Charles B. Aycock Restoration

“One party goes out of power and another comes in; one policy ends and a new one begins; one century passes away and a new century claims our attention; a new constitution greets the new century.” - Charles B Aycock

June 29, 2008

WAYNE COUNTY NC NEWS -- Earlier this year, an arson attempt on the Aycock farmhouse at the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site, in Fremont, NC. resulted in serious damage to parlor, back porch and loft. The interior furnishings also sustained smoke and water damage to include the destruction of an original Victorian turntable. The Wayne County Sheriff's Department has charged two suspects with deliberately setting fire to the historic building.

The first stage of restoration to the farmhouse has recently been completed with a gentle cleaning of the late 1800s structure. Restoration experts sprayed areas both inside and out with a fine baking soda mixture to help remove smoke and soot damage. While further restoration on the former home of the early 20th century North Carolina governor is continuing, the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site is open to the general public. Although the main house is closed until further notice, the period one-room schoolhouse and the historic area, including the kitchen, corn crib and smokehouses, are all open. Visitors may also tour exhibits in the state historic site's visitor center and watch a video on the late Governor Aycock and his family.

The Historic Site is the home of the former governor's parents, Benjamin and Serena Aycock who were known to be industrious, thrifty, and pious, with a good sense of management. Around 1840, the Aycock's settled in the farmhouse on 50 acres of land, and by 1863 they had accumulated 1,036 acres as well as owned 13 slaves. Benjamin Aycock participated avidly in the Primitive Baptist church and the Democratic party, which likely fostered young Charles interest in politics.

According to the National Statuary Hall Collection, former Governor Aycock is best known for building approximately 3,000 schools in North Carolina during his 4-year administration from 1901 to 1905, which earned him the title of North Carolina's "Education Governor." To fund these capital expansions in education, Aycock heavily taxed businesses and corporations as well as leasing convicts to private enterprise. Aycock also added 877 libraries to rural schools, and passed the statewide adoption of textbooks. Other reforms supported by Aycock included laws to establish fair election machinery, prevent lynching, erect a boy's reformatory, and restricting child labor. Aycock's clemency policy, granting more full pardons than any other governor in North Carolina history.

On the other hand, Charles B. Aycock is also known for having what is considered a dark side. Prior to his governorship, Aycock was an active leader in the Democratic Party, which were known for their fevering belief in segregation. During the Wilmington massacre of 1889, a coup d'etat of the Wilmington municipal government by white supremacists led by Democratic party members, and the only instance of an overthrow in US history. Aycock offered support to the uprising, although it is unknown just how much of the conspiracy was known by Aycock. In his biography "Charles Brantley Aycock," by Oliver H. Orr Jr., The author wrote that Aycock was ready to join his counterparts in Wilmington after they cabled Goldsboro asking for help. Orr quoted him as saying:

"In less than half an hour, there were 500 men at the depot with guns on their shoulders waiting for the train and I was one of them," Furthermore writing Aycock, "instructed them to wear red shirts or carry guns. He encouraged them to believe they must do these things to protect the white race, especially the white women, against the Negro."

Orr continues in his biography, that a subsequent telegraph notified Aycock that his help would be unnecessary, thus, exonerating him from participation in the overthrow.

To truly appreciate the seriousness of the Wilmington massacre in North Carolina, twenty-two people were killed during illegal seizure of power from the elected government. Additionally, white supremacists documented their weaponry during the insurrection by photographing themselves with a wagon mounted Gatling Gun.

Even now controversy over the former Governor's suspected involvement in the coup d'etat still exists. For example, in 2007, NC Treasurer Richard Moore began protesting the name of the state Democratic Party's annual Vance-Aycock Dinner. Moore accused Aycock of using "a message of white supremacy, racial segregation and oppression" in order to win his 1901 governorship. Furthermore, requesting Aycock's name be dropped from the dinner's title. Moore wrote to the state Democratic Party Chairman, "We can no longer ignore the fact that many of us grew up being taught a much sanitized -- and inaccurate -- history when it came to Gov. Aycock."

So, ironically even now we have members of the political party that long ago spirited the Wilmington coup d'etat, attempting dissociated affiliation with their predecessors. Rather than just accepting the facts, instead they chide the educational system, which Aycock worked so hard to build, of teaching "sanitized -- and inaccurate -- history."

History is what it is, a chronological record of significant events, or facts, including an explanation of their causes, and nothing to be ashamed of. The significance of the facts holds weight in the explanation. There is no doubt that Former Governor Aycock, like all men, committed right and wrong during his lifetime. Should his willingness, or even attempt, to participate in the Wilmington massacre be the cause to refuse him honor for his other accomplishments? I think not. It should only be a historical note.

In Conclusion, Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic site is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites, which is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina's arts, history, and culture. Moreover, anyone wanting to assist in the home's restoration may do so by contributing to the newly established Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace Recovery and Restoration Fund. Contributions may be sent to Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, P.O. Box 207, Fremont, N.C. 27830. The state historic site's mission is to preserve and interpret the birthplace and history of Charles B. Aycock, emphasizing his contributions to public education in North Carolina. Join the NC Cultural Resources in observing, "Telling Our Stories," its 2008 theme by visiting the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic site. Just take I-95 to U.S. 301 exit at Kenly, NC. Take N.C. 222 east for 10 miles to Fremont, NC then turn right on U.S. 117. Go two miles and turn left on Gov. Aycock Road. The site is 1-1/2 miles on the right.

Published by:
Rob Cross
mailto:editor@357news.com

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