Carpenter, North Carolina. The body of William M. Carpenter was
accidentally discovered during a road widening project in 2002.
Several
members of Carpenters family were among the 75 people who
gathered at
the Wake County cemetery where he was reburied. Carpenter, who
died in
1917 at the age of 75, served in the Civil War as part of Company H,
47th
North Carolina Troops raised in Wake Forest. State transportation
workers uncovered his remains, which included his sword and a
snuff box
during a project on N.C. 55 on August 5.
Wake County is the fastest growing county in North Carolina and a
victim
of
their own success. The virtual explosion of population the Research
Triangle
has experienced in the past decade has out-paced preservation
planning.
Between
1980 and 2000 the population of doubled and 2,500 new
subdivisions were
created
covering more than 100,000 acres of land. From 1990 to 2000,
Morrisville
had
the highest population percent increase, 414.2% in Wake County.
Recent
statistics
show the population Morrisville leading the state Between with a
14.65
percent,
according to census bureau estimates of city and town populations.
Within the past year two recent subdivisions have destroyed 50-60%
of
the
remaining undisturbed portion of the battlefield in Morrisville.
Federal gunners targeted these heights which were
controlled by Confederates during the 1865 battle. After the
skirmish
Federal
cavalry dug rifle pits in this area to form a protective ring around
the
village.
In the near future
North
Carolina plans to construct a light rail system that is supposed to
reduce highway traffic. One of the new light rail stations will be
constructed in Morrisville. The rail line will run close to Page-Ferrell house which was part of
the battle
and the site of the 1861 muster for the Morrisville Grays.
Massey's Chapel Methodist
Episcopal Church
was
organized in 1855 and now faces destruction or relocation! 
Click here to read up on the status of this antebellum
house of
worship.
May 5th,
2001
The town of
Morrisville's first annual historic festival took place on May 5th,
2001. The
festival entitled, Morrisville: Then and Now "Keeping
History
Alive", was a great success. Civil War reenactors,
craftspeople,
food
vendors, and speakers all came together to give residents of the
community a
great day of educational activities. Next year the festival is planned
for
April 13 which is the same date as the 1865 battle. Also the town
will
celebrate 150 year anniversary.
Click for photos of the 2001
Morrisville
festival.
For more information about next year's festival , contact the Morrisville Parks and Rec
Department -
469-
9760
Morrisville Station Marker
Unveiled
On April 15, 2000, the "Morrisville Depot" historic marker was
dedicated
at
town hall. 135 years from the
day Federal soldiers occupied Morrisville, a crowd of over 75 people
attended
the rainy unveiling ceremony.
Mayor Gordon Cromwell and the town commissioners were on hand
for the
ceremony
and to memorialize
former town commissioner, C.T. Moore, for whose memory the
marker was
dedicated. A private citizen,
Mike Connell, donated funds for the marker in his honor. The town
of
Morrisville also allotted funds for
another historic marker to the pre-Civil War free African-American
community in
Morrisville.
December 19 1999 - News and Observer,
Raleigh,
NC
June 10, 1999 News and Observer, Raleigh,
NC
June 17, 1999 News and Observer,
Raleigh,
NC
For more information, please email Ernest Dollar
nixnox@mindspring.com
Where is Morrisville?
Historic Articles on Morrisville
Who to contact about preservation
Links to local important history sites
