This afternoon Jason Williams and I met on the Muddy Creek Greenway and went on an endurance ride. We wound our way out of Winston-Salem, NC into the country side. Our route took us through Tobaccoville and King, NC. It was a little on the hot side, but we had a fun ride. Below is the story of how Tobaccoville got it's name and a few short videos from our ride.
How Did Tobaccoville Get Its Name?
Tobaccoville was named for a plug chewing tobacco factory owned and operated in the 1870's by Charles Orrender. The factory was located on what is now Doral Drive, one mile south of the present day post office at the Tobaccoville crossroads. This area was the mail route of a 4-horse stagecoach from Mt. Airy to Winston-Salem, which changed horses at Donnaha and forded the Little Yadkin River. When the river water was high, the horses were forced to swim, and the mail was frequently lost. People regularly gathered in the area to watch the stagecoach come and go.
The Orrender Tobacco Factory was the principal landmark in the area, and the name "Tobaccoville" was suggested for the post office. Charles Orrender was commissioned as the first postmaster of Tobaccoville on October 1, 1887. Eight postmasters have since served.
When the railroad was built, the post office was moved to be near the railroad, and it became a popular gathering place. People came on Sunday afternoons just to see who got on and off the train. The railroad brought much activity to the community.
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