LUMBERTON — Robeson County celebrates its 225th birthday Thursday with a party that county officials are hoping will draw several thousand.
“This is going to be a big event,” County Manager Ricky Harris said. “The county, city of Lumberton, and all of the towns in the county have been asked to participate. Everybody is involved. We’re getting a good response.”
Once part of Bladen County, Robeson County was established in 1787. It was named for Colonel Thomas Robeson, who is credited with being a hero of the Revolutionary War Battle of Elizabethtown.
Robeson, the state’s largest county with 948 square miles, is still known by many as “The State of Robeson.” According to “A Brief History of Robeson County” by Blake Tyner, curator of the Robeson County History Museum, the county has continued to be referred to as “The State of Robeson” not only because of its size but because of the fierce independence and reliance of its people, characteristics exhibited by Robesonians over the years.
According to Tyner, the county is “truly tri-racial,” reflected by its populations of American Indians, blacks and the descendants of white Scottish and European settlers who came to the area before and during the American Revolution.
“Over the centuries, these people have worked together to create a culturally diverse community,” Tyner said.
This cultural diversity is certain to be evident at Thursday’s celebration, say county officials, who point to the event as offering something for every member of the family.
According to Charles Britt, an assistant county manager who along with Harris co-chairs the party’s organizing committee, county officials thought this is a good year to celebrate the county’s history because it coincides with the 125th anniversary of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
“We thought these events would go good together,” Britt said.
The party, with a theme of “Celebrating 225 years of a Rich History,” is being held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the county’s Department of Social Services Complex off N.C. 711, just west of Lumberton.
Britt said that one of the event’s highlights will be the planting of a time capsule. Towns and county offices have been asked to submit items to be placed in the capsule, he said.
“I’m not sure if the capsule is going to be opened in 25 or 50 years,” Britt said. “It probably will be opened in 25 years since that’s when the county will be celebrating its 250th birthday.”
According to party organizers, those attending the event will be entertained by musical groups, including the local band Dark Water Rising. There will also be an antique tractor show; historical booths; booths providing information about the history of county municipalities; honor guards; fire trucks; and helicopters from the N.C. Forestry Service and UNC Air Care.
Children will have the opportunity to enjoy a ride on a small train, play in inflatable bouncy houses, and participate in 4-H children’s hands-on-activities.
There also will be plenty of free hamburgers, hot dogs and cake.
Britt said that those attending the party will learn a lot about the county’s past.
“This county has come a long way,” he said.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6177, or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
Now, every Lum is not like this man you encountered, and not many share the same thoughts that I do. To keep racial problems down I don't go to the white areas, or the black areas. Just the way it is. Have a great day sir.
By the way, PemBROKE was founded by a white man. Look it up. There is nothing I don't know when RACE and Robeson are involved.
Signed, Ross. American Crayola indian. well, how 'bout just AMERICAN period.
Listen orighawk, next time that happens to you, just tell em you are a lumbee with "light" skin and they'll say "sorry cuz, we thought you were white" and walk away. They wont know the difference. That dood that calls himself "lumbe2" is a product of stupidity. He's all caught up in this "indian" crap and makes himself look stupid, he does not speak for noone that's lumbee. He's the one everybody laughs at. Most of US know WE are mixed and don't care, but silly simon thinks he's a full blooded INDIAN from some made up reservation. Thinks white people fear him. Believe me, noone does, they, we, everybody makes fun of people like him.
orighawk, you for some reason can't comprehend a few words. You have taken my text totally out of content. You have assumed I have slurd you, but I assure that was not my intent. I simply appologized to you on the mans behalf. Then I explained to you what may have caused him to act that way. Then I gave reference to how "I" don't go to other areas to cause any problems. Just my pure presents in these communities causes tention. Why is that? Contrary to what you may believe, I don't claim to be a historian of my history or the counties history. I in fact, am a self educating person. I search for the truth. I refuse to believe what is in a book written by one person. If you read in the other comments left here, a author himself clearly states that. So much has been writing about this topic, but it has large amounts of inaccuracies.
