Red Cross Hosts Disaster Team ‘Boot Camp’ Mar. 28 In Granville County

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The American Red Cross is having a Disaster Action Team Boot Camp in Oxford on Saturday, Mar. 28. Participants in this volunteer opportunity will learn all about how to help in following disasters like fires, tornadoes and more.

The Boot Camp will be held at the Granville United Way from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The United Way is located on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, 600 College St.

According to ARC Senior Volunteer Specialist Jennifer Prosser, disaster teams respond to emergencies to support neighbors facing disaster and can provide immediate care to help individuals and families who are victims of disaster.

“Our Disaster Action Team volunteers are often the second on the scene after local first responders, providing immediate assistance to neighbors affected by home fires, tornadoes, and other disasters,” Prosser said in a statement. “Support may include emergency food, clothing, shelter, and compassionate care during someone’s most difficult moments.”

Register by calling 984.960.7562 or visit www.redcross.org/volunteer. Or scan the QR code below.

Lunch will be provided.

(This information was originally posted March 11, 2026.)

TownTalk: Rotary Club Of Oxford Erases $2 Million In Medical Debt

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More than 35 percent of U.S. households have medical debt, according to an article published in August 2025. Citing 2024 data, the authors wrote that 21 percent had a past-due medical bill and another 23 percent were paying a medical bill over time to a provider – most often to a physician or a dentist.

Many providers like hospitals and private practices use third-party agencies to get payments from patients. These third-party agencies “buy” the debt at pennies on the dollar and then contact the patients to get the payment due.

Undue Medical Debt is one of those third-party agencies, but its mission is to erase medical debt by partnering with civic groups, churches and other organizations to pay off medical debt for qualified recipients.

The Rotary Club of Oxford partnered with Undue Medical Debt and erased a whopping $2 million in medical debt for individuals in North Carolina – 597 of whom reside in Granville County.

“Medical debt is a huge problem,” said Oxford Rotarian and dentist Bart Cleary. “It means a lot to us and it means a lot for the individuals” that the local Rotary group could have such a meaningful impact in the local community.

The club contributed proceeds from fundraisers like poinsettia sales, beer and wine tasting events and more, and the district Rotary organization kicked in a matching grant. An anonymous donor also provided matching funds to elevate the amount the Rotary club could provide for the project.

As Rotary Club President-Elect Don Fick explained, the debts are collected and acquired by Undue Medical Debt and the Rotary funds paid it off.

The recipients remain anonymous – and it’s not something people can apply for, he said. They must meet eligibility criteria, he added, to make sure that the debts are paid for those who are most adversely affected by unpaid medical bills.

Recipients will simply get a letter in the mail stating that their debt has been cleared.

“We don’t know their names, their debt or what kind of medical service they had,” Fick said.

In his role as pastor, the Rev. Glenn Stallsmith said it’s been his experience that people who come to him for guidance or advice seldom talk about problems caused by the burden of medical debt.

“This issue of medical debt is one of those things that people don’t like to share,” Stallsmith said.

But when people are not able to pay their bills, they often delay future health care or health care for their children.

Getting the club to buy in to the project wasn’t difficult, he said. “It wasn’t a hard sell – it was almost a unanimous decision.”

To learn more about the work and mission of the Rotary Club of Oxford, visit oxfordncrotaryclub.org. You can send donations to Oxford Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1584, Oxford, NC 27565. The club meets on Thursdays at 12 noon at House of Ribeyes in Oxford, located at 102 Roxboro Rd.

To learn more about the work of Undue Medical Debt, visit unduemedicaldebt.org.

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TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Kicks Off March Activities With Annual Wedding And Event Expo

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This weekend’s Granville Wedding and Event Expo kicks off a busy month across Granville County, and Angela Allen says there’s no slowing down as springtime approaches.

The wedding and expo event takes place Sunday, Mar. 1 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at Creedmoor Community Center.

It’s not only for brides-to-be, Allen said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Anybody who’s planning a special event – from a family reunion to one of those milestone birthdays – is welcome to the expo.

