This marker is located in front of the Masonic Home for Children and points out the currently…read moreoperating facility. There isn't really room to park but the wide driveway of the orphanage has space for a quick stop and photo. The marker reads, "Opened by Masons, 1873, with John H. Mills first head, in plant of St. Johns College, which they had operated, 1858-1861." Online, there is more information. "The Oxford Orphanage began when the statewide organization of Masons, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, passed a resolution in 1847 indicating that a seminary of learning should be created to educate children, whether poor or rich, whether orphan or not. The committee assigned to create the school proposed that astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, electricity and application to machinery, various processes of manufactures, metallurgy, natural history and engineering be taught. The Masons wanted the students at their school to have as good an education as could be attained anywhere in the nation. On June 24, 1855, the anniversary of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the cornerstone of St. John's College was laid. The building was completed in December 1857 and opened on July 13, 1858. From the outset the school was unsuccessful. The campus was offered to the state for use as a military school, but, during the war years, served only to house squatters or war refugees. "John H. Mills in December 1872 suggested that the school should be turned into an orphanage. Trustees accepted his proposal and the former St. John's College became the first permanent orphanage in North Carolina. Mills moved onto campus and remained in the post until 1884. In February 1873 the first orphans, Robert L. and Nancy Parrish and Isabelle Robertson, took up residence. In the first year of operation, the orphanage welcomed 136 children, 109 of whom remained at the close of the year. The name of the institution was changed in 1923 to Oxford Orphanage and, in 1994, to the Masonic Home for Children. In 2000 the home launched an ambitious campaign to attain state licensing, improve and expand services, and construct a set of new, handicapped-accessible one-story cottages." This is marker number G-7 and it was first cast in 1936. [Review 2129 of 2024 - 3797 in North Carolina - 23148 overall]

Oxford Orphanage gets and deserves a 5 STAR - GREAT rating. Why someone would give it a 3 star…read morerating shows just how low our humanity has sunken. Take my word for it. I grew up there over 40 years ago. I left with a good head on my shoulders and have made myself a wonderful and productive life. I am educated, upper middle class, contribute to the community and world I live in, treat everyone as with dignity and respect. I am an E-level manager in the corporate world as many of my former classmates are. Most importantly, I left there with a sense of purpose and am happy with life and live in the present. I'm 60 now, but will never forget my roots as Oxford Orphanage paved the way for me to live a life that is reflective of it's founders back in 1873. One of contribution, caring for my fellow human beings, and a drive to be the best I can be in this world. I encourage those at the now MHCO to do what I did. Dream the biggest dream you can....and go for it. God bless all the Masons of NC for creating this magnificent place to begin a wonderful journey. I left with 100 dollars and a new suitcase the evening I graduated and have built a rich life full of love and contribute to my church, community, fellow-man, and the world I live in. Yelp, please remove the 3 star rating left by Bruce K. He obviously doesn't have a soul. THANK YOU to all my counselors, teachers, and administrators that taught me the respect for humanity and to have a spine. Kindly, Eric Earle / Class of 1984

This marker is located along US-158 between Oxford and Roxboro. It points out the namesake of North…read moreCarolina's Person County. There is room to stop here to read the marker. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Leader of popular movements: Regulation, Revolution, and Antifederalism. His home in Goshen stood five miles north." Online, there is more information. "Thomas Person, a North Carolina political leader from Granville County, was born in Virginia in 1733. His father, William Person, was the first sheriff of Granville County after moving his family to North Carolina around 1740. Person is best known for his involvement in three integral parts of North Carolina history: the Regulator Movement, the American Revolution, and North Carolina's admission to the United States of America. "Person acted as both justice of the peace and sheriff before representing Granville County in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1764. At the outbreak of the Regulator Movement, Governor William Tryon ordered Person to be jailed in Hillsborough, despite his absence from the Battle of Alamance. Person was considered a high powered and influential figure within the movement, and was charged but exonerated due to lack of evidence. Person was called upon during the Third Provincial Congress to persuade former Regulators to join the Revolutionary cause. "Remaining actively involved in politics before the Revolutionary War, Person represented Granville County in each of the five North Carolina Provincial Congresses. He played a vital role in the Congresses, sitting on most important committees, including the committee that drafted the Halifax Resolves in April 1776. Person also contributed to the planning of the state constitution of 1776. After the Halifax Resolves were adopted and North Carolina declared its independence from Great Britain, Thomas Person was elected brigadier general of the Hillsborough district militia, but returned to state government as the "radical" faction leader after 1776. "Following the Patriot victory in the Revolutionary War, Person continued his representation in the North Carolina House of Commons, acting as an Anti-Federalist leader. Person strongly opposed the ratification of the federal constitution, voting against it in the Hillsborough convention of 1788 and the Fayetteville convention of 1789. He fought for equality and justice in government, fearing the effects on the poor of federal taxes. "At the time of his death, Person owned over 65,000 acres in ten counties in North Carolina and an additional 16,000 acres in Tennessee. Additionally, in present-day Halifax County, Person operated a tavern and inn, Person's Ordinary, which existed from around 1700. Person lived at "Goshen" plantation in Granville County until his old age, at which time he moved to another house in Warren County where he was buried after his death in 1800." This is marker number G-17. It was erected in 1972 by the State Department of Archives and History. [Review 2473 of 2024 - 3927 in North Carolina - 23485 overall]

