Click Here To Read The Badin Villager

Badin is different. Built nearly 100 years ago as a company town, it is not a stereotypical mill village with grid-patterned streets and shot-gun cottages. It was designed by a company from France who brought with it the European idea of a garden city, curvilinear tree-shaded streets, cottages, townhouses and single family dwellings that encompass 27 different styles of architecture. It is that legacy that makes Badin unique. In 1984, the entire town was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Badin is a town in transition. Incorporated in 1990, it struggled for years with loss of downtown buildings, with rental property and absentee landlords. Today it is being discovered by young couples, families and retirees. Attractions include affordable property, low crime rate—Badin boasts its own police force–low property taxes, no local sales tax, a school with grades K through 8, its own country inn with golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, pub and restaurant, outdoor recreation that includes kayaking, fishing, golf and hiking, a variety of local attractions and many more attractions within a day’s drive.

Situated in North Carolina’s Piedmont, Badin sits at the southern end of beautiful Badin Lake, next to Morrow Mountain State Park and across the Yadkin/Pee Dee River from the Uwharrie National Forest. It is close to urban centers to the east, north, south and west.

A two-bedroom townhouse ready for tender-loving care can be bought for as little as $30,000. An upgraded ready-to-move-in two bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse can be bought for as little as $75,000. More upscale properties are available from $200,000. Median annual property taxes paid for housing units are 0.7% ($440). North Carolina median property taxes are 0.9% ($826).

But enough of the facts and figures–come and meet the people of Badin, take the walking tour listed below. Discover Badin for yourself.

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Walking Guide of Badin

A great way to see the Town of Badin is to take a walk around the village core. Walking Guides in print form are available at the Badin Museum and the Badin Town Hall.

Badin Points of Interest

Business District, 1913. Begun by the French, Badin’s commerce included stores for clothing, millinery, shoes, jewelry, groceries, hardware and automobiles. There were restaurants, barbershops, a drug store and a bank. Today’s Town Hall was home to B. T. Garrison’s grocery.

1) Baptist Church. Building began in 1917 and was completed in 1927, with the cornerstone laid in 1919. (Civil War gravestones)

2) Hospital. Built in 1918 for Alcoa employees, this was the only hospital in Stanly County until the 1930′s. In the 1940′s it served as an employment office and later became Alcoa’s Conference Center.

3) Library (behind gazebo). Built in 1949 as a medical clinic for Alcoa employees, the building now serves Badin as a Stanly County branch library

4) Post Office. On the former site of Badin’s Opera House (1918-1959), the Post Office was erected in 1961 and later dedicated to Badin’s first mayor, John T. “Tom” Garrison.

5) Badin Historic Museum. This building began as Alcoa’s Rent Office in 1915 and was used as a kindergarten in the 1920′s. In 1999, it was moved one block west on Falls Road to become Badin’s first museum.

6) Quadruplex Museum. One of many French-designed “townhouses,” in 2004 this was fully restored, furnished and opened as a historical reference of 1914 Alcoa employee housing.

7) Firehouse Museum. Built in 2004, the Firehouse protects Badin’s 1937 Ford American LeFrance fire truck, hose reels and memorabilia. A special display exhibits over 250 Alcoa photos of river history and town development.

8 )  Methodist Church. Built in 1919, the original building was demolished in 1973 and the present one completed in 1974.

9) Holly Park (open to the public). Rest at a picnic table while noting surrounding architectural styles and French “cottages.”

Maple to Falls Road: Note the quadruplex apartments and two of three roof styles-”high hip” and “cross gable.”

10) Presbyterian Church. Organized in 1917, this building was built by 49 charter members in 1920.

11) Badin Inn. The main structure was built by the French in 1913 to house single male engineers. In 1915, with the construction of the school, the annex was built for single female school teachers. Today, the Inn offers lodging, dining and golf.

Kirk Place, Boyden to Henderson: note the third quadruplex roof style, “gable.”

12) Henderson to Nantahala. The  large 3-story home was built in 1914 for Alcoa’s Works Manager, exclusively. The next three “bungalows,” built in 1920 for managers, included shared driveways and double garages with servants quarters above. Also note the duplex units and “cottages.”

13) Badin School. The schoolhouse was opened in 1916 with seven grammar and four high school grades. Later additions were built in 1918, 1920 and 1924.

Return to business district by crossing grass at end of Henderson or go right to Boyden and left to the Post Office.

14) Plant Site

15) Parking and Boat Ramp

16) Picnic and Swimming Area

West Badin Points of Interest

Business District, 1918. With graveled, lighted, tree-lined streets, West Badin had concrete sidewalks, and high pressure fire hydrants. The painted cottages had electric lights, running water and sewer connections. Among many shops and stores was Alcoa-owned Badin Supply. Badin’s first police station was on Roosevelt Street.

1) Mt Zion Missionary Baptist (Sumpter and Sherman Streets). Now a church, in the 1920′s the building served as a Community Center for meetings and entertainment. Across Sumpter was a skating rink and dance hall.

2) West Badin School (Mayo street). The main building was constructed by Alcoa and dedicated in 1925 with a full twelve grades.

3) McDonald A.M.E. Zion Church (Mayo and Dewey Streets). Built by Alcoa in 1919, this church was organized as McDonald’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church with Rev. McDonald as it’s pastor.

4) First Baptist Church (Wayne and Thomas Streets).

5) St. Luke’s Church of the Living Word (Thomas and Roosevelt Streets).

6) Church of the Living God (Roosevelt and Washington Streets). Alcoa built this church in 1920 for a Baptist congregation organized in 1917.

7) Roosevelt Street. Note the few remaining 3-room and 4-room “cottages” built by Alcoa in 1916-1917. 

 

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