Progress
^infaCC zvas once a SiisUin^ commerciatSite
The Perquimans Weekly, june 24, 1999 7B
It’s hard to imagine the
sleepy, quaint town of
Winfall as a bustling com
mercial center, but that’s
iu^ what it was around
fie turn of the century
Recording to documented
history and local legend.
Winfall is Icoated at a
Junction where the roads
from Hertford and
^‘arksville meet the road
from Woodville to
Selvidere. Legend has it
^at the first building built
m the town fell over dur-
JUg a windstorm. That
svent is credited with
^hanging the name of the
'Community from Red
frouse Fork to Windfall.
The “ d” was eventually
hfopped, and the town
became Winfall.
The bustling Winfall was
lUcorporated on March 7,
1987. A.S. Jordan was the
hrst mayor. Original town
'^ouncilmen were Josiah H.
l^ite, Watson Winslow •
Slid R.H. Kirby. The town’s
^oudnaries were the
Perimeter of a circle one-
Tuarter mile from the
lutersection of the Norfolk
-I Southern Railroad and the
- 'bounty road. At the center
'"It town stood the train sta-
' lion.
^infall was a very busy
'^fpssroads before the
’ bridge was built across the
’’ Terquimans River. The
' Wn served as the com-
' Pierce center for people on
Ihe north side of the river.
' ^^ien before the Civil War,
Ihe community had devel
oped as a commercial area.
In 1873, a post office was
established for Winfall
with Josiah H. White as its
postmaster.
19th century business
enterprises included black
smith N.H. Corey, fish deal
er EE. Winslow, millwright
A. J. Bright and bricklayer/
plasterer Thomas Perry.
The Winslow family
owned and operated a grist
mill across from Cedar
Grove Church.
Stores in town offered
merchandise brought in by
train as well as locally-
grown produce. Lang
Jessup owned a general
store and a grocery store
was owned and operated
by Fonz White. There was
a store where the post
office sits now owned by
Cliff Edwards.
Stores were not only
places to purchase needed
goods, but meeting places
as well. Going to town
meant hitching up the
wagon and meeting friends
to exchange news. Some of
Winfall’s early stores were
built side by side, almost
joining. Under the front
stoops were benches for
visiting.
In the late 1920s, Winfall
boasted about seven stores
plus a cafe and a cool
drink shop. The stores all
stayed open until midnight
on Saturday and until 9
p.m. on week nights, a
practice which continued
until just after World War
II. .
Just outside the original
boundaries of Winfall
Bateman’s Landscaping
(In Front of Health Department)
105 Charles St., Hertford
426-5416
Large Selection of
Perennials • Annuals
Roses * Hanging Baskets,etc.
BIG Expansion in the FALL!
Crafts • Antiques • Collectibles
; Country4
Flair
Beckie and Pete Perry
Route 6. Box 59 • Hertford, N. C. 27944
. Intersection of US 17 and Swing Gate Road |
■ Work: (252) 426-4030 • Home: (252) 426-5158 • Fax: (252) 426-7238 g
Ladies Apparel
Lingerie Jewelry
• Accessories and plus sizes
 • Sportswear
Mother of the Bride Dresses
White's Dress Shoppe
i
- I
426-5651
117 N. Church Street
Hertford
2177^9
• Engraving
• Trophies
• Clocks
• Certificates
• Ribbons
• Desk Accessories
Carolina Trophy
109 N. Church St.
Hall Of Fame Square
Downtown Hertford
Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 9am - 5pm
Sat. 10-2
Office: 426-4644 Brenda & Russell Lassiter
Home: 297-2740 Owners
stood one of the area’s
most important commer
cial enterprises, the Major
Loomis Mill. It was a big
lumber mill, employing
over 150 people, founded in
1894 by George Major and
Mr. Loomis from New
Jersey. It was the largest
lumber company in the
county and probably the
largest company on the
east coast until 1930.
The mill stood near the
Perquimans River and
shipped out 20 train-car
loads of lumber each
week. Nine boilers pow
ered the mill’s machinery.
Average pay after deduc
tions for a full week’s work
was $10 at the turn of the
century. In 1952, the mill
burneci and was never
rebuilt.
The railroad was also an
important piece of
Winfall’s history The first
railroad to serve the town
was the Elizabeth City and
Norfolk, connected to
Winfall in 1881. A station
was built that served both
passenger and freight traf
fic.
One train was referred
to as the “fast train.” It did
not stop from Elizabeth
City to Edenton. This train
carried the mail. In order
for the train to pick up
mail without stopping, a
cran was built near the
railroad track and from it
a mail bag was hung, when
the train came by, an iron
arm was extended from
the baggage coach and
would grab the mail bag.
A nickel brought a piece
of ice for the ice box that
would last a couple of days
from Charlie Bagley’s
store.
