Cameron

Cameron has been "The Antiques Capital of the Sandhills" for several years now. The Muse Brothers Store, that used to be the largest department store between Richmond, Va. and Augusta, Ga, in the late 1800's. is now one of many historical buildings filled with enchanting antiques and treasures, along Carthage Street(Hwy 24/27).

Ever since this sleepy little town took off with the arrival of the railroad, Cameron has been an enchanting place. It still retains much of it's charm, and antiques and collectibles have become an industry to the town, in and of itself. Considered by many to be one of the great antiques meccas of the east coast, it still draws visitors from all over the country.

The homes along this historical "main drag" of the town are reflections of Victorian and early Bungalow style that reflects just how instrumental the railroad was in shaping the town. The Raleigh and Augusta Railroad dead ended here for several years, and as different types of people and styles arrived from different cultures, so did the style of homes, collectibles and laid back, relaxed lifestyle.

Some of the early businesses between 1880 - 1920 included general stores, turpentine distilleries, two hotels, three saloons, a millstone company and hosiery mill. It's easy to see that manufacturing, naval stores processing (early on) and agriculture, through the railroad, played major roles in the economy. This very short stretch of road would never be found until you hear about it from someone else. Go 1 mile in any direction and you're back in country, rural America.

This small compact town along Carthage St, set up by early entrepeneurs, railroad men, merchants and farmers has retained it's charm and character ever since. And although the Antiques Street Fair only happens twice a year(May and October), the love of history and preservation of heritage live on here year round. A love of the simple things in life and what really matters.

And although history tells us that the Dewberries that exploded the economic growth in Cameron didn't survive, you will still find those famous black and red blackberry offspring hiding along the side of the road, all throughout this area and throughout the county. Just look for the thick briars that grow beside these rural roads, and then look for the black and red dots of color. Now whether these are the same as the original dewberries, we can't say, but the ones we have now make incredible cobbler and taste really good straight off the bush.

This quiet community is home to a little over 300 residents and several thousand visitors on a temporary basis, throughout the year. Property and real estate on the outskirts of the downtown area are very affordable.

The area is largely small rural properties and farms as you would expect. Just north of Vass, 15 minutes from Carthage to the east and 15 minutes to Pinehurst / Southern Pines to the south, Cameron is just a skip away from all major areas of Moore County.

And that's part of what makes this community so special. The little community that was the first stop of the Raleigh Augusta Railroad, before heading south along Plank Road to the southern communities and the market town of Fayetteville, has retained it's identity through all of the growth and hoopla about golf.

 

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