Flying for France

James R. McConnell

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1887-1917

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Photographed by Mark Parker, March 18, 2025

1. Flying for France Mural

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Piedmont.

South

South.

Region,

America,

Hemisphere,

World,

Anglosphere.

Culture,

Colonies,

America,

South.

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Carthage Digital Mural Trail

Carthage Digital Mural Trail



The Carthage Digital Video Mural Trail connects five of the town’s murals with videos about each one that can be viewed by scanning the bronze-plated QR code affixed to each one. The five murals are located within walking distance of each other in the town’s downtown area. The videos were produced by the CVB and will be linked to QR-coded plaques mounted on the murals. Four of the murals were painted by Scott Nurkin and the latest one was completed by Dan Dreyer, CVB Destination Storyteller. The murals depict the history and culture around the Moore County town,

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 18, 2025

2. Left panel of Flying for France mural - "The Aviator" sculpture

in addition to its memorable natives.



Accessibility:

This trail can be explored by parking and walking around the town about a 10 minute walk total to all digital murals in Carthage. The area is paved and there is plentiful parking with handicap parking. Some of the sidewalks may be uneven.



Landmarks and Legacies

105 N. McNeill Street, Carthage, NC 28327

Artist: Daniel Dreyer & Jordan Dreyer

View the Mural in full

Carthage has always been home to many wonderful people…both those native born and those who chose to make Carthage their home. Landmarks and Legacies celebrates some of those folks and tells the story of Fry and Prickett Funeral Home, the longest continuously operating business in Carthage. The mark an individual leaves on the world represents their legacy and the place represents the landmark. Fry and Prickett Funeral Home continues the tradition of being “Committed to the families in our Community”. We’re proud to share these Carthage stories. For more information click here





Carthage Water Tanks

107 Monroe St., Carthage, NC 28327

Artist: Scott Nurkin

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“The Water Tanks” is on the wall of the Kramer Building at 107 Monroe Street. The elevated tank was built in 1913 and

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 18, 2025

3. Right panel of Flying for France Mural

the stove pipe tank was built about 1920. The water tanks were important to Carthage and the surrounding areas not just to hold water, but as signals of information. When the iconic siren whistle on the towering tank legs sounded at 12 noon on weekdays, it was the town clerk saying “lunch time” for workers, townspeople, courthouse visitors, shopkeepers and all who were nearby. The siren whistle could be heard miles out of town. The siren also blew when a fire was reported, bringing our volunteer firemen to the firehouse! The Carthage water tanks were widely known to be a pilot’s first visual flight reference when flying out of the Moore County (formerly Knollwood) Airport. The iconic water tanks, in later years bearing the town’s buggy logo, had been gone since 2018, but now they are back!





When Tobacco Was King

104 McNeill St., Carthage, NC 28327

Artist: Scott Nurkin

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Tobacco and tobacco growers put North Carolina on the map during the 1900’s. Tobacco was king and the Town of Carthage was surrounded by tobacco farms. Tobacco farms supported families who supported the town. Tobacco folks always took a lot of pride in growing a good crop! In the fall, tobacco crops were sold here at the Victory and McConnell warehouses, bringing the farmers, tobacco company buyers and auctioneers

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 18, 2025

4. Right center panel, Flying for France Mural

to town. Tobacco farming was “a way of life”…hard, honest work, where neighbors helped neighbors and everyone worked together: old and young, men, women and children. Tobacco farms provided summer jobs for many town kids growing up. Tobacco crops bought school clothes, paid for first cars and college educations. Find the hidden objects painted in this mural: Knife, Smiley, Star, Key, Sun, Rabbit, Shark.





Tyson & Jones Buggy

104 McReynolds St, Carthage, NC 28327

Artist: Scott Nurkin

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Carthage is proud to have been the home of the Tyson & Jones Buggy Co. (1850-1929), the largest carriage manufacturing factory in the South. In 1876, the company produced 400 buggies, and in 1890, its most prosperous year, the factory produced 3,000 buggies and had more than 100 employees. The popularity of the automobile led to the demise of the company in 1925. The town hosts the Carthage Buggy Festival on the 2nd Saturday in May each year to celebrate the former Carthage business. Find the hidden objects painted in this mural: Buggy, Key, Clock, Bird, Skull & Crossbones.



Flying Ace Mural in Carthage

Flying for France-James R. McConnell

205 Monroe St, Carthage, NC 28327

Artist: Scott Nurkin

View the Mural in full

James

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Rogers McConnell, who grew up in Carthage, N.C., flew for France in the Lafayette Escadrille during World War I before the United States joined the war. An adventurous spirit, he said, “These Sand Hills will be here forever, but the war won’t; and so I’m going.” The 30-year-old pilot was killed in action during aerial combat with two German planes, shot down above the Somme battlefields. McConnell is buried in a meadow between the villages of Flavy-le-Martel and Jussy in Aisne, France. A museum and the monument honoring him, given by the French government, is now located at the McConnell-Gilliam Airport and a monument honoring him given by US Congress is also here on the Moore County Courthouse lawn.