History of Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

1831 - DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
The following letter from the Rev. Mr. Rowland, to the editor of the National Gazette, describes, in a most vivid manner, this sorrowful occurrence.

Fayetteville, N.C. May 29, 1831.
Sir - FAYETTEVILLE IS NO MORE !! - This morning the sun rose upon us in its beauty, and with gladdened hearts we flocked to the churches of our God. Now we are in ruins. But two stores of all that this place contained are standing. The rest are entirely consumed. Nothing but stacks of tottering chimnies remain to tell what we once were.

Except in the outskirts of the town, and in those streets which are a little off from the centre of the village, not a dwelling house remains. All the churches, with the exception of the Methodist, which is distant from the centre of the town, are destroyed. The academy, the two splendid hotels, our printing office, the two Banks, the old state house, every apothecary's shop, and some of our mills, are all in ashes.

The fire communicated, (it is supposed) from a... Read MORE...

1854 - Fayetteville
Fayetteville, a flourishing town, capital of Cumberland county, North Carolina, is situated on the left bank of Cape Fear river, at the head of natural navigation, 60 miles S from Raleigh, and 100 miles N. W. from Wilmington. The town is regularly laid out, with streets of 100 feet in width. It is the centre of an extensive trade, which is facilitated by plank-roads extending in various directions. The adjoining country is partly occupied by extensive forests of pine, which supply important articles of export, in the form of turpentine, tar, lumber, &c. The navigation has lately been extended, by the construction of locks and dams, as far as the coal mines of Chatham county. The ample water-power of the river is employed in manufactories of cotton and flour. Fayetteville contains an arsenal of construction, a large establishment enclosing about 50 acres, now nearly completed ; also 3 banks and 3 news paper offices. In 1831 a large part of the town was destroyed by fire, and nearly... Read MORE...

1865 - March 11 - Gen Sherman's Union forces occupies Fayetteville, NC

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1895 - Fayetteville
Fayetteville, a city and the capital of Cumberland co., N.C., is on the right or W. bank of the Cape Fear River, 82 miles by rail and about 53 miles direct S. of Raleigh. Steamboats can ascend the river to this town. It contains a court-house, 12 churches, a bank, several cotton-mills, a carriage-factory, 2 wooden-ware factories, 2 machine-shops, an edge-tool-factory, a plough-factory, 3 grist-mills, a turpentine-still factory, lumber-mills, 3 weekly newspaper offices, &c. Turpentine, tar, and lumber are exported from this place. Pop. in 1890,4222.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1908 - FLOODS SUBMERGE N. CAROLINA TOWN - Fayetteville, City of 12,000, Is Now Under Water. Walls Sink In Augusta - Frost Adds Suffering.
Fayetteville, N. C., Aug. 28. - This city, with a population of 12,000, located on Cape Fear river, was almost entirely submerged because of floods of last night and today. Three thousand persons are homeless.

Walls Fall.
Augusta, Ga., Aug. 28. - The flood has apparently damaged the foundations of many buildings in the lower part of the city. Today the Central Grammar school collapsed, the walls of the National Biscuit building have fallen and the under-pinning of the Port Royal bridge is washed away.

Cold Added.
Throughout Georgia and the Carolinas the temperature today dropped near the frost point, adding much suffering to those homeless by the floods.
Waterloo Daily Courier
Iowa
August 28, 1908

1914 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run in Fayetteville on March 7, 1914.

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1916
Fayetteville, a banking post-town, capital of Cumber land co., N.C., is on the right or W. bank of the Cape Fear River and on the Atlantic Coast Line, 53 miles S. of Raleigh. Steamboats ascend the river to this town. It has cotton - and cotton-seed oil mills, a silk-factory, manufactures of furniture, knitted goods, and wooden-ware, turpentine- stills, etc. Turpentine, tar, and lumber are exported from here. A state normal school (for colored) and the Donald son-Davidson Academy are located here. Pop. in 1900, 4670.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1957 - FIERY WRECK KILLS 17 IN N.C. WORKERS ON TRUCK DEAD.
Fayetteville, N.C. - (AP) - A flat-bed truck filled with migrant farm laborers and a tractor-trailer slammed together in a fiery crash at a road intersection today and killed 17 persons.

The state highway patrol said the accident killed 16 but a check of funeral homes in the area disclosed 16 bodies and another at a hospital here.

The highway patrol said 21 persons were taken to hospitals of this area and 14 of them were in critical condition.

All the laborers reportedly were Negroes.

Fire that broke out in the truck caused most of the deaths, the State Highway Patrol said.

Ball Of Fire.
"It looked like a ball of fire," said Joe Lozak of Berwick, Pa., who saw the crash in the rear-view mirror of his potato truck. "Men, women and children lying all over the highway. I think the impact killed them, not the fire."

The patrol said 41 laborers, from several states, were aboard the truck which pulled into the path of the tractor-trailer at the intersection of Highway 301... Read MORE...

1964 - TORNADO IS REPORTED IN FAYETTEVILLE.
Fayetteville, N.C. (AP) - A tornado struck near Fayetteville, N. C., Saturday and the Weather Bureau issued a severe weather warning that included North Carolina and South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.
The severe weather warning included the possibility of tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail and locally damaging winds from 1 to 7 p.m. along a 60-mile swath extending from Atlanta to 30 miles north of Florence, S.C.

The Weather Bureau said the tornadoes were spawned by the unseasonably warm weather and the advent of colder air entering the area.
Strong gusty winds and colder temperatures were predicted for the state Sunday.

MR. and MRS. W. B. PARKER and a grand-daughter were caught beneath wreckage but not seriously injured when a tornado ripped through the frame structure nine miles north of Fayetteville Saturday morning. A neighbor who rescued them said their escape was "miraculous."

After destroying the PARKERS' fruit store, the twister ripped into a wooded area, damaging... Read MORE...

1983 - August 21 - 110°F (43°C) at Fayetteville, North Carolina (state record)

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2023 - Fayetteville, North Carolina has a lot to offer! Whether you're into history, outdoor activities, or just looking for some good eats, there's something for everyone. Here's a list to get you started:
Airborne and Special Operations Museum: Dive into the history of the airborne and special operations forces of the U.S. Army. It's an impressive museum that gives you a glimpse into the elite units and their contributions throughout history.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden: If you're a nature lover, this place is a gem. Beautiful gardens, walking trails, and events throughout the year make it a perfect spot for a leisurely day out.

Fayetteville Downtown Historic District: Take a stroll through history in the downtown area. There are charming shops, historic buildings, and often, events and festivals taking place.

Cameo Art House Theatre: Catch an indie film or enjoy live performances at this historic theater. It's a unique spot that adds a touch of art and culture to Fayetteville.

Carvers Creek State Park: If you're up for some outdoor adventure, this state park is a great spot. Hiking trails, wildlife, and the historic Rockefeller House make it a wonderful place to... Read MORE...