Mount Holly in Gaston County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
1830-1910 Enslavement to Landowner
Walking Timeline
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 28, 2026
1. 1830-1910 Enslavement to Landowner Marker
Inscription.
1830-1910 Enslavement to Landowner. . Ransom Hunter and his parents, Julia and Mike were born in North Carolina. According to the Ransom Hunter Foundation's genealogical research, they spent much of their time in towns and communities that straddled the North and South Carolina border. New genealogical research reveals that Ransom Hunter served in the Civil War in multiple capacities. He received his emancipation after his military service. Once returning to Gaston County, he quickly used his skills, strong work ethic and good business sense to become a successful craftsman near the Catawba River. With his earnings, he purchased land. Records show he bought seven properties between 1874 and 1913, extending his holdings across much of what is now downtown Mount Holly., He also sold 25 parcels of land to many notable businesses and pillars of Gaston County society, like the Atlanta National Building and Loan Association, Thomas Rutledge, Craig and Wilson, Mayes Manufacturing Company and others., (caption) An archeological survey of the property in 2024. Technicians dug 3-foot deep test pits in a 25-foot arid and took the soll back to the lab for analysis. A total of 674 artifacts were recovered, mostly from the late 1700s through the 1900's. The oldest recovered item was a piece of Chinese hard paste porcelain dating 1765 to 1810, possibly an heirloom in use at a later time.
Ransom Hunter and his parents, Julia and Mike were born in North Carolina. According to the Ransom Hunter Foundation's genealogical research, they spent much of their time in towns and communities that straddled the North and South Carolina border. New genealogical research reveals that Ransom Hunter served in the Civil War in multiple capacities. He received his emancipation after his military service. Once returning to Gaston County, he quickly used his skills, strong work ethic and good business sense to become a successful craftsman near the Catawba River. With his earnings, he purchased land. Records show he bought seven properties between 1874 and 1913, extending his holdings across much of what is now downtown Mount Holly.
He also sold 25 parcels of land to many notable businesses and pillars of Gaston County society, like the Atlanta National Building & Loan Association, Thomas Rutledge, Craig & Wilson, Mayes Manufacturing Company and others.
(caption) An archeological survey of the property in 2024. Technicians dug 3-foot deep test pits in a 25-foot arid and took the soll back to the lab for analysis. A total of 674 artifacts were recovered, mostly from the late 1700s through the 1900's. The oldest recovered item was a piece of Chinese hard paste porcelain dating 1765 to 1810, possibly an heirloom in use at a later time.
Location. 35° 17.646′ N, 81° 1.271′ W. Marker is in Mount Holly, North Carolina, in Gaston County. It can be reached from the intersection of West Glendale Avenue and South Hawthorne Street, on the right when traveling east. Located along a walking trail in Ransom Hunter Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 W Glendale Ave, Mount Holly NC 28120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Greater Charlotte. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
More about this marker. The marker is the first of four that gives a timeline of the life of Ransom Hunter and the future community he influenced.
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 28, 2026
3. 1830-1910 Enslavement to Landowner Marker looking towards the playground at the park
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
