A Little Stretch Of Highway With A BIG History!

You know, I pride myself on knowing the "odd" things in life, the little tid-bits that you can throw out at a party - I call them my little "Pearls of Wisdom". For the longest time I use to throw out this one...

Why is it that when you buy a bag of nuts in the store there are never any cashews yet when you buy mixed nuts in a can they are in there?  I know, doesn't bother many of you but it did me!  Well, had to research and come to find out - cashew shells are highly caustic - the oil can and does burn your skin.  There ya go..... 

Now, on to the post.....

In doing all of this research for the College teams around here I learned a great deal.  Have you heard the song Tobacco Road?  It was originally recorded by John Loudermilk.  Since the original version there have been re-recordings by numerous artists such as Lou Rawls, Jefferson Airplane, Edgar Winter, Bobby Gentry and MANY others.  In 2006 it was featured in the finale of the hit american-idol-poster.jpegtelevision show American Idol, and was performed on the show by contestant Phil Stacey in 2007 (remember, the bald one with the BIG eyes and sultry voice) and Syesha Mercado in 2008.  The songs original intention was autobiographical in that it told the story of growing up in the rough East Durham area of Durham.  (Folks, before ANYONE decides to come down on me for that comment - I make peace!  This was back in the 60s and I am certainly not making a statement about Durham!)

WELL - Tobacco Road also refers to Interstate 40 which traverses the country from  east to west.  From Wikipedia here is a little tid-bit that YOU can throw out at the next party.....

Tobacco Road refers to the tobacco-producing area of North Carolina and is often used when referring to sports (particularly basketball) played among rival North Carolina universities. The phrase actually originated as the title of a novel set in Georgia, but it naturally migrated to North Carolina because of the state's primacy in tobacco production.

The usual universities referred to by the moniker "Tobacco Road" are the following:

  • Duke University (Blue Devils)
  • North Carolina State University (Wolfpack)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Tar Heels)
  • Wake Forest University (Demon Deacons)

 All of these schools are separated by no more than 25 miles from any of the others with the exception of Wake Forest, which lies an hour and a half drive away via Interstate 40. In fact, all four are no more than six miles from Interstate 40, so the road is sometimes informally known as the "Tobacco Road". The proximity of these schools to one another and the membership of each school in the Atlantic Coast Conference have created a natural rivalry among students and alumni.

Wake Forest University used to be in Wake Forest, North Carolina, just a few miles north of Raleigh, until it moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, about 100 miles west of the Triangle. Since Wake Forest University is in North Carolina, and in the same city as the headquarters of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, a member of the ACC and still near the other three schools, Wake remains in the "Tobacco Road" group. These four universities are also known in the state as the "Big Four".

Pretty cool, huh?  And you thought this blog was only about real estate........

 
 
 
 

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Comments

Leesa, Great factoids, I can trace some of my ancestors to the Tobacco fields down your way and other became Mormons in Utah...every one has to fill an addiction I guess. I didn't know that about the big four.

Posted by Steve Loynd, Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., Loon Mt, NH. over 1 year ago

Part of the original "Route 66" goes through our area. It has a lot of history too.

Posted by Springfield MO Real Estate, Team Knowles Betty & John Knowles, REALTORS® (Keller Williams - www.teamknowles.com) over 1 year ago

Yay!!!  I taught you something, Steve!!!  It is a neat history though isn't it?  Kinda cool about your ancestors - I've never traced mine.

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Wow - so much I didn't know!  Thanks for all kinds of interesting info!

Posted by Nancy Conner - Olympia/Thurston County WA (Managing Broker - City Realty Inc) over 1 year ago

Great little piece of local history Leesa.

And to think that I thought this was just a Real Estate post!

Well done my friend.

Posted by Craig Rutman Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area Realtor (Helping people in transition) over 1 year ago

Very intreresting -- love hearing the local history.  Very nice, thanks.

Posted by Tish Lloyd Real Estate Agent Wrightsville Beach, NC (Wilmington Real Estate 4U 910.547.1446) over 1 year ago

It is great that you were able to find some great history in your area and tie it to the schools that are in the area.  It is very interesting.  Thank you for sharing!  And I agree about the cashews thing, totally!

Posted by Karen Feltman, Relocation Specialist (Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA Skogman Realty) over 1 year ago

Well now....aren't you just a fountain of information!!!

And what's this I see another blog link in your post.....Listen Ms. Fancy Pants...I'm warning you! ROFL!

I've got a mountain to blog about.....I just have issues with the time!

Posted by MyMidtownMojo.com Thomas Ramon Realty over 1 year ago

Hey there, Betty and John!  I'd love to do the Route 66 tour one day - you know, a bucket list kinda thing!

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Thanks, Nancy, it was a FUN post to do!

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Thanks Craig!  Whoda thunk I could fit cashews in a post about I-40??

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Thanks so much, Tish!  Like I mentioned above - it was a reall fun post to do!

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Leesa - Very cool, I love finding out the meaning behind things.  My husband also throws out "pearls of wisdom" all the time and now my sons are doing it too.  In fact my husband tells us an usually fact and two days later my youngest will say "did you know...." and then repeat word for word what my husband said two days prior.

Posted by Michelle Gibson REALTOR® Wellington Florida Homes for Sale (Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. ) over 1 year ago

HA!  The cashew thing really bugged me for a LONG time, Karen!!!

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Stop wasting time sleeping, Thom!  That should help out quite a bit!!!!!!!  =-)~

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

Now, THAT is cute, Michelle!!!!!

Posted by Leesa L. Finley -Wake Forest NC REALTOR® Wake Forest NC & Raleigh NC Real Estate (Circa Properties - Your Wake Forest NC Homes Specialist) over 1 year ago

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