Decades ago another generation made the decision to begin preserving some historic structures on the grounds surrounding the late 19th century home of John Blue. The first order of business was to restore the John Blue House that had fallen into a state of neglect.
Later the 1790-1810 Jones-Lytch home place from Rockdale (just north of present Mason’s Cross) was moved to the site and restored. It was built by the early Quaker settlers. Also moved to the site and restored were the 1810-1825 Shaw homestead from the Barnes Bridge Road area, and the 1820 McNeill home place from to Old Hundred area.
Through the Golden Leaf Foundation the late Lindo Harvell received a grant that allowed the dismantling of a 1850 mule-powered cotton gin that was partially destroyed in Hurricane Hugo from Hemingway, South Carolina and its restoration – along with the construction of a cotton bale press – on the grounds.
Other gifts over the years included the 1870’s study of the Rev. A. N. Ferguson of Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, the 1880’s A. D. Gibson Store, the log tobacco barn, and countless antique farm implements and tools.
In the late 1990’s an 18 gauge railroad with two engines was purchased with local contributions and moved from Colorado to the site to form a 1/2 mile loop. The John Blue Cotton Blossom Railroad is now lovingly maintained and operated by the Knights of Columbus of St. Mary Catholic Church.
The John Blue family donated their old John Blue Company building, located across X-Way Road, which has become the Museum of Agriculture and History and the the Indian Museum of the Carolinas.
Along with the Gill House in downtown Laurinburg – home of Laurinburg’s first mayor one birthplace of long-time North Carolina Treasurer, Edwin Gill – are the existing Properties in the on-going care of the Scotland County Historic Properties Commission.
The entire site now proudly bears the name: The North Carolina Rural Heritage Center, and is home of the John Blue Cotton Festival, the Scotland County Highland Games, weddings, birthday parties, and an occasional retirement gathering.
Our rich, priceless history is preserved and maintained by the Scotland County Historic Properties Commission, and they need your help!
The Scotland County Commissioners have recently increased their commitments and financial support for the Historic Properties Commission, and now needs additional Board members to oversee the maintenance, operations, cataloging, and repairs at the Rural Heritage Center and the Gill House.
Please plan to become a positive force for Scotland County and volunteer to help on the Historic Properties Commission. It will be personally rewarding not only for yourself, but also to our County, and the thousands of visitors that it hosts every year!
Applications, subject to approval by the Scotland County Commissioners are available on line at: https://www.scotlandcounty.org/211/Boards-Committees
This is “our” history, so let’s make the Historic Properties Commission representative of all.
Beacham McDougald is a Laurinburg resident and Scotland County historian.
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