NC 58 Nashville to Bailey

NC 581 Bailey to Rocky Mount

NC 581 Bailey to Spring Hope

The 1934 Esso; 1934 and 1935 Gousha show NC 581 extended west along US 64 and then new routing through Bunn to end at NC 91 Wake Forest (NC 91 used SR 2053 Jones Dairy Rd back then).
The 1935 Esso and Officials afterward show this NC 581 extension numbered as NC 98, with NC 581 again ending at US 64 Spring Hope

NC 581 extended to Wake Forest?

NC 98 replacing NC 581

In 1937, NC 581 was extended south as new routing to US 301 near Lucama.
In 1940 or 1941, NC 581 was extended north to NC 56 Mapleville and possibly to Louisburg (maps never do make clear when this occurred).
In 1947 or 1948, NC 581 was extended south to at least US 70 near Rosewood. The 1948 Amoco shows NC 111 still west from Goldsboro to the State Hospital.
In 1949 or 1950, NC 581 was definitely south of US 70 to what is now Cherry Hospital, then east replacing NC 111 to end at US 70 Bus-117 Bus in Goldsboro.
In 2000, NC 581 was placed on the US 13-117 bypass south a couple miles, then east as upgraded routing to end at NC 111. The portion of NC 581 along W. Ash St became SR 2075.

NC 581 extended to Goldsboro

NC 581 extended to NC 111