Historical Information

 

    Scarlett's Inn 1856 resides in a home of immense historical significance.  It is listed in the US Park Service's "Historic American Building Survey".  It is the only Inn in the area to have such a designation.

 

    This beautiful home was constructed in 1856 by Miles Whitehurst (1835-1911).  At the time he was 21 years old.  On January 6, 1859 he and the love of his life, Rebecca Casey (1839-1902)were married.  She was 20 and he was 24.  Their marriage certificate is in their large embossed leather-covered Bible.

 

    They had three children:

• Sophia Elmyra Whitehurst, born December 23, 1859

• Lemuel Jennings Whitehurst, born May 6, 1865

• James Martin Whitehurst, born May 8, 1870

    Miles and Rebecca are buried in the Whitehurst Cemetery.  It is located on Route 158/17 about 3/4 of mile south of Scarlett's Inn 1856.  Miles' brother Benjamin F Whitehurst (1829-1896) and his wife Lavinia (1836-1875) are also buried in that cemetery.  Other family members are interred there, too.

 

    Miles' father, another Miles, died at the early age of 37.  It must have been unexpected as the records show he died intestate (without a will).  Consequently there was much legal activity to disperse his large land holdings and personal property.  Our Miles was just 12 years old and considered a minor.  The archives in Raleigh, North Carolina have copies of many of these documents.

 

    From these, we can construct a picture of the times.  From Civil War era maps of the area, Route 158/17 did not exist.  The land holdings of the Whitehurst family were extensive, encompassing vast areas on either side of the present day Route 158/17.