Harmony Hall Plantation is located in White Oak, NC. The main house was built in 1768 by Colonel…read moreJames Richardson. He was a shipper and a Veteran of the French and Indian Wars. It is one of the oldest residences in the state. Local lore claims British General Cornwallis used the house as his headquarters and that Mrs. Richardson eavesdropped on his plans through a hole in the ceiling and sent a warning to General Greene, although historians say that Cornwallis likely stayed on the opposite side of the Cape Fear River. Today, the plantation is run by volunteers and has been made into a historic village. The main house has double porches and exterior stairs to get to the upper levels. The house sits a little higher as the area is prone to flooding and suffered damage from Hurricane Florence in 2018. Inside the house, there are hand-carved fireplaces and mantels. An event was happening while I was there, so it was harder to see the house. But I happened to be there for the birthday of Harmony Hall's Colonel James Richardson. They had volunteers showing trades and crafts from embroidery to wool and flax spinning to carpentry. They even had a Betsy Ross Birthday cake. Currently, only one building is open for viewing, the main house. You can walk the grounds and see several other historic buildings. These were moved to the site for preservation. There is a schoolhouse, a chapel, a country store, a corn crib, and a log cabin. Admission and parking are free, and a restroom is available. The operating hours have changed to 12-4pm on Sundays.

Columbus County, named for the explorer Christopher Columbus, was established in 1808 with…read moreWhiteville chosen as the county seat. The first courthouse, a modest wood-frame structure, was built in 1809. It was replaced in 1852 by a two story brick building, which stood until the early twentieth century. The current courthouse, completed in 1914, is the third to occupy the same central location within Courthouse Circle. Each iteration has marked a step forward in the county's civic development, with the present building reflecting a more permanent and dignified architectural vision. The courthouse is designed in the Classical Revival style, with a commanding portico supported by four white Doric columns that rise to a triangular pediment at the roof. This central feature is flanked on both sides by matching extensions, each with four additional white Doric columns rising to horizontal headers. The windows are framed in white-painted wood, and vertical white bands run beneath the eaves, adding rhythm and contrast to the red brick façade. The hipped roof and symmetrical layout reinforce the building's sense of order and stability. It continues to serve as the County Superior Court and County District Court of the 13th Judicial District, maintaining its role as a cornerstone of civic life. Although there is no parking directly on the courthouse grounds, several lots are available around the outer perimeter of the circle. I had no trouble finding a spot and crossing to walk the grounds and take in the building's details. Through the front doors, I could see the familiar magnetometer and posted rules. No phones, no weapons. All as expected. The building still feels active and respected, a place where history and function meet. [Review 1342 of 2025 - 4461 in North Carolina - 24894 overall]

Robeson County is the largest county by land. The County has a large population with a Native…read moreAmerican background, as well as whites and African Americans. Lumberton is the largest city. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River. It took until December 18th, 2025, for the Lumbee Fairness Act to be signed into law, which gave the tribe full federal recognition. In 1958, a large group of Lumbee Indians defeated the Ku Klux Klan in the Battle of Hayes Pond. Henry Berry Lowrie is a legendary figure of the Civil War. He led a group of outlaws against local authorities to protect the community from conscription and abuse by the Confederate Army. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke was founded back in 1887 to train Native American teachers. It was the only state-founded school of its kind in the nation. The Lumber River flows through the county and its parks, providing recreation areas. The river's blackwater is closely tied to the history and traditions of the area. The Lumbee people refer to themselves as the "People of the Dark Water." The Robeson County History Museum is located in a 1908 railway building, where you can learn about the county's history. If you stop by the county courthouse, you will see the controversial Confederate monument. It was dedicated in 1907, but times have changed. Robeson County has a vibrant culture and history of resistance.

Robeson County was established in 1787 and named for Colonel Thomas Robeson, a Revolutionary War…read moreofficer. Lumberton became the county seat the following year. The current courthouse is the fourth in the county's history, replacing earlier structures from 1787, 1828, and 1860. Architect Frank Pierce Milburn designed it. He is renowned for his work on public buildings throughout the Southeast, and I've reviewed several including the Wayne County Courthouse in Goldsboro, the Wise County Courthouse in Virginia, and the Boyd County Courthouse in Kentucky. This building is in the Modern Greek Revival style. It features red-orange course stone at the base, with polished stone and concrete on the upper stories. A remodel in the 1970s introduced a projecting glass bay with four square pillars rising to a pediment, flanked by square entrance sections with peaked roofs. The redesign softened the classical elements while preserving the building's civic presence. A further expansion in 2005 added a new façade and addition on the east side. Today, the courthouse houses the County Superior Court and County District Court for North Carolina's 16th Judicial District, which includes Robeson, Scotland, and Anson counties. It is on a central city block with an approach from 5th Avenue and it gives the building an almost royal approach. And yes, dominating that front step is a Confederate memorial. There is a free municipal lot nearby. [Review 1337 of 2025 - 4456 in North Carolina - 24889 overall]

I had a Letter on my Box that was not pick up, that's happened on more than one occasion, I put it…read moreout early morning, what's the problem, I live on 1107 East 14th Street

All I needed was a stamp to mail a card for christmas. I waited in line I thought it was going to…read moretake forever but it moved very quickly. I got up to the counter and realized I left my card in the car the lady said that all I needed was a stamp and that I was all set. Very nice great customer service and I appreciate it during this time of year

Bladen County is named for Martin Bladen, who was a member of the Board of Trade. The county was…read morecreated in 1739 and Elizabeth was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wood structure built at Elizabeth on the Cape Fear River in 1738. The county seat became Elizabethtown in 1773. The courthouse burned in 1800 and the second courthouse was built in 1802. That courthouse burned in 1893. The third courthouse was built in 1893 and enlarged in 1925. The fourth and present courthouse was completed in 1966. The design reflects the clean lines and functional simplicity typical of mid-20th-century Modernism. The building features red brick and concrete construction, a flat roofline, and a white concrete façade at the central entrance. Narrow vertical windows line the second story, and the east and west wings are slightly lower than the central block, creating a balanced but understated profile. The courthouse grounds include memorials to veterans and eagles as symbolic guardians of justice as well as the Charters of Freedom display and one for Patriot spy Sallie Salter who was instrumental in the 1781 Battle of Elizabethtown during the American Revolution. There was easy parking this afternoon and while the courthouse itself was closed, it was easy to walk the grounds and appreciate this lovely structure. [Review 1341 of 2025 - 4460 in North Carolina - 24893 overall]

Not far from the Meadowbrook Cemetery, this marker points out the former residence of one local…read more The marker reads, "Founder of Lumberton, captain in Revolution, later brigadier general; member of legislature, conventions of 1788, '89. Plantation was here." It is marker number I-38 and it was erected in 1953 by the North Carolina Archives, Conservation and Highway Departments. John Willis was born in 1756 on Saddletree Swamp, making him one of the first native-born sons of the area that would become Robeson County. He expanded his family's holdings after the war years and became the region's largest landowner, which positioned him to play a central role in the creation of Robeson County in 1787. That same year he donated 170 acres of his Red Bluff Plantation for the new county seat, a settlement he named Lumberton for the nearby Lumber River. The town received legislative recognition in 1788 and was later incorporated in 1852. Willis went on to represent the county in both legislative chambers, married Asenath Barnes in 1779, fathered eight children, and died in Natchez on April 22, 1802. [Review 11 of 2026 - 4519 in North Carolina - 25202 overall]