“There’s so much inspiration and creativity,” Allen said of the expo, where more than 40 vendors are expected to provide information for everything from event planners to photographers, DJs, caterers and more.

There are a few ways to get registered, she said.

Get in for free with a donation for Families Living Violence Free – either supplies or a monetary donation works.

But if you’re interested in taking it up a notch, purchase a tasting ticket for $10. That way, you can try samples from the 10 food vendors. For $20, you’ll get a tasting ticket and a VIP swag bag filled with goodies.

The expo features local vendors not just from Granville County, but include vendors from Vance, Franklin and Person counties, too.

Go to www.visitgranvillenc.com to register.

Just like a wedding or fancy party, Allen said she’d prefer to have folks RSVP of their attendance. But it’s also fine to just show up at the door, too.

Other March highlights include:

  • Saturday, Mar. 7 – Mardi Gras celebration and silent auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Club at High Rock Farm from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Mar. 7 – Hawley Magic Show at Ox Theater. Jonathan Hawley brings his high-energy family show for a 7 p.m. performance.
  • Friday, Mar. 20 – Mutts Gone Nuts at Ox Theater at 7 p.m. This canine stunt show features a performance by some very talented rescue dogs.
  • Saturday, Mar. 21 – Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo – downtown Oxford. There’s a 5K, 10K, Fun Run and Family Walk, followed by the food truck rodeo. “It’s all about fitness and a little bit festival,” Allen said. Proceeds support local health initiatives.
  • March 21-22 and 28-29 – It’s going to take two weekends to get in all the activities, food and fun of The Viking Experience. Visit www.thevikingexperiencenc.com to learn more about this immersive experience into the Norse culture.
  • Saturday, Mar. 28 – 2nd annual Bunny Hop Bash at Clement Farm. There will be egg hunts, a bouncy house and, of course, a visit from the Easter Bunny at this event for the whole family.
  • Saturday, Mar. 28 – Paws for Granville – at the Barn at Vino in Stem. Proceeds from this annual dinner and silent auction benefit the Humane Society of Granville County.
  • Sunday, Mar. 29 – Spring Eggstravaganza at Carlee Farms in Stem. There will be activities for the kids, vendors and another appearance by the Easter Bunny.

To learn more about these events and all the happenings in Granville County, go to www.visitgranvillenc.com.

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NC Forest Service

N.C. Forest Service Offers Advice To Cut Chance Of Springtime Wildfires

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– Information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Agriculture

Yes, it’s been rainy and wet lately, but the spring wildfire season is arriving at a time when much of the state is still in a moderate to severe drought, and the N.C. Forest Service is reminding the public to be careful and use common sense – especially when it comes to burning yard debris.

Escaped yard debris burns, largely due to carelessness, continue to be the leading cause of wildfires across the state, accounting for nearly half of all wildfires in North Carolina. In general, human activity is responsible for 99 percent of wildfires, and spring weather tends to draw people outdoors to work in their yards with many choosing to burn as a method to dispose of leaves, limbs and other yard debris.

“A fire can escape in a matter of seconds, especially on warm days when winds are gusty,” said N.C. Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This means you never leave a fire unattended until it is completely out and cold.”

Other forms of human-caused wildfires stem from machine and vehicle use, dragging tow chains, arson and escaped campfires.

Before starting an outdoor fire, contact your local NCFS county ranger’s office. For safe burning practices to help prevent wildfire, the NCFS offers the following guidance:

  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
  • These same tips apply to campfires and grills as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. Drown all embers, not just the red ones. When soaked, stir the coals and soak them again. Make sure everything is wet and that embers are cold to the touch. If you do not have water, mix enough dirt or sand with the embers to extinguish the fire, being careful not to bury the fire. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.

The public is reminded to never fly a drone near, around or over a wildfire. Firefighting aircraft that respond to wildfires fly low in support of ground personnel. Drones can pose a serious threat to pilots and public safety. A drone that disrupts air operations also puts firefighters, residents and property at risk of loss to wildfire.

