Wendell, NC Real Estate
Wendell, NC Real Estate
If you’re looking for land and you want an easy commute to Raleigh, Wendell, NC real estate is perfect for you and your family. Wendell’s charming downtown, with its historic homes, shops and restaurants, is a great place to spend an afternoon.
The Wendell Falls subdivision with its stunning pool and clubhouse is one of the area’s most popular communities. Its proximity to downtown Raleigh makes Wendell a great choice for a new home.
Learn More About Wendell, NC Real Estate and History
The Town of Wendell was founded in the 1850’s when tobacco farmers in Granville County were hit with what came to be known as the Granville County Wilt. The tobacco crop failed and farmers from Granville County moved into eastern Wake County looking for fertile land to plant their crops and many landed in the area that is now Wendell.
A man by the name of Ambrose Rhodes donated land for a school to be built in the area. The school was called, The Rhodes School. It was located at the same site as Wendell’s present magnet school on Wendell Boulevard. The school continued to grow, and in 1891, the name of the school was changed to Wendell Academy.
How Was Wendell Named?
As this area grew, a small village was forming. The people in this area needed a name for their little town. They asked their schoolteacher, M.A. Griffin, to come up with a name for this area. Mr. Griffin loved the poet Oliver Wendell Holmes. He suggested that they call their town Wendell after the poet. However, the pronunciation of the town is different from the way one normally pronounces Oliver Wendell Holmes. After the train came to town, the porters on the train would call out “WENDELL.” They pronounced each syllable with emphasis. The townspeople picked up on this pronunciation, and it continues to this day.
This area obtained a post office in 1891 and this first post office has been restored by the Wendell Historical Society, and it presently sits at the corner of Oakwood and 4th Streets. The oldest institution in this part of the county was Hephzibah Baptist Church, founded in 1809. The first newspaper for this area did not appear until 1911. The paper was the Wendell Clarion, and was succeeded by the Gold Leaf Farmer. Wendell was incorporated in 1903.
After the town was incorporated, more people and businesses moved into Wendell. Main Street was laid out by a man who drove a horse with a very wide plow up and down the area. That is why the street is so wide today. In 1911 the county built a new brick school in Wendell. The first graduating class was in 1915.
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Within the Town of Wendell these locations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places…
- Wendell Boulevard Historic District
- The Dr. Thomas H. Avera House
- Harmony Plantation
- Riley Hill School
- Sunnyside
- The Hood-Anderson Farm
- The Wendell Commercial Historic District
