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"Our Heritage"
On Friday, May 16th, the dream of many of us who love Wayne County history
came to reality when the Waynesborough State Park was dedicated on the site
of the old town.
I was a guest of my good friend, Charles Norwood, who was the real father
of this project. When I first remember, this site was a city dump for
Goldsboro & even then, we thought that it was a desecration of the hallowed
spot. This was not only the flourishing county seat from 1787 to 1847, but
the leading churches of Goldsboro had their beginnings there.
The Program began with a band recital by the combined bands of the Wayne
County Schools. At twelve noon, there was the flag raising by the Seymour
Johnson Air Force Base Color Guard while the bands played the National
Anthem. Ed Kelly was the master of ceremonies & the Reverend Isaac B. Hardin,
D.D., gave the invocation. A welcome was extended by Goldsboro Mayor Hal
Plonk & Joe Lancaster, Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.
Greetings were given by Charles Gaylor, President of the Historic
Preservation Foundation, Dr. William W. Davis, the Director of the N. C.
Division of Parks & Recreation & Senator Henson P. Barnes. The Wayne County
Historical Association was represented by Mrs. Frances Andrews (President),
Mrs. Judy Haverkamp, James L. Williams & Charles S. Norwood. The parking
of cars was handled by Boy Scouts of the Tuscarora Council.
Wayne County was created out of Dobbs County in 1779 which in turn had been
created out of Johnston County. Johnston County was formed in 1746 from
Craven County. Wayensborough was incorporated by the N. C. Legislature in
1787 & was named for General Anthony Wayne's estate near Chester,
Pennsylvania. It was located on a bend of the Neuse River, east of where
Little River runs into the Neuse. It became the county seat of Wayne &
remained so until 1847 when Goldsboro became the county seat of government.
Waynesborough was laid out on a 75 acre tract conveyed by Dr. Andrew Bass,
the real founder of the town. William Whitfield of White Hall was appointed
to lay out the town into one half acre lots. The original town commissioners
were: Richard Bass, William McKinne, Sr, William Whitfield, Jr, Burwell
Mooring, Joseph Green, William Fellows, William Whitfield, Sr, David
Jernigan & William McKinne, Jr. The town became an important landing for
flat boats, rafts & barges loaded with farm products, lumber, turpentine &
tar.
A courthouse, a Union (Community) Church & several taverns & hotels were
built. Some of the leading county families built homes in the town.
Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist & Methodist services were held at the
Union Church.
The town was located on the main stage road running from Wilmington to
Halifax & from New Bern to Raleigh by the way of Smithfield. The town was
flooded several times by the overflow of the two rivers. In 1836 when the
Wilmington & Weldon Railroad was laid out, the engineers avoided the low
lying town by building the railroad one mile to the east. Goldsboro grew
up on the railroad & in 1847, the citizens voted to move the town to the
new location. A county courthouse was built in Goldsboro in 1850.
Among those who operated stores & enterprises in Waynesborough were: Mathew
Albritton (carriage maker, later moved to Mt. Olive), John Wright, Arnold
Borden, General James Rhodes (son-in-law of Dr. Andrew Bass), Phillip
Hooks, Richard Washington, Francis L. Caster, J. E. Everett & Charles J.
Nelson.
After Goldsboro became the county seat, many houses were moved from
Waynesborough to Goldsboro. The town had declined by the time of the War
Between the States. After the war, a brickyard was built on the site,
but the Bass-Rhodes & Cogdell graveyards were preserved. Goldsboro later
purchased & used the site as a landfill.
The site of the old town has been landscaped & trees & grass have been
planded. A boat landing has been established. Along with the Cliffs of The
Neuse & Aycock Birthplace, this will be another site for local people as
well as tourists to enjoy & appreciate. This is truly another landmark in
the preservation of Wayne County history.
(Note to the reader: Today, the park is filled with historic homes that have
been moved to the site & restored by the Waynesborough Commission. Inquiries
may be directed to:
Waynesborough Commission Visitor's Center
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