From Worth Farm to Center City Garden

The history and genealogy of the Jonathan Worth farm in the middle of old Asheboro—soon to become the David and Pauline Harrell Center City Garden arboretum—is the topic of a talk by Library Director Ross Holt at 6:30pm on Monday, January 23rd at the Asheboro Library. Jonathan Worth, who would become Asheboro’s leading citizen and serve as NC governor, was 24 when he purchased the 12 acres now bounded by Worth, Main, Academy, and Cox streets. The area, which remained undeveloped for much of the 129th century, would involve two other prominent Randolph County families—the Moffits and the Walkers—before being acquired by Acme-McCrary Hosiery Mills founder D.B. “Doc” McCrary and his family in the 20th century. Holt sifted through newspaper accounts, deeds and other records to uncover fascinating details about the property and surprising connections among the people associated with it. Owners of various parts of the site—including five Asheboro mayors—have represented each era of the city’s development, from an agrarian economy through industrialization and modern manufacturing.