Comments on: Hillsboro Street’s ManMur Bowling Center: the Geographic Center of North Carolina (?)

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:24:23 +0000

Somehow stumbled on this entry from awhile back. Just wanted to note that the geographic center of NC is Star – a tiny town in Montgomery County. It’s even written on the side of the post office! Star is a beautiful town – full of old hosiery mill buildings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star,_NC
http://www.starnc.com/

By: NCSU

NCSU — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:52:51 +0000

Thanks Raleigh Boy.

I can now finally and with authority respond to the many queries from out-of-town visitors or newcomers regaring the name, “ManMur.”

By: native

native — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:37:08 +0000

So that’s where “ManMur” came from!

But I’d always heard the center of the state was Silk Hope, in Chatham County.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:05:59 +0000

RaleighRob – hmmm. That makes sense to me. If we were offering prizes on this post for best theory on the ManMur name, you’d be at the head of the line. You’ll notice I’ve altered the title just a wee bit in reflection.

btw– I do remember US 64 signs along New Bern Ave in the ’60s, but not Hillsboro St. I guess Western Blvd as US 64 designation occurred before I became aware of such things.

By: RaleighRob

RaleighRob — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:15:27 +0000

The geographical mid-point between Manteo & Murphy is closer to Asheboro, thus why it was chosen to be the site for the state Zoo.

But you’re right that the name comes from Manteo and Murphy….

My theory on the ManMur name has to do with the street itself. US 64 ran along Hillsboro Street up until the 1950s. (Then re-routed along Western Blvd…until the 80s when it was moved onto the Beltline.) US 64, as you probably know, is the longest highway in NC and is the one route that runs from Murphy to Manteo. Thus, the name ManMur came from Hillsboro Street being part of that iconic route.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:20:41 +0000

REL – There’ll be more on the Nehi Plant from Goodnight Raleigh at a later date. So stay tuned!

By: Robert E Leebowitz

Robert E Leebowitz — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:17:29 +0000

http://www.raleighcitymuseum.org/arch_survey/Phase2/Photos/nehi_bottling.jpg

By: Robert E Leebowitz

Robert E Leebowitz — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:14:21 +0000

That art moderne style looks so nice. It is an outright shame that the Nehi bottling plant, a few blocks West on Hillsborough St, has been allowed to fall into such disrepair.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:13:43 +0000

Chris – yup. As a life-long Raleigh Boy, it’s a life-long habit, and I’ve lived a long life!

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:07:57 +0000

Ian – yeah, if the old building were still standing it’d probably be an historic site now.

David and Jason – As I said — “Hillsboro Street lore.” Maybe the the Bowling Center developer should have hired an NC State grad to figure the distance back in ’39, or at least looked at a map.