Mayo Grocery & Joyners (Triangle) Service Station - Garysburg
In Garysburg, three highways meet - at different points - with US 301. Highways 46, 158, and 186 all intersect with 301 at different points. Though these are no longer major roads - there was a long-lost corner store, service station, or old motel at each intersection. Nearly all were abandoned. Regrettably, I didn't get photos of every former travel stop. However, two locations caught my eye.
At NC 186 - Mayo's Grocery once stood. Sitting between the fork where US 301 continues north towards Virginia and 186 heads northeast towards Gumberry and Seaboard, Mayo's most likely also had gas pumps. Although long closed when I came across it in May 2011 - there was still a faded old Dr. Pepper sign along with the store's title.
The store is still standing - but the Dr. Pepper and Mayo's Grocery signs are long gone.
Across US 301 from Mayo's on Elm Street was another lost store - Bennett's Grocery No. 2. It still stands but remains boarded up and closed.
A mile or so south - at the fork where US 158 West meets US 301 - there was another old service station - what I believe was at one point called Joyner's.
Sitting in the median of a 'Y' intersection, this long-gone establishment appeared to be a two-story home that may have been a business and residence. The gas pump island had a uniquely tiled roof.
Joyner's didn't last much longer beyond the photos I took in May 2011. By that December, the building was torn down. The lot remains vacant to this day. There may be some historical value to this plot of land. An NCDOT aerial map - showing the plans for a US 158 widening and Garysburg Bypass project - shows the land as a "Historic Property" as the "Triangle Service Station." Whether or not that was a former name - I am not sure.
Mayo's Grocery:
At NC 186 - Mayo's Grocery once stood. Sitting between the fork where US 301 continues north towards Virginia and 186 heads northeast towards Gumberry and Seaboard, Mayo's most likely also had gas pumps. Although long closed when I came across it in May 2011 - there was still a faded old Dr. Pepper sign along with the store's title.
The store is still standing - but the Dr. Pepper and Mayo's Grocery signs are long gone.
Across US 301 from Mayo's on Elm Street was another lost store - Bennett's Grocery No. 2. It still stands but remains boarded up and closed.
Joyner's (Triangle?) Service Station:
A mile or so south - at the fork where US 158 West meets US 301 - there was another old service station - what I believe was at one point called Joyner's.
Sitting in the median of a 'Y' intersection, this long-gone establishment appeared to be a two-story home that may have been a business and residence. The gas pump island had a uniquely tiled roof.
Joyner's didn't last much longer beyond the photos I took in May 2011. By that December, the building was torn down. The lot remains vacant to this day. There may be some historical value to this plot of land. An NCDOT aerial map - showing the plans for a US 158 widening and Garysburg Bypass project - shows the land as a "Historic Property" as the "Triangle Service Station." Whether or not that was a former name - I am not sure.
As always, if you have any information - feel free to comment below or send me an email.
Garysburg is a Northampton County town of under 1,000 residents. Named after Roderick B. Gary - it was first known as 'Peeples Town' or "Peeples Tavern' but soon changed to 'Garysburgh' when a Post Office was established here in 1838. When the town was incorporated around 1892, the 'h' was dropped and Garysburg became the name.
All photos taken by post author - May 2011.
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