Organizations

Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County

Bringing the Past to the Present.

The Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County came into being on May 24, 2007, the product of a merger of the Hillsborough Historical Society and the Orange County Historical Museum. Now the foundation operates the museum and continues many of the activities previously undertaken by the Historical Society.

The Orange County Historical Museum is located in downtown Hillsborough, NC, at 201 North Churton Street. It contains historical collections ranging from pre-Colonial through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to the early 1900s. The building, known also as the Confederate Memorial Building, houses the offices of the foundation, as well.

For more information, continue reading, and also visit the museum's web site .

Hours of Operation

From March through December, the museum hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. From January through February, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Exhibits

Here is a sampling of the museum’s many interesting exhibits.

"A Time of Hard Living: The Rip Van Winkle Era 1790 - 1850" discusses the period beginning just after the American Revolution. The exhibit explains why the state gained the nickname, "The Rip Van Winkle State" and how Orange County's politicians sought to change the social and political situation for the better.

"The Road to Orange" focuses on the town's founding in 1754 and the life of the early settlers. Artifacts on display chronicle the influx of European settlers into the North Carolina backcountry between 1740 and 1760.

"On Company Time" is an interactive exhibit that describes life in and around the textile mills and villages of Orange County. Artifacts representing daily life for mill village families are on display.

"Regulation to Revolution" interprets the history of Hillsborough and Orange County during the period 1766-1790.

Education Programs

Are you a teacher whose students are studying North Carolina history? Contact the museum to learn about our Heritage Education Programs. The Traveling Trunk program allows teachers to borrow specially-designed lesson plans and materials for use in their classrooms. Or bring your class to the museum for the Teaching with Hillsborough's Historic Sites program. This program allows students to become junior curators and geometric artists as they learn about the pre-European Settlement and Colonial periods of history. The museum's Heritage Education Programs are NC Curriculum based.

The Orange County Historical Museum also hosts summer camps, which are popular with kids aged 5 to 15. Activities teach participants about local history and historic personalities. These camps are offered all summer and can be reserved by calling the museum. The museum charges a small fee per child.

Online Publications

The Historical Foundation is proud to sponsor the following historical articles on Hillsborough and Orange County topics.

• To view the article entitled, "Racing and Religion: A Brief History of the Occoneechee Speedway" by L. D. Russell, click on Speedway Article.

• To view the article entitled, "The Geer Cemetery" by Jessie Thompson, click on Geer Cemetery Article.

• To view the article entitled, "Flowers are the Source of My Best Earthly Pleasures: The Gardens and Gardeners of the Burwell School" by Katharine Malone-France, click on Burwell School Garden Article. Photos associated with the article can be found by clicking Garden Article Photos.

• To view the article entitled, "Dedication of Restored Hillsborough Town Clock" by Craufurd Goodwin, click on Town Clock Article.

• To view the article entitled, "History of the Hillsborough Garden Club" by Peggy Troxell, click on Garden Club Article.

• To view the article entitled, "Faddis' Tavern of Happy Memory" by Mary Claire Engstrom, click on Faddis Tavern Article. The photo associated with the article can be found by clicking Faddis Tavern Photo.

• To view the article entitled, "Early History of the Hillsborough Historical Society and the Historic Hillsborough Commission" by Marsha Ferree, click on Early History Article.

• To view the article entitled, "A Brief History of the Hillsborough Historical Society" by Marsha Ferree, click on Brief History Article.

• To view the article entitled, "A History of the Hillsborough Historical Society, 1962-2007" by Jennifer L. Koach, click on History Article.

• To view the article entitled, "Bellevue Mill Village - A Historical Overview" by Candice Cobb, click on Bellevue Article.

• To view the article entitled, "Cousin Carrie" by Clarence Jones, click on Cousin Carrie Article. This article is about Carrie Waite Spurgeon and is reprinted from the Hillsborough Historical Society Newsletter, Volume XXXIII, Number 3 from July 1994.

