History Bladenboro, North Carolina

development around bladenboro, farming community known in earliest days turpentine , lumber, began take off after railroad built through area in 1859. in 1885, brothers r.l. , h.c. bridger came bladenboro little river, south carolina, operate turpentine business. became involved in timber business , operated cotton gin. brothers , descendants have major effect on shaping of town , economy of next century. major businesses, owned , operated members of bridger family , employed many area residents, have included bridger corporation (a farming supply company , general store no longer in operation), bladenboro cotton mills (established in 1912 , later sold become highland mills), , bank of bladenboro (established in 1908 , part of first citizens bank).

the town of bladenboro incorporated in 1903.

beast of bladenboro

in 1954, bladenboro received national attention several mysterious animal killings, of dogs , livestock, in area. animals had broken jaws , had been drained of blood in fashion not unlike supposed attacks of chupacabra. however, sightings describe attacker resembling cat or wolf, led local legend known beast of bladenboro. in 2008, history channel television series monster quest performed analysis concerning these attacks, beginning happen again, , concluded attacker might have been cougar.