fuel cell technologies. It incorporates all the critical components of a planar Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell in a single fiber ('microcell'). The microcell is around 500 - 1000 micrometers in diameter and produced via an automated extrusion process. Microcells are scalable electrochemical cells capable of producing electrical power in a range from milli-watts to multi-kilowatt units operating on hydrogen or methanol.
Carolina Peanuts was started by locals as a small company but later grew after being acquired by Aneuser-Busch. Eagle Snacks later changed to Guy Snacks and is now known as Ann's House of Nuts. For a few years, W.M. Green had a catalog showroom.
Today our biggest asset is East Carolina Motor Speedway, a racetrack. East Carolina Motor Speedway opened its first season in 1989 with the thoughts of having a much needed attraction for racing fans throughout Eastern North Carolina. This D-shaped , 3/8 mile track has 24 degree banking in its turns as well as 10 degree banking on its straight-a-ways. The track is 40 feet wide allowing cars to run three-wide for added excitement to its spectators. The grandstand can seat 3,000 fans and VIP booths located in turn four provide a first-class view of the entire track and pit area. For more information on this exciting attraction to Eastern North Carolina please visit www.ecmsracing.com or call (252) 795-3968.
The Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church was founded in 1883. The land was given for the sole purpose of building a house of public worship and school. The original church was dismantled in 1883 and the present sanctuary completed the same year. The building was later restored by Dr. Everette James and is now home to the St. James Place Museum, one of the oldest buildings in town. This restored historical landmark serves as a fascinating museum of southern folk art. The late clapboard Gothic revival architecture church building now houses original furnishings, folk art, and antique duck decoys. More than 100 North Carolina quilts, including 42 African-American examples and hundreds of pieces of North Carolina pottery are exhibited. This is one of the biggest pottery collections east of Raleigh! St. James Place is located on the corner of Academy Street (old US 64) and Outerbridge Street and is open year round daily by appointment. Tours are self-guided and admission is free. To gain access, simply call our library at (252) 795-3591, Monday-Friday (9AM to 5PM) and Saturday (9AM to 12 Noon) or call Mary Ann Taylor at (252) 795-4576.
The Filling Station Restaurant has an interesting historical artifact. Go check out the work of art while enjoying a delicious meal. In the 1940's, our Bill Bemis worked at Jim Johnson's store in Gold Point and painted pictures for a hobby. Using enamel paints, he created a mural on the inside walls of the store. The mural depicts then store owner, Jim Johnson and his daughters Mable and Peggy and their dog, in a fox hunt scene. This store was later called the Grant Vandiford store until it was moved to Robersonville to be part of the dining room of the Filling Station Restaurant. Bill Bemis retouched his work; so, go eat at the Filling Station and you'll see that the fox hunt mural is as bright and colorful today as it was 60 years ago.
Our volunteer Fire Department was first organized in 1924 with William Gray as the first Fire Chief and police chief. Our Rescue Squad was organized in 1959 and was the first one in Martin County. It was sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jay Cee's) under the leadership of John L. House and Robert E. Lee. A municipal building houses the police, fire, and rescue departments as well as our public library.
Town council meetings are held 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM in the Paul D. Roberson Boardroom at the Town Hall, located in the old Wachovia Bank building at 114 S. Main Street. Please feel free to stop by and say hello or call the town office at (252) 795-3511. Our population is about 1,682 and our tax rate is .60/$100.
Although the railroad has been replaced by the new US 64 Bypass as the townâ€™s main link to the outside world, Robersonville continues to thrive providing needed services, industry and entertainment to local and out-of-town residents alike.