Randleman Selected for First Marker in North Carolina
Posted on 05/29/19Randleman, NC - Intriguing stories from North Carolina's rich heritage of folklore will be featured on roadside markers at sites across the state thanks to a partnership between the North Carolina Folklife Institute and The William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
The North Carolina Folklife Institute will serve as a grant evaluator for the Pomeroy Foundation's expanding national Legends & Lore Roadside Marker Grant Program, helping to put North Carolina Folklore in the spotlight. Established by the Pomeroy Foundation in 2015, Legends & Lore is designed to promote cultural tourism and commemorate legends and folklore as an important part of the historical past. The Pomeroy Foundation is a private grant-making foundation based in Syracuse, New York that helps celebrate their community’s history through a variety of signage grant programs, including Legends & Lore. The Foundation's grants cover the entire cost of a marker, pole, and shipping.
Locally, Hal Pugh on behalf of the North Randolph Historical Society submitted a grant on the legend of Naomi Wise. The legend goes that she was murdered in 1807 by her accused lover, Jonathan Lewis along Deep River. The Naomi Wise Ballad is said to be North Carolina's principle single contribution to American balladry based on its distribution and dissemination, thus making Naomi and her death one of North Carolina’s best-known folk ballads.
Randleman has been selected as North Carolina’s first recipient of the Legends & Lore Roadside Marker. A dedication and presentation will be held on Thursday, May 30th at 10 am at the stage in Commerce Square. Jeff Freeman, Executive Director of the Randleman Chamber, Bucky Jernigan, Mayor City of Randleman, Sarah Bryan, Executive Director of the North Carolina Folklife Institute, also with remarks from the Pomeroy Foundation, Hal Pugh, North Randolph Historical Society, and music artist Donna Hughes will perform a song based on Naomi Wise.
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