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A Multi-Perspective Look at Catawba County, North Carolina

Candace Witherspoon

ELED 3223 003
Spring 2014


Please choose crl + click on your mouse the URL below
in order to access my digital museum website

http://witherspoon2014.weebly.com





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Have you visited Mayberry lately? I would assume your answer would be no since
Mayberry is the fictional hometown of The Andy Griffith Show. However, if you have ever
been to Catawba County, one might believe they were in the actual town of Mayberry. It is a
place where everybody knows everybody, and waves even if they dont. Its a place where
yes mam and yes sir are frequently used. A place where your neighbor would give you the
shirt off their back, and you would do the same. Its also my hometown. I have lived here
my entire life; my parents have lived here their entire life, and their parents before them.
During my time living here, I have never explored the many wonders that the great county I
live in has to offer past and present.
Catawba County is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and is named
after the Catawba Indians who once inhabited the land. According to Preslar (1954),
Perhaps nowhere in the history of North America does an area owe more to a particular
tribe of Indians than do Catawbans to the Catawba Indians (p. 25). The county was
established on December 12, 1842 (Catawba County Government, 2014). Its host to eight
municipalities. These cities and towns include Brookford, Catawba, Claremont, Conover,
Hickory, Long View, Maiden, and Newton. The Catawba County seal, which was adopted in
1925, is a shield divided into four different parts. The seal represents the national colors of
red, white and blue, and a fourth color of purple (Catawba County Government, 2014). The
purple represents the three national colors blended together to form a royal purple. The
four emblems inside of the countys shield are the cross, which represents religion; the cow
that represents the importance of farming in the county; the torch that represents
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education; and the wheel to represent the major manufacturing done within the county
(Catawba County Government, 2014).
Economics in Catawba County:
As late as 1900, farming has been one of the largest contributors in Catawba
Countys economic growth. Agriculture continues to prevail in the area today, and ranks
first among others in North Carolina in farm production.
Preslar (1954) states the following:
It is indeed fortunate that Catawba has such a stable basic economic element. History has
proved, particularly in the instances of the reconstruction period following the War
Between the States and the great depression of the 1930s, that reliance on the soil as a
means of livelihood has just reward. The countys people never have suffered at length due
to adverse national and international economic conditions. (p. 50)
A few of the main crops grown throughout the county are corn, wheat, and
soybeans. In recent years, the government of Catawba County has developed many plans in
order to keep farming alive throughout the county. The local farm and sustainability plan of
2014 states for the county to, Develop a plan for sustaining agricultural land in Catawba
County with a focus on agricultural economic development to recruit younger farmers and
provide tools for farm transitioning in the County.
Within the past 75 years the largest economic factor of Catawba County has been
manufacturing. Even more so, the city of Hickory was once known as The Furniture Capital
of the Nation. The demand of furniture exploded in Hickory during World War II. The U.S
government used the developing furniture plants of Hickory to manufacture and supply
ammunition boxes for the military (Hickory, North Carolina 6). By 1961, Hickory housed
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forty-six furniture plants, eighty-nine hosiery mills, and twenty-seven other types of
manufacturing plants. (Hart, 2014). Although many furniture plants in the area were forced
to shut down due to outsourcing in other countries, Hickory still remains as one of the top
cities in production of furniture in the United States.
Education in Catawba County:
In Catawba County, education has always been a highly valued character component
of society. One of the first schoolhouses was built in the county as early as the 1700s. Back
then, the only two qualifications to become a teacher was to have good handwriting and the
ability to whip well (Preslar, 1954, p. 127). Also at this time, the content focus at schools
was known as the three Rs: readin, ritin, and rithmetic (Preslar, 1954, p. 128).
Once the town of Claremont was developed, in 1884, education became more
prevalent (Claremont Elementary, 2014). The Towns original name was Charlottes
Crossing but was later changed to Claremont because the previous name resembled too
much of the city of Charlotte. The first school in the city of Claremont was built in the
1890s. These days of schooling were much different than they are today. The students of
the school did most of their lessons orally and did very little writing; most of the learning
was memorizing facts (Claremont Elementary, 2014). In 1913 the school district voted to
build a new elementary school, where the present Claremont Elementary is today. The men
hired for building the new school were only given one dollar a day. This school was called
Claremont Graded School and held grades one through eight (Claremont Elementary,
2014). At this time, the school year lasted 24 weeks because the students were needed to
work on their family farms. Also, the students were given one month off from school at
planting time and another month off at harvest time (Claremont Elementary, 2014). The
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school had a water pump at the front of the school for students to drink from throughout
the school day, as long as they brought their own cup. Unlike in todays time where
students are given twenty minutes to eat lunch, back then students were allotted one hour
for lunch and were even allowed to go back to their homes to eat (Claremont Elementary,
2014).
In 1920, the grade school expanded and became Claremont High School. Soon after
the opening of the high school, the community built a gym that stood beside of the present
day Claremont Elementary, up until a few years ago when it was torn down. In 1955, after
World War II, many young boys returned from war which caused the school to become
over crowded and expansion was needed (Claremont Elementary, 2014). The near by high
schools; Claremont High School, Catawba High School, and Oxford High School, combined
to form the present day Bunker Hill High School, and the former Claremont High School
became Claremont Elementary. It was not until 1965, that the first African American
student attended Bunker Hill High School. With each year, the county schools become more