I welcome your revenue to my town. I never stated my people draw a line in the sand. You came to that conclusion on your own. You just simply responded to my statement out of the way you portray my people. Now, will you let this one experience taint your thoughts of my people for life? Look back at my original statement, I referred to that as well. If on the other hand I was a white citizen of Pembroke you probably would have took the statement as an appology, minus the going to area's part and moved on. I'm not mad at you. I just hate the way you reacted. Sir, I never had your respect. I was doomed from the very start of our communication. Sterotypes exist. Like Ross, you assume I talk the area slang, wear Harley Davidson shirts, live in a mobile home, drive a ragged out mustang. The beauty of communicating by words shows that people can still show sterotypes without even seeing or knowing a person. Merely my user name "MrLumbee3" was the basis for you believing all this, I would assume. I am no exception, I believed Ross was white from his comments. There again, we will never live in peace. If you and I were to meet you would change your perspective of my people just for a short moment. Until, you encountered another person like you did before. Then I would be that thorn in your side again.
I have lived in different areas of our great state. People have long sterotyped me just for being Lumbee. They hold their pocketbooks closer, lock their doors to their homes and cars. Stay distant because they don't want to be cut or stabbed. Only because of what they heard or experienced. Then, they see through all that. They see I am different from what they thought. I can't possibly change everyones perspective of my people. I can do it one person at a time. I tried the same with you, but you let your "life experiences" dictate that for me. Now you tell me if I'm wrong. I'm open for suggestions. I'm truly not bias. Again Sir, I will appolgize. What more can a Lum do?
Do yall remember that line in "toy story" when Buzz Lighyear thought he was a REAL "SPACE RANGER"? "Woody" was standing there, listening to this "space ranger" go on and on about galactica and speaking to a sticker on his wrist? Boy this is so funny! Hey "mrSPACElumbee2"
YOU ARE A TOY!!!!!!!!
As for "Chameleon Ross." Keep on watching your television show's. I will see you tomorrow!
As for the celebration, it sounds like a great idea. Time Capsules are great. I would suggest adding personal items from different families mainly instead of different county agencies. Everyone loves to see old photos of people they know, favorite spots and their neighborhoods. Being an election year an article on the two nominees would represent the times. News on the capture of Bin Laden, Olympics, local heroes, etc. A lot of little things should fit.
My only criticism is that you are having it on a work & school night as opposed to a weekend day event. The West Nile Virus from mosquitoes has been warned by the CDC. I'm sure families would have preferred the weekend. Just a thought for your next event. I hope it is a blast.
Your writing and grammar are horrid. If you are indeed a descendant, you need to go back to school. I know the lady who is indeed a direct descendant and lives in the Robeson home, and she would cringe at this writing.
Sligo made a great point with the time capsule with today's current events and having the celebration on a weekday. I agree we can't change the past. How can you go forward if you don't know where you been? My whole point was to inform my Native people of the truth that is written of Col. Robeson. I didn't write it! His legacy took a more positive turn 200 years ago. Someone covered up the evil parts and only exposed the heroic parts. Everyone loves a hero, right? Gives you a sense of pride. Winston2006 discovered the truth on his/her own. There is a lots of discrepancies through out our local history. Way too many for me to expose. If I attempted to write a book or expose them, cases would be reopened and I would be floating in the ol' "drowning creek."
How would American's feel if they learned years later that Rudy Guiliani, George Bush, or some other great person of the time were responsible for the 911 attacks? And they were being celebrated. The former Anti-Americans (Muslim's, etc) would be like, "why ya'll mad?" "That happened years ago." "C'mon it a celebration." See the point?
The veil that has been put over my peoples face will be impossible lift. To the Natives that accepts these acts I call "apples." Red on the outside, but white in the inside.
I'm not whining about what happend years ago. It's happening everyday. There has to be "that one", and I'm "the one."
WarmSand, every man under the sun is racist, according to its definition (The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability). I didn't invent the word or define it your fellow man did!
