Hello Again Thomas,
Once again, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to share with my Friends here at Adland and to hopefully make some new ones. There's truly no better way to spend an afternoon or an evening than in the Company of Good Friends.
I also appreciate all of the information you have shared about our wonderful little Town of Thomasville, NC. Although I have only lived here for about five years this time around, I grew up over in High Point, NC, just about 10 minutes up the road, and two of my Uncles lived here for most of their Adult lives, so it's always been like a second home. In addition, when I first went to work with the NC Employment Security Commission in 1975, back during the Real Recession, it was right here in Thomasville, so that time I lived here from 1975-1979, when I was transferred to Winston Salem office. Working at the Employment(Unemployment) office during the height of the Recession, you get to know almost everyone in town. Therefore, you might say that I have loved this small town and the wonderful folks who live here for at least the past 30 years.
As you mentioned, the Town grew up around the Railroad, and sure enough the tracks still run right through the middle of town, thus the reason that this is the only town that I am aware of, that has East Main & West Main running parallel to one another on either side of the tracks. Also, as sure as clockwork, or at least as soon as one of the HS Bands starts playing during the Christmas Parade, you'll hear that Train Whistle blowing, as it crosses Randolph Street, right in the heart of town. As you also mentioned, possibly the Oldest Passenger Depot in NC, built in in 1870, today has been completely refurbished and now serves as the City's Visitor's Center.
The Town of Thomasville was founded in 1852 as a stop along the fledgling North Carolina railroad, and by 1855 burials were made in this cemetery. The City provided hundreds of soldiers to the Confederacy, and grew during the Civil War in part due to its important industries, including one of the Primary sources of Shoes for the Soldiers, and later because of the location here of hospitals and convalescent facilities for soldiers. The Union invasion of North Carolina’s coastal region in 1862 caused the first influx of civilian refuges and wounded soldiers. In March of 1865, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnson established hospitals in a tobacco warehouse and in Thomasville’s Baptist and Methodist churches as his army of Tennessee retreated north. Local citizens ripped out church pews, gathered pine straw for makeshift beds, gathered food, drink and generally assisted in the care of wounded soldiers, both Northern and Southern. Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the hospitals were interred in Thomasville’s City Cemetery side by side. This is the only such gravesite in the United States. Three rows of 12 headstones have the names of the soldiers on them with the exception of the markers for four unknown soldiers.
You mentioned Everybody's Day, which is celebrating it's 100th Year in just about two weeks, on September 27th. The first Everybody’s Day Festival was held in 1908, making Everybody’s Day, North Carolina’s Oldest Festival. Everybody’s Day is always held on the last Saturday of September in downtown Thomasville. Everybody’s Day hosts over 200 arts & craft vendors. The vendors are juried to insure true craftsmanship. Last year: 27% of the vendors came from the Thomasville area, 52% of the vendors were from other parts of North Carolina, and 21% of the vendors were from 6 different states, including Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia & Illinois. Entertainment includes Four Stage, including one especially for the Children. Food and Refreshments are available from over 25 Food Vendors, most of whom are made up of Civic & Church groups, who use the revenue raised for many charitable projects throughout the year.
Thomasville’s central location and well known respect for the military played a key role in the state placing the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial along I-85 in Thomasville. The Memorial is conveniently located at a state maintained rest area and a wreath laying ceremony there kicks off the Memorial Day Celebration each year. By the way, our Memorial Day Celebration is the largest in the State and I believe is the only one to include a Parade.
An alphabetical listing of each North Carolinian killed or missing in Vietnam is etched into the face of the 1,647 bricks that comprise the Memorial. The North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at mile marker 100 off of Interstate Highway 85 between Greensboro, NC and Charlotte, NC. It is approximately 30 miles south of Greensboro, and approximately 5 miles North of the Lexington, NC exit. Access to the memorial is through the rest stop. Handicapped access is provided with a ramp running down to the rear of the memorial itself. Non-handicapped access is by way of a circular stairway running down to the main entrance to the memorial. The memorial is a brick wall with a center panel containing the names of the North Carolinians killed or missing in Vietnam; their country of origin is written at the base of the memorial. A red brick path leads visitors from the main entrance to the park's commemorative plaque then onto the memorial.
Once again, thanks Thomas for allowing me to share some of the many reasons why we are proud to call Thomasville Home. Just a wonderful little Town, full of kind-hearted Folks with strong Family Values and a true sense of Patriotic Pride.
Have An Awesome Week Ahead,
Phil