Life Along the Deep River
With its headwaters beginning north of here near High Point and Jamestown, the Deep River flows 125 miles through rolling Piedmont hills past many forming mill towns. The Deep joins the Haw River in Chatham County, becoming the Cape Fear River, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Wilmington.
Powering Mills
The Deep River's waters have long powered mills up and down the river, starting with grist mills in the early days, followed by cotton mills in the 1800s. Across the river are the remains of Franklinsville Manufacturing Company, which was first established in 1847, and was the oldest standing water-powered cotton mill in the south until destroying by fire in 2010. Mill workers and their families enjoyed company picnics on this property (see the concrete remains of former picnic structures on the trail further down river).
Catching Fish
Native American fishing weirs are still visible on the Deep River when the water levels are low enough. The weirs are made up of rocks, which form "V" formations in the water. Native Americans used these formations to trap fish, making it easy to scoop them out and capture fish more efficiently.
Providing Recreation
The Deep River is a designated State Trail by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. Plans are underway for a trail
this page online
Supporting Rare Species
The Deep River's clean waters support a number of rare aquatic species, most notably the Cape Fear shiner, a critically endangered minnow. They also support other rare fish species such as the Roanoke bass and Carolina redhorse, and a variety of freshwater mussels. An uncommon dragonfly found along the Deep River is septima's clubtail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 35° 44.562′ N, 79° 41.822′ W. Marker is in Franklinville, North Carolina, in Randolph County. Marker can be reached from Faith Rock Road, 0.8 miles Andrew Hunter Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 323 W Main St, Franklinville NC 27248, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Andrew Hunter Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Faith Rock (approx. 0.2 miles away); 307 East Main Street (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rednap Howell
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
