~ Chatham County, North Carolina ~
My husband and I moved our family to join
the ranks and numbers of Chatham County in 1988. The map image at right is a
thumbnail of Chatham County. If you will click to enlarge, you can see where
Ailea's Place is located - at approximately the top of the letter "L" in the
town name, Goldston :-).
At the time we moved to Chatham County the county was mostly rural, abutting eight other North Carolina counties, three of which are the most heavily populated counties in the state - Wake (Raleigh, Research Triangle Park), Durham (Durham, Research Triangle Park), and Orange (Chapel Hill). In the past dozen or so years Chatham County has seen alarming growth as the metropolitan area of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Research Triangle Park begins to encroach upon the northern and eastern reaches of Chatham County - much to the chagrin of many native Chathamites and others who have long called Chatham County "home".
Chatham County is one of the physically largest, if not among the most heavily populated, of counties in the state, though, and if you drive far enough away from the growing metro region with its exclusive gated communities, large subdivisions and endless roaring strip malls, you can still find life in the slow lane, surrounded by rolling farmlands and miles of pine forest. It is in the midst of just such a pine forest we have carved our small piece of Tarheel Heaven - Ailea's Place - and it is in those pine forests we hope to hide for some years to come.
As I sometimes do, I was inspired to write an essay about Chatham County which I think you might enjoy, so you are invited, and please feel free to visit Ailea's Reading Room, or go straight away to What's In A Name?
At left is a photograph I took while sitting in traffic, one rainy
December night. In the center background of the image stands the original Chatham County Courthouse, which sits dead-center
in the middle of Pittsboro, Chatham's county seat, and around which is the town's central traffic
circle, an intersection of two very important and heavily traveled U.S.
roadways: US Highway 64 moving east/west, and US Highways 15/501 moving
north/south.
Erected in the 1780's, this original courthouse was renovated a few years back, with the rich woodworking inside given a lovely renewed shine and luster. Though not used for everyday court any longer, the Superior Court does meet in the upstairs courtroom of this centuries-old building, and some of the county offices are maintained on its ground floor. It is interesting to note, the clock at the top of the courthouse tower was not added until sometime in the late 1990's. Until then, the tower was completely unadorned (save the lightening rods and tall spikes which formerly rimmed the roof of the building to provide protection from pigeons and other roosting birds).
Though it is impossible to see here, at the very front center of this old courthouse stands a statue which was erected in the mid 19th century to honor Chatham County's Confederate soldiers and officers, and their contributions to - and sacrifices for - the waging of the Civil War.
Even today, in the lightening-fast world of technology, enlightenment, brotherhood, tolerance, and the "politically correct," you may overhear expletives in regard to "them dammed Yanks", and you may actually come across a heated argument between folks of different birth origins about the many and varied reasons the South should have won The War (in the south, there is only one war - The War). I have heard a saying, sometimes muttered among friends (and perhaps foes as well) in the back room of an old general store or deteriorating grocery that "there's only two kinds of people in this world: rebels an' sonso'bitches" followed by suggestion to the listener to seek and keep his own categorization.
Though my husband and I are not Carolina-born, we are mountain-grown hillbillies who fit perfectly in the rural life of Chatham County. While I came to North Carolina many years ago from West Virginia which did not officially claim a side in The War, he hails from the eastern mountains of Tennessee whose members lent their strength to the Southern cause with little to no hesitation.
Chatham County is very rich in a wide variety of historical venues including The House in the Horseshoe from the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War-era estates, to local potters digging mud along either the Haw, the Rocky or Deep River and practicing "the old ways" of throwing pots, to steam- and water-driven saw mills to antique tractors (and tractor pulls!) to the many different and eclectic antique and collectibles merchants and their collections of vintage clothing, to the very entertaining and numerous street fairs and "Old Fashion" days of celebration. We may drive our big, shiny new SUV's and luxury cars to get there, but once there you cannot help but be swept back in time to the era of a simpler life, simpler ways and cleaner living. Oh for sure those simpler times called for a great deal more hard labor to go with it, but the labor was a price none complained of. That was just how it was... it was good enough for the granddaddies and grannies going back many generations, so if it was good enough for them, it's good enough for us. It is that mentality - up at the rooster's crow at dawn, working hard, eating hearty, sleeping well and hard when the sun sets - which keeps the elders growing older, and if today's generations could just embrace a small lesson or two from this quickly fading way of life we might all benefit enormously.
