Town Of Clayton Explores Future Of Robertson Mule Building

Community Can Provide Feedback on Potential Uses

CLAYTON, N.C. – The Town of Clayton is asking the community to share feedback on the future of the B.M. Robertson Mule Company Building following a public event that explored its history and possible new uses. Residents can now watch From Mules to Memories, review the adaptive reuse presentation, and take an online survey to weigh in on what could come next.

Around 175 people gathered at The Clayton Center on September 14, for an evening focused on the historic downtown landmark. The Robertson family and members of the public joined Town Council and Town staff to look back at its past and learn about possibilities for the years ahead.

The evening began with the premiere of From Mules to Memories. The documentary shares stories from the Robertson family and others with ties to the site. Photographs and footage from inside help bring those memories to life.

“The Robertson family has cared for this place for generations while also holding onto the memories that give it meaning,” said Communication Director Nathanael Shelton. “Hearing those stories in their own words helps us understand what this place meant to the people who knew it and why it remains an important part of Clayton’s story.”

That past stretches back more than a century. The B.M. Robertson Mule Company dates to the late 1800s, and the brick building on Lombard Street was built in 1914. The stable could once hold as many as 50 mules, serving local farmers at a time when the animals were an important part of making a living.

Signs of that era remain inside today. Mule pens and water troughs are still there along with wagons, wheels, and pieces of old farm equipment that were once part of everyday life.

Deputy Town Manager Lee Barbee has his own connection to the site. He remembers walking across the railroad tracks to the mule stable as a child and watching as tractors gradually replaced mules on local farms. But when Barbee looks back, it is the people he remembers most.

His father knew Sam Robertson, and both men had served in World War II. Robertson later became a mentor to Barbee and someone he considered family.

“So many of my memories of Clayton are tied to this place and the people who were part of it,” said Barbee. “That is what makes preserving these stories so meaningful to me. They help us remember the people who made Clayton feel like home.”

Following the documentary, the evening turned toward what could come next. Attendees heard findings from an adaptive reuse study that looked at the condition of the building and ways the historic space could be used again. The presentation also introduced several possible uses for the property and what would be involved in bringing those ideas to life.

The concepts are intended to help start the conversation. No final use has been selected, and community feedback will be part of the information Town Council and staff review as they consider the next steps.

Those who missed the September 14 event can still take part. Watch From Mules to Memories and view the adaptive reuse presentation at www.ClaytonNC.gov/MuleBuilding. The community survey is also available for anyone who would like to share feedback on the building’s future.