Located on a semicircular drive in front of York's Rose Hill Cemetery. South Carolina the first to…read moresecede and form the Confederate States of America. A large number of battles took place in SC and a large number of dead and wounded were from the state. The granite monument is in very good condition. Perhaps 20 feet tall, on the front below crossed swords, "Lest We Forget, 1861-1865, Our Confederate Dead." On the next side, "Those for whom they died, Have erected this Monument, To recall To their Children and, Fellow country men, How worthily they lived, How nobly they died, And in what tender reverence, Their memory survives." Unlike other monuments, there is no soldier at the top. I do not know if the land where it stands is public or privately owned. [Review 13888 overall, 1210 of 2020, number 648 in South Carolina.]

This marker is located at the intersection of Gold Hill Road and North Carolina Route 73. It…read morerecalls an early clergyman in the area. It reads, "Samuel Suther. Early minister of German Reformed Church in N.C., 1768-1782. Preached at Coldwater Union Church which stood 500 yards north." Online, there is more information. "As with many of North Carolina's early immigrants, Samuel Suther arrived in the western piedmont with the tide of Germans moving southward along the Great Wagon Road. Born in Switzerland, Suther arrived in 1738 after a shipwreck off the coast of Virginia claimed the lives of his family members. He moved to Philadelphia where he taught German and then to Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he began serving as a German Reformed minister for Lutheran and Reformed congregations in both North and South Carolina. In 1768, he was ordered from his post at Coldwater Church in modern Cabarrus County by Governor William Tryon to preach to the Rowan and Mecklenburg militia during the War of the Regulation." "By 1771, Suther had moved to present-day Guilford County to preach to a combined congregation at Low's Lutheran Church. An outspoken proponent for the rights of colonists to protest English government, Suther, through his activism, forced a break in the congregation. The resulting split led to Suther and his followers leaving Low's to form their own church, Brick Church, near the site of the Battle of Alamance. Because of his patriotic fervor and his Revolutionary message, Suther and his congregation were targets for Loyalist attacks that eventually drove him from his home and destroyed his farm. After the war, Suther returned to Coldwater Church and others in that region before returning to South Carolina two years before his death in 1788." "Suther is credited by scholars as being the driving force for the survival of the German Reformed Church in North Carolina, owing to his efforts to seek support of northern Reformed congregations for their southern brethren who were struggling to keep the church alive in the face of war." [Review 14393 overall, 1718 of 2020, number 2718 in North Carolina.]

This marker stands just over the railroad tracks near the Fort Mill Historic District and provides…read moremuch context of the founding and initial settlement of the city. Fort Mill is the first city south of Charlotte, North Carolina. The front of the marker reads, "Fort Mill was established on land received in 1787 by Thomas Spratt, one of the first settlers in this area. According to local tradition, the 4,535-acre tract in Catawba Indian territory was given Spratt by the Catawbas who were grateful for his assistance in routing the Shawnees from their lands." The reverse of the marker reads, "Fort Mill is said to have taken its name from Webb's Grist Mill and a Catawba Indian fort near here. The post office was established in 1811 and named Fort Mill in 1833. Fort Mill Mfg. Co. (now Springs Mills) began here in 1887. Area native Leroy Springs later became its president. By the time of his death in 1931, Springs was a nationally-known textile magnate." This is marker number 46-21 and it was erected in 1982 by the York County Historical Commission. Fort Mill is the seat of York County. There is parking here to stop and read both sides of the marker. [Review 50 of 2025 - 1239 in South Carolina - 23619 overall]