Okay, WarmSand you were born and raised in RobCo. Why do so many of your people want to exile Mexican's that are born and raised here? Their families came here illegal? Oh, and yours didn't? Ya'll have a word for that, what is it called....?
Modern World huh? How would you feel if I moved next to you? We are victims, victims of your fellow mans evil. Celebrate freedom of what? We are still in bondage. If you want something for free you are dumb. That's the reason they call it free-dom. We have adapted to your ways. "Yes'a boss, right'a way boss." Good for you that you have Native friends. As long as they are in check you will continue to be "a friend" right? Stay in your modern day tepee's(mobile homes), go to church over there, send your kids to school over there. When a Native person is living better than you that's were the problem lies huh? I can hear ya'll now!
Be a friend and invite me over for a cup a tea. I promise I wont act savaged. I will even wear my suit I bought at Joe Sugar's in St. Pauls (there, I want my advertisement fee Joe!)
Robeson like many people of the time did own slaves but so did Native Americans and African American. In fact Henry Berry Lowrie's great-grandfather owned slaves.
There is limited information on Native Americans owning land in the area during the early to mid 1700's. When they burned the county courthouse, most of these documents were destoryed. I never ran across any information on Native Americans in the area that owned slave, but it wouldn't shock me if they did. My source was the Census. I have seen documents of Native Americans that did own slaves, but not the area of present day Robeson County.
Col. Robeson may have done great things by his people's standards. But as far as me knowing the truth about the Robesons, I would be doing my ancestor's a dishonor by attending. Like most Native people they just don't know. I could go on for days about this topic so I will stop here.
To Mr.Lumbee3, sir, anyone who had money and land back in those days typically owned slaves - white, indian, and blacks. There are documented instances of it.
And if all we celebrated was the good things in history, we would never crack a smile. What is it that the white man or anyone else done that has made you so bitter? You have probably grown up with good clothes to wear, plenty of food to eat, a home, education, transportation, and many other good things. Do you think these things would be here if Europeans weren't here? Look at parts of the world where native populations are still undisturbed and ask yourself if you want to live like that (e.g. Amazon basin, some portions of Borneo and the Indonesian islands). I don't like shrunken heads for lunch personally.
And as for religion, you are free to believe as you wish. Being mad because there are lots of churches here versus whatever else you have in mind gets you exactly what? Nothing but a headache. If you snapped your fingers and all the lumbees believed as you do, what kind of county would we have?
So, my friend, throw away hatred and do come and learn, and also share your view with others. That's what living together is all about. All this division is getting this county no where but in the toilet.
The white man has done exactly what he intended to do. Turn the Native people to follow his culture. Celebrate Thanksgiving, 4th of July. Not this Lum! It's impossible for me to change years of brain washing of my people. Yes, I will even have to refer to religion. How many churches are there in the county? They all teach the white mans ways.
I appologize to the white Robesonians who read this. I didn't intend for this to be a forum for the truth. The county does have a rich history. It just aint they way that it's portrayed.
How would these people survive today without hand-outs?
Tri-racial county: pecentage of minorities 71%, percentage of people who are regulars at the welfare office 74%... coincidence?
Further more, I'm welcome here in Robeson county, are you? hmmmm?
Do your research on Thomas Robeson and his father Andrew Robeson Jr. Slave owners, and Indian Killers. Don't read it on the internet, look it up in the register of deeds in Bladen County. This man get's a county named after him. When you see his dirt, then research Pembroke Jones. The man that Pembroke is named after. This man never seen the town. The government didn't want the two train tracks to meet in a town that translated to "Scuffle Town." The Native Americans named the town long before the white mans presence. There mission was to rename everything different from the Native Americans.
Discover the truth on your own.
Lol. Reliance on government handouts.
To your comment: "That's right, keep up the hate and division. Get that chip off your shoulder, we get it."
We will never be united, in this county for sure. Why should I not have hate? You darn right there is a chip! My people have been fighting terrorist since 1492. You will never get it!!