Jackson Hamlet

A while back, Momo took us on a tour of Jackson Hamlet, a small Black community surrounded by Pinehurst and Aberdeen but not in either's municipal limits. They, along with a similar community on the other side of Aberdeen, Midway, have been trying to obtain municipal services, especially water and/or sewer.

Without going too deeply into why these communities are surrounded by, but not in, municipal borders, it comes down to historic settlement patterns, NC annexation law, and the high costs of utilities extensions among other things.

Much progress has occurred lately and it appears Midway will be getting services soon thanks to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) obtained by Aberdeen. Midway will soon be part of Aberdeen, through voluntary or involuntary annexation.

At the turn of the century, when Tufts first developed Pinehurst into a health resort, a cry went out throughout the south to all “Negroes” - “there is work here”. They came to work, they came for land, and they came to live.

In the 111 years since Pinehurst was first urbanized, the African-American community of Jackson Hamlet has not been able to keep pace with its neighbor. Pinehurst with its lush, green golf courses draws thousands of visitors a year. They stay in the expensive rooms of the Carolina Hotel and the Holly Inn,, or play one of eight golf courses. Many residents of Jackson Hamlet or their ancestors have worked in Pinehurst. Some of them helped build it.

Please follow below the fold...