Historic Hamlet, North Carolina

Historic Hamlet, North Carolina Places and people from historic Hamlet, North Carolina who made this small town a wonderful place in which to grow up....

A page to share some of our small town's history and the people who made it a wonderful place in which to grow up.....

Many historical facts come from Hamlet's More Than a Memory book that was published in the 1990's and was compiled by many Hamlet folks who shared their stories and photos..

***You are welcome to SHARE any of the pictures or stories with your friends, or invite them to LIKE the page to follow along on this journey through Hamlet's history...

Hamlet’s “beach” ~ Boyd’s Lake…
06/01/2026

Hamlet’s “beach” ~ Boyd’s Lake…

A photo of the diving platform at Boyd's Lake after the dam burst in 1966. Boyd's Lake originally opened in 1908...... ...
05/31/2026

A photo of the diving platform at Boyd's Lake after the dam burst in 1966. Boyd's Lake originally opened in 1908......

(Courtesy of www.ourhamlet.org)

The following is an article that appeared in the Cleveland Press about Hamlet on August 20, 1942. “Midway between the ca...
05/30/2026

The following is an article that appeared in the Cleveland Press about Hamlet on August 20, 1942.

“Midway between the capitals of the Carolinas lies Hamlet, North Carolina which could probably claim the world’s “most visited small town” record. With a population of 5,111, Hamlet is passed through annually by an estimated 1,350,000 civilians and military men on furlough. Reason: Hamlet is the main junction of the Seaboard Railway, whence lines diverge to the four compass points.

Here at Hamlet, all phases of railroading are laid before the eye. Fueling of steam and Diesel locomotives, passenger cars being watered and iced, freight being shifted, running repairs being made --- all have their interesting features. But it is the little circular station that holds you. On the fringe of this year’s Carolina maneuvers area, Hamlet is heavily patronized by the Army. On leave, the soldiers want “first train out” to all over the United States --- some, on emergency leave, nervous and jittery, others, griping as only good soldiers can.”

I took these photos years ago inside the Fred Lackey home on Rice Street when it was being auctioned off. Beautiful hom...
05/29/2026

I took these photos years ago inside the Fred Lackey home on Rice Street when it was being auctioned off. Beautiful home…

Back in the day, going to town meant you'd better have change to feed the meter, as well. I remember when Carolyn Wilki...
05/28/2026

Back in the day, going to town meant you'd better have change to feed the meter, as well. I remember when Carolyn Wilkinson Howard was the meter maid and walked the street all day ticketing cars whose meter had turned red. This is a photo from 1962 showing the meters still on Main Street. The meters were removed in 1965 at the merchants’ request to make shopping less of a hassle….

(Photo courtesy of www.ourhamlet.org)

A photo shared by Gale Snead of the Railroad Evangelistic Association. She says “the younger man in the second row from...
05/27/2026

A photo shared by Gale Snead of the Railroad Evangelistic Association. She says “the younger man in the second row from back is my father Henry Thomas Hogan (Tommy) who lived in Hylan Park. He was born in 1919. So I believe this picture was 1930’s or 1940’s. The man in front of him is John Graham Riggan who was his stepdad. His mother is the dark haired lady at the bottom. The lady in the hat was Bessie Cook who lived on High Street in Hamlet. She was my maternal grandmother. She helped start the Holiness church on High Street in Hamlet.”

Thank you for sharing, Gale!

"Hamlet residents needing medical attention prior to 1896 had to travel out of town. That changed with the arrival of Dr...
05/26/2026

"Hamlet residents needing medical attention prior to 1896 had to travel out of town. That changed with the arrival of Dr. H.F. (Henry Frederick) Kinsman, Hamlet's first resident physician, who had come south from Fitchburg, Massachusetts because of ill health. While in the area he visited the small town of Hamlet, liked what he saw, and decided to open a practice here. He built a beautiful home on Vance Street, which later became the original Hamlet Hospital.

Dr. Kinsman drove around town in a little buggy with a fast horse. He carried a cement block with him and when he stopped, he would tie the horse to the block where he'd stay until the good doctor had made his house call and was ready to leave. People have remarked on seeing his buggy full of vegetables and even chickens which the doctor had taken as payment for his services.

Dr. Kinsman had an office at 215 Main Street, where Dr. Henry’s dental office is today.

Dr. Kinsman was only 25 years old when he came to Hamlet so he grew a Van D**e beard to make him appear older. It was said that the young ladies in town were quite smitten with the young doctor....."

Dr. Kinsman was born in 1872 and passed away in 1946. He was married to a Helen U. Hopkins Kinsman first. She passed away in 1912. He then married Blanche Stacy Kinsman who passed away in 1963. He and Blanche had one daughter, Stacy, who was born in 1915 and passed away in 1997. They are all buried at Mary Love Cemetery....

Back during World War II, Patrick Furniture on Main Street displayed photos of Hamlet's servicemen and women to honor th...
05/25/2026

Back during World War II, Patrick Furniture on Main Street displayed photos of Hamlet's servicemen and women to honor their service to our country. Today we remember those who gave their lives for our country and the freedoms we enjoy every day. Happy Memorial Day and remember the reason for the holiday and those that didn’t make it home….

Pansy Fetner School on Vance Street, built in 1903, was no longer used when Fairview Heights School was built and put in...
05/24/2026

Pansy Fetner School on Vance Street, built in 1903, was no longer used when Fairview Heights School was built and put into use. It sat mostly empty and unused for about ten years when the town decided in 1963 to sell the land, but there was a problem. When the town voted on bonds to build the school back in 1901, the land had been given by E.A. Lackey, D. Rice and the Henderson family, with two stipulations. First, no other manufacturer of spirits would be allowed in Hamlet, and second, if the school was ever abandoned, the property would revert back to the original owners. The building itself was eventually sold to Leonard McDonald and he began the process of demolishing the building. Someone on The News Messenger staff suggested to McDonald that he donate the cornerstone to the town as it could possibly contain historical memorabilia. McDonald agreed, but when the cornerstone was reached, it was found to be empty. Someone at the time suggested that the cornerstone was not in its original position, but might have been moved when an addition was made to the original structure. Regardless, the cornerstone was empty. The town hauled away the cornerstone to a safe place until they could decide what to do with it. My question is, what ever happened to that cornerstone? Where is it now???

(Article courtesy of www.ourhamlet.org)

Thank you to Cathy Pruitt and Amy Quick, with American Legion Post 49, for decorating the entrance to Mary Love Cemetery...
05/23/2026

Thank you to Cathy Pruitt and Amy Quick, with American Legion Post 49, for decorating the entrance to Mary Love Cemetery with American flags for Memorial Day. When I thanked Amy for doing this, she told me the flags they ordered to put at all the Veterans’ graves (as they’ve done for years for Memorial Day) didn’t come in, so they are planning on placing the flags for Veterans’ Day this year. Thank you to American Legion Post 49 and this kind group for always remembering our Veterans who have passed….

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Hamlet, NC
28345

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