Half Way Pitt Stop

PITT

128′

(#50/100 North Carolina county highpoints)

This non-descript slight rise on the side of Highway 258 is the highpoint of Pitt County.

Not much to distinguish it, even close up.

BUT, this is #50!
So we’re halfway there!

Wish it were more memorable!

Just south of the highpoint is the little town of Fountain.

We thought there would be, you know, a fountain.

But no.

The Eastern Carolina Railway was rail line was established in 1898 by Henry Clark Bridgers of Edgecombe County to connect the river city of Tarboro with farming communities to the south. By 1902 the stretch of railroad here was completed and 22-year-old R.A. Fountain built his first store and livery stable across from the tracks.

First choice for the name was “Turnages,” named for H.C. Turnage, a local Civil War veteran and prosperous merchant.

Next choice was “Slabtown,” for a row of log-slab houses built along the tracks.

The next choice was “Reba” in honor of the first baby born in the town.

In 1903, they settled on Fountain, after the original store and stable owner.

But really, how much more memorable would this highpoint have been if we had found THIS!