A great spot for this marker, it's at the intersection and you have something to read and ponder as…read moreyou wait for the traffic light to turn on to US-501. The marker reads, "Trading Path. Colonial trading route, dating from 17th century, from Petersburg, Virginia, to Catawba and Waxhaw Indians in Carolina passed nearby." Online, there is more information. "In North Carolina, the early history of the colony is replete with stories of the reliance by colonists upon Indian trade and trading routes, and the consequent establishment of villages where they engaged in bartering. Such routes were well known, well marked, and well trodden. The Occaneechi Path, stretching from Petersburg, Virginia, to the Waxhaws region, was one of a hundred such trails running throughout the state and the southeast. But the Trading Path was the central highway, the most fabled route, the interstate of its day. (Its course approximates that of Interstate 85.) "The course of the Trading Path entered North Carolina near present-day Norlina, then passed through Bullock, northern Durham County, Hillsborough, Mebane, Alamance, Julian, central Randolph County, Denton, western Davidson County, Salisbury, and Concord. In Mecklenburg County the path forked, with a spur to Indian Trail and Waxhaw, and another to Charlotte and Pineville." This is marker number G-32 and it was erected in 1941 by the Division of Archives and History. [Review 2163 of 2024 - 3820 in North Carolina - 23182 overall]

This marker is located just before the intersection with a couple of others. It is easily legible…read moreand there is room on the side of the road to stop to read it. The marker reads, "Stephen B. Weeks. Historian, bibliographer, collector of North Carolina books and manuscripts, professor at Trinity College, 1891-93. Grave 6 miles northeast" Online, there is more information. "Stephen Beauregard Weeks, considered the first professional North Carolina historian, was born on February 2, 1865, near Nixonton to James E. and Mary L. Weeks. His parents died at an early age and Weeks was raised by his father's sister and her family. A prolific writer, Weeks produced nearly two hundred books and articles. In addition, he avidly collected material related to North Carolina, amassing a library of over 9,000 items. At his death, the University of North Carolina purchased his collection forming the special collections now housed in Wilson Library. The Raleigh News & Observer editorialized his death: "There is little reward of a financial kind in ransacking old libraries and musty correspondence files to establish the facts of history. But few men have wrought more capably and helpfully for the State than he did and the heritage of duty faithfully and efficiently rendered is more to be prized than great riches."" This is marker number G-50 and it was erected in 1949 by the Archives, Conservation, and Highway Departments. [Review 2164 of 2024 - 3821 in North Carolina - 23183 overall]

Ona corner in front of a gas station and Pizza Hut, this marker points out the success of a former…read moreslave who definitely went on to do great things. And let's keep in mind - this is the South! The marker reads, "Henry P. Cheatham. 1857-1935. Born into slavery. U.S. Congressman, 1889-1893. Superintendent of Colored Orphanage of N.C., 1907-1935. Grave 8/10 mi. northeast" Online, there is more information. "Born into slavery, Henry Plummer Cheatham represented North Carolina in Congress during the late nineteenth century and helped establish and lead the Colored Orphan Asylum in Oxford. A mulatto, Cheatham--the son of a house slave and her master--was born on December 27, 1857. His father appears to have shielded the young man from slavery and saw to his education. After the death of his father, Cheatham was encouraged by another white man, Robert A. Jenkins, to attend Shaw University in Raleigh. He graduated in 1882 with honors. Although he read law in the office of Robert E. Hancock Jr., Cheatham never practiced. Upon graduation he was appointed principal of the Plymouth Normal School, but his career in education was diverted by the call to politics. "In 1884 Henry Cheatham was elected Vance County Register of Deeds. Rising to prominence in the Republican Party, he became the party's nominee for Congress from the Second District in 1888. In that capacity Cheatham defeated the white incumbent Furnifold M. Simmons. He was reelected to the seat in 1890, but subsequent attempts were not successful. In 1896, in a bitter internal Republican Party race, he was defeated by his brother-in-law, George White. "President William McKinley appointed Henry Cheatham recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, an office which he held from 1897 until 1901. Cheatham returned to his native North Carolina and, in 1907, became superintendent of the orphanage that he had helped to establish years earlier. Under his leadership the institution dramatically expanded and improved its facilities and programs. He served the orphanage until his death in 1935. Cheatham was married twice, to Louise Cherry who died in 1889, and to Laura Joyner. He had five children. Henry Cheatham is buried in Harrisburg Cemetery in Oxford." You can stop at the gas station to view the marker. [Review 2412 of 2024 - 3868 in North Carolina - 23425 overall]

I wanted to make sure others got a different perspective of the Henderson, NC SSN office as my…read moreexperience was outstanding. From the security officer who was polite when I walked in to Ms Horne, who walked me through all of my questions. She was also very candid as to what services they can and cannot provide and I believe that is where a lot of frustration as a consumer comes in as they aren't able to assist with the general usage of the online website, which can be very confusing and frustrating to an end-user. As someone who had spent multiple hours on hold with the 800 number, it was refreshing to speak with a helpful, cordial person face-to-face!

Very unprofessional an rude the only person I've encountered here that is pleasent to deal with is…read moreMr Thomas. All his other staff members are VERY VERY VERY RUDE. If they don't like there jobs then they should go elsewhere. This type of business deals with customer service. If you can't deal with it or not a people person then find another profession.