Understanding Chatham County

By Rita Marley-McKenzie
Posted Thursday, April 3, 2008

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Siler City, NC - As a native of Siler City, I've seen many, many changes over the years. My parents are both small business owners there, so my family has heard many different views on the direction our town has taken. Some good, most bad.

Personally, I do have mixed feelings.

Yes, many family-run businesses that thrived for many years have since closed their doors, as they were unable to compete with national chains. This left many empty spaces in our downtown shopping district. Since the Incubator began, I've seen a revival of life to this once dying marketplace. I'm glad these old buildings have found new life and purpose. On the other hand, the flavor of Siler has shifted in a totally new direction in a short amount of time, and the town culture really isn't ready for it.

Chatham County is a land of down-home country folk where everyone knows everyone and everyone's relatives and ancestors. It's a neighbor help neighbor community. It's a land of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "that's how it's always been done for generations". People who were born and raised here and whose families have lived on Chatham land for generations are slow to accept change and have a deep-felt connection to their roots.

Though natives of Chatham welcome newcomers with open arms, they find it extremely difficult and frustrating to have those
newcomers move in and then begin telling the natives that things need to change. Natives feel that, if you chose to move here, you must have liked what you saw. They can't understand why one would choose to move to a new place only to try to turn it into the place they came from.

I invite everyone to learn about Chatham's rich history, talk to those whose families have lived here 100-200+ years, and ask them why Chatham is the greatest place to live.

For those on the northeastern end of the county, I invite you to take a road trip one day and visit the 700 square miles of Chatham. After a ride through New Hill, Moncure, and the Asbury community, head on west to visit Goldston with it's regal homes and eat at Rufus' in the heart of downtown.

Scoot through Bear Creek and be sure to make a stop at the Crossroads Grill and ask about the Devil's Tramping Ground. Head over to Bonlee. Stop and chat awhile. Then make your way to Bennett, where my great-granddaddy's store is still selling cold drinks and dog food. Be sure to take in the scenery all the while. Note all the farms you see with cattle, horses, and other livestock. See the corn fields and chicken houses and think about where our food comes from.

Don't forget to make a drive through Siler City, Staley, and Silk Hope, too, before heading back up east. As you drive towards home, look at all the big developments and think about all the landowners who were forced to sell their family land to developers for a fraction of it's worth, because they could no longer afford to pay the taxes.

The eastern part of the county used to look much like the western part. Even Fearrington Village used to be a dairy farm.

Please remember that political decisions affect us all and that we all need to be respectful of each other. Chatham has a deep, rich Southern culture that should be appreciated and embraced, even if it isn't understood. I know there can be a happy medium for us all, it takes really listening to each other to accomplish that though.

If you're still reading, thank you for reading the whole post.