YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WeeKLy edITIOn
maY 28 - JUne 3, 2025 Vol 47 No 22 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
ABOUT florence community history runs deep TOWN FInal BUDGet retreat The Jamestown Town Council will hold its final budget retreat May 29 at 10 a.m. in the Civic Center at Town Hall. The draft budget was presented at the May 27 Council meeting. This meeting is to go over any last-minute suggestions offered at that meeting. The public is invited to attend. SPC WorSHIP Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Road, Greensboro, will begin its summer worship June 1 at 10 a.m. and continue that schedule through Aug. 31. CHoICe BooK Sale at JPl Summer is almost upon us and with it comes visions of vacation and perhaps more leisure time to read. A Choice Book Sale at the Jamestown Public Library is just the opportunity to get some great books for your reading pleasure. On June 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. select books published between 2022 and 2024 will be priced at $6 each. These hardback books are a great value for your summer reading or to add to your personal library. DVSs, audiobooks, coffee table books and assorted odds and ends will be available also. CDs are being phased out and are selling at five for $1 with the next five free. Cash or checks will be accepted. While you are at the library, take the opportunity to check out the Corner Book Shop in the basement for a variety of jigsaw puzzles ranging from 300-3,000 pieces. Puzzles are great to take on trips or for those rainy or extremely hot/humid days when indoor activities are needed. lIBrary arCHIVeS oPen The archives room on the top floor of the Jamestown Public Library is now open each Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail. com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of LaTanya Bowman
These days, many people may think of Florence as just the elementary school, but to do that would be a disservice to the rich history of the Village of Florence, founded in the 1840s by mixed-race abolitionists, including free people of color, who opposed slavery and the Confederate States of America. The village is older than the City of High Point. By the 1850s the Village of Florence had 11 dwellings, a general store, two smith shops, one wood shop and two gun shops. As of May 10, a historical marker is now standing near the intersection of East Fork and Penny roads denoting the contribution of some of the families who settled the community. The marker is the culmination of an effort by historian Benjamin Briggs, who was executive
Local people related to Village of Florence families, current residents, Turners Chapel members, Mendenhall Homeplace director shawn Rogers, High Point Councilmen Michael Holmes and Tim andrew, and Jamestown Councilmember Pam Burgess joined Benjamin Briggs at the dedication on May 10. Briggs has his arm around the signpost.
director of Preservation Greensboro and is currently president and CEO of Preservation North Carolina. Briggs was also president of the High Point Preservation Commission. The marker is on property he owns on Penny Road. In his address to the Commission in August 2023, Briggs notes,
“After the civil war, the mixed-race community included members of Turners Chapel A.M.E. Church. “The Gardner and Hill Store at the crossroads was considered the best on this side of Greensboro,” Briggs said in his recommendation. see FLORenCe, PAGe 2
Village of Florence historic marker.
Three honored for historical preservation By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
The term “too much of a good thing” means that even something that is generally considered to be beneficial can be harmful or undesirable in excess. But too much of a good thing was actually a positive thing for some nominees of the 2025 Mary A. Browning Historic Preservation Award. LaTanya Bowman, Lucille Clauson and Sherry Bundy Royal were all this year’s nominees. Many former Browning Award winners were present to honor them at the May 18
ceremony at Deep River Friends Meeting. “Three wonderful nominees. We were charged with picking one,” said Shawn Rogers, director of Mendenhall Homeplace of his task along with Jane Wade and Ruby Sapp Leach. “That’s not going to happen. All three of these ladies are more than deserving of this award and they all will be awarded the Mary A. Browning Historic Preservation Award.” “I think most people are familiar with Mary Browning and what she has done as far as the history of Jamestown and the surrounding area. This award is named after her,” said Jay McQuil-
Photo by Carol Brooks
Lucille Clauson, sherry Bundy Royal and LaTanya Bowman, this year’s winners of the Mary a. Browning Historic Preservation award. lan, president of the Historic Jamestown Society. It is the 11th time the award has been presented. There were 14 previous winners, some posthumously.
The award is presented in May, Preservation Month. “I’m very honored to present these nominees,” said Rogers. “I’ve gotten to know them personally and
are dear friends of mine. I’ve seen the work they have put into preserving the history of our area. “Dr. LaTanya Bowman was instrumental in making some really important connections between free families of color in Jamestown and the Florence area who were involved in establishing settlements for free people of color in Indiana, specifically the Weaver settlement,” Rogers said. “She reached out and learned a lot about not only what happened here but [also] in Indiana and organized and made possible a presentation at the High Point Museum in see HOnORed, PAGe 3
teenager safe after kidnapping attempt By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com Photos submitted
Former softball league players and youth held a rousing game of whiffle ball before everyone attending the event was treated to a hot-dog lunch.
Ball field renamed and rededicated for church and community use By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com The game played on the softball field at Mitchell’s Grove Methodist Church on May 17 looked a bit different from games played there when the field first opened in 1985. Considered an “old timers reunion,” the teams were a mixture of players from several churches who participated in the original league and youth of today. Although some of the old timers ran the bases, many simply hit the ball and had young people do the run- Terri Feeney, a member of the church, is painting a mural on the wall of the concession stand that will see FIeLd, PAGe 2 include a likeness of the church and ball field.
A Jamestown-area teenager is safe after she fought off a man who tried to kidnap her on the street during the day. She was dragged into the perpetrator’s vehicle and sustained minor cuts and bruises. The 16-year-old girl managed to get out of the car and called 911 before
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com Veterans Day in November honors all those who have served or are serving in any branch of the military. Memorial Day in May honors those who have died while serving. Perhaps there should be a third day of recognition — a day honoring those who sacrificed their lives while serving underage. If such a day existed the name Carl (Buddy) Reddeck Jr. would be on the list. The son of Carl and
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Riley snatched her phone away. The incident happened May 18 at 3 p.m. on Morris Farm Drive. The assailant was 18-year-old Trenton Riley, who was arrested and charged with firstdegree kidnapping, assault on a female and interfering with emergency communication. Riley tried to drive away but hit a brick mailbox, destroying it.
Remembering a youth who sacrificed all for his country
see COUnTRy, PAGe 3
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By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com