Tyrrell County, NC - Tyrrell County History Source: Swamproots, a literary magazine published by students at Columbia High School. Important Dates in Tyrrell County's History 1585 - What is now Tyrrell County was mapped and probably explored by John White while on an expedition up the Albemarle Sound from the "City of Roanoke". 1663 - King Charles II of England granted Albemarle to eight Lords Proprietors. Tyrrell was part of the grant to Sir Ashley Cooper. 1680 - Thomas Miller and Joshua Tarkenton explored up the Scuppernong and were so pleased with what they found that they called it "Heart's Delight". 1704 - The first settlement in Tyrrell was supposedly made at Fort Landing. During the Cary Uprising in Albemarle, many settlers left their homes and crossed the sound. 1710 - St. Paul's Church was erected. 1711 - Tuscarora War. 1729 - Tyrrell was formed as a Precinct of Albemarle and named for Sir John Tyrrell. It was also created as St. Andrew's Parrish. 1736 - The first deed was recorded when Joseph Buncombe, a wealthy planter of Carolina, came from the West Indies and bought land in Tyrrell. 1740 - King's Warehouse built at Backlanding. 1747 - The deed for the first church known was recorded when Josiah Spruill deeded to the people of Tyrrell and St. Andrew's Parish the chapel called St. Paul's. 1749 - The first Court House of Tyrrell Precinct was built on the lands of William Farley at Kendrick's Creek, now called Mackeys. 1750 - The first will was proved in open Precinct Court at Kendrick's Creek. The first deed was proved at an earlier date. 1754 - Tyrrell was abolished by Royal Order. 1755 - Lake Phelps discovered. 1766 - Joseph Buncombe willed to his nephew, Edward Buncombe, his enormous estate. Edward Buncombe contracted Stephen Lee to build his 55 room mansion. 1771 - In this year the Regulators revolted against the Royal Governor. Governor Tryon called for 50 men from Tyrrell, but they never went against the west. 1774 - Court held at house of Benjamin Spruill. 1775 - The Revolution began and Tyrrell sent the first volunteers from the Albemarle area. Edward Buncombe was made colonel of the 5th Regiment. 1776 - Tyrrell Militia trained at Buncombe Hall. 1777 - Courthouse erected at Backlanding on Scuppernong River. 1789 - Being that Tyrrell was 100 miles across and the people could not easily go to the Court House to vote, two voting precincts were set up by the Assembly. Pettigrew family settled in Tyrrell County. 1793 - Town of Elizabeth, now Columbia, chartered. 1797 - Phelps Academy, the first school, was established. 1799 - Washington County was formed from Tyrrell in this year. A year before, the Court House had been changed to "Colonial Farm". Court House built at Elizabethtown. Pikes Academy started at Alligator. 1800 - First court held at Elizabethtown. Somerset Plantation established. 1801 - The third Court House was built in the town of Elizabeth on the east side of the Scuppernong River. Thomas Hoskins and Zebidee Hassell sold the land. 1802 - St. David's Church completed. 1810 - The name of Elizabethtown was changed to Columbia in honor of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America. 1844 - Columbia Academy founded. 1862 - Company A of the 32nd North Carolina Regiment of the Confederate Army was formed in Tyrrell in this year. Tyrrell contributed 110 men in this company. 1863 - Union troops invaded Tyrrell and sacked and burned much of Columbia. Thomas Alexander saved the records by escaping with them to his brother's plantation. General Pettigrew killed in the Civil War on this date. 1865 - The first Public School was founded in Tyrrell County by Miss Susan H. Alexander at a location northwest of Columbia. 1870 - Dare County was formed from part of Tyrrell. 1884 - The first school was founded in the town of Columbia as a public free institution for the children. 1903 - The present Court House, now standing on the corner of Main and Broad Streets in Columbia, was erected in this year and court opened there. 1908 - The Norfolk Southern Railroad built a line to Columbia in this year and a depot was erected on Broad Street. 1910 - The first Moving Picture Theater was started in Columbia by Mr. J.F. Schletz and the first modern cinema was shown in September of this year. 1915 - High Schools began in Tyrrell. 1918 - In this year an epidemic of Spanish Influenza struck the citizens of Tyrrell County with epidemic force. U.S. doctors were called in to help. 1919 - First graduation from Columbia High School; Blanche Cahoon received the first diploma. 1920 - The Columbia Electric Light Company was founded in this year, and a power house was set up in the building now occupied by the E.I.C. office. 1922 - Columbia Hospital founded. 1923 - Isaac Meekins became a Federal judge. 1927 - In this year the State Highway and Public Works Commission finished the present bridge across the Scuppernong River at Columbia. The Cahoon Telephone Company was established in Tyrrell County at Columbia. It soon had more than 300 subscribers and a long distance line to Plymouth (approximately 35 miles to the west). 1930 - The Columbia Women's Club established and started the first Tyrrell County Public Library. It was located in the Petit Jury room of the Court House. 1936 - Agriculture Building was completed. 1939 - The Post Office in Columbia was changed to its present site on Broad Street, and Mrs. Effie Brickhouse became Post-Master. 1947 - Under Governor Kerr Scott, North Carolina undertook to improve its public roads. Many miles of Tyrrell's roads were paved and improved. 1948 - Railroad withdrawn from Columbia. 1950 - The present Columbia and Tyrrell schools were completed. The Health Center was also completed. 1959 - The first traffic light was installed in Columbia. The new Scuppernong River bridge was completed. 1962 - Alligator River bridge was completed. 1979 - Tyrrell celebrated its 250th anniversary.