Where there’s fire, there’s smoke, and if you live in an area where wildfire risk is high, staying smoke-ready can be critical to personal health and well-being. Take steps now to prepare for wildfire smoke. This is especially important for smoke sensitive individuals including children, active people, older adults and people with heart or lung disease such as asthma. Being prepared means knowing where to find information about air quality and utilizing the air quality index. Use resources like www.ncair.org, https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ and www.airnow.gov.

To learn more about preparing for and preventing wildfires, visit www.preventwildfirenc.org.

TownTalk: VGCC Foundation Celebrates 50 Years

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– Information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College

For the past 50 years, the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation has been helping students with scholarships and other financial means. In doing so, it also has strengthened communities and has opened doors of opportunity across the VGCC four-county service region.

Established in 1976 as the College’s Endowment Fund, The VGCC Foundation has played a vital role in helping students overcome financial barriers and achieve their educational goals. Over five decades, The Foundation has expanded its impact well beyond scholarships to include emergency assistance, student success initiatives, program support, and strategic investments that enhance learning environments.

“This anniversary is more than a celebration of our history; it’s a celebration of our students and the lives they go on to change,” said Tanya Weary, executive director of The VGCC Foundation. “For 50 years, The Foundation has been committed to meeting students where they are and providing the support they need to succeed. Every gift, every partnership, and every opportunity has helped change lives—one student at a time.”

In an undated photo, former VGCC president Dr. Ben Currin (1981-1998) and longtime trustee Donald C. Seifert Sr. accept a donation on behalf of the College’s Endowment Fund, now known as The VGCC Foundation.

As part of its 50th anniversary year, The VGCC Foundation is also focused on the future. The Foundation is actively raising funds to support two new buildings: the Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Technology in Granville County and the Transportation Training & Technology Center in Warren County. Both are critical projects that will expand instructional space, modernize learning environments, and better serve students and the region’s workforce needs.

“These new facilities represent an investment in our students, our faculty, and the future of our communities,” Sheri Jones, VGCCF associate director noted. “The support we receive today will help us continue building futures, empowering students, and strengthening communities.”

Throughout the year, The Foundation will highlight its legacy, recognize supporters, and share stories of impact while continuing its mission to empower students and strengthen the communities Vance-Granville Community College serves.

For more information about The VGCC Foundation, its 50th anniversary initiatives, or opportunities to support the new building projects, visit www.vgcc.edu/foundation, email foundation@vgcc.edu, or call 252.738.326

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The Local Skinny! Oxford Rotary Club Erases $2 Million In Medical Debt In Partnership With National Non-Profit

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The Oxford Rotary Club has partnered with a national nonprofit organization to erase a whopping $2 million in medical debt for families in Granville County and across North Carolina.

Rotary Club President-Elect Don Fick issued a statement about the medical debt relief initiative Monday.

“Medical debt is one of the leading causes of financial distress for American families, often resulting from unexpected illness or injury and disproportionately affecting households with limited financial resources,” said Fick, who also chairs the club’s medical debt relief committee. “By purchasing and abolishing medical debt, we are delivering immediate and lasting financial relief to our neighbors, removing barriers to future care, and strengthening our local economy.”

Rotary President Michael Felts said the initiative reflects the club’s long-standing commitment to service above self. “With this action, we have transformed community generosity into meaningful relief for hundreds of our neighbors here in Granville County, while also extending that impact statewide,” Felts said.

Through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, the Rotary Club of Oxford has eliminated more than $1 million* in outstanding medical debt for 597 Granville County residents. This local effort was further magnified by a matching grant from an anonymous donor, extending an additional $1 million in medical debt relief to families in North Carolina.

The total debt relief in Granville County totaled $1,072,839.36.

Recipients of medical debt relief do not need to apply and will not be contacted for payment. Eligible beneficiaries will receive a letter from Undue Medical Debt in the coming weeks. The relief has no tax consequences and does not adversely affect credit scores — in fact, Undue Medical Debt takes steps to remove the medical debt from recipients’ credit reports.

