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| At the Junction of Hwy 57 and Hwy 158. Abandoned duplex in Caldwell NC. |
The trip was a long overdue motorcycle adventure needed by both me and "Old Blue" my trusty 2010 BMW K1300GT. She always handles the gravel fine. I have new Michelin Pilot tires so I am feeling very confident going off on to gravel paths.
The Caldwell House
I started on Interstate 40 to get to 86 N to Danville. Once I got to Hillsborough I veered right onto Hwy 57 and motorbiked to Caldwell before I saw this building on your left. Interesting trying to research such a tiny town. Across the highway is a little gas station called Andy's. Andy was not in that day but would be back during the week. Several residents that I spoke with said the building is historic but no one knows who owns it or the last time it was inhabited. The next site was shortly after the Caldwell building that is the Walker Farm below.
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| Walker Farm located on 57 headed toward Person County. |
The Walker Farm
The walker farm was abandoned somewhere in the late 1950's or early 60's. The Walkers were from Washington State originally and had settled in the Piedmont after Mr. Walkers retirement from Boeing. The Walker's built a home across the highway from the original homestead.
Abandoned Gas Station
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An abandoned gas station and garage. There was a mobile home (occupied) right in back so I did not stay long.
My bike was handling the slight off roads jaunts quite nicely.
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The Oxford Orphanage
Prior to the Civil War, the Masonic Fraternity of North Carolina was much smaller and more fragmented than it is today. In that era, Masons in other states promoted philanthropy by supporting Masonic colleges and seminaries. North Carolina Masons hoped such an institution would serve the common good of the state, as well as provide a rallying point for their fraternity. The story of the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford began in 1838 when David W. Stone introduced a set of resolutions at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina "to establish a Masonic Seminary for the education of children attached to the Fraternity." The resolutions passed, but nothing came of them. The Grand Lodge formed a committee to investigate the possibility of such an institution, but in 1839 the committee asked for a postponement of consideration, and did so again in 1840. In 1842 T. J. Lemay proposed "that the Grand Lodge should...provide for the establishment of a committee to study and report plans for the establishment of a charity school."
Below are a couple of historic photos of the Oxford Orphanage. Many of the buildings remain but now they are used as general adult housing.
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| Administration building with students lining for what might be a convocation. |
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Oxford Orphanage sign in historic Oxford NC.
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