Never before seen: Century-old maps of Wake County reveal forgotten history

Many locals have never laid eyes on the historic maps of North Carolina, some of which date back to the 1800s.

Posted 2:34 p.m. Sep 10, 2020 — Updated 6:27 p.m. Sep 10, 2020

Heather Leah

, WRAL multiplatform producer

Many locals have never laid eyes on the historic maps of North Carolina stored at the Register of Deeds office, some of which date back to the 1800s.

According to Charles Gilliam, "These maps have been seen by only a few since they were put away years ago.

Starting Thursday, however, the maps will become available for public viewing, allowing locals to set eyes on them for the first time in decades.

Last year, Gilliam began a project to rescue, restore, and make accessible the public history maps recorded from the late 1800s into 1926.

The cover of an original 1885 map book, where experts would sketch and draw maps.

Clues to the development of Wake County history

Some of the maps, which hold valuable clues to the history of the development of cities and towns in Wake County, were nearly 150 years old.

These maps show stories of the growth of early subdivisions, businesses and farms, even containing insight into historic locations that no longer exist today.

The oldest map dates back to 1877 and reveals the Apex Graveyard, including names of original plot owners.

An original sketch of the Apex Graveyard Lot, one of the oldest maps uncovered in this project.

The map with the lowest recording number (Book 1885 page 1) is the lands of the North Carolina Insane Asylum.

The largest map runs 25 feet long and plots the Yadkin River Power Company transmission line from Anson County to Wake County in 1911.

For railroad aficionados, many maps show the development of the area railroad system, such as a 1912 map of the new railroad cutting through Boylan Heights in Raleigh.

An example of an early subdivision is a 1920 map of Hayes-Barton in Raleigh.

A historic map of Hayes-Barton in Raleigh

One map from the Book of Maps 1885 shows some kind of addition being added in Raleigh. On crinkled paper, browned with age, cursive writing details the purpose of the map.

A map found in the collection from the 1800s

Over 1,400 maps like this are being scanned and preserved for public use. A historian could spend hours flipping through the collection on the Register of Deed's website, finding little secrets and forgotten pieces of growth and expansion in the Triangle area.

Preserving delicate pieces of local history

The delicate process of cleaning, mending, flattening and deacidifying the antique maps has helped preserve their original state.

Now, they have been encapsulated in polyester sleeves for their protection.

"Some of the items were in very poor condition and in danger of being lost to decay," said Gilliam.

A historic map of the Bloomsbury District in Raleigh

The restored original paper documents have been safely stored in the office of the Register of Deeds. They were intended to be available for in-person viewing, but that has been delayed due to COVID-19. However, the maps, in their full-color and restored glory, will still be available for viewing on the website.

The Register of Deeds plans to hold an event in 2021 to introduce the preserved originals in their permanent location in the Register of Deeds Information Room. Until then, they've created a special page where these historic original maps and the other records can be browsed online.