Gold Hill

The North Carolina Gold Rush took place decades prior to the 1849 rush on California. Much of the growth in Montgomery County around 1820 was due to this draw, the hunger for gold. The area around Swift Island was particularly rich and this was where John Melton, Sr. and his relatives originally settled. Gold could have been the reason, as John was born in Granville County, NC, made a plunge up into Virginia, as his older sons were born there, possibly just across the county/state line, before settling for the remainder of his days in Montgomery (the Stanly side) county.

Gladstone, the original Pfeiffer College, in Misenheimer, Stanly County, just south of Gold Hill

Location of the old Gold Hill Hotel where Nancy Melton became operator

One of the tombstones in the Gold Hill cemetery, Ephraim Mauney, was from Stanly County

After the death of John Sr., and Joseph Sr. , some of the Melton clan moved to the town of Gold Hill, in Rowan. There was the Reed's mine in Cabarrus county, near the west Stanly line, and other mines in Rowan, Randolph, Mecklenburg and Iredell, and several mines, some still in operation, in Stanly county in the New London/Richfield area. But Gold Hill, just a few miles from Stanly and right on the Cabarrus county border, was the center of a grove of mines and activity. During the 1840's, this tiny village, once a mile long, was larger than Charlotte and hosted a collection of the wealthy and well-dressed. After 1849, Gold Hill lost a great deal of her population, but a number of mines remained in production, professionals had settled there, balls were held and dreams were made and lost. Harris Melton and his beloved bride Ann Bird, from Albemarle had settled there by 1850, and also one of the Stanly County Solomon's, who were related to the Melton's in some way, at least to Joseph Sr., and had closr dealings with them. By 1852, according to a court document, John Jr., his wife Nancy Boysworth Melton, and their youngest daughter Laura, settled there. Laura would marry a foreigner, a skilled craftsman, named 'Gill', who had settled in Gold Hill. John would pass away before 1860 and Nancy would operate a hotel in Gold Hill for decades after. Harris Melton's brother Elbert, and a Calvin Melton, most likely another brother of Harris and Elbert, also moved to Gold Hill. The town created a number of widows. The dangerous work was likely the culprit.

Tombstone of Eliza Jane Davis Mauney, wife of Ephraim and Grand-daughter of Job Davis, namesake of this blog. She was a daughter of James and Rowena Davis

I went to Gold Hill to seek information on the hotel, and possibly of the family.

Old Assay Office in Gold Hill

One of the restored Merchantile buildings in Gold Hill

The Smithey's shop

These crows do not fly. I wonder if they attract live crows?

A stroll through Gold Hill is a true stroll through the past

Two houses on the outskirts of the restored village of Gold Hill, one remodeled, one waiting. 

Inviting store fronts in the restored mining village

The old Gold Hill Post Office and a view of the street

Gas at this station was never $3.00 plus

A view of the sidewalk from Mauney's store. Both Valentine and Ephraim Mauney married daughters of James M. Davis, granddaughters of Job. 

Montgomery's Store, across the street from Mauney's 

A plaque commemorating the Gold Hill Mining Office

I wonder if one of these men was one of the Melton and Solomon family?

A difficult picture to take a picture of. I'm intrigued by the row of mining cabins in the woods. There was a mile of these. 

A large group of mining employees, Who realized their dreams and who lost their lives trying?

St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill

The scene across the meadow is beautiful

A barn in back of one of the houses that dot the community. 

This church, on St. Stephens Road, is still in use. It is not the only church in Gold Hill. There are at least three.