“Due to limited resources and privacy constraints, we cannot assist with individual requests for debt relief,” Fick said. Visit https://www.oxfordncrotaryclub.org/ to find links to local organizations that may be able to help families explore options.

Founded in 1923, the Rotary Club of Oxford is a local service organization dedicated to addressing community needs through hands-on service and collaborative partnerships. This campaign represents one of the largest charitable initiatives in the club’s history.

Learn more about Undue Medical Debt at https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org.

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TownTalk: Faith in Mental Health Forum Coming to MHCO in March

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The program called Faith in Mental Health is hosting an event on Monday, Mar. 16 and invites churches to become community partners to address mental health and substance use disorders.

Karl Johnson, PhD, is a team member of the Rural Academic Health Dept at Granville Vance Public Health.

The upcoming event is a continuation of a program that, so far, has had participation from roughly 100 people from about 40 churches in the area. The March 16 event will be held at The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There are several different levels of certification, Johnson told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Monday’s TownTalk.

The first level is more like an orientation to let participants know what types of services are available in the area for people who struggle with mental health issues or substance use disorder.

“The goal is to better equip and empower churches to address the mental health and substance use,” he said, whether within their own congregation or in the broader community.

Help needs to go beyond the biomedical aspects of clients’ issues, he said.

There simply aren’t enough medical providers to tend to everyone’s needs, so reaching out to churches seemed to be a natural next step.

The church is “one of those communities that people go to for a sense of hope, belonging, for a sense of camaraderie and support,” Johnson said. It makes sense, he added, to partner with churches to give them tools to help.

“It’s a way for others to care for and tend to their loved ones (or) neighbors who struggle with these kinds of challenges,” he said.

There’s been a tremendous response in the area so far, Johnson said. “Churches really are eager and willing to step up” with participation by pastors and lay leaders alike.

After completing that level 1 certification, Johnson said some churches have gone on to host forums, provide additional trainings and establish support groups.

Some pastors periodically devote sermons to the topic and even create ministries devoted to the work.

Different churches take different approaches to trying to help, and that’s just fine, Johnson said.

“The deeper goal is for them to become better equipped to address this need in their community,” he said.

If you’d like to learn more, contact Johnson at 616.298.5626 or email him at kjohnson@gvph.org.

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Tar River Land Conservancy Adds 22 Acres In Southern Granville

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Tar River Land Conservancy staff recently hosted family and friends of Fred Battaglia for a tour of 22 acres of land donated by the long-time attorney and judge who died in October 2025.

The land gift to TRLC was the second made by Battaglia, who previously had donated a 59- acre property to TRLC in 2022. Both tracts are located southwest of Oxford between US Highway 15 and Old NC Highway 75.

“We were humbled to learn that Fred left his Granville County property to TRLC in his will,” stated Executive Director Derek Halberg. “He was a true friend and supporter of our organization. We knew how much this land meant to Fred. This gift will be a lasting testament to his love of the outdoors and his support for conservation.”

Since acquiring the land in 2014, Battaglia spent many hours hunting, exploring the woods and managing the trees on the property. After harvesting the pine timber in recent years, Battaglia made sure that the land was replanted to create a new generation of tree seedlings.

“My dad had a deep appreciation for nature,” said Lowell Dyer, Battaglia’s son. “This property brought him much enjoyment, and our family is comforted to know that his land is now in the Conservancy’s hands and will be protected from development.”

The two tracts adjoin a third tract acquired by TRLC in 2023 and combine to create a total of 112 acres located along Hatchers Run, a tributary of Fishing Creek. TRLC’s long-term vision is to manage the combined properties as the “Hatchers Run Nature Preserve.” Eventually, TRLC plans to create a network of hiking trails for both local residents and visitors to explore. The future nature preserve is now a mix of pine and hardwood forest

surrounding marshy wetlands that offer important wildlife habitat. TRLC volunteers have documented more than 65 species of birds at the site since 2023.

“It was an honor to walk Fred’s land with his family and friends and to share TRLC’s plans,” Halberg said. “We look forward to more opportunities once work begins on the hiking trails in the coming years.”

