It all started with a mill. A group of men from Winston inaugurated plans to build a railroad through the Mayo River valley in 1883 from Salem, North Carolina to Roanoke, Virginia, to be known as the Roanoke and Southern Railroad. Construction began in 1887 under the direction of Francis Henry Fries, son of Salem Textile manufacturer. The railroad was opened by January of 1892 at a cost of two million dollars, but was later sold to the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company.
While building the railroad, Colonel Fries became impressed by the geography surrounding the Mayo and Dan Rivers. The falls in the Mayo River promised power for manufacturing and became a deciding factor in the plans of Colonel Fries, William C. Ruffin and Washington Duke to build a cotton mill along the railroad bed in 1892. Adopting the name Mayo Mills, operation began in 1896 with the manufacture of uncolored yarn.
It was not until February 16, 1899, that Mayodan, named after the converging Mayo and Dan Rivers, was chartered as an incorporated town with 225 residents. As recognized in Ripley's Believe It or Not, Mayodan is the only town in the world with that name!
Located 30 miles north of Greensboro and just south of the Virginia border, Mayodan is nestled in a valley along the Mayo River with an elevation of 640 feet. Mayodan operates under the Council/Manager form of government, led by a mayor and a five-member town council.
Mayodan has small town appeal with a population of 2,417. The Mayodan Preservation League has enjoyed years of growing success, sponsoring an annual "Mayodan Homecoming" for citizens and past residents of the town to walk down memory lane in the warm fellowship of friends. And as most residents feel regarding their special little town, they wouldn't trade it for the world.
Click on the thumbnail images below for a pictorial history of Mayodan.
(Or simply scroll down the page.)
A local Mayodan citizen is shown here getting his shoes shined in front of the original Bank of Mayodan.
Town residents, W.C. Ruffin, T.H. Turner and Mr. Carragon, ride the streets of Mayodan, circa 1910. Photo taken looking northeast at intersection of Main Street and 3rd Avenue.
Mayodan Supply Company, located at the corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue, provided general merchandise for citizens of Mayodan. It was also the site of the first telephone switchboard.
C.P. Baughn's Store, located on the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue and Main Street, was the meeting place for many locals. Left to right - Hub Brown, Roy Martin, C.P. Baughn, Will Wall, Police Chief Walker and Bill Tullock, circa 1910.
The Moravian Church, dedicated November 29, 1896 is the oldest church in Mayodan.
Children play in the yard of Mayodan's first public school building in the early 1900's.
A fire at Avalon destroyed the mill in June, 1911. Residents of the town eventually moved homes and belongings to neighboring Mayodan.
Mr. Miles C. Money, Sr. and Lettie E. Crouch stand in front of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1919. The Mayodan plant was founded in 1906. At right is Ault's Drug Store.
Inside of Mayodan's first Drug Store, located on south side of East Main Street. The building later housed the old laundry. (Left to right) - Mrs. Sarah Jane Ault, Clara Ault, Chris Cox, Oscar Griffin, three men at right unidentified.
Mayodan Hotel, later known as Holt's Boarding House, provided living quarters for mill employees and school teachers, as well as visiting friends and relatives. It was also a meeting place for local civic organizations. A third story was added prior to 1920.
Mayodan's rich history in the sport of baseball is illustrated by this early team photo. Teams from Mayodan eventually became semiprofessional, playing in the Bi-State League.
Mayo Mills Band was photographed on the lawn of the house at the corner of Main Street and 7th Avenue, circa 1923. Left to right - (Back) Jesse Richardson, Jimmy Baker, Ross Myers, Kirby Reid, Frank Tulloch, Cecil Richardson, John Webb, (Front) Sam Jones, Harold Myers, Thomas W. Lehman, leader.
Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Dempster on the platform of the original depot, near the turn of the century.
Men gather outside the Mayodan Depot, circa 1915. This was the rail stop at the Town of Mayodan along the route that ran between Winston-Salem, NC and Roanoke, VA.
Looking north on 2nd Avenue of downtown Mayodan, cars line the quiet streets in the late 1940's.
The first graduation class of Mayodan High School poses on the front steps of the school in 1932. Left to right (Front row) Joe Dalton, Sandford Webb, William Tulloch, Woodrow Johnson, Clayton White, Douglas Allred, (Back row) Principal Elliott F. Duncan, Rufus Smith, Era Vernon, Bessie Gray, Essie Mae Holt, Grady Sisk, and Dietrich Lehman.
Town of Mayodan as it appeared in 1916, looking west from Cedar Mountain.
Students at Mayodan School observe the Week of Prayer.
Field Day was a much anticipated event for the students of Mayodan School. Activities were held across Main Street at Mayodan Ballpark.
N & W Esso, named for Boyd Nelson and Joe Henry "Runt" Washburn, was located at corner of South 2nd Avenue and Adams Street.
This aria view of the Town of Mayodan with Washington Mills in the foreground, was photographed circa 1950.
Students celebrated May Day by plaiting the Maypole. The May Queen reigned over the festivities, assisted by her Maid of Honor and Attendants.
The original YMCA (top photo) on North 2nd Avenue, opened in the 1940's was replaced in 1954 by a new facility (bottom photo) on South 2nd Avenue. Both were provided by Washington Mills for use by employees and area residents.
Local citizens enjoyed the national pastime of baseball at Mayodan Ballpark. The ballpark became the site of Mayodan Lions Club Invitational Softball Tournament. The wooden grandstands stood until the 1960's.
Lazy summer afternoons were spent at Mayo Park north of Mayodan. The park was a recreational facility provided by Washington Mills. Local children attended Day Camp at the park.
Former Mayodan First Baptist pastor, Grover Blackburn, mails a letter inside the Mayodan Post Office on the last day of operation in this building before moving to the corner of 10th Avenue & Main Street in February, 1985.
Generations of Mayodan children attended school in this building on Main Street. The main building was constructed in 1924. In 1959, the school was renamed Elliott Duncan Elementary and continued to be used until 1991. The building was damaged
in 1998 by the Tornado that hit Western Rockingham County. The location is now the site of the park on Main Street and the town's gazebo.
On March 20, 1998, this devastating tornado was photographed from Highway 135, east of town as it traveled through Mayodan. The twister destroyed two churches, eleven homes, and damaged numerous other structures on its southwest to northeast path while it was in Mayodan. (Photograph by Drew Kohler)
