A BRIEF HISTORY OF DURHAM, NC
Wood-burning steam trains had to stop frequently (25-30 miles) to get resupplying of wood and water. These places to get the supplies were called railroad depots. Durham originated in 1853 because of the need for a railroad depot in North Carolina between Raleigh and Hillsborough.
A post office was established in 1836 in Prattsburg. The land owners at Prattsburg refused to sell land to the railroad. A country doctor named Bartlett S. Durham lived and worked along the route. He donated land to the railroad, who named the depot Durham Station. Before the railroad, the area was almost entirely agricultural, with a few businesses that targeted travelers along the Hillsborough Road. Hillsborough Rd. was the major east-west route in North Carolina during colonial times interstate highways came along.
Much of Durham's growth resulted from the establishment of a thriving tobacco industry. Soldiers, both Union and Confederate, stayed just outside Durham Station, during surrender proceedings in April 1865. Soliders returned home after the war and wanted more of the tobacco they had tried in North Carolina. Requests were mailed to Green's tobacco company. W.T. Blackwell partnered with Green and changed the name to "Bull Durham Tobacco Company". The name "Bull Durham" is believed to have been taken from the bull on the British Colman's Mustard, which Mr. Blackwell mistakenly thought was manufactured in Durham, England.
The rapid growth of the Bull Durham Tobacco Company resulted in the same rapid growth of Durham. While the tobacco industry controlled the city's economy initially, it was soon rivaled by multiple textile mills. Durham's manufacturing business declined during the mid 1900's. Textile mills began closing in the 1930s. Tobacco competition and reduced smoking rates caused Durham's tobacco industry to suffer as well. Although Durham benefited significantly from Research Triangle Park, which was established in 1958, Durham did not go through the same increases in housing as Raleigh, Cary, and Apex did.
James Buchanan Duke established a philanthropic foundation in honor of his father to supportTrinity College in Durham in 1924. The college changed its name to Duke University and built a large campus and hospital a mile west of Trinity College (the original site of Trinity College is now known as the Duke East Campus).
THIS DURHAM FENCE COMPANY GUARANTEES WORKMANSHIP FOR LIFE
Today, Durham has been booming for the fence industry as well. The area's continued residential growth along with most other parts of North Carolina, make it a prime candidate for fence jobs. Brier Creek which is almost on the Raleigh/Durham county line, is one of the most up and coming areas. Our Durham fence company has done quite a few privacy and picket fences in the "Bull City". Bull City was also star to the Kevin Costner movie Bull Durham. Our Durham fence company gives a Lifetime Warranty against workmanship defects, something almost no other fence company in North Carolina offers. Durham is also part of the "Triangle". The Triangle includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Merchant's Metals is located in Durham, NC. Merchant's Metals is a fence supply store that does not deal with the general public. We feel fortunate to have an account with them. Merchant's Metals carries Vinyl, Aluminum, and specialty items, but you cannot buy there without an account.
Percision Garage Doors installs the best garage doors in Durham and Raleigh. Custom Overhead Doors also services the Durham, North Carolina area for garage doors as well as Raleigh. The research on this page about Durham was done through Wikipedia.
Lorillard celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2010. Lorillard is the oldest publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and one of the oldest continually run companies in America.