Where? Maxton, North Carolina.

On my research of another project, I stumbled on Maxton, N.C. While not in our coverage area of Chesterfield, Marlboro, or Darlington County, S.C., it’s not too far down the road, and interesting enough that I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to share.

First settled in the 18th century, the community was originally incorporated under the name Shoe Heel, later changed to Tilden, in honor of U.S. Presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden, then back to Shoe Heel, and in 1887 back to Maxton.

The thing that caught my attention was the concentration of educational institutions in the area from 1841 to 1971… a military academy, two women colleges, and an industrial education entity. And, a menu of notable people from the vicinity.

Let’s touch on education first. Flora MacDonald College, founded in 1841 by Dr. Charles Graves Vardell as the Red Springs Seminary, renamed Southern Presbyterian College and Conservatory of Music, and then in 1914 renamed to Flora MacDonald College, after Flora MacDonald, a member of the MacDonalds of Sleat who emigrated to North Carolina in 1773. It was the first college in North Carolina to grant degrees to women.

Another institution, Carolina College, a Methodist College for women, operated from 1912 to 1926. The college offered Bachelor of Arts degrees until 1919 when it became a junior college and offered Associates of Arts degree. Due to financial struggles, the school closed in 1926, moved to Laurinburg and later became St. Andrew Presbyterian College.

Military Academy? Yes, the Carolina Military Academy was a school for boys grades 7-12 + post graduates. It operated from 1963 to 1972, and two years before it’s closure opened it’s doors to females.

Lastly, African-American educator, Charles N. Hunter, founded the North Carolina Industrial Association and started his first school in Maxton. Hunter was a journalist and historian from the Raleigh area and had a huge impact in schools in Robeson, Chatham, Cumberland and Johnston County. He was also instrumental in an initiative to build the Berry O’Kelly Training School in Method NC.

Notable people from the area include Agnus McLean, a Governor of North Carolina in the 1920s. Governor McLean was born in Maxton, was an lawyer, banker, and served on the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The McLean family were relatives of Flora MacDonald, the namesake of Flora MacDonald College.

Another was trucking industry innovator Malcolm McLean. McLean was a transport entrepreneur and helped develop the modern intermodal shipping container which revolutionized transportation. He was the founder of McLean Trucking & SeaLand Inc., and named “Man of the Century” by the international Maritime Hall of Fame.

Also from the area, Alice B. Russell Micheaux, a singer and actress, was married to Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, an African-American author, film director, and independent producer of more than 44 films.

Baseball player, scout, coach, and manager Allen LaGrant Bowers, whose entire career took place in minor league baseball, is also from the area.

Gilbert Brown Patterson, an attorney, large landowner, and member of the United States House of Representatives was born in the Maxton area.

It’s a town I’ve driven through on a few occasions, but had no idea of it’s history and the awesomeness that stems from this quaint North Carolina town. It is certainly one that has peeked my interest.

Find Maxton just off Highway 74 between Laurinburg and Pembroke N.C. By the way, they have a cool, majestic, town hall.