Some Historical Facts About Bladenboro

February 26th, 2008 | webmaster | Historical Accounts

By Margaret Parker Bridger

Written about 1945—1954

Name arrived at: The King of England gave the grant of land on which we live to his son, The Earl of Bladen, in the early 1700’s. This grant of land, reaching to the Mississippi River and now comprising fifty-six counties, was named Bladen County in his honor. At that time, all of the small sections were called “Boroughs.” The name, Bladenboro, is derived from
Bladen and Borough. The 200-acre grant of land which included Bladenboro was made by His Excellency, Governor Richard Cashwell, to Rehan Rodin in 1779.

The coming of the Seaboard Railroad 1859.

Barrooms closed in 1891. (Schools grew fast after this time.)

First Church (Presbyterian).

The great Typhoid Epidemic in 1903.

The opening of the bank in 1908.

The building of the Bladenboro Cotton Mills in 1912.

Only oil cotton seed mills in county built.

The town has one of the largest school systems in the Nation. 1700 pupils attend the white school alone. In Spaulding Monroe, the modern [black] school system, approximately 500 students are enrolled.

There are more college-bred men and women in the town than any other its size in the state.

The town is noted for its beautiful homes and flowers.

In 1900, Bladenboro had a population of fifty-three, white and [black] corporate limits. The population now, having no change in boundary line, numbers 872. West Bladenboro, unincorporat3ed, has approximately 4,000.

Bladenboro’s first mayor was Mr. Dan Edwards.

Mayors in the last quarter of a century include : Mr. J.A. Bridger, W.G. Fussell, and the present mayor, Mr. C.B. Hasbrouck.

The present Board of Aldermen are C.A. Shaw, Grover Pait, Carl Suggs, Levie Bridger, Jr., and W.E. Russ, Jr.

Mrs. Pauline Pait is, at present, the clerk.

Police, at present, are Chief Albert Thompson and D.G. Pait.