Catsburg Store, Historical country store in Durham County, North Carolina.
Catsburg Store is a two-story wooden building that stood at the intersection of Old Oxford Highway and Hamlin Road. The structure features a tall false front with a large black cat silhouette displayed on its roof edge.
Built in the 1920s by Sheriff Eugene G. Belvin, the store served the community until the 1990s. In 2020, the structure was carefully taken apart by Preservation Durham for restoration at a new location.
The store takes its name from Sheriff Belvin's nickname 'Cat', earned for his success catching bootleggers during prohibition years. This nickname became tied to the identity of the place and its community.
The site is located near Catsburg Natural Area, which contains a forest habitat with rare plant species nearby. Visitors can explore the surrounding natural area alongside learning about the historic building.
The building operated for over 70 years and became a community landmark, though it often went unnoticed by passersby. Its name preserves a piece of local history and law enforcement character from a particular era.
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