
Ivey of New London, who was manager of the Albemarle Telephone Company, built a telephone line to New London. Cotton, who owned the bottling shop, and a chain driven Franklin owned by C. The first two automobiles in town were a Reo, owned by W. Allen came from Yadkin County and gave New London its first medical doctor. Ivey was the town dentist and also the postmaster.

When Parker Gold Mine became too expensive to operate in 1894 the English sold the property and returned to England. Culp came from Cabarrus Country and started a large livery stable and later began the lumber operation. Another of New London’s large businesses, Culp Lumber Company, was begun when John L. Soon the Yadkin Brick Company was in operation and soon its handmade colonial brick were known across the county. The Parker Mine was operating two shifts by this time and soon the New London Cordage Mill was built and operated six 12-hour days. The state legislature was petitioned for a change of name, the request was granted and New London was officially incorporated March 25, 1891. With the coming of the railroad, industry would increase and be more productive. Judd impressed the gathering as he described how he thought this rich settlement could grow as big as his native London, England as the residents were already building large fine homes. Judd from England, now in charge of the mining operations suggested the name be changed to “New London”, hardly anyone objected.Ī meeting was held at the Academy to discuss the name change.
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With the gold and other industries going full speed, surely Bilesville needed a richer sounding name. William Nance to be in charge of the operation. As families increased there was a need for a school with the first one being a log structure erected in 1884.Īt the outbreak of the Civil War, the mine lay undisturbed until sometime in the 1870’s when an English mining concern known as New London & States Co., Ltd. The first church in town was Bilesville Methodist. The nearest church to Bilesville was Bethel which was east of town. The gold was discovered in 1859 on the Howell Parker farm, there began some of the first mining operations. The area was still a part of Montgomery County when gold was discovered.

To the south of Bilesville was a small settlement called Albemarle. The first homeowners and merchants numbered fourteen and it wasn’t long before the new town boasted a number of industries. The new town was named in honor of Uncle Tommy Biles who owned the land at the time. and Elizabeth Betsy Sides Biles moved to their farm at the highest elevation in then Montgomery County. New London began originally as Bilesville around 1830 when Thomas Biles, Jr.
