Farmer's Market?

 

Huntersville was a significant location in the region, particularly in Pocahontas County, and the sources provide substantial details about its history, economic importance, and social role.

Early Importance and Development

• Trading Post: Before the formal organization of Pocahontas County in 1821, Huntersville was a well-known public place where hunters and traders would meet. Merchants from the east would come to barter goods for the products of the hunt.
• Name Origin: The name Huntersville was chosen to honor the hunters who frequented the area, and whose presence greatly contributed to the town's development. John Bradshaw and his associates insisted on this name.
• County Seat: Huntersville was the first county seat of Pocahontas County, established in 1822.

Economic Activities

• Trading Center: Huntersville was the principal trading place for the entire county for a considerable time after the county's organization. The largest stores in the county were usually located here.
• Marketplace: The town was a lively marketplace during court sessions and "Big Musters" (military gatherings). People from eastern counties would come to sell various goods such as hats, saddles, harnesses, stoneware, tobacco, and whiskey.
• Horse and Cattle Market: Huntersville had a vibrant horse and cattle market.
• Merchant Profits: Merchants in Huntersville were known to make substantial profits, sometimes realizing three or four hundred percent on dry goods and significant amounts on groceries.

Social and Community Aspects

• Busy Place: Huntersville was considered a "little place with large ways" due to the amount of activity and trade that occurred there.
• Sunday School: Huntersville holds the distinction of being the first place in Pocahontas County to have a year-round Sunday school, established in 1839 by Rev. J.M. Harris.
• Community Life: The town was a hub of activity, with people gathering for courts, musters, and trade.

Physical Location and Features

• Location: Huntersville is situated on Knapp Creek at the mouths of Browns and Cummins Creeks.
• Surroundings: The town is near the foot of Buckley Mountain.
• Roads: The old county road from Hillsboro to Huntersville followed along Beaver Creek when Huntersville was the county seat.

Later History

• Burning During the Civil War: Huntersville was burned by Federal troops during the Civil War to prevent it from becoming a Confederate supply depot.
• Rebuilding: The town recovered relatively quickly after the war, with flourishing stores established by Amos Barlow, J.C. Loury & Son, and Loury & Doyle.
• Agricultural Improvements: The area around Huntersville saw improvements in farming methods after the Civil War.
• Loss of County Seat Status: Although it was the first county seat, Huntersville later lost this status, and the charter of the town was surrendered at an unknown date.
• Modern References: Huntersville is mentioned as a place where a man died in 1988 and also where marine fossils can be located. It is also mentioned as a place on a route of primary leveling for surveying.

Geological Significance

• Huntersville Chert: The area is known for the Huntersville Chert, a geological formation that has been studied and described in detail. The Huntersville Chert is located below the Marcellus shale and may correspond to the Jemison Chert of Alabama.
• Fossil Locations: Huntersville is a place where marine fossils have been found, including those of the Helderberg, Clinton, and White Medina Series. The area also has a presence of the Bossardville Limestone.

In summary, Huntersville was a key location in Pocahontas County's early history, serving as a major trading post, the first county seat, and a hub of economic and social activity. While it has changed over time, its historical significance remains evident in the sources.