Purley, North Carolina facts for kids

Purley is a small community in Caswell County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's part of Dan River Township, along with the communities of Blanche and Providence.

A very important discovery happened on a farm here in 1839. Someone figured out a new way to cure (or dry) a special kind of tobacco called brightleaf tobacco. This method was made even better in the 1850s.

People say the name "Purley" came from a house called the Samuel Satterwhite Harrison House. It sat on a hill and was painted a "pearly white" color, which was very unusual and exciting at the time. Everyone talked about it, and eventually, the area became known as "Purley." Another well-known spot in the community is the Purley Store, which the Pleasant family has run for over 50 years.

A Look Back at Purley's Past

Historian William S. Powell wrote about Purley in his book, When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777–1977. He noted that Purley is famous for being the place where brightleaf tobacco was first cured.

• Tobacco Discovery: The Slade family lived here, and it was on their farm in 1852 that the first brightleaf tobacco was successfully cured. This was a big deal for farming in the area!
• Post Office and Travel: Purley had its own post office from 1855 until 1920. The community grew because it was a stop along the Yanceyville-Danville plank road, which was used by stagecoaches.
• The "Pearly White" House: The story of the name "Purley" comes from the Samuel Satterwhite Harrison house. Built before 1846, it sat on a hill and was painted a bright, gleaming white. From far away, it looked "pearly white," giving the community its unique name.
• Local Businesses: At one time, Purley had a doctor. In the late 1800s, Cobb & Daves ran both a sawmill (for cutting wood) and a gristmill (for grinding grain) here. The community also has several churches and has always had a general store to provide for people's needs.
• Pleasant's Store: Pleasant's Store has been open since 1914. The owner, William Pleasant, once shared that he used to sell huge amounts of flour in big bags. Now, he sees more milk and eggs being sold, which shows that fewer families have their own farm animals. He also mentioned that dog food and other pet supplies sell much more than flour these days!

Where is Purley Located?

Purley is found in the north-central part of Caswell County, North Carolina. It's very close to the border with Virginia. The community sits on a fairly flat area of land that gently slopes down to Moon Creek. This creek then flows into the larger Dan River. The land around Purley is not as hilly or rough as some other parts of Caswell County, especially the areas near Country Line Creek.

Who Lives in Purley?

Purley is a small, rural area within Caswell County. For a long time, farming has been the main activity for the people who live here.

Images for kids

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  The W.D. Pleasant General Store