Another historic home that survived the Civil War and remains standing today is the Needham Norris house at 2329 Avent Ferry Road, Holly Springs, N.C. 27540. Norris' nephew, Simpson Washington Holland, and his family lived in the house during the war. Holland's widow is said to have taken in a wounded Union officer and nursed him back to health during the encampment of Union troops in the area in April of 1865; consequently, the home was spared from destruction. John Norris, Jr., father of Needham and who most likely was one of the first English settlers of the community, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. His home was located across the street and about a quarter mile down the road. There is no house there now, but the property, currently owned by the Progress Energy Company, still remains. "In 1935, the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a memorial stone for Norris on the west side of Avent Ferry Road, not far from where Norris is reported to be buried in the Norris Family graveyard."

The cemetery is quite a distance from the road and is in some woods, which includes difficult weeds, etc., which make seeing the cemetery questionable. No real headstones remain, which are usually accepted as such or stones that could be read. However, it is apparent that about 20 people are buried there. It is assumed that John and his wife are probably there and Needham and his wife are probably there. There appear to be no other ggod guesses as to which family members might be at that location.

There are remains of an old mills of some sort, and it's report that one can quess about where the house once stood. Personnel from the power company have taken people on a tour of the area from time to time. And the Holly Springs Town engineers do have GPS Coordinates on the cemetery.

Barbara Koblich, Holly Springs' official Town Historian, has recorded oral histories from many of the town's senior residents, and she is aware of the Needham Norris home.

Barb Koblich
Public Affairs & Communication
Title: Information Clerk / Town Historian
Phone: (919) 552-6221

Email is [email protected]