Fitch (Caswell County, North Carolina)

Fitch's Store/Fitch

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From 1876 until 1926 a US Post Office operated in the Fitch community between Anderson and Yanceyville on or near what now is NC Highway 62. In 1876 it was named "Fitch's Store." In 1892 the name was changed to "Fitch."

Postmasters: Hannibal A. Adams; Anderson A. Fitch; Anderson N. Fitch; Livingston L. Blackwell; Joseph L. Dabbs; Yancey I. Chandler; Rufus B. Dabbs.

Exactly where is Fitch? Before some changes were made in the area, Old Highway 62 directly intersected New Highway 62. Very near here was/is Fitch, which was there long before new Highway 62 was built in the 1950s.

Actually, part of Oakview Loop Road was the end of Old Highway 62 (now named Badgett Sisters Parkway). Some place Fitch at the intersection of Oakview Loop Road and Alvis Boswell Road. Find the site of the old Fitch's Store, and you have located Fitch.
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"Post offices in Anderson township with opening and closing dates were: Fitch's Store, 1876-1892, which later became Fitch, 1896-1911. The location was on present old highway number 62 immediately south of intersection of country road number 1120. The North Carolina Department of Transportation map improperly places the site at intersection of county road number 1119 and old highway number 62."

Thus, according to historian M. Q. Plumblee, Fitch's Store was located on old Highway 62 immediately south of its intersection with Marshall Graves Road (S.R.-1120), and not at the intersection with Alvis Boswell Road (S.R.-1119).

Source: Plumblee, Millard Quentin. From Rabbit Shuffle to Collins Hill: Stories of Southern Caswell County, North Carolina. Burlington (North Carolina): Full Service Printing, 1984, p. 28.
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Fitch's Store (Caswell County, NC): Newspaper Items

Presidential Campaign.

Messrs. J. H. Dobson and J. T. Strayhorn, the respective Democratic and Republican Electors for the 5th District of N.C., will address the people upon the national issues at the following places [only Caswell County locations shown]:

Fitch's Store, Caswell County, Saturday, Oct. 27th.

Milton, Caswell County, Monday, Oct 29th.

The Daily Evening Patriot (Greensboro, North Carolina), 22 October 1888, Monday, Page 1.
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"Commissions have been sent to the following 4th class post masters: Annie R. Tapp, Dort; Joseph L. Dobbs [Dabbs], Fitch's Store; Mattie E. Phillips, Yadkin College."

Weekly Transcript and Messenger (Goldsboro, North Carolina), 22 July 1886, Friday, Page 1.
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"The dead body of a colored man named George Oliver, was found near Fitch's Store in Caswell county, a day or two since. He is supposed to have been foully dealt with."

The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, North Carolina), 18 April 1888, Wednesday, Page 3.
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"Revenue Collector Simmons to-day received a report from Deputy Collector Moffit of the capture of a 50-gallon illicit distillery, near Fitch's Store, Caswell County. The operators escaped."

The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, North Carolina), 29 July 1894, Sunday, Page 1.