South Carolina through Lexington
It proceeded up today's US 52 to Morven, then used "Old US 52" northward, picked up 52 again but veered northwest on SR 1131 Morven Rd to Wadesboro where it cut west on Morgan St to NC 109. US 52 used US 74 west from NC 109 then current 52 north to Cedar Hill. US 52 used Pinkston-River Rd from Cedar Hill to Rocky River.
In Stanly County, US 52 may have briefly used Riverside Rd and Pee Dee St to Norwood. US 52 then used its current route to Albemarle, then used today's US 52 Bus. North of Albemarle 52 used its current routing, then Main St and SR 1632 through New London.
US 52 followed its current path to Misenheimer, then may have briefly used Glenmore Rd/Old Route 80 to Gold Hill. US 52 then followed its current routing to I-85, then Innis St into Salisbury.
US 52 used today's US 29-70 through Spencer and across the Yadkin River, then Salisbury Rd to Main St into Lexington. US 52 followed Main St into town, then 3rd St north out of town.
In 1935 or 1936, US 52 was placed on its current routing from Rocky River to Norwood and also from Misenheimer to Gold Hill. Also, by 1936, US 52 was using Morgan-Washington-Martin Sts through Wadesboro.
About 1941, US 52 was removed from Salisbury Rd and placed on modern US 29-52-70 to the south side of Lexington.
About 1952, US 52 was placed on the Lexington Bypass around to NC 8. The old route through Lexington became US 29A-70A and part of NC 8.

US 52 through Lexington 1947 Gen Draft

US 52 bypasses Lexington 1952 Shell

In 1956 or 1957, US 52 was given its current Wadesboro routing to the east to use US 74 through town. Also in this timeframe US 52 was removed from Pinkston-River Rd above Cedar Hill and removed from Old Route 80 north of Morven.

US 52 through central Wadesboro 1953 Anson County

US 52 avoids central Wadesboro 1957 Anson County

In April 1970 (NCDOT), US 52 was placed on I-85 from Salisbury to the Yadkin River leaving behind unnumbered Innis St and US 29-70.

US 52 through Salisbury 1969 Official

US 52 onto I-85 1973 Official

In June 1981 (NCDOT), US 52 was given its bypass of New London leaving behind SR 1817 Main St, a bit of NC 8 and SR 1632.

US 52 through New London 1979-80 Official

US 52 bypasses New London 1982-83 Official

In September 1985 (NCDOT), US 52 was given its current Albemarle Bypass utilizing some of NC 24-27. The old route through town was made SR 1645 for a time but is now US 52 Business.
In May 1996 (NCDOT), US 52 was removed from SR 1200 Salisbury St between US 74 and NC 742 in Wadesboro. Instead US 52 followed US 74 further west then used new construction to NC 742.
In Oct 2010 (NCDOT), US 52 was rebuilt south of Albemarle swinging west, then replaced the northernmost mile of NC 138. The old 52 south of NC 24-27 became SR 1837.

US 52 through Albemarle 1973 Official

US 52 bypasses Albemarle 2000 Official

Lexington to Virginia
US 52 initially used NC 8 out to Bethesda, then Old US 52 through Welcome and Midway. US 52 followed S. Main St into Winston-Salem. It used Liberty St then Patterson Ave, Indiana Ave and Cherry St to head northwest out of town to Stanlyville. US 52 then picked up University Pkwy to today's NC 66 to Rural Hall.
US 52 initially followed "Old US 52" to King, then used E. Dalton Rd and W. Dalton Rd out to Dalton. US 52 then likely used Dalton Loop Rd and old US 52 to Pinnacle. 52 then followed VFW Rd, Old 52 Rd and Old Winston Rds from Pinnacle to Pilot Mtn. US 52 used Main St through Pilot Mtn.
US 52 Old US 52, then US 52 Business and Main St through Mt Airy. NOrth of town US 52 used Old Fancy Gap Rd to the Virginia line.
In 1937 or 1938, US 52 was placed on today's Old US 52 from King to Pilot Mountain.
Between 1945-49, US 52 was placed on one-way splits in downtown Winston-Salem. NB used the original routing. SB used Liberty St around to W 1st St back over to Main. Also, US 52 was removed from Indiana and Cherry St and placed on Patterson Av out to Stanlyville.

US 52 original Forsyth County route 1944 Forsyth County

US 52 changes in Forsyth County 1949 Forsyth County

About 1949, US 52 was given a bypass of Pilot Mtn, leaving behind US 52_A (now just Main St).

US 52 through Pilot Mountain 1944 Surry County

US 52 bypasses Pilot Mountain 1949 Surry County

In 1953, US 52 was given its bypass of Mt Airy, leaving behind US 52-A.
Between 1954-57, US 52 was removed from Old Fancy Gap Rd north of Mt. Airy.

US 52 through Mt. Airy 1944 Surry County

US 52 bypasses Mt. Airy 1953 Surry County

In 1960, US 52 was moved from Main St to Old Salem Rd in the Salem College area.
In 1962, US 52 NB in Winston-Salem was changed from Main-Liberty to Main St-5th St-Liberty.
About 1964, US 52 was placed on new freeway from Winston-Salem to west of Pilot Mountain, leaving behind Patterson Ave, the substantial Old US 52, and a bit of NC 66. In Winston-Salem, the freeway extended south to below today's I-40 Bus. NB US 52 was changed to run on Main St, then east on today's 40 Bus, then north on the new freeway. SB left the N-S Expwy at Liberty St and continued south as before.
In December 1973 (NCDOT), the N-S Expwy was finished south to the Davidson County line and US 52 was put on it.

Through town 1958 Official

Bypasses Salem College 1960 Official

US 52 NB on 5th St 1963 Official

US 52 NB on Expwy 1965 Official

All freeway 1972 Official

US 52/NC 8 was moved onto more new freeway between Winston-Salem and Lexington in two steps, bypassing Midway in January 1982 (NCDOT), then bypassing Welcome between 1991-93.
In August 1992 (NCDOT), US 52 was placed on its current freeway to the Lexington Bypass further west of town, leaving behind US 29-70 and more NC 8.

No freeway south of W-S 1979 Official

Bypassing Midway 1982 Official

No longer Welcome 1993 Official

US 52 on more freeway 2000 Official