TRLC is a nationally accredited land trust that works to preserve natural resources across an eight-county region. TRLC currently maintains 14.8 miles of public hiking trails on five nature preserves in Granville County. Since 2000, TRLC has protected 24,397 acres of land and 216 miles of streams. Landowners interested in working with TRLC to preserve their land are encouraged to contact Derek Halberg at info@tarriver.org or 919.496.5902. Learn more about TRLC at https://www.tarriver.org.

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Black History in Old Granville County

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By the end of the American Revolution, the population of what was then known as Granville County was about 8,000 people. Of that number, 40 percent – or 3,200 – were enslaved.

The plantation system created by wealthy landowners was utterly dependent on that labor to get in tobacco and other crops.

But mostly, it was tobacco, said Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room specialist at the Richard Thornton Library in Oxford.

In their tri-weekly discussion Around Old Granville, Pace and WIZS’s Bill Harris reviewed the lives of numerous prominent Black Americans who made a mark in their communities and beyond.

Up until the time of the Civil War, farms were getting bigger and bigger so owners could produce more and more tobacco. That meant the number of enslaved people grew, too. This was a common practice particularly in the northern parts of present-day Vance, Granville and Warren counties, Pace said.

But there also were many free African Americans living in the area before 1865, Pace said. He attributes that to this area’s proximity to the Virginia border. Virginia had passed a law in 1807 that said emancipated persons had one year to leave the state or risk being re-enslaved

“They didn’t want a lot of free blacks,” Pace said of the folks in Virginia, “so a bunch just came across the line.”

Some enslaved people planted crops on land given to them by their owners. They’d work on Sundays – their only day off – to tend their crops. Some planted tobacco, and over time, they saved up enough money to buy their freedom, Pace explained. Until Granville County passed a law in 1800 banning the practice.

One of the most prominent and well-known Blacks in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s was John Chavis. Born in Virginia to parents who were free Blacks, Chavis graduated from Princeton and Washington & Lee University and became a Presbyterian minister and a noted tutor to many children of wealthy White families.

“He was a brilliant guy,” Pace said. “He was very urbane, he was well read, knew the Greek classics. He had a lot in common with prominent wealthy landowners and by all accounts, was an excellent speaker.”

The Presbyterian Church was dedicated to the idea of improving the lives of black people, particularly those who lived in the pre-Civil War South. As a Presbyterian minister, Chavis was a key player in that mission.

Other prominent men included Henry Plummer Cheatham, James Hunter Young and George Clayton Shaw, all born between 1857 and 1863. Cheatham and Young both had white fathers. They became state legislators and their rise to prominence was well known.

Shaw, meanwhile, established Mary Potter Academy in Oxford in 1889 to educate African Americans. He was the principal until 1936. The school later became a private boarding school until the 1950’s when it became a public high school and later a middle school.

At about the same time that Shaw was establishing Mary Potter Academy in Oxford, there were similar efforts in Vance County as Henderson Institute and Kittrell College were being established.

“In the 1880’s, education is starting to become important,” Pace said, and it’s where many local African Americans made their mark.

Founded and operated by the United Presbyterian Church, Henderson Institute was originally established by the Freedmen’s Board. It was a four-year school – the only high school in this part of the state for African Americans, Pace noted.

John Adams Cotton led the school for 30 years. He was a Presbyterian minister and the namesake of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church in Henderson.

“The school stayed in business in one form or another until 1971,” Pace said.

The N.C. Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church established Kittrell Junior College in 1885-86. The two-year school was housed in the old hotel building in Kittrell for the first few years before James B. Duke dismantled numerous buildings on the Trinity campus and sold the bricks to the Kittrell school as he made space for what would become Duke University.

Warren County native John R. Hawkins was a driving force behind Kittrell College, Pace said. Hawkins joined the faculty and later was elected president of the school.

“People from all over the world came to Kittrell College.”

Now the site of the Kittrell Job Corps, the campus had a series of fires in the early 1970’s that destroyed those structures that had their beginnings in Durham.

