British troops led by Col. Banastre Tarleton defeated N.C. militia nearby at Swift Creek and 7 mi. N. at Fishing Creek on May 7, 1781. — — Map (db m221797) HM
Landmark N.C. Supreme Court Case, 1834, Gave protection to slaves who killed in self-defense. Will was a slave on the Battle plantation, here. — — Map (db m173393) HM
Newly freed people, 1866, rallied at Hammond’s Hill, here, for voting rights, fair wages, self-defense. Became early grassroots civil rights organization. — — Map (db m257380) HM
Oldest Edgecombe Settlement
Land Patent 1726
Tar River Ferry at mouth of Town Creek 1740
Settlement known as Town Creek in 1730’s; called Sparta prior to 1811; renamed Old Sparta 1903.
Sparta Academy chartered 1829 — — Map (db m257378) HM
In 1777, John Lewelling led religious plot to kill Gov. Caswell. Convicted of treason, he received the state's first pardon. He lived ¾ mile west. — — Map (db m276455) HM
During the Civil War, thousands of slaves escaped to U.S. Army lines, and more than thirty African Americans from Edgecombe County enlisted in the 35th, 36th, and 37th U.S. Colored Troops, 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, and U.S. Navy. After . . . — — Map (db m74138) HM
Timeline of Events
• June 20: Alexander Evans picked up suit of clothes left near trash at 220 West View Park Drive. Residents complain to city and Evans returns clothes to supervisor next day.
• July 5: Evans suspended by city and . . . — — Map (db m226858) HM
A founder in 1908 of Alpha Kappa Alpha,
nation’s oldest sorority for African Americans;
history teacher. Her grave is ¼ mile east. — — Map (db m48677) HM
This marker dedicated on September 1, 2007 memorializes and honors a predominately African American community.
Originally the community was known as around the "Wire" today it is known as the "Y" community. It sprang up in the early 20th . . . — — Map (db m225617) HM
The historically Black community of Kingsboro organized to stop hog slaughterhouse efforts, 1996. Environmental victory. Met ½ mile west. — — Map (db m271694) HM
In 1977, Douglas Franklin Davis began his retail career in Rocky Mount. In 1994 he purchased the building and it became Davis Furniture Company. He always believed in a thriving downtown. He owned three area businesses. Davis was a pioneer in the . . . — — Map (db m97981) HM
Operated the Douglas-Armstrong Drug Company in the Douglas Building that he developed circa 1916: prominently located, three blocks west, at the corner of NE Main St, and E Thomas St. It is the anchor building for the Douglas Block and was the . . . — — Map (db m225623) HM
Former slave. Voted for better roads, schools, and colleges as State representative, 1879, 1887; and State senator, 1889. His home stands here. — — Map (db m225618) HM
The Lincoln Park Historic District , which is located in the northeast section of Rocky Mount, was constructed from 1948 through 1953 featuring single family housing, one restaurant, and motel. The restaurant and motel was owned by Clarence E. . . . — — Map (db m225625) HM
In his speech, Nov. 27, 1962, in gym 200 yards S.E., civil rights leader delivered refrain "I have a dream," used in Lincoln Memorial address, 1963. — — Map (db m225619) HM
Founding Member
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated
Lived in this residence (1926-1857).
Educator - Brick Junior College (1910-1926).
Booker T. Washington High School (1926-1952).
Historian - Annual Negro History Exhibit . . . — — Map (db m225628) HM
Led by African American workers and civil rights coalition, 1978, against sanitation dept., here. It reshaped the labor movement in N.C. — — Map (db m226855) HM
In the early 1930s Thelonious Monk's family moved from NC into a small apartment in Manhattan, the city where Monk spent most of the remainder of his life. Largely self-taught, Monk started his musical activities by age six, and at age ten he began . . . — — Map (db m244720) HM
Born Oct. 10, 1917 at 815 Green St. (aka Red Row), site 75 yds. west-northwest. Son of Thelonious Monk of Sampson County, whose forebears were enslaved on Archibald Monk and Willis Cole plantations near Newton Grove, and Barbara Batts Monk of . . . — — Map (db m226721) HM
The first one purchased by
the
City of Rocky Mount,
1910
Preserved & Mounted
by
Burlington Industries, Inc.
and its Rocky Mount Plants,
1977 — — Map (db m225629)
Confederate general. His brigade fought in last infantry action at Appomattox. Later Congressman; Secretary U.S. Senate. Home here. — — Map (db m44997) HM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park was dedicated on August 25, 2007, commemorating the historic connection between Dr. King and the Rocky Mount community. On November 27, 1962, Dr. King energized a crowd of 1,800 at the Booker T. Washington High . . . — — Map (db m290859) HM
Civil War soldiers and veterans are buried in Calvary Episcopal Churchyard and Old Town Cemetery. Among the fifty Confederates interred in the churchyard are Gen. William Dorsey Pender and Lt. Col. John L. Bridges. In May 1863, Pender led a . . . — — Map (db m45432) HM
South
Erected by his
fellow citizens of the
county of Edgecomb
In Memory of Col. Louis D. Wilson
of the 12. Regt. of U.S.
