Since the scholars of UNC declared that it was not classy to have a railroad in a university town, the tracks were laid a mile down the road in a town then called West of (as in West of Chapel Hill). The "of" was later dropped and the town was called West Chapel Hill, but the scholars were still not pleased about associating themselves with the blue collar society. It was later called Lloydville, followed by Venable, in honor of UNC president Francis P. Venable.
When Mr. Carr bought the mill and expanded the community, the town adopted the name Carrboro. 100 years later, the mill is home to Carr Mill Mall some of the most classically Carrboro businesses including Elmo's, Weaver Street Market, and Townsend Bertram & Co.
I have been a part of one quarter of Carrboro's life and have seen it change quite a bit. Likewise, it has changed with every phase of my life. Just as I have grown up, Carrboro has grown with me. As I child I loved the Christmas parade and Carrboro Day, in high school I started attending shows at The Cat's Cradle, as a college student I would escape to study at Weaver Street and Open Eye, and now as a post-grad I love hanging with my townies at The Station or Johnny's.
Let's face it, Carrboro really is The Paris of the Piedmont. Love.
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