Jesse Franklin

Historical marker location:

Lowgap, North Carolina

( Marker is at the intersection of West Pine Street (State Highway 89) and Hidden Valley Road, on the right when traveling east on West Pine 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.