Thompson Orphanage: A Place to Grow
Trail of Hisotry
Thompson Orphanage was found on this site in the late 1800s. Thompson took in orphans from across North Carolina — those whose parents had died, and also those whose parents could not care for them because of poverty or illness. The boys and girls worked the farm here, growing vegetables, milking cows, and increasing in knowledge and stature.
By 1956, when Thompson was surrounded by the city and pieces of its land had been taken for Independence Boulevard and Pearl Street Park, the organization relocated farther from town where it exists to this day as a premier provider of prevention and intervention services that strengthen and support children and families.
"On the Banks of the Little Sugar Creek is a sculptural collage of historical recollections of the life at Thompson Orphanage. I wanted to bring to life the voices of those who taught, lived, played and listened to the waters of the Little Sugar Creek."
— Quote from the artist, Jane DeDecker"One thing about Thompson remains the same: The agency is led, first and foremost, by its mission call to serve children and families through healing, teaching, worship and play."
"…they gave a watch to the child voted by the children as the best citizen of the year. their names were written on a plaque in the dining hall for
all to see. The plaque is now on the wall at St. Mary's Chapel."
Click or scan to see
this page online"The mud would get between her toes, but she didn't mind, it was so much fun cooling off and playing with the other kids."
"…she had gathered some strawberries and brought them in cups which she had made of large oak or hickory leaves."
Erected by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. (Marker Number 10.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.
Location. 35° 13.002′ N, 80° 50.054′ W. Marker is in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It is in Thompson Park. Marker can be reached from East 4th Street (State Highway 16) 0.1 miles west of South Kings Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1116 E 4th St, Charlotte NC 28204, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. This Land Once was Thompson Orphanage (a few steps from this marker); Ben Nash (within shouting distance of this marker); They Came From Mecklenburg… / Dedicated To Those Who Serve (within shouting distance of this marker); Mecklenburg County Vietnam Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Thompson Orphanage (within shouting
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 467 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
