Boone in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Councill's Store
Once located 10 yards northeast, Councill's Store was the area's first post office, established in 1823 and operated by Jordan Councill Jr. (1799-1875), a prominent merchant, livestock trader, and slaveholder. In 1849 the North Carolina legislature appointed Councill as one of three commissioners tasked with laying out the town of Boone as the seat for the newly established Watauga County, specifying its location on land that Councill and Ransom Hayes donated for that purpose just west of Councill's Store. Councill, who served as the local postmaster from 1823 to 1859 and from 1860 to 1866, consented to changing the post office name to Boone in 1850. By the 1880s, Daniel B. Dougherty acquired the old Councill's Store building and moved it to the south side of King Street, expanding and converting the old store into his private residence. Dougherty's sons sold the property in 1904 to the Greene family, who operated the Greene Inn, a tourist home, out of the building until its demolition in 1954.
Erected 2023 by Boone Historic Preservation Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1823.
Location. 36° 13.089′ N, 81° 40.977′ W. Marker is in Boone, North Carolina, in Watauga County. Marker is at the intersection of West King Street (U.S. 321) and Grand Boulevard, on the right when traveling west on West King Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 Grand Blvd, Boone NC 28607, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jones House (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Post Office (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Junaluska Community (about 600 feet away); 1940 Flood Ends Boone Train Service (about 600 feet away); Stoneman's Raid (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ginseng Trade (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Black Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Stanley Harris (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boone.
Regarding Councill's Store. Submitted by the Boone Historic Preservation Commission in January 2022, the staff report (above) on the then-proposed Councill's Store marker includes detailed history of the area and Councill in particular.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.