Dawn and Pat Short stand on their property. Behind them is the beginning of Polecat Creek, which has a history as winding as its shallow waters.
A
creek with a foul sounding name flows slowly, carrying memories and reminders of famous people, places and events. “That little trickle,” Pat Short says, “is the beginning of Polecat Creek.” He’s standing on his property and looking down at a spring. Water seeping from it forms a shallow creek that gains strength as it combines with three spring-fed creeks a short distance away. The creek meanders south for about eight miles where it empties into the Deep River in Randolph County. Short’s spring is on his and wife Dawn’s 19-acre farm on old Randleman Road just outside Greensboro’s southern boundary. “There is a lot of history along that creek,” he says. Indeed, two of America’s most historical figures are children of Polecat Creek. William Sydney Porter, better known as the short story writer O.Henry, wrote hundreds of stories, including “Gift of the Magi,” a Christmas classic. Edward R. Murrow was a World War II radio announcer and pioneer TV commentator. He and Porter were born in houses — one standing, one collapsed — beside Polecat Creek. Famous armies encamped along the creek. A gristmill gave its name to a well-traveled road in the area. Miners pick-axed gold and copper along the stream. A young woman died in an accident at a ford that would later bear her name. A state highway historical marker at the state route 62 and Randleman Road informs passersby that Murrow was born a mile east, where route 62
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
and Davis Mill Road intersect next to Centre Friends Meeting. Efforts were made long ago to place a similar marker honoring O.Henry. On a knoll there stands the ancient house on Randleman Road where he is said to have been born on Sept. 11, 1862. That means the 150th anniversary of his birth is being celebrated this year. The birth date isn’t disputed, but the birthplace is. Some historians contend the writer was born in the 400 block of West Market Street in Greensboro. Others argue for Polecat Creek, where they say Porter lived until age 3 and then moved with family to the Porter family homestead on West Market. Porter remained there until about 20 when he left for Texas. The smart money about who’s right is on the late, meticulous local historian, Ethel Arnett. In 1962 she wrote a book, O. Henry From Polecat Creek. The title says it all. Arnett says that Will Porter’s father, physician Algernon Porter, moved from West Market Street around 1858 to what was then a log house above Polecat Creek. According to Arnett, Dr. Porter relocated because he hoped there would be less competition in the Centre Friends community, which had only one other doctor. The move also might have been influenced by the doctor’s inheritance of six slaves. There wouldn’t have been room for slaves on the West Market property. One slave didn’t like the move and sought revenge. The family who replaced the Porters in 1865 still own the dwelling. One member, Sylvia Brown, lives there. The family has always referred to the dwelling as “the O.Henry House.” June/July 2012
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