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RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley, 2nd from left, accepts a copy of “Paving Tobacco Road: A Century of Progress by the North Carolina Department of Transportation,” from Walter Turner, the new book’s author. Turner is a historian at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer, a part of the Department of Cultural Resources’ historic sites division. The book traces the development of the agency responsible for the state’s highways and other forms of transportation from its beginnings in 1915 through the first years of the 21st century and describes how North Carolina developed a reputation in the 1920s as the “Good Roads State.” Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett, far left, and Dr. Jeffrey Crow, Deputy Secretary of Cultural Resources, far right, join in Wednesday’s presentation.

N.C. Department Of Transportation Is Subject Of New Book


In the opening years of the 20th century, North Carolinians were literally stuck in the mud; however, the coming of the automobile dramatically altered their lives. Today, North Carolina's highway system is the second-longest state-maintained road system in the nation (after Texas).

“Paving Tobacco Road: A Century of Progress by the North Carolina Department of Transportation,” a new book by Walter R. Turner, traces the development of the agency responsible for the state's highways from its beginnings in 1915 as the North Carolina State Highway Commission through the first years of the 21st century. The 181-page paperback volume is also a story of the Department of Transportation employees who provide services for citizens in all North Carolina counties, day in and day out, year after year.

“Paving Tobacco Road” tells how North Carolina developed a reputation in the 1920s as "The Good Roads State" and constructed over the years one of the nation's largest highway systems. One chapter is devoted to other forms of transportation, such as the state's ferry, bicycle, and rail programs. The author identifies many of the leaders, both political and professional, who helped to create North Carolina's entire transportation network.

Walter R. Turner, who grew up in Winston-Salem, received an A.B. degree in history from Methodist College in Fayetteville and a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently historian at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer. Turner has written transportation-related articles for “Our State,” “Business North Carolina” and a number of North Carolina newspapers.

Published jointly by the N.C. Office of Archives and History and the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation, “Paving Tobacco Road” is indexed and includes appendixes that list highway fund revenues through 2002. A selected bibliography provides sources for further reading on transportation history. More than 90 black-and-white pictures, including early 20th century photographs never before published, illustrate the text.

“Paving Tobacco Road: A Century of Progress by the North Carolina Department of Transportation” (paperback, 181 pages, illustrated, index) sells for $25 plus $4 shipping. North Carolina residents should include 7 percent sales tax. Order from: Historical Publications Section (N), Office of Archives and History, 4622 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4622. For credit card orders call 919-733-7442 or order online from the Historical Publications Shop at http://store.yahoo.com/nc-historical-publications/. The Historical Publications Section's catalog of 160 N.C. titles and order form are online at www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hp.

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