In the 1850’s Governor Zebulon Vance appointed James T. Patrick North Carolina’s first commissioner of immigration. He was given the task of bringing newcomers to the area.

            The Raleigh Augusta railroad came through Manly (a town located 1 mile north of Southern Pines) in 1876, it wasn’t long after that Patrick stepped off the train and headed south. He began visiting various towns and felt Southern Moore County had a lot of appeal due to the healthy climate and potential for development.

            Patrick ended up at Shaw’s Ridge where he purchased 675 acres from Charles C. Shaw for $1265- less than $2 an acre. Residents had little faith in Patrick and began referring to his project as “Patrick’s Folly”.

            Patrick designed Southern Pines with the railroad running straight down the center of town, 60-foot streets, and planned alleys going down the middle of each of the four sides of the grid to meet in the center square. He named the streets after northern states as part of his marketing plan.

           He built a hotel called The Flattop directly across from the train depot. Patrick’s plan was for visitors from the North to disembark at the station and be able to find lodging within a few blocks.

            In order to draw people to the area, Patrick contacted newspaper editors from the North and offered them property in Southern Pines in exchange for free advertising. He selected Doctor’s as useful references and gave them tours highlighting the advantages of Southern Pines for their patients- especially those with tuberculosis.

            In 1903, James Boyd the first, a steel and railroad magnate from Pennsylvania relocated to Southern Pines. He purchased 1200 acres on which he created a marvelous estate that included stables, tennis courts, gardens, and a nine-hole golf course. He named it Weymouth because it reminded him of Weymouth in England.

            James Boyd’s grandsons- James and Jackson loved Weymouth and visited often. They later founded Moore County Hounds in 1914. After World War 1 they divided the original home of their grandfather. The main part was pulled by mule across Connecticut Avenue and is now known as the Campbell House.

            In 1920, the remaining portion of the original home was redesigned and enlarged by Aymar Embury II, Princeton University’s official architect. James and Katherine Boyd entertained in their new home extensively. Weymouth became the center of a very lively social life in the 1920’s and 1930’s. They had visiting literary friends such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe, Paul Green and Sherwood Anderson. The Boyd’s were very active in their community; they supported the Moore County Hospital as well as the Southern Pines Libraries.

            In 1941, James Boyd purchased and edited THE PILOT until his death in 1944, his wife Katherine then managed it until it was sold to Sam Ragan (a well known NC poet and journalist) in 1969.

            In 1963, Katherine Boyd gave a wooded tract of land to the state, which became Weymouth Woods Nature Preserve. Upon her death in 1974, Weymouth was left to the Sandhills Community College.

            Currently Southern Pines is thriving. The population is over 11,000 people, which makes Southern Pines the biggest town in the county. It’s easy to see why so many people have chosen Southern Pines as their home. With the cosmopolitan flare, shopping, restaurants, hotels, resorts, horse farms, golf courses, shopping, restaurants, hotels, resorts, cultural centers, festivals and activities, Southern Pines is the perfect combination of new and old, north, south, big city and small town. Without doubt this town has something for everyone.