Cary’s story just got a new chapter.
Dr. Katherine Loflin is best known around town as “The City Doctor,” the force behind a year-round slate of Cary history tours, theatrical productions, and classes that turn sidewalks, rail lines, and historic sites into living classrooms. After years of guiding residents and visitors through those stories, she decided to put them between covers.
“Cary’s history is far richer and more significant than many realize, and it certainly didn’t begin with the arrival of IBM,” she told us. “Our story deserves to be told, and since no one had written a history of Cary in decades, I felt it was time.”
Hidden History of Cary is designed to be highly readable and to stick with you. “I take pride in hearing that longtime Cary residents are learning new things, while newcomers are using it as a way to fall in love with the town,” Loflin said. “Local history endures when it is shared in ways that become core memories, the kind you mention in the grocery store line or to the person on the plane who asks, ‘Where do you live?’”
The opening pages set the tone: “Everywhere I look, I see the layered history—sometimes hidden in plain sight, sometimes tucked away, sometimes lost to time—but always deserving to be told. As you turn these pages, I can not wait for you to also learn the rich, often overlooked history that is steeped in Cary.” Expect “many firsts,” complicated figures whose legacies still linger, and even “a hidden treasure or maybe two.”
Research blended archives with living memory. Loflin credits “history research mentor” Carla Jordan Michaels, a descendant of one of Cary’s founding families, and conversations with local icons like Ralph Ashworth. She dove into the Page-Walker History Center, the Olivia Raney Library, DigitalNC, and Newspapers.com.
“I stand on the shoulders of Tom Byrd and the late Jerry Miller, who first brilliantly illuminated Cary’s history in Around and About Cary,” she said.
There are fresh finds tucked into the book.
“At my editor’s suggestion, I held back some new discoveries exclusively for the book rather than including them in my Cary history productions,” Loflin said. “History is never static. It continually reveals itself if we keep searching and asking. I fully expect my book to be updated with new discoveries.”
She added that, at the request of living family members, a few stories remain off the record for now.
Getting images cleared was its own chapter. “My publisher requires authors to have image lists approved right after the contract is signed,” she said. “Finding historic photos that meet resolution and permissions standards can be challenging.” One example was a hand-drawn version of the original land grant map. “The researcher had passed away, so attribution alone was not enough. I tracked down the estate administrator and secured the family’s approval.”
If the book lays the groundwork, the tours put you on the map. “Hidden History of Cary contains far more than any single tour or production could cover, but sometimes tours offer stories you will not find in the book,” Loflin said. She still offers a general “Cary 101,” but many experiences are themed by era or subject. “One of my October offerings, When the Whistle Blows, reenacts powerful moments along Cary’s historic railroad,” she said. “I also update my tours constantly, which is how I have created nearly 25 original productions focused solely on Cary history, plus my 10-week Cary history class.”
What to expect if you go: “Most of my tours and productions run about two hours,” Loflin said. “Our historical fiction gaming and murder mysteries last closer to three hours, as the audience becomes part of the action.” She posts route, accessibility, and age guidance on each ticket page and often answers family questions directly. Attendance skews local but reaches far. “Roughly 60% of attendees are local to Cary, 20% are from elsewhere in Wake County, 15% come from other parts of North Carolina, and about 5% travel from out of state.”
She also keeps an eye on places that make history feel tangible. Her favorite lesser-known landmark to show visitors is the Barnabas Jones farm complex near Jack Smith Park, where original buildings remain, including quarters identified for enslaved people. And her favorite party-fact: “Cary was originally founded by Allison Francis Page as a dry town. He intended it to remain dry for 1,000 years and even named it after temperance leader Samuel Fenton Cary,” she said. “We stayed dry until 1964 when beer and wine licenses were allowed in Cary, and today downtown is a craft drink destination with a Social District. I even offer a T-shirt featuring Page’s image with the caption, ‘You’re drinking what in Cary?!’ The irony always gets a laugh.”
Buying the book is easy. It is widely available in stores and online (Amazon, , Barnes & Noble, Target to name a few) and you can purchase directly from the publisher using promo code CARY for a discount. The quickest way to get a personalized copy is to buy directly from Loflin through her City Doctor Productions group, where she posts signing events.
Beyond the book and tours, Loflin points to a clear economic ripple. “To date, my productions and events have funneled an estimated $52,000-plus directly into downtown Cary businesses,” she said. “I often design ticket prices to include local products, which generates immediate revenue and brings new patrons through the door. By supporting my events, you are directly supporting these businesses, the true definition of shop local.”
About the author: Dr. Katherine Loflin is an internationally recognized place-science pioneer, producer, and founder of The City Doctor Productions. She serves as Cary’s History Ambassador and vice chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, and co-founded the Cary Visitor Center. She is the author of Place Match and Hidden History of Cary, and is a proud North Carolina native and Cary resident with master’s and doctoral degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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