Alas, those of us in today's world are far too busy, far too intent on moving up, acquiring more, overspending our energies, our lives, our time, our patience, and our bank accounts, to consider hand-looming your next welcome mat, weaving yourself a new egg basket, hand-tatting the lace for the collar on a newly-made dress, or hitching the team and heading out to the fields to plow or plant or hoe the rows by hand.
Following are only a fraction of the great links to be found to businesses in, services offered, and information on this great place known as Chatham County. If you'll take just a moment to walk around for a bit and visit some of these folks, I think you will be able to easily see why we at Ailea's Place have come to love calling Chatham County 'home.'
The following links are off-site. Please
don't forget
to use your browser's "back" button to return to Ailea's Place.
Bed & Breakfast at Laurel Ridge - A wonderful place! My husband and I have stayed in the Carolina Cottage. Lovely, in a beautiful and private setting - well worth the short wait for a reservation.
Carnivore Preservation Trust - A haven to preserve certain endangered species that are essential to the survival of threatened rainforest ecosystems. Founded in 1981, CPT has grown in size, species and numbers since I first visited before opening its gates to the public. Open to the general public for weekend tours, the CPT is a unique experience for anyone interested in wildlife. You may adopt a CPT animal, and can order CPT merchandise on-line. Check it out!
Chatham County - "The best of both worlds" - a motto for the town of Pittsboro, county seat of Chatham County, North Carolina. This is the "official" Chatham County web site and features links and information on county government, growth statistics, government offices (pay your county taxes online!) and also includes driving directions to the town of Pittsboro from any of the four corners. Lots of "important" data may be found here.
The Chatham Journal - "Experience the world of Chatham County" - the Chatham Journal is a weekly publication covering news and information headlines (the Pittsboro Animal Hospital has a new vet/owner!) as well as bits and pieces of just about any and everything you could imagine.
Clyde Jones Critter Artist - Clyde Jones is a native of Chatham County living near the Haw River in a community known as Bynum. His "critters" are fashioned from pieces of wood (logs, branches and the like), and more often than not resemble any of a number of different species of wildlife. The "critters" are not offered for sale, but are given away to those who ask and are deemed worthy. The "critters" are endearing and worth a look-see!
Discover Chatham County! - Boasts a collection of links of interest in Chatham County, some of which are offered here, in my links to Chatham County, but a great many more that are not included here.
Fearrington Country Village - "A unique community located on farmland dating back to the 1700's", Fearrington Village includes shops, restaurants and beautiful gardens anchored by the Fearrington House Country Inn and Restaurant which offers luxurious settings for dinners, overnight stays, and is a perfect location for those special occasions such as weddings, anniversary parties, corporate retreats and more. The Belted Galloway cows are a MUST see (photograph on right)!
French Connections - Just one of the many great antique shops located in and around Pittsboro, the county seat of Chatham County. Truly, an entire weekend could easily be filled by browsing the antique and "junque" shops in Chatham County! This one in particular, chock-full of "Old World" antiques and an excellent collection of African art, including masks and other collectibles.
Haw River Assembly - A non-profit group formed years ago to protect the Haw River, its tributaries and watershed. The web site includes a schedule of events, including the annual spring clean-up and Haw River Festival.
Holly Hill Daylily Farm - Now THIS place warrants a visit - a physical visit - by one and all who can go. Owned and operated by my dear friend, Dr. Jimmy Massey (retired botanist from the Biology Department - my place of employment), Holly Hill is where all my lilies came from (see take a walk through the daylilies!). The farm is closed to the public most of the year, but during the late spring and early summer, is open on weekends for sale to the general public. A great thing to do on a summer weekend in Chatham County!
