Edenton in Chowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Edenton, 1962
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2023
1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Edenton, 1962 Marker
In December 1962, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited northeastern North Carolina. Arriving in Elizabeth City, the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference spoke at African American churches there and in Hertford en route to Chowan County. On the evening of December 20, Dr. King spoke to a mass rally of 500 people assembled in the armory on this site. The issues advocated by Dr. King were those he advanced across the South from the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956 to his death in Memphis in 1968. With nonviolence as his guiding principle, he envisioned a society in which all people share in the wealth of the earth. The Civil rights leader's visit to Edenton came at the invitation of the Edenton Movement, lead by Rev. F. H. LaGarde, President, and Golden A. Frinks, Executive Director. This organization had been active in the town for several years, counting among its successes desegregation of public facilities.
In 2002, in honor of Dr. King and the fortieth anniversary of his visit to Edenton, the Mayor and Edenton Town Council renamed West Albemarle Street from Mexico Road to Granville Street to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion
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Location. 36° 4.081′ N, 76° 36.354′ W. Marker is in Edenton, North Carolina, in Chowan County. Marker is on North Broad Street (North Carolina Route 32) just south of Park Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, directly in front of the old North Carolina National Guard Armory. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 702 North Broad Street, Edenton NC 27932, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. North Carolina National Guard Armory (within shouting distance of this marker); First Post Road (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rosenwald Schools (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1897 Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harriet Jacobs (approx. 0.4 miles away); Edenton United Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edenton.
Also see . . . The Edenton National Guard Armory was once host to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit to N.C. (Submitted on May 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
via North Carolina National Guard, 1962
2. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Edenton, 1962
Martin Luther King, Jr. from Edenton to the Blue Ridge:
Dr. King first visited the “Edenton Movement” in 1962 and returned to Edenton again 4 years later
Click for more information.
Dr. King first visited the “Edenton Movement” in 1962 and returned to Edenton again 4 years later
Click for more information.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2023
3. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Edenton, 1962 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 234 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on September 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on May 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