This state marker points out the first store in the Belks chain, which began here in Monroe. The…read moremarker reads, "William Henry Belk, 1862-1952, Merchant, philanthropist, and Presbyterian layman. Opened first store, May 29, 1888, two blocks east." Online, there is more information. "William Henry Belk, merchant and founder of the department store chain that bears his name, was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina, in 1862 to Abel and Sarah Belk. His father was drowned by Union general William T. Sherman's troops in 1865. Eight years later the family moved to Monroe. At age fourteen Belk went to work in a dry goods store. At twenty-six he struck out on his own. Belk called his first store "The New York Racket," believing it "sounded big." Soon after its opening on May 29, 1888, Belk painted the slogan "Cheapest Store on Earth" on the side of the two-story brick building." "Belk adopted several innovations such as trading on a cash-only basis and refusing to haggle, as was then common practice. W. H. Belk was the sole proprietor of the business until 1891. In that year he was joined in the operation by his brother Dr. John Belk and the name was changed to W. H. Belk and Bro. The original building was replaced in 1941 with a new, larger structure on the same site. The "Mother Store of the Belk Stores" operated there until it was moved to a mall location in 1979." "The effects of W. H. Belk's merchandising skills have been felt in practically every North Carolina city and town. The Belk stores were unique in that they were not chain stores or franchises in the usual sense, but in that there was a local part-owner for each store, thus Belk-Leggett, Belk-Hudson, and the like. In time Belk stores, headquartered in Charlotte, numbered nearly 400 businesses in sixteen states throughout the South. The organization is the largest family- and management-owned department store operation in the nation with nearly two billion dollars in annual sales. William Henry Belk's "genius as a merchant" was hailed during his lifetime, and, through the store name, remains well-known to this day. Less well-remembered perhaps are Belk's philanthropic efforts and his devout Presbyterianism." [Review 15442 overall, 946 of 2021, number 2989 in North Carolina.]

This simple granite memorial pays tribute to an important heroine of the American Revolution…read more Largely forgotten, which is shameful. The former McDowell estate here on South Tryon has since been subdivided into a number of different housing developments. Their 200 year old house was since demolished as well to make way for "progress." https://theoldhouselife.com/2018/04/16/demolished-to-make-room-for-townhomes-charlotte-nc/ The stone reads, "1780. In memoriam. Jane Parks. Wife of Captain John McDowell who rode 10 perilous miles to notify American camp of British evacuation of Charlotte. Erected by Mecklenburg Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution." Online, there is more information. "In October of 1780 when a detachment of British troops, that were stationed in Charlotte, were pulling out and heading to South Carolina. At this time in the American Revolution, Savannah and Charleston had already surrendered to British control so it's anyone's guess where these forces were headed (Charlotte was always hostile to the British forces, which is why Cornwallis referred to it as a hornet's nest). As they were heading south, the ran across the McDowell plantation." "After they left, Jane Parks McDowell rode ten miles on horseback, with her baby, to alert the Continental troops that the British were evacuating Charlotte, NC. This allowed them to saddle up, head them off for an attack. Long considered the female Paul Revere. Her house stood quietly and unnoticed for over a century until BNA Homes decided townhomes needed to built on the 16 acres where the house stood." #InternationalWomensDay [Review 14764 overall, 265 of 2021, number 2815 in North Carolina.]

This marker is under a tree and so it's not in great condition. It's also hard to read if you're…read morezipping by. I was able to park in the nearby church lot and walk over. The marker reads, "Whig general, was killed at Cowan's Ford, Feb. 1, 1781. Davidson College and Davidson County are named for him." Davidson College: https://www.yelp.com/biz/davidson-college-davidson Online, as is usual with North Carolina's brief markers, there is more information. "William Lee Davidson, for whom both Davidson County and of Davidson College are named, was born in 1746 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of George Davidson, an Irish immigrant. William's mother apparently died in childbirth, and George Davidson joined the migration from Pennsylvania to the Piedmont of North Carolina, eventually settling along Davidson's Creek in Iredell County. When his father died in 1760, William was placed under the care of Alexander Osborn and John Brevard, two of the wealthiest men in the area. Under their patronage, Davidson attended Sugaw Creek Academy near Charlotte and studied under Alexander Craighead. In 1767, Davidson married Mary Brevard, John's daughter, and sister of Ephraim Brevard, one of the authors of the Mecklenburg Resolves." "On February 1, 1781, Davidson's militia forces attempted to delay Cornwallis's crossing of the Catawba River at Cowan's Ford. His men held against a vastly numerical superior force until Davidson fell dead from multiple gunshots." "Davidson's death was much lamented in the American ranks. Described as the "chief instrument relied upon by Greene for the assemblage of the militia," Davidson was remembered as "a man of popular manners, pleasing address, active and indefatigable." His pistols, sword, and wallet were taken by British forces and given to Cornwallis after the skirmish. They are on display at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in Greensboro." Quite the Continental hero. Much respect. [Review 13393 overall, 712 of 2020.]

