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.
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Time for Carrboro to cleanse itself of its original sins and change its town name.