Raeford lies at the center of Hoke County and boasts fragrant Carolina pine forests abound with majestic magnolia trees adorning front lawns – offering residents an authentic taste of rural living in South Central North Carolina.
Commercial buildings and houses located within Raeford’s Historic District recall the excitement and optimism associated with railroad towns like Raeford during the 1910s.
The McLauchlin-McFadyen House
The McLauchlin-McFadyen House is one of two Colonial homes on the grounds of a museum established to increase public awareness of Hoke County history and culture. Since 2002, admission has been free; donations are accepted. It features various historical artifacts and exhibits like dollhouses, school houses, country stores and genealogy rooms.
Raeford was experiencing rapid development during the 1910s, with both commercial and residential buildings in its historic district reflecting this optimism and excitement through a mixture of nationally popular styles combined with more vernacular forms common to southern railroad towns during this era.
These buildings demonstrate how a town transitioned gradually from being an isolated railroad stop with flourishing schools (Raeford Institute) into an agricultural, small-town commerce and industrialization hub. Their construction was undertaken by skilled local contractors such as Marcus W. Dew who built several homes as well as Raeford Methodist Church.
In addition to two historic homes, the museum also houses a Parker-Ray House and emergency service museum. Their collection contains documents and photos related to local families and a family history room where visitors can share their tales with volunteers. Work is still underway to finish up Parker-Ray House which will include historic furniture such as dining sets from early 1900s.
The Parker-Ray House
The Parker-Ray House is one of two Colonial homes at Raeford Museum, established to increase public awareness of Raeford’s rich history. Boasting Neoclassical Revival architecture and situated on five acres, its exhibits also include emergency service museum, dollhouse schoolhouse country store. Visitors may visit for free with private tours available upon request.
Richard Neeley, owner of a store near FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Hoke Campus in Raeford, generously gave the Parker-Ray House to the museum following casual conversations between himself and Joyce Monroe who heads it. Monroe estimates its grand opening should occur around May.
Cynthia Vigil’s escape from Ray’s trailer used for chaining and torturing women revealed the brutality and horror of his crimes. Police discovered chains, pulleys, straps clamps spreader bars syringes as well as custom built tables fitted with electrodes for electric torture techniques inside.
David Parker Ray had an unusual childhood that many believe led to his eventual transformation into a killer. Raised by maternal grandparents after his violent, alcoholic father abandoned them as children, Ray developed an obsessive passion for bondage and sadomasochism during this period of his development.
The Carriage House
The museum houses many historical artifacts from the area and features a 1921 fire truck as well as emergency and agricultural equipment. There’s also a one-room schoolhouse, smokehouse and country store on site – plus five acres worth of exhibit space open to the public!
Carriage houses have become an increasingly popular architectural design choice in contemporary homes, offering both comfort and a distinctive appearance. While typically smaller than single-family dwellings, carriage houses provide more spaciousness for living or parking needs while offering unique style features. Modern carriage houses come in various Georgian or Victorian designs for maximum variety in your design choices.
New York City is filled with historic structures. First appearing during the late 18th century to store horse-drawn carriages on cobblestone streets, as cars replaced them, these buildings eventually took on various uses: most often attached to primary residences but others stood alone.
Though most carriage houses are small in comparison, this Brooklyn property stands out as something grand and beautiful. Once an original coach house, its interior has since been divided into two separate two-bedroom apartments that span 7,200 sq ft of living space, including an incredible 17-ft skylit living room!
The Barn
Hoke County Preservation Project’s two-year goal is to document these and other historical structures for future generations, driving miles of rural roads around Hoke County to meet with property owners, take photographs, meet them for oral histories on them and record oral histories about them. In Fall 2019, they’ll also record oral histories about these properties.
Beginning in 2002 with the purchase of McLauchlin-McFadyen House, it has grown over time to incorporate Parker-Ray House as well as one-room schoolhouse, doll building and country store facilities. All donations to the museum are welcomed!
Downtown Raeford boasts an eclectic blend of locally owned businesses and national retailers, including village shops selling traditional Southern cuisine and several nationally-recognized retailers. Raeford also features many recreational opportunities – parks and golf courses are popular choices here – bordering Fort Bragg, Raeford is an excellent place to live and work; public transit makes getting around easy, while those without access to vehicles may use taxi services like Uber and Lyft; plus it has easy rail access as well as proximity to major highways for access!