diverse and advanced (Claremont Elementary, 2014). In present day, the county of
Catawba has sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and seven high schools
(Catawba County Schools, 2014). Students now go to school from August until June, with a
few breaks throughout the school year. Also, schools now no longer focus on the three Rs,
but all five subjects of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social students.
Historical Landmark in Catawba County:
One of the most important historical landmarks of Catawba County is the Old St.
Pauls Lutheran church. This church is noted to be the first church built in Catawba County
(Preslar, 1954, p. 90). The church was built with reused logs from a previous cabin that
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burned down, and handmade nails (Knuaff, 2014). Behind the old church, is a graveyard
where some tombs dates all the way back to the 1700s. Some of the graves are written in
the early settlers language of German, and a few are still legible to this day. This small
church was able to serve 250 people, with two floors available for seating during worship.
The second floor of this landmark was designated seating for slaves during the 1800s. Once
slavery ended, the second floor seating was used for young boy and rowdy children. The
pews of this church were specially made to accommodate womens large hooped skirts by
having openings at the back of the pew (Knuaff, 2014). Today, the old church is no longer in
use as a new St. Pauls place of worship has been built across the street from the former
church. It is said that an ex-slave haunts the old St. Pauls church, and the old organ of the
church will randomly sound.
Anne Huffman (2006) states:
Mrs. Doris Boaz, wife of a former minister of St. Pauls, relates this story:
It was about 1861 when a Colonel Hildebran became angered to the point of murder by the
escape of one of his slaves, a big burly Negro. The colonel traced this runaway to the
church, where he found him crouched between the pews and is said to have killed him on
the spot. The bloodstains are still there, it is believed.
Cultural Events in Catawba County:
One of the most significant cultural events in Catawba County is when thousands of
people travel to the Balls Creek campground to socialize with friends and family and to
worship (Preslar, 1954, p. 113). Campgrounds and campmeetings are notable in southern
states, and North Carolinas Balls Creek campground is no exception. This historical event
dates back to around the same time the county was first formed. In 1853, the campground
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at Balls Creek held their first campmeeting (Preslar, 1954, p.114). The campground then,
only consisted of a few tents and a small Methodist church in the center. Today, the
campground holds close to 300 tents. A tent at the campground is something very special
families past down to their own children, and very few tents are ever for sale (Harbinson,
2001). Also at the campground, you can find a shack were you may purchase ice cream,
hamburgers, hotdogs, and more. Some have been remodeled through the years, but very
few have indoor plumbing, or even concrete floor. According to Preslar (1954) :
Since its beginning, only two years have passed in which campmeeting has not been held,
the first of these was during the early part of the War Between the States, the other when
one of the ministers opposed it, and succeeded in having it suspended for a year. (p. 115)
Another important event in Catawba County is the Old Soldiers Reunion. This
countywide event takes place each August in the downtown square of Newton, North
Carolina. The citizens of Catawba County felt it was important to pay tribute to those who
served in the Civil War and began an annual event to honor their services (City of Newton,
2014). Each night of the third week in August, the city puts together different events such
as a car show, beach music night, a pageant, and more. The final day of the weeklong
celebration is a Reunion parade. Visitors come near and far to watch the parade and set up
their lawn chairs along the streets to watch as early as eight in the morning. Before the
parade begins, vendors have booths set up throughout the towns square to promote their
businesses. Also, churches and other organizations sell hamburgers, hotdogs, iced slushies,
and more. The parade consists of: the local high school cheerleaders, football players, and
bands, county contributors, veterans, tractors, old cars, local businesses, local pageant
queens, and more. You can find these people either walking or riding in floats through the
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Towns square. This event is the oldest continued patriotic celebrations in the United States
(City of Newton, 2011).
Although many changes in Catawba County have occurred throughout the years,
most things continue to remain the same. The land of the area still provides income for
many families and farmers. Furniture will keep Hickory striving. With each day brings a
new challenge and a new goal to keep Catawba County up to date. Although the way of life
for the Catawbans will continue to change, the traditions that have been in place as far back
as the 1800s can never be erased. Mayberry, or not, Catawba County is a great place to visit,
and a wonderful place to live.














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Resources:

. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.catawbaschools.net/schools/Claremont/Web%20Pages/History.aspx
Catawba County Schools. (n.d.). Catawba County Schools. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.catawbaschools.net/Pages/Home.aspx
Farm & Food Sustainability Plan - Catawba County Planning, Parks & Development. (n.d.).
Farm & Food Sustainability Plan - Catawba County Planning, Parks & Development.
Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/Planning/Sustainability/
Hart, A. (n.d.). Hickory, NC- From a Small Town to an All-American City. North Carolina
History projects. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://carolinahistory.web.unc.edu/hickory-nc-from-a-small-town-to-an-all-
american-city/
Huffman, A. (2006, March 6). Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://ospimages.blogspot.com
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Knuaff, L. (n.d.). Our History. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.oldstpaulslutheran.org/history.htm
Preslar, C. J. (1954). A history of Catawba County;. Salisbury, N.C.: Printed by Rowan Print.
Co..
Profile - Official Internet Home of Catawba County, NC Government. (n.d.). Profile - Official
Internet Home of Catawba County, NC Government. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/misc/profile.asp
Rink Harbinson, M. E. (n.d.). NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY FORMATION. NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY FORMATION. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from
http://www.ncgenweb.us/catawba/ballsck.htm