• To view the article entitled, "The Life of Billy Strayhorn" by Mrs. Cecil (Mary) Sanford, click on Billy Strayhorn Article. This article is reprinted from the Hillsborough Historical Society Newsletter, Number 60 (Volume XIV, Number 1) from February 1975.

• To view the article entitled, "The Nash-Hooper House: Notes on Another Notable Hillsborough Home" by Mary Sanford, click on Nash-Hooper House Article. This article is reprinted from the Hillsborough Historical Society Newsletter, Volume XXXII, Number 3 from July 1993.

• To view the article entitled, "Occoneechee/Orange Speedway 1969-2008: After the Last Checkered Flag" by Bill Crowther, click on Occoneechee/Orange Speedway Article.

In addition, to view excerpts from early Hillsborough Historical Society correspondence, newsletters, and other files, click here.

To view a listing of the Hillsborough Historical Society Executive Committees, 1962 Inception - 2007 Merger, click here.

Gift Shop

Be sure to visit the foundation's Gift Shop, which features a carefully-chosen selection of books on topics such as history, genealogy, cooking, gardening, local interest, and children's books.

Journal Volume 7

Sense of Place

Among the books offered are some devoted to the sights and history of Hillsborough.

The foundation is proud to offer the book, Sense of Place with photographs by Hillsborough native and resident Elizabeth Matheson for $15.

For seven years, the Hillsborough Historical Society published the Hillsborough Historical Society Journal. The last, 2004, edition is a "Special Architecture Edition." Volumes 1-7 of the Journal are available at the museum for $3 per journal, or $20 for the complete 7-volume set.

Another publication you won’t want to miss is the Hillsborough walking tour brochure, Welcome to Historic Hillsborough. It is available at the museum for $3.

Cookbook

Walking Tour

And the very first publication of the new Historical Foundation is a reprint of a 35+-year-old cookbook. First published in 1972 by the Thompsons, then owners of the Colonial Inn, the Authentic Southern Recipes from The Colonial Inn cookbook is a faithful reproduction of the original version, which has long been out of print. Don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of history. The cookbook is available at the museum for $13.

The gift shop also carries reproduction folk toys and topsy-turvy dolls; craft kits for children and adults; CDs by local musicians; CDs of old time music; and crafts by local artisans, including authentic Occaneechi Indian crafts.

Engstrom Award

Sally Boericke, Marsha Ferree

On October 8, 2006, Hillsborough Historical Society President Marsha Ferree presented the Engstrom Award for Meritorious Service to the Community. Named for Dr. Mary Claire Engstrom, the honor is bestowed upon a person or organization that has promoted and disseminated the history and/or culture of the community.

That definition certainly applies to the most-recent recipient. Sally Boericke moved to Hillsborough in 1973. Almost immediately she began to participate in, and to lead, local organizations – historic and otherwise. She joined the Hillsborough Garden Club and later served as its president. She served on many governmental boards including Orange County's Planning Board and the town’s Board of Adjustment, Historic District Commission, Tourism Board, and even the Hillsborough Town Board of Commissioners. In 1993 she was one of the founders of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, serving for many years on its board of directors. She has taken leadership roles in many of the Alliance’s member organizations – including the Orange County Historical Museum board, the Historic Hillsborough/Burwell School Commission, and the Hillsborough Historical Society. Sally has also been generous in opening her house to the Christmas Candlelight Tour, her gardens to the Spring Garden Tour, and she has welcomed musicians and guests into her home as a host of the Hillsborough Arts Council’s Parlor Concerts.

Hillsborough and Orange County are fortunate to have such a selfless and dedicated resident. Please join the Historical Society in congratulating Sally Boericke on being the 2006 recipient of the Engstrom Award.

Contact Us

Contact the museum at (919) 732-2201 or info@orangenchistory.org.

For more information on the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, the museum it operates, or its events and programs, visit our web site at www.orangenchistory.org or click on OCHM Web Site .