Raeford-Hoke Museum

THE PARKER-RAY HOUSE 

In 1899 Louis and Willa Ray, daughter of Dr. W.G. Ray, one of the first doctors in this area built their home in Cumberland County (an area that become Hoke County in 1911) and remained there the rest of their lives. Times changed, the families moved on and the house became vacant. Fortunately, the house was donated to the museum. It has been renovated to the style of the early 1900’s and was complete in Spring 2015.

In 1899, the Hoke County entity did not exist, but the land and people of that area of Cumberland County did and Louis Parker found both attractive. He and five of his brothers and sisters moved to the area. He bought 200 acres on the road to Fayetteville, about four miles northeast of the small town of Raeford. That section of Cumberland became part of Hoke County when Hoke was recognized as a county in 1911.

Willa’s ancestors had been in the area since the 1740’s. having been forced out of Scotland by the English King. She and Louis married, cleared the land and used the timber to build a home in which they lived the reminder of their lives. Their children and grandson (Richard Neeley) were born in the upper right bedroom. Over the years their land developed into a thriving farm.

 Time, as well as the ax, is relentless and the Parker family moved on, leaving the home vacant. Fortunately, Richard Neely and his niece Suzanne Neely Bridges, descendants of Louis and Willa, donated the house to the museum, including providing funds to move and restore it.

The house has been and continues to be a tremendous asset to the Raeford-Hoke Museum

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DONATIONS 
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