William P. Roberts

Historical marker location:

Gatesville, North Carolina

( Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 37) and Court Street (State Highway 137), on the right when traveling north on Main Street.)

Marker installed: 1973

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, North Carolina became a leading producer of furniture, textiles, and tobacco products. The state's nickname, the "Tar Heel State," comes from the fact that the state was a major producer of tar, pitch, and turpentine from its vast pine forests.