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Stories Of The American Revolution From Old Granville County

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The phrases “Fourth of July “ and “Independence Day” are used interchangeably to note THE date when the American Colonists declared formal independence from Great Britain.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of that official Declaration of Independence, with ongoing celebrations marking the historic moment.

But it took eight years for the 13 Colonies – including North Carolina – to gain independence from Great Britain. What began in New England in April 1775 made a slow march south. Famous battles that took place in North Carolina include those at Guilford Courthouse near present-day Greensboro and Moores Creek near Wilmington.

And while there weren’t any battles fought in Granville County, local historian Mark Pace and WIZS’s Bill Harris agree that the area contributed mightily to the effort.

Indeed, there were folks who lived in North Carolina in the 1760’s and 1770’s who had grown weary of British rule. In 1771, these “Regulators” took up arms against Gov. Tryon and his troops. They didn’t prevail, but Pace said the effort helped establish a pattern in North Carolina where the people didn’t like an overbearing and authoritative government.

“By the time the unrest from New England came, they were ready,” Pace said.

The colony was fairly evenly divided between Patriots and Loyalists – a third were loyal to the Crown of England, a third supported independence and a third were going to wait to see which side prevailed and then side with the winner. Not surprisingly, wealthy landowners tended to side with Loyalists, with smaller farmers feeling a greater economic pinch from all the taxes imposed on them by the British.

The way Pace and Harris figure it, there were about 600 individuals from the original Granville County that served in the American Revolution. Of that number, about 35 lost their lives in the war.

But “service” isn’t limited to donning a uniform and seeing action on the battlefield.

There were key figures from North Carolina who played integral roles during this eight-year struggle for freedom, among them Thomas Person, Gen. Jethro Sumner, Col. Robert Burton and Col. John Williams, just to name a few.

Person was a general in the militia and Pace called him a “driving force” behind independence.

Although he didn’t see much action on the battlefield, Person was in charge of training troops and, as quartermaster general, provided food, weapons and lodging. He ponied up a lot of his own money to the war effort, Pace said, and had a training facility at Goshen, his plantation near what is now Berea in Granville County.

Like Person, Sumner, who lived in present-day Warren County, trained troops. With his “regular army” background, Gen. Nathanael Greene sought his help and Sumner’s brigades fought in South Carolina at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in 1781. Sumner missed out on the famous Guilford Courthouse battle in March 1781, but his remains were re-interred there in 1891 to commemorate his contributions to the Revolution.

Burton hailed from Williamsboro and lived in a home called Blooming Hope, later changed to Cedar Walk. Pace said he was a significant figure in establishing Patriot troops and getting them organized.

Incidentally, Burton ran a distillery and sold livestock, Pace said. There’s a ledger entry from 1774 that notes the sale of a gray mare to a member of the Transylvania Company that helped to settle Tennessee and Kentucky. Who was it? A fellow named Daniel Boone.

Williams, for whom the Vance County community of Williamsboro is named, was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation, which was used as a framework for governance between 1775 and 1789, when the U.S. Constitution was finally in place.

The Articles of Confederation focused on keeping a federal style of government weak – there was no president, no executive branch, no national army or national tax as part of these articles, Pace explained.

For the period around the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, the government of North Carolina was moved temporarily from Hillsborough to Williamsboro and legislators stayed at Williams’s house.

Williams’s home, Montpelier, was supposed to be “the nicest old home in Williamsboro,” Pace said.

The home burned in 1885, when it was owned by the Bullock family. The home was rebuilt and that home burned around 2000. Williams, Burton and Leonard Henderson, for whom the city of Henderson is named, are all buried on the property.

If you’d like to research your family tree to find out if your ancestors fought in the American Revolution, check out the North Carolina Room at Thornton Library in Oxford. In addition to online research tools like ancestry.com, the North Carolina Room has a five-volume set of the Daughters of the American Revolution that includes information on every soldier they know of who fought in battles between 1775 and 1783.

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(This story was originally posted on Jan. 29, 2026)