HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0218Larry Mayhew asked what benefits occurred when it was renamed from Mayhew to Brawley
School Road.
Both Chairman Tice and Vice Chairman Johnson said they had received many calls in
opposition to the request. They mentioned it would be costly (changes to business stationery,
changes to drivers' licenses, changing the lettering on company vehicles, changing yellow -page
ads, etc.) for the property owners.
Larry Mayhew said the people signing his petition had not expressed concerns about
changing their addresses.
O.C. Stonestreet, a county historian, said he received a call from the Mooresville Trihunie
newspaper about the Mayhew and Brawley families. He said both families were eminent in the
community's history. Stonestreet said he found a reference to a Brawley family in the 1790
census, but he did not locate a Mayhew family. He said both families fought in the Revolutionary
War and Civil War. Stonestreet shared the following information about the families.
•A Brawley School existed after the Civil War, but it was on SR 1109.
•A Mayhew School existed at Mayhewtown.
•A general store existed at SR 1109 and the 1100 intersection - - it was called Brawley's
Crossroads because Mr. Brawley owned a store on one side and a house on the other.
-The Brawley School ceased to exist around 1920 or 1921 when it was consolidated with
the Dooley School (Springdale).
-The school at Mayhew existed until 1934 or 1935.
-There was a post office at Mayhew from 1801 to 1905.
-What is known as SR 1100 Brawley School Road today, was not called this until
the Brawley High School was constructed in 1935. The land was sold to the board of
education by Thomas Oscar Brawley, Sr.
Stonestreet said that historically, "the ball was probably in the Mayhew's court." tie said
however, as far as convenience for the property owners, "that's another story." Stonestreet said both
families had contributed greatly to the community.
"Tina Gibson, a relative of the Mayhew family, said she resided in Charlotte. She said she
had noted that much of Charlotte's history had been destroyed. Gibson said her family was proud
of their contributions and they wanted to preserve history.
Bobby Brawley said that in 1983, when his father died, he began to think about his family's
history. He also noticed that a sign indicating Brawley School Road was being replaced by one
saying Mayhew Road. Mr. Brawley said he then starting talking to families in the area, and he
petitioned to have the road name changed. Brawley said he recalled the road had been called
Beatty's Ford Road and Williamson Chapel Road. Mr. Brawley said it did appear that
Mayhewtown was disappearing due to progress, and he sympathized with the Mayhew family. He
said the area would be an ideal place for the historical society to erect a structure commemorating
the Mayhew family and the other early settlers.
Commissioner Johnson questioned whether the matter would be settled if the Mayhew
family's request were approved. He asked if the Brawley family would just petition for the road
name to be changed again. (Bobby Brawley spoke up from the audience area and said his family
,A ould return and seek the reinstatement of Brawley School Road as the name.)
Don Smith, a relative of the Mayhew family, said he felt the historical society should
nresenc more of the county's history.
MOTION by Commissioner Stewart to change the name from Brawley School Road to
%I a•,hewtown Road.