Living History Days for Burke County Fourth Graders
Tuesday, September 24th & Thursday, September 26th, 2019
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Historic Burke Foundation is pleased to provide two days of living history programming for Burke County fourth graders from public, private, charter, and home schools. Call to Freedom days are Tuesday, September 26 and Thursday, September 28. During the two days, more than 1,000 fourth graders will hear the story of the Overmountain Men and their decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780, see demonstrations of domestic and military skills in the late 18th century on the Burke County frontier, hear colonial music, learn colonial children's games, and gain information and insight into every life in the early years of this country.
Commemorative Crossing of the Catawba
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Saturday, September 28, 2019, 11:00AM
128 Greenlee Ford Road (behind Judge's Riverside Restaurant), Morganton, NC
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Gather on the banks of the Catawba River at Greenlee Ford, (behind Judge's Riverside Restaurant), Morganton, NC for the Annual Commemorative Crossing of the Catawba! Wear comfortable clothes, bring your camera, and celebrate with a hearty HUZZAH! at the fusillade as our Patriots cross!
This annual event honors the memory of some 1,500 Patriots who crossed Greenlee Ford on October 1, 1780, by foot & on horseback to defeat British Major Patrick Ferguson and his Tory troops at the Battle of Kings Mountain. This battle was a turning point in the American Revolution and helped lead to the British surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, ending the War for Independence.
Bring blankets, sit on the grass, your folding chairs, or just use the chairs and picnic areas along the river's edge.
Immediately following the crossing, look to the outdoor stage! The Freedom High School Jr. ROTC will present colors and the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) will present colors, along with a speaker and fife and drum players.
To round out the afternoon, follow along with demonstrations of colonial music and dancing, children's colonial games, storytelling and more for people of all ages.
The crossing will be recorded and broadcast for a year on the City of Morganton Compas Cable Channel 2 and posted on YouTube by mid-October. The crossing will be taped from above by a drone.
Judge's will serve a hot meal from the shed at 12PM. The menu includes chicken tenders, green beans, mashed potatoes, roll, banana pudding, and iced tea for $10. Guests may also elect to order from the menu inside the restaurant.
NOTE: If you are interested in crossing the river, you must contact Linda Lindsey at 828-448-2923 no later than Saturday, September 7th.
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Click here for invitation and waiver
A Time to Remember and Honor at the Captain Charles McDowell, Jr. House
Sunday, September 30, 2018, 1-5:00 PM
119 St. Mary's Church Road, Morganton, NC
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Join the fun at the historic Captain Charles McDowell, Jr. House from 1 - 5:00 PM, Sunday, September 29. Parking available on the lower front lawn.
There will be plenty to see and do to keep you and your family and friends busy! Sample colonial recipes; learn about late 18th century weaponry (long rifles, muskets, swords, etc.); watch demonstrations of domestic and military skills; tour the 1812 house, the oldest known brick structure in Burke County; take a stroll on the new walking trail; visit the colonial garden maintained by Mimosa Garden Club; listen to colonial music; hear storytelling about the Overmountain Men and their 1780 victory; see a play about Burke County Revolutionary War heroines; participate in colonial dancing; the list goes on...
Note: Accessible bathrooms are available in the visitor's center. Limited seating available, feel free to bring picnic blankets or folding chairs. Please, no pets.
Thank You to our Sponsors, Donors, and Partners: City of Morganton; Burke County Public Schools; Fulenwider Enterprises; Duke Energy; CarolinasHealthCare Systems Blue Ridge; Burke Rescue Squad; Overmountain Victory Trail Association; the Quaker Meadows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; the Alexander Erwin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; Retired Burke County School Personnel; Jackie Ward; Betty Williams; and Nita Hughes.
For more information, call Historic Burke Foundation at 828-437-4104 or Linda Lindsey at 828-448-2923, visit www.historicburke.org or find us on facebook!