House In The Horseshoe - Revolutionary War-era home built around 1772 and named "Retreat" by its second owner, Governor Benjamin Williams. The House in the Horseshoe is also known as the Alston House, and bears numerous scars from the Revolutionary War. An excellent stop, there are annual re-enactments of the battle which made the house famous, each spring.
The Inn at Celebrity Dairy - A bed and breakfast located on a 200-acre working goat dairy farm. The Inn boasts shelter on a gentle knoll under 250-year old oak trees and is comprised of two buildings - the farmhouse as well as the now-renovated original 1800's farm cabin.
Mark Hewitt Pottery - One of the many potters in and around Chatham County, Mark Hewitt is a world-renowned potter located just outside Pittsboro. His kiln openings are major events in Chatham County, his work highly sought.
Jordan Lake State Park - Mine and hubby's favorite shared pastime - Jordan Lake. This is the "official" State Parks and Recreation site for B. Everett Jordan Lake and includes lots of info about the lake, its various accesses, attributes and attractions.
Orchids by Hanks Chapel Greenhouse - Located in the beautifully rural Chatham County, is a greenhouse specializing in the orchid and its endless varieties. Offering both retail and wholesale sales, as well as rental of orchid arrangements for private engagements, and to enhance the office decor of businesses, and variety of other sales and services.
The Pittsboro General Store Cafe - The Pittsboro General Store first opened in 1979 as a natural foods store and consignment shop, but in more recent years has moved, and moved toward operating as a cafe. It is now open all week (closed Sundays only) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and promotes local artists and musicians by displaying the local art and offering up live music from local bands Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For many, the General Store Cafe has become a MUST, and has enjoyed write-ups in magazines such as Bon Appetite and Southern Living, which has drawn patrons from other states to its doors.
Pittsboro Photo Album - Supported by the North Carolina Travels web presence, this site is a cool collection of photographs in and around Pittsboro - a "must see" collection!
Rosemary House Bed & Breakfast - Located on the edge of Pittsboro's historical district, the Rosemary House was erected in 1912 and renovated a few years ago for the purpose of providing visitors a one-if-a-kind experience while visiting Pittsboro. A beautiful colonial home, Rosemary House cannot be ignored - nor missed - if you but drive one of the two major highways bisecting town, both east/west (U.S. Highway 64) and north/south (U.S. Highways 15-501).
Rural Chatham Photo Gallery - Very cool site with photographs of the county. Other photographic sites of the county include North Carolina Photographs, Pittsboro, Chatham County and Shuck Tales.
Pittsboro, North Carolina - Offers detailed profile of Chatham County's seat including population, geographical information, and a plethora of data ranging from median age to housing to growth and anything else pertaining to the area. Of interest if you are considering moving to the area.
Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - A festival of music and dance, whose purpose is to provide an environment for community building through the arts and education. Restoration of a 75-acre farm with farmhouse is ongoing, and hosts workshops, festivals, camps and other multi-cultural activities. The Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival occurs in the spring and fall each year.
Southern Supreme Nutty Fruitcake and Gourmet Confections - Now THIS is a product even YOU should try! I have never been a fan of fruitcake, but received a loaf of this incredible cake for Christmas one year. My benefactor insisted I give it a try, and much to my surprise I found the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of this very nutty fruitcake must be tasted to be believed. Should better be called simply "Nutty Cake" but hey, no complaints! Southern Supreme offers on-line ordering of all their baked goods.
Visit Chatham County - An extremely interesting site filled with information on many of the greater (and some of the lesser) attractions in Chatham County including some history, shopping guide (lots of antiques, pottery & etc.), dining information, attractions, events, and maps to get you there. A great, eclectic guide to Chatham County!
Welcome to Bennett! - "Friendliest town in North Carolina", Bennett, a down-home community, is one of the small, rural burgs populating Chatham County and located in the south-west part of the county near the Randolph County line. "Don't blink or you'll miss it!" surely applies to Bennett, home of the annual Flatwoods Festival which features a parade, crafts vendors and antique tractor pull. The site also boasts a wealth of links to a great deal of Chatham's south-western goodies.
Thanks for strolling my county! I hope
you enjoyed your stay!
Come on back and visit us again real soon, y'hear?
Please feel free to e-mail Amy with any questions or comments
