Thanks to our partners at the Railroad House Historical Association and Museum in Sanford, North Carolina, DigitalNC is proud to announce that a variety of records relating to our state’s railroad history are now available online! Ranging from as far back as 1894 (and as recently as 1984!), these materials encompass a variety of aspects relating to our state’s steam engines — from coal mining to passenger rail. They will join an already existing collection of materials from the Railroad House Museum uploaded earlier this year, deepening the digital presence of Lee County’s oldest building. Materials in this batch include annual reports, newspaper clippings, and ration books, as well as a collection of local high school yearbooks.

Ardent railroad fans will be pleased to know that DigitalNC now has a modest collection of Rail South, a bimonthly magazine written by and for locomotive aficionados. Each issue featured stories on train-spotting across the Southeastern United States, as well as updates on the construction and operation of major rail lines across North Carolina. Letters from conductors, union leaders, and trainspotters were also featured in each issue, granting the magazine a community-oriented and grassroots feel. Even if you’re not a train-head, these magazines are a fascinating glimpse into an industry, sub-culture, and even hobby that you may be unaware of. It’s somewhat amusing to flip through each issue and read perspectives on apparently longstanding and contentious topics, such as the disappearance of Chessie Coal Trains, or the relative rarity of color slides depicting “ICG SW14s.”

A personal highlight of this collection, however, is a mortgage deed dating from 1894. The deed was issued by the Langdon-Henszey Coal Mining Company for five hundred dollars, which was due in full twenty years after being issued. These deeds were given by the company to workers based out of then-Egypt, North Carolina (now known as Lumnock). It included stamps that were dated with each payment amount and due-date. The document is a wonderful piece of mining history, and demonstrates the centrality of coal corporations to its employees. On a logistical level, it’s wild to see how mortgage deeds worked before the advent of modern payment methods — before digital banking, one’s entire history resided in one collection of card-stock.

Also included in this collection is a ration book from the second world war, which also charged its owner with maintaining a collection of stamps — to be cashed in exchange for household goods such as sugar, flour, and cloth. The book was created just fifty years after the Langdon-Henszey mortgage, and similarly grants us a glimpse into the everyday logistics of a pre-digital age. It’s interesting to note that neither the mortgage nor the ration book are exhausted of their stamps, suggesting that the recipient of the ration-book was perhaps more fiscally secure than the grantee of the mortgage.

Other items of note in this collection include dedication programs for railroad depots, timetables for passenger train rails to Asheville, and a written account of locomotive history within North Carolina. You can find the new rail memorabilia and yearbooks online now at DigitalNC. Interested in learning more about Lee County history? You can find our partners at the Railroad House Historical Association and Museum online at their partner page here, or search our collections by location here. Thanks again to our wonderful partners at the Railroad House Historical Association and Museum for making these records available.

Thanks to our new partner at the Jonesboro Historical Society, DigitalNC is proud to announce that EIGHTY new records are now available online for the very first time! These materials cover almost every possible aspect of life for Jonesboro residents, from wartime letters and community recipes to yearbooks! Located in Lee County, Jonesboro is now a neighborhood of Sanford, but retains a rich history and was once an independent township. The community retains its independent charm, and has a rich history detailed in the archival record. These new materials range from as far back as 1912, and are as recent as 1996. Mediums run the gamut from the conventional (programs, photographs) to the novel (cookbooks, bulletins). This batch has something for any Tar Heel historian, whether they’re interested in Edwardian fashion or the second world war.

Anyone interested in wartime narratives will be pleased to find an amazing collection of bulletins published by Jonesboro residents. These bulletins were circulated around Lee County, as well as sent overseas to soldiers. Each issue featured letters written by Jonesboro men sent overseas, and often updated their friends and family on their status, station, and well-being. For many families, these letters were often the only news they received on their friends and loved ones, and even those deployed expressed gratitude for updates on where their childhood mates were stationed. During the second world war, Jonesboro men were stationed across the world, including England, northern Africa, and in the Pacific. Home front experiences are also recorded in these newsletters, including prayers written by mothers and clergy. Also included in this collection are photographs of Henry Buchanan, who served in the first world war on mounted horseback!

For those among us interested in domestic histories, the Community Cook Book published by the Jonesboro Methodist Church will prove particularly appetizing. This book is a wonderful collection of recipes gathered from Jonesboro residents, ranging from soda bread to lobster. Each dish has the name of the community-member who contributed the meal, and they often provide written advice or histories alongside their family recipes. If that’s not enough, the book also provides advice for new couples who may be unaccustomed to hosting guests. The advice features details on setting tables, seating arrangements, silverware, and even proper etiquette once everyone’s seated. Also included are “household hints,” for easy preparation of common ingredients such as tomatoes, pecans, pie crusts, and sandwiches. While some of the etiquette tips may not be as prevalent today (the use of household maids is definitely not as common), this book is a delightful resource for anyone interested in cooking more Southern food, or for those wishing to become “better” hosts.

The collection also includes a wide range of portraits and photographs taken around Jonesboro. If you’re interested in cooking, learning more about the second World War, or just want to look at some gorgeous historic portraits, you can find the batch online now at DigitalNC here. Thanks again to our amazing new partners at the Jonesboro Historical Society for making these records available and for our partner at Lee County Libraries for connecting us.