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Iredell County, North Carolina
A Brief History, 1750-2011
William Allison (1741-1827) settled on the property known today as Allison Woods in the 1740's. The Allison's were of Scotch-Irish origin, coming from Pennsylvania along "The Great Wagon Road."
Apart from farming, the Allisons became involved in the tannery business (remains of Indian tanning activities still remain on the property in the form of a soapstone slab used at the Springhouse as a picnic table). Before the revolution, the Allisons were suppliers of saddles to the British Army.
Throughout their history, the Allisons were active and successful members of the community and in the mid-19th century moved to Statesville, leaving the farm business to a manager.
The buildings remaining today were created when Major William Locke Allison, father of present owner Thomas A. Allison, returned to the family land after a successful career as a railroad engineer and inventor in Pennsylvania.
No doubt he was inspired by the country estates and the kind of genteel country living he had observed and admired in the North.
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