Infantry,
Who died at Vera Cruz, on his way to join
the American Army in Mexico.
East . . . — — Map (db m254593) HM WM
A key parcel of land was donated for Courthouse Square by W. S. Clark and Sons, Inc. in memory of W. S. Clark, S. N. Clark and D. R. Clark, Tarboro merchants for over 100 years. Funding was provided by the U.S. Heritage Conservation and . . . — — Map (db m226933) HM
(Front):Erected in honor of The Confederate Soldiers of Edgecombe County. "Defenders of State Sovereignty." 1861 C.S.A. 1865 (Back):Erected Oct. 29, 1904 — — Map (db m226812) HM
We dedicate this plaque to our sons and daughters from Edgecombe County who bravely answered their nation's call and gave their lives in defense of freedom.
Let this Memorial and these flags forever honor them and their families, and may . . . — — Map (db m226922) WM
This memorial is dedicated to all past, present and future Veterans of Edgecombe County and
all others who served our nation in war and peace by its grateful citizens — — Map (db m226921) WM
East Tarboro Citizens League formed here June 1963. Led by Dr. Moses Ray. Improved housing, jobs, and voting rights for black residents. — — Map (db m226885) HM
With a reputation as a "soldier's soldier" and as both warrior and peacemaker, Henry Hugh Shelton served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001. Born in Tarboro in 1942 and reared in the Speed Community of Edgecombe County, . . . — — Map (db m226919) HM WM
Represented the state's "Black Second" district, U.S. House, 1897-1901. Last black Southerner in Congress for 72 years.
Lived two blocks east. — — Map (db m45101) HM
Editor of A.M.E. Zion Church papers; orator; a delegate to Methodist world conference; customs collector of Wilmington. Home stood 3 blks. E. — — Map (db m45347) HM
Black farmworkers in region affiliated with labor union, 1886-1890. Precursor to the Fusion movement. State convention held here, 1890. — — Map (db m162779) HM
On July 18, 1861, Union Gen. Edward E. Potter led infantry and cavalry from New Bern to destroy the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad bridge at Rocky Mount. The Infantry feinted toward Kinston and returned to New Bern. Potter raided Greenville, . . . — — Map (db m62211) HM
On July 18, 1863 Union Gen. Edward E. Potter led infantry and cavalry from New Bern to destroy the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad bridge at Rocky Mount. The infantry feinted toward Kinston and retreated to New Bern. Potter raided . . . — — Map (db m168410) HM
Built and operated by Dr. Milton Douglas Quigless, Sr., an African-American physician and surgeon, this hospital offered complete services, an operating room, and a medicine dispensary for outpatients. When desegregation became a national law, . . . — — Map (db m290868) HM
St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church was organized
on the fourth Sunday in March 1866 under
the leadership of George C. Caine.
The house of worship was erected on the
corner of St. David and Granville Streets
in 1869.
We are grateful to . . . — — Map (db m46638) HM
On September 20, 1999, as a result of Hurricane Floyd, two thirds of downtown Tarboro was under water. It was here at the edge of the flood waters that President Bill Clinton and Governor Jim Hunt addressed the citizens of Tarboro and the national . . . — — Map (db m226888) HM
The original Charters of Freedom are on display in The Rotunda at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.
The United States Constitution was adopted September 17, . . . — — Map (db m290861) HM
Confederate major general; graduate of U.S. Military Academy, 1854. Mortally wounded at Gettysburg, age 29. Grave is 4 blocks east. — — Map (db m44899) HM
Editor "Colonial Records of North Carolina," Confederate colonel, N.C. Secretary of State, 1879-91. His grave is four blocks east. — — Map (db m46603) HM
Established for blacks in 1895 through philanthropy of Mrs. Joseph K. Brick; became junior college in 1926. Closed, 1933. Buildings stood here. — — Map (db m221575) HM