The early 1920s saw the
establishment of a barber
shop in Winfall by Eli
Felton. Lee White and
Lang Lane each began a
hair cutting business soon
after.
Daniel Jones is said to
be the first Black man to
buy a lot and build a house
in Winfall. Later his four
sons and a daughter
bought and built in the
same area. The area is stiU
referred to today as
Jonestown by some old-
timers.
Augustus White was the
first Black magistrate in
Winfall.
Among the first African-
Americans in Winfall to
become well-known school
treachers was J.A.
Rogerson Sr, a graduate of
Hampton University and a
classmate of Booker T.
Washington.
There were also African-
American residents who
owned enterprises such as
filling station, a barber
shop and a sandwich shop.
The first church built
within the original bound-
• Gas Logs
• Fireplaces
• Gas heaters
aries of Winfall was the
Episcopal Church of the
Good Shepherd, built in
1895. It was followd by Ellis
Temple Baptist Church in
1897. Epworth Methodist
Church was established in
1903.
When Winfall celebrated
its 100th anniversary with
a day-long program at
Central School, its centen
nial booklet provided a
glimpse of daily life from
the town’s earliest days.
Creativity was a hallmark
of entertainment for chil
dren back then. Television
and video games weren’t
invented, and few families
could afford expensive
toys. For those fortunate
enough to own a Victrola,
listening to music was a
pasttime. Young girls made
dolls and doll clothes from
scraps of cloth. Marbles
were favored toys. Baseball
was popular at the turn of
the century, as well as leap
frog and hide-and-seek.
Youngsters also played fol
low the leader and pop the
whip. A child might make
a slingshot or spinning top.
An older youth might whit
tle a whistle.
Sunday was the day for
visiting. Whether on foot
or in cars, buggies or sur-
ries, folks talked on the
front porch in good weath
er and by the fire in win
ter.
Over the years, Winfall
has undergone great
changes. Through commu
nity development block
grants, many residences
have been renoy^tpd to
meet housing standards.
Mosquito controj was
begun. A fire department
staffed by volunteers was
established and still serves
the town today. The town
has its own water system.
Street lights have' been
erected. ' ,
At present, Winfall is in
the process of construct
ing a sewer system. Mayor
Fred Yates and former
councilwoman Shirley
Yates worked long and
hard to educate the public
on the necessity of the
sewer system ang to lobby
for grants to finance the
system. Hopefully, the
years of waiting will be
over soon and all residents
can have safe, sanitary
indoor plumbing.
Winfall also boasts a
mall, a doctor’s office, a
mechanic’s garage, an
antique dealer, a florist, a
convenience store and a
gas station/grill. It is
home to two of the coun
ty’s four schools, as well as
the Perquimans Learning
Center.
Town leaders would like
to see the town prosper,
and hope that the sewer
system will bring new
business possibilities.
The Holland GriU
Visit our showroom
Hollowell
Oil Co.
426-5745
Winfall, NC
VCHA'PELS HAIR 6A1LERT
A Unique Hair
Gallery With Flair
• Specializing in Problem Hair
• Consultant and Make Overs
Paul Chappell/Owner ■ Stylist
Caroline Trueblood ■ Stylist
4Z6-16S0
200 S. Church Street
Hertford
I**'-
HOURS:
TUES. - THURS. - FRI.
9am - 5PM
WED. AND Sat.
9am - 12 Noon
]Em
• Motor Fuels
• Diesel Fuels
• Heating Oils
• LP Gas (propane)
Cylinder & Bulk
• LP Gas
Appliances & Service
REED OIL COMPANY
426-5458
206 North Covent Garden
Hertford, NC
(252) 473-6077
464 NC 345
Manteo, NC
*J I
«
Gas • Ice • Groceries • Kerosene
Open 7 Days a Week
6:30 am - 10:30 pm
One Stop Convenience Store
On the corner of Church
& Grubb, Hertford
426-5081
AUTO • HOME • LIFE
HELPING YOU is what we do best.
FARM
BUREAU
INSURANCE
^ /
Henry C. Norman
Edgar W. Roberson, Jr.
David H. Parker
North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.
Farm Bureau Insurance of N.C. Inc.
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
426-5636
705 Church St.
Hertford, N.C.
-0^. At Tommy’s Pizza and
Family Restaurant, you will
experience a family recipe
of traditional handmade
doughs and sauces
prepared right at the
restaurant. Tommy also prides himself
with fresh cut steaks right on the premises. It its
service and taste you’re looking tor, enjoy our lunch
and dinner special menus. Our separate dining area
can be reserved with an elegant privacy area just
right for business luncheons,
wedding rehearsal
parties, special club
and holiday parties.
Outside Catering ^
No Job Too Small
Coming Coon, Tommy's Pizza & Cubs
next to Food Lion
Edenton*Hertford Hwy
Hertford
426-5020