Thank goodness Mr. Creed Moor, a traveling lexicographer, which basically means a dictionary salesman, came through what is now Creedmoor, back in the 1800s. That is where the name of Creedmoor got its name. I’m just glad this traveling salesman wasn’t named dam you.
Northside is called that because that community near Creedmoor is north of the Durham and Wake County lines. Cedar Creek Gallery, which my wife loves to visit, is near Cedar Creek, so an appropriate name. The Coon Hill area out near Stem is called that since the Roberts family was known for its coon hunting ability and for cooking some good coon meals and inviting their friends over for some good coon eating. Down in Wilton and the surrounding countryside there is what was once known as Harricane. An awful hurricane came to this area in the late 1800s and devastated the region, destroying property, crops, and even causing some deaths. When asked about the hurricane, these good hard working folks in that area had the habit of pronouncing hurricane as harricane. Wilton, by the way, once had a post office and was known as Ford Creek. Hester was named after Henry Hester, who donated the land for the railroad to come through. Hester once had a railroad station and was known as Hester’s Station.
Shoofly, near Stem on Culbreth Road, was the site of a country store, run by Ollie Bullock for many years. One day, some old fellows were sitting around a pot-bellied wood heater in the store and were talking about what to call the little area around them. A pesky fly kept swirling around and the men kept swinging their hands at it to get it away. One man kept saying “shoo fly!” and hence the name…