History Waynesville, North Carolina

downtown waynesville c. 1900

the town of waynesville founded in 1810 colonel robert love, american revolutionary war soldier. donated land courthouse, jail, , public square, , named town after former commander in war, general mad anthony wayne.

the boone-withers house, citizens bank , trust company building, former, francis grist mill, frog level historic district, haywood county courthouse, alden , thomasene howell house, masonic hall, charles , annie quinlan house, clyde h. ray sr. house, frank smathers house, spread out historic district, waynesville municipal building, dr. j. howell way house, , waynesville main street historic district listed on national register of historic places.

the battle of waynesville waynesville has connection war, scene of last , perhaps unusual skirmish in eastern theater of american civil war. on may 6, 1865, union colonel william c. bartlett s 2nd north carolina (federal) mounted infantry raiding, pillaging, burning homes , engaging in other activities undermine economic base of area , attacked @ white sulphur springs (east of waynesville) detachment of rebels thomas legion of highlanders, had been summoned locals.

east of mississippi, thomas legion fired last shot of civil war in white sulphur springs, north carolina. legion consisted of both cherokee , white soldiers. of these soldiers had served under jubal a. during shenandoah valley campaigns of 1864, had been sent native north carolina mountains engage in guerrilla warfare against remaining union forces.

the disoriented union soldiers retreated waynesville, , on evening of may 6 remaining elements of thomas legion surrounded town. soldiers lit numerous bonfires on ridges above town , engaged in war chants in effort intimidate federals. following day confederate commanders gen. james green martin , col. william holland thomas (for whom legion named) negotiated surrender. these commanders had been made aware generals robert e. lee , joseph e. johnston had capitulated , continued hostilities prove pointless.

the town of waynesville incorporated in 1871. in july 1995, towns of hazelwood , waynesville merged 1 community , continued grow population today of 10,000.

frog level

waynesville train depot in frog level, c. 1890s

waynesville began see development after arrival of railroad in 1884. agricultural, lumber , tourism industries in waynesville , haywood county began thrive access west opened up.

the area of waynesville located along richland creek, northwest , down hill main street, railroad tracks laid. until time area had been swampland, few scattered buildings no major development. once depot built , train arrived section developed. given name of frog level. frog level named local community because of low-lying location along richland creek, frog level when area flooded.

downtown , nearby frog level commercial centers of waynesville continued central focus social life, transportation, , wholesale , retail businesses through 1940s. businesses in frog level area in 1930s , 1940s included hardware stores, farm supplies, coal sales, auto dealers , garages, furniture stores, wholesale groceries, , warehouses , lumber companies, of businesses dependent on railroad.

as automobile became primary mode of transportation residents, railroad declined in importance. in turn led shift of business away frog level. last passenger train arrived in waynesville in 1949, , freight trains pass through frog level twice daily, trains continuing on sylva.

by 1980s railroad in waynesville had been integrated southern railway company system. first depot burned in 1900, replaced depot remained standing until 1987.