Work Life

Robeson County's businesses and work life have spanned all possible areas. Once known for is lumber and navel stores, the county advanced in agriculture with farms ranging from a few acres to several thousands. The introduction of the railroads crossing the county enabled the farmers to easier move produce. The 1900 Directory of Robeson County lists many of the types of business housed in the county. There were blacksmiths, cotton gins, cotton mills, cotton stalk cutter manufacturer, flour mills, grist mills, planning mills, rice mills, saw mills, shingle mills, turpentine distilleries. We also find many professionals practicing as: dentists, druggists, lawyers, physicians and a veterinary surgeon.

The swamps of Robeson County held large supplies of Cypress trees, in 1884
Engineer John McDuffie estimate that there was 150,000,000 feet of mill stock
cypress left in the county. This 1890's photograph shows part of that cypress
being harvested for shingles. (Courtesy North Carolina State Archives)

Even in the early years of the 20th century the woods of Robeson County still held large trees. This tree has just been cut by workers from the Seawell Saw Mill. One must wonder how they were able to such large trees with only horses. (Courtesy Helen Seawell Sharpe)

This postcard shows Main Street Red Springs on the corner is The Carolina Bank and Trust Company. The bank's president was A.B. Pearsall, also on the board were J.S. Jones, R.W. Livermore, George H. Hall, B.W. Townsend, A.T. McCallum, J.G. Williams, Dr. Luther McMillan, W.F. Williams and Hiram Grantham. (Courtesy Carolina Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill)