Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Men and Women of Anson County WWI Memorial, Wadesboro

Type

Plaque

Subjects

World War I

City

Wadesboro

County

Anson

Description

A rectangular bronze plaque mounted to an exterior wall of the Anson County courthouse lists the names of white men and women who served during World War One. A symbol for the Daughters of the American Revolution surrounded by a wreath is at the top of the plaque with inscriptions and names listed below. A similar bronze plaque lists the names of African American men and women who served during WWI.

Inscription

Top: 1917 1919 / IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN / OF ANSON COUNTY WHO WENT FORTH / AT THE CALL OF THEIR COUNTRY / TO SERVE IN / THE GREAT WAR FOR WORLD-WIDE LIBERTY. / [five columns list the names of 450 men and 3 women with a star symbol designating] / IN MEMORIAM

Bottom: ERECTED BY CRAIGHEAD-DUNLAP CHAPTER, / DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, / NOVEMBER 11, 1924.

Custodian

Anson County

Dedication Date

November 11, 1924

Decade

1920s

Geographic Coordinates

34.966790 , -80.076250 View in Geobrowse

Supporting Sources

Medley, Mary L. History Of Anson County North Carolina 1750-1976, (Charlotte, NC: Heritage Printers, 1976) 220-221

“Want Names of Soldiers,” The Messenger and Intelligencer (Wadesboro, NC), July 28, 1921

“Will Not Unveil Tablets November 11,” The Messenger and Intelligencer (Wadesboro, NC), September 15, 1921

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Bronze

Sponsors

Craighead-Dunlap Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

Monument Dedication and Unveiling

Josephus Daniels, former Secretary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson, was the featured dedication speaker. Gold Star War Mothers, Confederate veterans and other patriotic groups participated in the dedication. Afterwards those in attendance were treated to a picnic and barbecue.

Subject Notes

Efforts to obtain a full and correct list of all men and women from Anson County who served delayed the project. It is not certain that the dedication ceremony took place on November 11, 1924, as indicated on the plaque.

Location

The Anson County Courthouse is located on N. Greene St. between East Martin and East Wade Streets. The bronze plaque is mounted on the exterior wall of the entrance to the courthouse, a few feet to the right of the front doors. A companion listing for African American men and women is mounted on a similar plaque, on the left exterior wall.

Landscape

Multiple memorials are associated with the Anson County Courthouse area. The Confederate Monument sits in front of the entrance to the Courthouse and the Confederate Women Monument is on the left. The Anson County Veterans Memorial is in front and to the right. A pair of flag poles with a bronze plaque dedicated IN MEMORY OF HOYT PATRICK TAYLOR, a former NC Lt. Governor, is to the left of the Veterans Memorial. Also nearby is a Memorial Fountain dedicated to citizens of Anson County who died in World War One and to the heroes of the American Revolution.