Lumberton in Robeson County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Thompson Institute

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 1, 2017

1. Thompson Institute Marker

Inscription. Est. 1881 for blacks by Lumber River Bapt. Assoc. Boarding school; trained teachers; named for A.H. Thompson. Succeeded here by public school in 1942.

Erected 2015 by North Carolina Office of Archives and History. (Marker Number I-22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 34° 36.61′ N, 79° 1.298′ W. Marker is in Lumberton, North Carolina, in Robeson County. Marker is on Martin Luther King Jr Drive (State Highway 41) just south of Birch Street, on the right when traveling south. It is in front of the W. H. Knuckles Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1520 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Lumberton NC 28358, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Rural Health Department (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lumberton Bicentennial Park (approx. one mile away); First Hebrew Congregation (approx. one mile away); John Willis (approx. 1.9 miles away); Angus W. McLean (approx. 1.9 miles away); Burnt Swamp Association

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(approx. 7.7 miles away); Honorable Hamilton McMillan (approx. 11.4 miles away); University of N. C. at Pembroke (approx. 11½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lumberton.

Also see . . . Thompson Institute makes history. 2015 article by Sarah Willets in the Robesonian. Includes photographs of the marker dedication ceremony. “‘It is a phenomenal event to know that Robeson County and the state value and honor the contributions of people who served in a very, very hard time in this country,’ said Demetria Taylor, the great-great-granddaughter of the Rev. Alexander H. Thompson, who helped found the Thompson Institute in 1881, along with his nephew Elias Thompson.” (Submitted on March 26, 2017.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 1, 2017

2. Thompson Institute Marker

The Reverend Alexander Hill Thompson, Founder, Lumber River Missionary Baptist Association image. Click for full size.

Robeson County History Museum via Wikipedia Commons

3. The Reverend Alexander Hill Thompson, Founder, Lumber River Missionary Baptist Association

W. H. Knuckles Elementary School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 1, 2017

4. W. H. Knuckles Elementary School

On the site of the former Thompson Institute. Named after William Henry Knuckles, principal of the Thompson Institute from 1910 to 1942.

Dr. William Henry Knuckles Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 1, 2017

5. Dr. William Henry Knuckles Memorial

This monument is located in front of the school, in view of this marker.

Dr. William Henry Knuckles Memorial Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 1, 2017

6. Dr. William Henry Knuckles Memorial Monument

“Dr. William Henry Knuckles, March 6, 1873 – May 4, 1942. Principal, Thompson Institute, 1910–1942. Moderator, Lumber River Baptist Association, 1935–1942.”

Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 737 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.