Tag Archive for: #america250

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – 250th Anniversary of the USA in Old Granville County Part 2

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With the nation’s approaching 250th birthday as a backdrop, WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace continue their conversation about people, places and events from right here in the four-county area, “Old Granville County.”

Franklin County’s Regiment of Militia was officially formed in January 1779, in the middle of the Revolutionary War. This group of men, along with the Granville County militia, fought the British troops in battles across the Carolinas in the early 1780’s, including the Siege of Charleston, Camden and Charlotte before giving the Brits a fit at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Gen. Charles Cornwallis led his troops to major victories, but they met their match at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Local historian Mark Pace said the British technically won the battle, but suffered such heavy casualties at the hands of the Patriots – led by Gen. Nathaniel Greene – that it was a hollow victory.

Just a year earlier, Cornwallis had spent 16 days in Charlotte trying to suppress the Patriots in that area, Pace said. Most likely members of the local militia were there as well and contributed to Cornwallis’s description of the then-small town as a “hornet’s nest.”

(A couple of hundred years later, the NBA team that called Charlotte home took note of the description and now the Charlotte Hornets play in an arena called The Hive.)

The Granville County militia performed well at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Pace said on Thursday’s Part 2 of Around Old Granville on TownTalk.

The Continental Line, akin to a national Army, of sorts, Pace explained, got much-needed assistance from states’ militias. North Carolina furnished about 4,000 or so men to the militia, each county calling up recruits or volunteers to join the effort.

Why did the states feel the need to call up militias in the first place?

Well, it’s probably not the only reason, but back in the mid-1750’s, the Colonists were being required to pay all kinds of taxes to the British Crown. But they didn’t have anyone in England to speak on their behalf, which was how the phrase “no taxation without representation” came about.

Two big taxes “that irritated Americans to no end,” Pace said, were the Stamp Act and the Sugar Tax. The Stamp Act taxed printed materials, from wills and deeds to newspapers and playing cards. The Sugar Act is self-explanatory, but it became a thorn in the side of Americans because of what was the most popular drink at the time – rum, which is derived from molasses. And molasses is made from sugarcane juice.

The Granville militia, in the mid-1770’s was under the leadership of Micajah Bullock, who is buried near Bullock’s Church located along U.S. Hwy 15 South near Creedmoor and Col. John Taylor of the Williamsboro vicinity.  Another prominent Granville County resident was Thomas Person, who was a general in the militia. At the time, he was the wealthiest person in the county and he opened up his estate for training purposes during the Revolution.

Pace called Person “the heart and soul of the Revolution in this area.”

During previous “Around Old Granville” segments, Pace and Harris have talked about the significance of Williamsboro, once a prospering center of commerce that today is merely a crossroads that people pass through as they travel N.C. Hwy 39.

The community was named for John Williams, Pace said, whose name can be found among a list of Founding Fathers for this nation.

Williams, along with Robert Burton, John Penn and Benjamin Hawkins, all hailed from the Williamsboro area and were elected to the Continental Congress. Penn signed the Declaration of Independence, but Williams signed the Articles of Confederation. He also became speaker of the N.C. House, and was one of the first N.C. Supreme Court judges.

Sadly, Williams’s home, Montpelier, no longer stands. But it was a hub of activity back then, Pace said.

Montpelier was where N.C. Gov. Burke went when it became  clear he needed to evacuate Hillsborough (then the capital) in advance of Cornwallis’s arrival.

Montpelier is also where Leonard Henderson, for whom Henderson is named, is buried.

In fact, Williamsboro had been considered as the state’s capital, but leaders ultimately chose the more centrally located Raleigh.

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville – 250th Anniversary of the USA in Old Granville County

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Mark Pace was a teenager when the United States celebrated its 200th birthday in 1776. He remembers watching CBS’s ‘Bicentennial Minute’ productions, mini history lessons that aired in 60-second episodes, featuring celebrities and other famous people talking about snippets of history from 200 years ago.

In fact, Pace credits the whole Bicentennial celebration as one of the main reasons that he first became interested in history. Pace, North Carolina Room Specialist at Thornton Library in Oxford, and WIZS’s Bill Harris talked about some key people and events from that time when the 13 Colonies were subjected to taxes they considered unfair and laws they considered unjust.

Massachusetts has Boston and the Tea Party; it has Lexington and Concord, the site of the first military conflict in the American Revolution. The city claims Paul Revere and John Hancock, too.

But North Carolina has the Halifax Resolves, the Battle of Moores Creek and  the area known now as Old Granville County.

No battles were fought in the area that now encompasses present-day Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties, Pace said, but there were many individuals who became quite well known for their roles in the American Revolution.

John Penn, one of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence, made his home in northern Granville County, near what is now Stovall.

But there were other “movers and shakers,” Pace said, who hailed from Granville County.

Take Thomas Person, for example. He was the largest landowner in the county, with about 80,000 acres, Pace said. “But he was a behind-the-scenes guy,” he added. It was Person, he said, who pushed for Penn to be a delegate to the Continental Congress, the group which ultimately produced the Declaration of Independence.

