As the Town of Carrboro continues to contextualize and share its history, the local government recently approved the creation of another “truth plaque” marker for a historic homestead.

During its meeting on April 4, the Carrboro Town Council unanimously approved the creation and placement of an informational marker at the Strayhorn house located at 109 Jones Ferry Road. It is the latest suggestion from a commission of community members who research local history and find places to contextualize with information about their establishment, namesakes, or role in the town’s evolution.

“It’s a great program,” said Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils during an interview with 97.9 The Hill. “It’s a great way to not only honor our local history but to — as the name implies — bring some truth to the matter.”

The Toney and Nellie Strayhorn Homeplace’s namesakes were reportedly one of the first Black families to settle in Carrboro after previously being enslaved in Orange County. The approved truth plaque will educate readers on their journey, which included buying 30 acres of property and building a one-room log cabin in 1879. Since then, it’s been upgraded and the great-granddaughter of Toney and Nelly, Delores Clark, still owns the house.

“The descendants of the Strayhorn family still live in the home,” said Seils, “and this is our Truth Plaque committee’s effort to highlight the history of the home, and of course the Black experience in Carrboro.”

The approved text for the latest truth plaque ends by saying: “This home is a historic landmark and a testament to their faith, resilience, and determination to persevere.”

Carrboro created its first truth plaque in 2019, with the mission of providing more context to the town’s namesake Julian Carr. The businessman was integral in starting the mill town in the late 1800’s, but was a staunch supporter of Jim Crow laws and spoke at the dedication of the Confederate monument known as Silent Sam on UNC’s campus. Community members felt compelled to provide a signal to how the town’s values differ from Carr’s, creating a plaque that hangs on the front of town hall. In 2021, a second plaque was created for the former freedman’s school off North Merritt Mill Road.

“The original plan was to really have one plaque,” Seils said, “but the community members who volunteered to serve on this committee were so exciting about the work they did together that they then asked for the blessing of the town council to continue doing it. That’s where the second and now the third historic marker came from. So, I’m guessing they feel pretty motivated to keep it going.”

Once installed by the town’s Public Works department, the truth plaque will be on a pole in Clark’s front yard in front of the house and will feature text on both sides. The Town of Carrboro said an unveiling ceremony for the broader community will be planned and announced at a later date.

The full resolution by the Carrboro Town Council for the third truth plaque can be read here.

 

Photo via Google Maps.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
DeSantis Is Defending New Slavery Teachings. Civil Rights Leaders See a Pattern of ‘Policy Violence’
Written by STEVE PEOPLES, BRENDAN FARRINGTON AND KAT STAFFORD Civil rights activists cheered when Ron DeSantis pardoned four Black men wrongfully convicted of rape as one of his first actions as Florida’s governor. But four years later, as DeSantis eyes the presidency, their hope that the Republican would be an ally on racial justice has long faded. Instead, […]
Website Aims to Highlight Hidden Figures in Black History
A few years back, Matthew Delmont felt his teaching about African American history had gotten a little stale so he starting casting around for a fresh way to bring it to life. The Dartmouth College professor initially turned to Twitter for a year to share stories about the everyday lives of African Americans that he […]
White House Orders a Review of Exhibits at Smithsonian Museums Ahead of Nation’s 250th Birthday
Ahead of the country’s 250th birthday, President Donald Trump aims to align the museums' content with his interpretation of American history.
Emmett Till Images Have Multigenerational Impact on Artists
Written by AARON MORRISON Devin Allen admits that he occasionally behaved like a knucklehead, growing up in Baltimore. But he was not so irreverent as a tenth grader that he could see an image of Emmett Till’s open casket and not find it arresting. The story of the 14-year-old Black boy who was lynched in […]
Carrboro Truth Plaque Ceremony Celebrates Strayhorn House's Past and Present
Dozens of people filled the front lawn of the Strayhorn House in Carrboro on Friday night for the unveiling of the town's latest truth plaque.
Jacksonville Killings Refocus Attention on the City’s Racist Past and the Struggle To Move On
Written by BOBBY CAINA CALVAN By some measures, the city was making strides to emerge from its racist past. But the killing of three Black people Saturday by a young, white shooter was a painful and startling reminder that the remnants of racism continue to fester in Jacksonville, Florida. What happened in Jacksonville, said longtime […]
North Carolina Unveils Its First Park Honoring African American History
Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM North Carolina state officials joined historians and Black community leaders Wednesday under a sprawling oak tree in the heart of downtown Raleigh for the long-anticipated unveiling of the state’s first park honoring the African American struggle for freedom. Located between the state Legislative Building and the governor’s Executive Mansion, the new […]
Black Victims of Violent Crime Disproportionately Denied Aid in Many States
Written by CLAUDIA LAUER and MIKE CATALINI The cold formality of the letter is seared in Debra Long’s memory. It began “Dear Claimant,” and said her 24-year-old son, Randy, who was fatally shot in April 2006, was not an “innocent” victim. Without further explanation, the New York state agency that assists violent-crime victims and their […]
'Do Not Forget Us': Soil Collection Ceremony Held for 5 Orange County Lynching Victims
Orange County community members gathered Saturday afternoon for a soil collection ceremony for five lynching victims killed in 1869.
Carrboro: Third 'Truth Plaque' Planned for Historic Strayhorn Home
As the Town of Carrboro continues to contextualize and share its history, the local government recently approved the creation of another “truth plaque” marker for a historic homestead. During its meeting on April 4, the Carrboro Town Council unanimously approved the creation and placement of an informational marker at the Strayhorn house located at 109 […]
›