| Meet Ellerbe |
Ten miles north of Rockingham on U.S. 220, there is a small town that used to
be known as the Scottish Fairgrounds.
Called Ellerbe now, it has quieted down from its days as the center of a raucous
Scottish fair.
The town's name was changed from Hurricane to Fairgrounds in 1793.
James and Ida Huneycutt in their book, "History of Richmond County," said the
Scots settled the area from Cross Creek to the Uwharrie Mountains and brought
with them many of their Scottish traditions.
"Among these traditions was the Scottish Fair where they played their bagpipes,
wore their kilts, participated in athletic events, raced their horses, danced the
Highland Fling, drank their liquor, fought over their women and renewed old
acquaintances," the Huneycutts wrote.
Ellerbe became the scene of many dangerous fights that often ended in knife- or
gunplay at the fairs.
A South Carolina colonel names W.T. Ellerbe became fascinated with the area
due to a natural spring that Native Americans lauded because of its curative
powers.
In 1850, he bought the land because the springs had cured his hay fever, and by
1911, the town of many names was incorporated as Ellerbe.
With some work, he made the small community into a home for a resort hotel,
fine homes, a church and a school that became the educational center for the
county.
In 1911, the railroad came to the small community, and it became a place where
trains came to haul tar, turpentine, peaches and people to other resorts.
Today, Ellerbe is a busy little town with churches, two schools, banks, medical
clinics, restaurants, fire and rescue squads, a library and a park.
"It's changed quite a bit since I was growing up," said Rebecca Howell, a retired
teacher and long-time resident of Ellerbe. "It still has that same quietness."
Former Winston Cup champion Benny Parsons is an Ellerbe native, as is current
teamowner Travis Carter. The late L.G. and Carrie DeWitt, who built North
Carolina Speedway, called Ellerbe home.
be known as the Scottish Fairgrounds.
Called Ellerbe now, it has quieted down from its days as the center of a raucous
Scottish fair.
The town's name was changed from Hurricane to Fairgrounds in 1793.
James and Ida Huneycutt in their book, "History of Richmond County," said the
Scots settled the area from Cross Creek to the Uwharrie Mountains and brought
with them many of their Scottish traditions.
"Among these traditions was the Scottish Fair where they played their bagpipes,
wore their kilts, participated in athletic events, raced their horses, danced the
Highland Fling, drank their liquor, fought over their women and renewed old
acquaintances," the Huneycutts wrote.
Ellerbe became the scene of many dangerous fights that often ended in knife- or
gunplay at the fairs.
A South Carolina colonel names W.T. Ellerbe became fascinated with the area
due to a natural spring that Native Americans lauded because of its curative
powers.
In 1850, he bought the land because the springs had cured his hay fever, and by
1911, the town of many names was incorporated as Ellerbe.
With some work, he made the small community into a home for a resort hotel,
fine homes, a church and a school that became the educational center for the
county.
In 1911, the railroad came to the small community, and it became a place where
trains came to haul tar, turpentine, peaches and people to other resorts.
Today, Ellerbe is a busy little town with churches, two schools, banks, medical
clinics, restaurants, fire and rescue squads, a library and a park.
"It's changed quite a bit since I was growing up," said Rebecca Howell, a retired
teacher and long-time resident of Ellerbe. "It still has that same quietness."
Former Winston Cup champion Benny Parsons is an Ellerbe native, as is current
teamowner Travis Carter. The late L.G. and Carrie DeWitt, who built North
Carolina Speedway, called Ellerbe home.
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