Briggs Hardware Building - The Legend

The Legend

Soon after the building was completed, a legend circulated about how Thomas Briggs was able to afford to build such a large and elaborate building following the Civil War. The legend claimed that sometime prior to the Union occupation of Raleigh in 1865, Briggs converted all of his Confederate money into gold and silver coins. He then took the coins, stuffed them into pipes, found a distinctive grove of trees, and buried the money to prevent Union soldiers from stealing the money. When the soldiers arrived in Raleigh they set up camp near the grove of trees and cut them down. After the troops left, Briggs allegedly spent the next few years searching for his money. When he finally found the coins, he used the money to build his new hardware store.

Read more about this topic:  Briggs Hardware Building

Famous quotes containing the word legend:

    Newspaperman: That was a magnificent work. There were these mass columns of Apaches in their war paint and feather bonnets. And here was Thursday leading his men in that heroic charge.
    Capt. York: Correct in every detail.
    Newspaperman: He’s become almost a legend already. He’s the hero of every schoolboy in America.
    Frank S. Nugent (1908–1965)

    The legend of Felix is ended, the toiling of Felix is done;
    The Master has paid him his wages, the goal of his journey is won;
    He rests, but he never is idle; a thousand years pass like a day,
    In the glad surprise of Paradise where work is sweeter than play.
    Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933)