1898
Spanish American War camp (95 AC) off Hillsborough St named after Bryan Grimes.
1899
Brothers J. Bryan Grimes, Junius Daniel Grimes, and William Demise Grimes establish Grimes Real Estate Company. Focused on selling and leasing farms, town lots, timber land and stores in Eastern North Carolina along with representing several insurance companies.
1900
J. Bryan Grimes wins election for North Carolina Secretary of State. Serving from 1901 1923.
1903
Junius Daniel Grimes attends Georgetown Law School and returns to Washington, NC to practice law at Ward & Grimes and later at The Law Offices of Grimes, Grimes & Grimes.
1905
Grimes Realty Company partner, William B. Grimes opens Wake County Savings Bank with T.B. Crowder, W.W. Vass, T. H. Briggs, John A. Kemp, S.C. Hobby, T.P Jerman, W.H. Harrington, A.R.D. Johnson, and George E. Hunter. Bank was located at 235 Fayetteville St and later merged with First Citizens Bank in the 1930’s which at the time was headquartered in Smithfield, NC. Serving as First Citizens Bank Raleigh’s branch office.
1908
William Bryan Grimes, Bessie Grimes Dancy, Frank Battle Dancy, Nellie Grimes Ward, John Ward, Fabius J. Haywood, Jr., and William Grimes Haywood open Grimes Realty Company in Raleigh, NC.
1909
Grimes Realty Company takes over ownership and management of the Yarborough House Hotel located on Fayetteville St in Raleigh, NC.
1910
Grimes Realty Company sells the “Grimes Building” to Boylan Pearce Co., located at 216 Fayetteville St. The building was renovated in 2020/2021.
1911
Grimes Realty Company sells several lots on Fayetteville St. & Morgan St. to the State of North Carolina in the sum of $45,000.00 for the construction of state office buildings.
1914
Grimes Realty Company leases the Yarborough House Hotel to B.H. Griffin of Goldsboro, NC.
1920’s
B. Grimes Cowper develops the iconic Raleigh subdivision Hayes Barton. Read Article
1930 – 1940
Grimes Realty Company helped develop legendry historic Raleigh Subdivisions like Woodrow Park, Hardimont, and numerous others throughout the City.
1935
Grimes Realty Company partner, William B. Grimes opens Insurance agency Grimes & Vass Insurance on Fayetteville St.
1936
After the Yarborough House Hotel fire of 1928 Grimes Realty Company builds a new building and is headquarter in what later became the “Hudson Belk” Building in downtown Raleigh. The building was redeveloped into residential condos in 2005.
1944
Grimes Realty Company partners incorporate Grimes Supply Company based in downtown Raleigh.
1945
Grimes Realty Company leases 317 Fayetteville St. to the iconic Raleigh clothier Nowell Clothing Store.
1956
Grimes Realty Company President, A.L. Purrington, Jr., Esq. executes the last company lease on public record for 315 Fayetteville St.
2005
In the footsteps of his ancestors, John W. Grimes, Jr. moves from Eastern North Carolina and becomes a residential real estate broker. First affiliating with York Simpson Underwood another iconic independently owned brokerage house in Raleigh, NC.
2010
John W. Grimes, Jr. purchased a long established Raleigh insurance agency and represents some of the best A rated insurance carriers. Grimes Insurance Group is licensed in NC, MD, VA, TN, SC, GA and FL.
2013
John W. Grimes, Jr. & Alyson P. Grimes husband and wife business partners re establish Grimes Realty Company and provide the same specialized real estate brokerage services of the Company’s original founders.
