All tagged mike parker
Most citizens who drive through this city have little awareness that the street names preserve and reflect the city's history prior to the American Revolution. In December of 1762, the General Assembly passed an act to establish the town of Kingston on land belonging to William Herritage at Atkins Bank. Herritage, for whom Herritage Street is named, donated the first 100 acres of what became “Kingston” and later “Kinston.”
On February 6-8, the CSS Neuse Foundation will offer a special event for those interested in local history from 1861 through 1865. The CSS Neuse Foundation is responsible for the CSS Neuse II, a full-scale replica of the original CSS Ram Neuse. This ironclad gunboat was outfitted and stationed here in Kinston.
Every school child knows – or should know – about Dr. Martin Luther King’s importance to the Civil Rights Movement. We have all heard stories about his fight for equality. We know he died on April 4, 1968, struck down by an assassin’s bullet as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
As we contemplate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we cannot overlook one of the most significant works written not only to support the push for independence, but a work that also plainly argued that anything less than independence from Great Britain placed the colonies as second class citizens as long as that bond existed.
As 2025 ended and 2026 was being born, I had the opportunity to spend a week with my children and grandchildren at North Myrtle Beach, SC. Each year, we try to travel somewhere together to put aside our jobs and daily demands and focus on family. This year, all my children and all but one of my grandchildren made the trip.
As 2025 draws to a close, I have realized how much complaining I have heard – and done – this year. I confess that fault to my shame. I have so much in my life that brings me joy. Yet, too much of the time I focus on the negatives.
Sometime around Thanksgiving, children begin firing the question that never seems to end until Christmas Day.
The National Retail Federation released its annual holiday forecast on November 6, predicting retail sales in November and December will grow between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024. That figure translates into total spending between $1.01 trillion and $1.02 trillion.
What DID Christmas look like around these parts 263 years ago, before the Revolution and our struggle for independence? At that time, this area was part of Dobbs County and pledged its allegiance to King George III.
History aficionados will have an opportunity to visit the oldest structure in Kinston from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, when Historic Harmony Hall opens its treasures to interested members of the public.
The lyrics of an old hymn once common in churches were written by William D. Longstaff in 1882. “Take Time to Be Holy” emphasizes the importance of spending time in prayer and communion with the Lord. As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I think we also need to “Take Time to Be Thankful.”
In the second half of 1775, Fort Johnson, North Carolina, was the scene of two major skirmishes between Continental and British soldiers and sailors. But the story of Fort Johnson began much earlier.
Reenactors and living historians are joining forces for an encampment at the Caswell Memorial Site to interpret life in Dobbs County, the current day Lenoir County, in 1775, as part of the celebration of this nation’s 250th anniversary. “Mustering the Militia will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 15.
Next Monday, November 10, the U.S. Marine Corps will celebrate its 250th anniversary. The first version of the Marines began on November 10, 1775, when Congress adopted a resolution creating the Continental Marines. The Second Continental Congress sent a resolution of Gen. George Washington that read – in part –
Friday morning, I opened an email informing me that Beth Newton passed away Monday. Just a few days before her passing, Beth had sent me a letter that explained – in medical terms – the deteriorating condition of her heart. I sent a photo of her note to my daughter Sara, who is a cardiac nurse, because I am not fluent in medical terminology. In that note, Beth said that she might not live long. I never expected the end to come so soon.
On Wednesday of this week, Caitlyn Faith Dixon, my first granddaughter, would have turned 28. Just before Caitlyn turned 14 months old, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta that afflicted her little body claimed her life.
Saturday, October 18, will be an event-packed day. When Mother Earth Brewing established the Ironclad Races Half-Marathon in 2015, representatives of Mother Earth Brewing and the CSS Neuse Foundation decided to collaborate to make the day special. The Neuse Foundation would host “Breakfast on the Boat” while runners were beginning the 13.1-mile half-marathon run.
Tomorrow, October 7, my mom, Irene Parker, will celebrate her 97th birthday and draw another year closer to the century mark. Today’s world is much different than when she was born in 1928, a decade or so after World War I and a year and change before the Great Depression.
Although the American Revolution was still in its fledgling stages in 1775, several important events took place. A number of skirmishes and battles demonstrated the resolve of the colonies to resist what they saw as British oppression.
I have written before about not having the opportunity to meet Sandra’s father – Floyd Dawson. The closest I have come is through several photos of him – one that stands constant guard in our living room. In that photo, Floyd Dawson stands on the right of an ambulance, while an unidentified soldier stands on the left.