Person was a key player in the creation of the Halifax Resolves, which was drafted in April 1776 calling for independence from Britain – three months before the iconic Declaration of Independence.

That three-month head start is the reason that North Carolina license plates boast “First in Freedom.”

Truth be told, Pace said, in 1775, North Carolina was sitting the proverbial fence about whether to remain loyal to the Crown or to take up the cause for freedom and a new form of government.

The Battle of Moores Creek, which took place near Wilmington, was one example of that divided allegiance.

“It was a significant battle because it was North Carolinians versus North Carolinians,” Pace said. The battle was short, he said, only lasting about 10 minutes. On the Patriot side, there was only one casualty; but on the other side, more than 100 Tory sympathizers were captured.

That short encounter showed the British that they couldn’t count on having support from that part of the American Colonies.

“It was going to be a little bit tougher than they thought to put down this rebellion,” Pace said.

The sentiment around Granville County back then, however, most definitely came down on the side who backed independence from Britain. Pace said residents were an independent-minded group, and support to break from the Crown rule was strong.

One way they pushed back included renaming a part of Granville County that had splintered off in 1764 to form Bute County. By 1779, the area known as Bute County was split again to be known as present-day Franklin and Warren counties.

See, the Lord of Bute was a tutor of the much-maligned King George III, and Pace said the new counties were renamed “specifically for patriotic reasons, in addition to practicality.”

Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin; Warren County gets its name from Dr. Joseph Warren, who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Franklin County lays claim to Richard Fenner, who was born in New Bern but who moved to the area after his military service came to an end. Fenner joined the Second Regiment of the Continental Line of the N.C. militia in 1777 and was a lieutenant when taken as a prisoner of war. He was held in Charleston until the war ended.

He came to Franklin County, studied medicine and was elected to be the first president of the N.C. Medical Society in 1799.

As for Warren County, Pace said perhaps its most famous son was Nathaniel Macon.

He became the fifth Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, made him one of the most powerful North Carolinians in the 1810’s and 1820’s.

Before rising to national political prominence, Macon served in the American Revolution as a teenager – probably when he was 16 or 17.

At that time, Warren County was very influential in state and national politics. At one point, the governor, both U.S. senators and a congressman all were from Warren County and in office.

As a private in the American Revolution, Pace said, Macon no doubt developed at an early age a mindset of individualism – and a dislike of the British Empire.

One person from the area – Philemon Hawkins – had been supportive of the British Crown during the Regulator War, which had taken place in North Carolina just a few years prior to the start of the Revolution.

This Philemon Hawkins (there was an original and then many namesakes, Pace and Harris explained), was Philemon Hawkins II, who lived from 1717-1801.

Hawkins was Gov. Tryon’s aide-de-camp during the Regulator War, but then he shifted his allegiance to back the movement for independence.

He is buried in Warren County.

 

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Community Band Performs Patriotic Music Concert Tuesday Mar. 17 As Part Of Vance County 250 Celebration

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There may be a bit of green in the audience to observe St. Patrick’s Day, but this evening’s concert at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center will be all red, white and blue as the Community Band performs a playlist of patriotic American music as part of the Vance County’s America 250 celebration.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. and, like all Community Band performances, is free and open to the public. Band Director Brian D. Miller said the band also will perform several Sousa marches as part of the evening’s concert.

This is the first of numerous events planned by the Vance County America 250 Committee, chaired by Barbara Harrison. The Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission serves as a supporting partner of the Vance County America 250 Committee, helping to promote events and organize partners.

“Vance County has a lot to celebrate. We’re glad to partner with the America 250 Committee to make sure our community has opportunities to come together and mark this historic anniversary,” said Ferdinand Rouse, director of the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission. “We’re excited to see Vance County take part in this national milestone. This concert is a great way to kick off what promises to be a memorable year.”

The VGCC Civic Center is located on the college’s main campus at 200 Community College Road. Parking is available on campus at no charge.

For more information about the Vance County America 250 Committee and upcoming events, view the Community Calendar on the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission’s website at http://vancecountyedc.com

Update On Banner Project To Honor Vance County Military Veterans Killed In Service

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A subcommittee of Vance County’s America 250 group is in the process of collecting photos and information for the 124 service members from Vance County veterans who were killed in action. Since January, the committee has gotten about 10 additional photos to add to the 58 that had already been located. The photos are going to be printed on banners that will be displayed on several downtown streets in conjunction with plans to observe the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Vance County Historical Society Vice President Tem Blackburn said some of the new photos they’ve located are of veterans for whom photos hadn’t been available; others are simply better photos of veterans they did have images for. Blackburn is secretary of the Vance County America 250 committee.

Each banner will feature the name and photo of a Vance County individual who have died in service to their country.

The plan, Blackburn said, is to have the banners installed by Memorial Day.

“I expect that photos will continue to filter in even after we deploy the banners.  Those that do will go on replacement banners that will be worked in for Memorial Day 2027,” he said.

As of this publication, it’s about half and half the number of photos available versus not yet available.

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Vance County America 250 Committee Sets First Thursdays As Meeting Dates In 2026

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— from Dywanda Pettaway, executive assistant to County Manager C. Renee Perry

The Vance County America 250 Committee has announced a regular meeting schedule as it continues to plan local events to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.

