The Farmers Border Belt Museum 

Welcome to the Museum 

The Museum presents a vivid display of the many faces of agricultural life which Fairmont has been exposed to since its beginnings in the early 20th century.  Exhibits relating to lumber, cotton and textiles, general farm life, and of course, tobacco are effectively displayed throughout a historic train depot    building which was remodeled in 1989.

Beaufort Town

At the turn of the century, the Beaufort County Lumber Company moved into northwest Fairmont where they built “mill houses’ for their workers and opened a large mill employing several hundred.  A 35 mile train track was built to accommodate the company and more people moved to town as a result.  The company was successful until the teens.

Out in the Fields We Go

With climate, soil fertility, and a long growing season favoring agriculture, both cotton and tobacco farming became very successful.  The first cotton gin was placed in town in 1898. the first tobacco warehouse in 1899.  Due to the success of these crops, population and business grew.  Over the next 70 years, Fairmont grew to be “the biggest little tobacco market in the world.” 

Mr. & Mrs. Tobacco Grower

The need to promote the tobacco market fell to sales supervisor Charlie Stafford who came from Tennessee in 1937 and became Fairmont's top tobacco promoter.