The Original Marion North Carolina

          Here’s a story I bet you didn’t know.  It has to do with Marion, North Carolina.  No, not that Marion.  I’m talking about the original Marion that almost became the County Seat of Davidson County. 

          On November 22, 1822, Joseph Spurgeon introduced a bill in the North Carolina Senate to divide Rowan County.  The official Act establishing a separate and distinct county by the name of Davidson was formally ratified by the General Assembly on December 9, 1822.

          The citizens of Lexington assumed that their town would be named the new County Seat.  Lexington was the oldest and only established town in the new county.  A provisional court was often held in Lexington and the townspeople were confident that only the formalities needed to be addressed before Lexington became Davidson County’s Seat of Government, but the good people of Lexington were about to be disappointed.

          The General Assembly wanted new County Seats to be located as near as possible to the geographic center of the county.  A survey was made and it was determined that the geographic center of Davidson County was located on the farm of Martin Owens, in present day Holly Grove.  On April 17, 1823, the county purchased 108 acres from Mr. Owens for the sum of $300.  The land was laid off in lots and an auction was held.  Many lots were sold in the new County Seat which had already been given a name.  Frances Marion was a Revolutionary War hero known as the “Swamp Fox.”  The new County Seat of Davidson County would be named Marion, North Carolina.

          The people of Lexington were not happy with this unexpected turn of events.  One of Lexington’s leading citizens, Dr. William R. Holt, decided to do something about it.  The town’s first physician, an 1817 University of North Carolina graduate, had moved to Lexington in 1920.  Dr. Holt, a close friend of John Motley Morehead, was an influential and persuasive man.  His beautiful 1834 Greek Revival home, “The Homestead,” remains an active and charming residence to this day.

 

He took the matter to court arguing that the results of the survey were in error.  On October 30, 1823, the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions ordered that the survey maps and papers be turned over to Dr. Holt “in order that he may have the center of Davidson County ascertained, certified and delivered” to the General Assembly by no less than, “The President of the University,” the Rev. Dr. Joseph Caldwell. 

A former professor of mathematics, Dr. Caldwell was President of the University of North Carolina from 1804 to 1833.  He was widely known in the Carolinas for his expertise as the “Astronomical Advisor” for the running of the boundary between North and South Carolina and Georgia in 1807.  An “Astronomical Advisor” was an expert in establishing boundaries. He was the most qualified man in the state to settle the Davidson County Seat controversy.

A former student of Dr. Caldwell, Dr. Holt persuaded him to disqualify the original survey.  We are not sure how Dr. Holt did it, but his friendship with his old professor certainly helped!   He could not, however, convince his aging old friend that Lexington was the geographic center of the new county, primarily because it was not.

          Dr. Caldwell was not unsympathetic to the needs of one of his former star pupils.  He stated that as long as the Courthouse was within five miles of the center of the county, there should be no problem.  He went on to argue that the County Seat should be placed in an established town so that the county folk upon visiting the town might return home “with improved feelings, minds enlarged, information increased, their various business in courts and stores finished to their minds, and their publick (sic) spirit, gratified and excited by the scene of general activity and prosperity.”

          Unfortunately for Lexington, the people who had purchased lots in the new town of Marion were not persuaded by the enlightened Chapel Hill rhetoric.  They demanded another survey which was done, but the results favored neither side.

It was finally decided that an election would determine the location of Davidson County’s Seat of Government.  Representatives from the new county needed to be elected for the State Legislature and the “hot button” issue quickly became the location of the County Seat.  A vote for Alexander Caldcleugh for State Senate would be a vote for Lexington.  A vote for I. Smith would be a vote for Marion.  In the State House, Jesse Hargrave of Lexington was running against William Bodenhamer who was an advocate for Marion.  Caldcleugh won his election by four votes (409 to 405) and Hargrave was victorious by two votes (649-647).    The men still faced a fight in Raleigh, but they were successful in establishing Lexington as the County Seat of Davidson County. 

The land that had been sold in Marion was purchased back by the county.  Davidson County later used the land that was once part of Martin Owens’ farm to build the County Home.  Today, the Davidson County Schools Administrative Offices are located on this property.  Close by you will find the only reminder of what almost became Marion, North Carolina, a street named Marion Drive.

When McDowell County in the western part of the state was formed in 1843, a similar controversy arose between those who wanted the new County Seat to be in the established town of Buck Creek and those who wanted to create a new town at the county’s geographic center.  In this case, a new town was created and on March 14, 1844, there was finally a County Seat named Marion.  It’s located in the geographic center of McDowell County.

But aren’t you glad Lexington became the County Seat of Davidson County.  After all, Marion just wouldn’t do. They didn’t know how to barbecue!

 

                  

DID I SAY THAT!

       I’m preaching a revival this week at Paul’s Chapel UCC Church.  The revival started Sunday night and will continue through Tuesday.  I’m doing the preaching and the church has invited a different gospel group each night to sing.  Last night a local gospel bluegrass group named “Second Chance” provided the music.  They were very good.  If you like bluegrass, you will love “Second Chance.”  After “Second Chance” finished their selections, a young lady sang a solo. 