All meetings are open to the public, and anyone may attend in person or may tune in to the livestream on the county’s YouTube channel.

Unless otherwise announced, meetings will be held the first Thursday of each month and will begin at 4 p.m. The first meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2026. The meetings will take place at the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Building, located at 326 S. Garnett St.

For additional information, contact the County Manager’s Office at 252.738.2000 or email info@vancecounty.org.

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Vance County America 250 Committee

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UPDATE 11-3-25:

UPDATE 10-30-25:

The Vance County America 250 committee convened Thursday afternoon to begin making plans to celebrate the 250th birthday of these United States.

Vance County Economic Development Director Ferdinand Rouse led the meeting, but the group will be chaired by Barbara Harrison, with Angie Ryan serving as vice chair and Tem Blackburn serving as secretary.

Dr. Tim Hall, K-12 Social Studies instructional coordinator for Vance County Schools, also was present at the meeting.

Harrison is Regent of the John Penn chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution located in Oxford and Blackburn is vice president of the Vance County Historical Society.

This initial meeting was a brainstorming session, and Rouse provided some context for the local group. The group will meet again on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. at a location to be determined.

The N.C. Department of Cultural Affairs is the point agency for North Carolina, and the official kickoff was in April 2025. Of course, the big event will be July 4 of 2026, but Rouse said events and activities may continue until 2033. The county group will have access to logos and emblems to use for local activities, both existing and new that the committee may create.

County Manager Renee Perry had told commissioners that the county had received a $10,000 grant to fund local America 250 activities and events.

There are existing activities that could be aligned with the special commemoration – think July 4 fireworks at Kerr Lake, for example.

And Blackburn said the historical society is working to secure grant funding to place two-sided banners on Garnett, Breckenridge and Chestnut streets to honor the 125 Vance County individuals who died in wars from World War I to the Iraq War.

Blackburn said the thinking is to put up the banners and have a special ceremony for each war, beginning with the 22 soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

They’ve got photos of 60 of the 125, but they’ll need help to continue tracking down photos – preferably of the individuals in their uniforms – of the others.

The Veterans Memorial that will be installed in front of the police station is another existing activity that can be aligned with the 250th celebration. Blackburn said the plan is to have that installation complete by July 4, 2026.

Harrison, who is Regent of the John Penn Chapter of the DAR in Oxford, said she’s put in a lot of hours working to get the 13-mile stretch of U.S. 158 between Henderson and Oxford officially recognized as the John Penn Highway.

Apparently, way back in 1927, the highway was given the designation, but there never were any signs placed.

“It’s been granted,” Harrison said of the name designation. “Now it’s a matter of getting the signs.”

Other ideas discussed included the possibility of having a special performance at McGregor Hall of the Broadway show “1776.” If not a live production, then at least a showing of the movie. Concerts by the Community Band or by school bands or choral groups with a theme of patriotic music also were discussed.

Visit https://www.america250.nc.gov/ to learn more about what’s happening at the state level to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday.

To view a recording of the meeting, click  here – from the Vance County YouTube Channel.

But we will have more to post here soon.

UPDATE 10-29-25:

The Vance County America 250 Committee will meet October 30, 2025 for the first time.  The meeting will take place in the commissioner’s meeting room (old courthouse/Admin Building) starting at 4 p.m. and is scheduled to last as long as two hours.

The County intends to make it available on the County’s YouTube Channel as well (here).

Evidenced in the agenda below from the County’s web page, the committee intends to establish itself more formally and begin the earliest stages of planning.

  • Welcome and opening remarks – County Manager
  • Brief introductions of all attendees (name, role, and interest in the committee)
  • Nominations and election of officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer (if applicable)
  • Discussion of officer roles and responsibilities
  • Background on the national and state America 250 celebrations
  • Overview of local goals and opportunities for participation
  • Identify key focus areas (e.g., education, community engagement, heritage, arts and culture, events)
  • Brainstorming ideas for local America 250 events and initiatives
  • Identification of potential partners (schools, civic groups, historical societies, etc.)
  • Summary of decisions made and action items
  • Determine frequency of meetings (monthly, quarterly, etc.)
  • Set next meeting date and location
  • Closing remarks from the Chair

WIZS will continue to update this post and provide details on the radio.

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Vance County Committee Forming To Plan Activities, Events To Celebrate 250th Birthday Of The U.S.

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Communities across the country are gearing up for next year’s big 250th birthday, and Vance County is forming a planning committee to climb aboard the anniversary bandwagon.

America 250 NC, a program of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is partnering with local governments and nonprofits across the state to plan celebrations to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The celebration officially kicked off this past July 4 and culminates on July 4, 2026.

The local committee that is forming now will be responsible for planning and organizing events, projects and initiatives, said Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry.

“The plan is to have an event or some type of events leading up to the 250th anniversary,” Perry stated.

Anyone interested in serving on the planning committee is asked to complete the application found here and return to Kelly H. Grissom, County Clerk, to the address or email listed on the application.

Visit https://america250.org/americas-250th/ for a comprehensive listing of programs and activities of the national celebration.