Johnston County to unveil five historical markers

The first unveiling ceremony will be at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Smithfield on Wednesday, June 19 at 10 a.m. The church can be found at the corner of Fourth and Caswell Streets, close to the original location of the state's last-remaining Freedmen's Schoolhouse, an African American school established during the Civil War.

“It is thought to be one of only five or so left in the nation, making it an extremely rare piece of history," Heritage Center Director Todd Johnson said.

The second ceremony will be held at Atkinson's Mill on Friday, June 21 at 11 a.m. The mill is located at 95 Atkinson Mill Road in Selma. The Atkinson Milling Company has been making cornmeal products at their Johnston County location since before the American Revolution.

Hinton's Quarter Courthouse in Clayton will host the third unveiling ceremony at 10 a.m. on the following Friday and the reception will be in the clubhouse of Arbors at East Village located at 56 Bent Branch Loop in Clayton.

The birthplace site of North Carolina Governor Benjamin Williams will host the fourth unveiling ceremony with 18th century-style entertainment by Camp Flintlock, a local colonial American program. The events will be hosted by the Smith-Bryan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at 3390 Grabtown Road in Smithfield and will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 6.

The fifth and final unveiling ceremony will be at the explosion site of the Catch-Me-Eye sign at the intersection of U.S. Highways 70 and 301 in Selma. The sign exploded in 1942 when a truck carrying explosives to be delivered to the Army was rear-ended and caught fire.

The public is invited to each of the five ceremonies which will have speakers, historical drama, music and refreshments. Each of the markings were funded by a grant from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, gifts from the Clayton Historical Association and the Smith-Bryan Chapter.