Holly Springs' Black History Lives On Through Grigsby House and Pack House

Two iconic structures in the town's African American community hold over a century of history.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Grigsby House and The Pack House, both owned by the prominent Grigsby family, have been central to Holly Springs' Black community for decades. The Grigsby House, built around 1900, was home to college graduates, educators, and businesspeople who dedicated themselves to uplifting the community. The Pack House, built in the 1950s, served as a gathering place with a store, apartments, dance floor, and pool hall. Though both buildings now sit empty and in disrepair, locals are working to preserve this important piece of Holly Springs' history.

Why it matters

The Grigsby House and The Pack House represent the vibrant history and resilience of Holly Springs' African American community. As development and gentrification threaten to erase these historic structures, preserving them is crucial to honoring the community's past and ensuring its stories are not forgotten.

The details

The Grigsby House was originally built around 1900 and owned by George Grigsby Sr. and his wife, Gladys Stinson-Grigsby, who were both college graduates, educators, and businesspeople. Their son, Dr. George Grigsby Jr., was one of the first Black graduates of UNC Medical School. The house was previously owned by Gladys' mother, Alberta McLean Stinson. The Pack House, built in the 1950s by George Grigsby Sr., housed a store, apartments, a dance floor, and a pool hall, serving as the nucleus of Holly Springs' Black community for decades.

  • The Grigsby House was built around 1900.
  • The Pack House was built in the 1950s.
  • Gladys Stinson-Grigsby lived in the Grigsby House until her passing in 1988.

The players

George Grigsby Sr.

Co-owner of the Grigsby House and builder of the Pack House, he was a college graduate, educator, and businessman dedicated to uplifting the Holly Springs Black community.

Gladys Stinson-Grigsby

Co-owner of the Grigsby House, she was a college graduate, educator, and businesswoman who was central to the Holly Springs Black community.

Dr. George Grigsby Jr.

The son of George Grigsby Sr. and Gladys Stinson-Grigsby, he was one of the first Black graduates of UNC Medical School.

Alberta McLean Stinson

The mother of Gladys Stinson-Grigsby, she previously owned the Grigsby House.

Furman Beckwith

A longtime Holly Springs resident who fondly remembers the Grigsby House and working at the Pack House as a teenager.

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What they’re saying

“The house was something that most of us could only dream about.”

— Furman Beckwith (WRAL)

“The Grigsby family was sort of like the premier family of Holly Springs as far as Black families were concerned.”

— Furman Beckwith (WRAL)

“It's an honor and a pleasure to know that I knew them, and we grew up around them.”

— George Kimble, Holly Springs native and local historian (WRAL)

“I did a lot of work on the house for Mrs. Gladys. Whoever ends up with this house, I hope they keep it. I hope they don't tear it down and put something fancy in here. It is a good remembrance of what Black people had in Holly Springs.”

— George Kimble, Holly Springs native and local historian (WRAL)

“That was our gathering place. You want to have a good time? You go to The Pack House.”

— George Kimble, Holly Springs native and local historian (WRAL)

What’s next

The Grigsby House is currently listed for sale, and there is hope that a buyer will preserve the historic structure rather than demolish it. The future of The Pack House remains uncertain, but community members are working to find ways to honor its legacy.

The takeaway

The Grigsby House and The Pack House stand as powerful symbols of the resilience and community-building efforts of Holly Springs' African American residents over the past century. As development threatens these historic structures, preserving them is crucial to ensuring the town's Black history is not erased.