Valdese in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Turning Plow

— Waldensian Trail of Faith —

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 2, 2025

1. Turning Plow Marker

Inscription. Black smith John Deere is credited with making the first Steel Plow in 1837 that worked well in all types of soil. Because of the hilly terrain, The Waldensians mainly had to prepare their land in Italy by hand. Arriving in, later to be called Valdese, North Carolina, they used oxen and horses to pull their farm implements.

Shown are the regular turning plow and the hillside turning plow used to turn the soil downhill while going both directions by rotating the swiveling universal mold board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 35° 44.844′ N, 81° 34.078′ W. Marker is in Valdese, North Carolina, in Burke County. It can be reached from the intersection of Church Street Northwest and Lincoln Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Location is at the Waldensian Trail of Faith Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 399 Church St NW, Valdese NC 28690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It

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is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Church at Ciabas (here, next to this marker); Drag Harrow (here, next to this marker); Monument at Chanforan (here, next to this marker); Disk Harrow (a few steps from this marker); Cultivator (within shouting distance of this marker); Corn Planter (within shouting distance of this marker); Collegio dei Barbi (within shouting distance of this marker); Monument at Sibaud (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valdese.

Turning Plow and Marker at parking lot for Waldensian Trail of Faith image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 2, 2025

2. Turning Plow and Marker at parking lot for Waldensian Trail of Faith

Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 96 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.