From humble beginnings as a rustic settlement formedaround a chapel on a hill—New Hope Chapel Hill—in the mid-eighteenth century, Chapel Hill has attained international recognition as one of the foremost centers of education in the United States. Despite the fact that their town is flourishing, Chapel Hillians still think of it as a village, and it is the combination of a small Southern town and a concentration of creative, progressive people that makes Chapel Hill special. Although Chapel Hill is known for its ability to move with the times, it is also aware of the importance of the past and the need to preserve local history.
By combining carefully selected images with incisive, often humorous text, historian and writer James Vickers has created a fascinating visual history that brings Chapel Hill's long and illustrious past to life. From an overview of the changing fortunes of the University of North Carolina and the village, including an examination of people such as Davie, Battle, Chase, and Graham, all instrumental in developing UNC, to an entertaining look at Chapel Hill's creative side, and the part played by Thomas Wolfe, Paul Green, Betty Smith, and James Taylor in establishing Chapel Hill's reputation as an artistic mecca, this book is an invaluable visual guide to Chapel Hill's history. At once educational and entertaining, Chapel Hill will earn a lasting place on area bookshelves, and be enjoyed by young and old, resident and visitor alike.