       When it was time for me to preach I started by thanking the congregation for the opportunity to be with them, then I thanked the ones who provided special music.  I made a mental note of the young lady’s name before I stood up, but as I was starting to say something about the music I realized I had forgotten her name.  But at the last minute it came to me and I thanked her (calling her by the right name) for the wonderful solo.  At that point I also thanked the gospel group—or at least I thought I did.  Joyce told me after the service.  “Do you realize what you said?  You didn’t thank “Second Chance” but “Second Wind!” 

       Many of you know “Second Wind.”  Alan Williams and Mark Motlow are two of the band members.  But they were not playing at Paul’s Chapel on Sunday night—“Second Chance” was.  The visiting preacher, however, got up and talked about how wonderful “Second Wind” could play.

       Did I say that!    I guess I did.  I’m getting old you know—or at least that’s my excuse. 

       I’ve always had a fear of calling someone by the wrong name at a wedding or a funeral.  I’ve done hundreds of weddings and funerals through the years, but so far I’ve called people by the right name.  (As far as I know!) 

I did a wedding years ago for a fellow named Norton.   Only problem was Norton was not his real name.  His real name was Paul Lathan, but no one knew that—except his mother who insisted I call him by his given name.  So when the wedding started I announced that we were there to witness the wedding of Paul Lathan and his bride,  The congregation gasped.  They were sure I had called him by the wrong name.  Only his mother knew why Paul Lathan was getting married rather than Norton.

       So thank you “Second Chance” and thank you “Second Wind.”  You can call me Ray!

TCBBQ

 

            Have you seen the promotional brochures and the posters for the 30^th Annual Barbecue Festival?  Over the image of the old courthouse you will see a banner that reads:  TCBBQ—Takin’ Care of Barbecue.  I was intrigued by the new slogan so I contacted Stephanie Saintsing Naset, the festival’s executive director who told me that the clever acronym was created with Elvis Presley in mind as he had adopted “Takin’ Care of Business” (TCB) as his personal motto.  His band was named the TCB Band and he even had TCB painted on the tail of his private jet.  In Lexington we “TCB—BQ,” we take care of BBQ!

            Two weeks from today over 175,000 people will pack the streets of Lexington town to celebrate our signature product—pork barbecue.  (Of course its pork!  Is there any other?)  From the day old Simon Peter had his vision on the rooftop in Joppa and God announced: “Q is good for you!  Take and eat with a little red slaw.”  (Lexington Standard Version), to BBQ pioneers Jesse Swicegood and Sid Weaver, and to today’s plethora of Barbecue establishments in and around town, that simmering, delectable, slow cooked pork shoulder just gets better and better.  Thirty years ago Dispatch Publisher Joe Sink along with Kay Saintsing created the first Barbecue Festival.  From the very beginning the festival has been much more than our delicious barbecue; it has been a celebration of community, a venue to share talents and crafts, a showcase for entertainment, and an affirmation of what is right with our world. 

            Lexington barbecue developed out of a basic need.  As the county seat of Davidson County, people would flock to town on court days.  They came not just to seek justice, but to shop in the stores, obtain professional services, and enjoy the fellowship of friends and family.  There were not enough restaurants to accommodate the large crowds, so entrepreneuring individuals decided to provide temporary food services.  They would dig a pit in the ground where they would slow roast pork shoulders over hickory wood.  Lexington barbecue was born!  The first official “restaurant” opened in 1919 when Sid Weaver set up a tent in the center of town.  Jesse Swicegood soon followed, and today there are over twenty barbecue restaurants that TCBBQ!

            Last Sunday was World Communion Sunday and I couldn’t help but notice the connection with our upcoming BBQ Festival.  Both celebrations focus on a table that brings people together.  A big, big table---it takes a big table to serve BBQ for 175,000 and an even bigger table for all God’s children to gather as they receive the bread and wine.  Both tables address basic needs:  the need for nourishment for our physical bodies and the need for spiritual nourishment for our souls. Both tables invite the creation of community.

            The table of our Lord is a table of love, mercy, and grace.  We come to the Lord’s table out of great need.  We need the Lord.  We need his mercy and grace that we find at his table.  But there are so many more people who are not in our churches.  Many are suffering.  They have medical needs.  Children are hungry and there are those who need encouragement and a helping hand. As we shared the bread and wine this past Sunday, I challenged my congregation to take God’s mercy and grace out of the walls of the sanctuary to the community where people are in need. If they are not coming to the Lord’s table, we will take the table to them.

Two weeks from today it will be my great joy to “Bless the BBQ” as part of the Opening Ceremony.  What I’m really doing is simply expressing gratitude to God, because he has already blessed us with a loving and caring community that loves to throw a party.  We’ll be ready to welcome the tens of thousands of guests who come to the celebration.  Don’t worry, we know how to TCBBQ.  We also TCGPT.  We’ll take care of God’s people, too!