This roadside marker recalls Colonial Times and has an adjacent stone marker…read more The historical marker reads, "Formed 1768, named for Governor William Tryon. Divided in 1779 into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties. Courthouse stood here." Online, there is more information. "In 1768, the Colonial Assembly acted upon the entreaties of Mecklenburg County citizens who complained about having to travel long distances to the county court as a result of the county's immense size. The decision was made to divide Mecklenburg County into two separate counties: Mecklenburg and Tryon. In 1779, the General Assembly voted to do away with Tryon County, dividing the land into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties. Tryon was serving as a British officer at the time, and citizens desperately wanted the county name changed to reflect their Patriotic sentiments. Lincoln County was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln of the Continental Army while Rutherford was named for North Carolina militia leader Griffith Rutherford." The stone marker notes, "Here in August 1775 was formulated and signed the Tryon County Declaration of Rights and Independence from British Tyranny. The following were signers..." and there is a list of 50 patriots below. On the opposite side, "Home of Christian Mauney. Pioneer and Patriarch, 1770. Site of Tryon Court House, 1774 to 1783. Camp of Lord Cornwallis and British Army, January 23 1781. Erected by descendants of Christian Mauney and their friends, 1919 W.A. Mauney Chairman." The Tryonota Volunteer Fire Department structure is nearby. I do not see any signs of the former courthouse from the roadside. [Review 13734 overall, 1054 of 2020, number 2511 in North Carolina.]

This marker is located not far from one entrance to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and…read morearound the corner from the Air National Guard site and the Sullenberger Museum. It points out the history of this site. There isn't parking nearby but it's a quiet corner where you can briefly stop to read the marker. It reads the same on both sides, "Morris Field. A U.S. Army air base, 1941-1946. Named for Maj. William Morris, WWI pilot. The 5,000 acre facility became airport at this site." Online, there is more information. "Morris Field was a U.S. Army Air Corps base at Charlotte during World War II. It was one of nine military airfields in North Carolina during the conflict. The airport began as a municipal airfield in the 1930s. Originally, Charlotte was served by a small, privately-owned airstrip known as the Charlotte Airport (later known as Cannon Field), which utilized the old airstrip constructed during World War I as part of the army base, Camp Greene. The postwar private airport provided only limited service, however, and Charlotte mayor Ben E. Douglas pushed for the creation of a municipal airfield. The city received funding for the construction of an airport by the Works Progress Administration in 1935. By mid-1937, the project was completed, and the facility was opened as the Charlotte Municipal Airport, with Eastern Airlines offering scheduled passenger service. "In April 1941, the airport was taken over by the U.S. Army Air Corps and was renamed the Charlotte Army Air Base. It was initially a small operation with only three runways. It served as a training facility for pilots and gunners and also as a center for maintenance and repair. Following the outbreak of World War II, the base was renamed in January 1942, this time as Morris Field, after Major William Colb Morris (1891-1939). A native of Harrisburg, N.C., Morris was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and had served as a flight instructor and as a pilot during World War I. "During the war, Morris Field expanded in size with many new buildings added. The Army invested over $5 million in improvements to the facility, and the base proved to be a major boost to the local economy. Various units rotated in and out of the base for periods of duty lasting several months each. The base published its own newspaper and broadcast a weekly radio show. Some commercial aviation continued to operate from the north side of the airfield. In 1946, the U.S. Army closed Morris Field and the airport reverted back to Charlotte, resuming its prewar name of the Charlotte Municipal Airport. Many of the wartime barracks and other military buildings were remodeled into apartments as the city faced a postwar housing shortage. In 1954, it was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport to honor the mayor who was responsible for the airport's original creation, and it became Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 1982. It is still in operation today." This is marker number L-118. It was erected by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History in 2021. [Review 2030 of 2024 - 3742 in North Carolina - 23051 overall]