This small marker lets us know that this was the first kraft pulp paper mill in the United States,…read moremade using the sulphate process using southern pine in 1909 by the Roanoke Rapids Paper Manufacturing Company. I'm going to take a guess that it was quite the pollution back in those days. Online, there's more. "On February 26, 1909, the Roanoke Rapids Paper Manufacturing Company produced the first sulphate processed kraft paper in the United States. The sulphate name refers to the use of sodium sulphate (sulphur). Kraft paper has long been used in applications ranging from butcher paper to concrete sacks." "The pulp mill, constructed between 1907 and 1909, was part of the greater Roanoke Rapids Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1905. At the outset of production, the mill generated fifteen to eighteen tons of pulp per day, and that daily amount was soon increased to twenty-five tons. Between 1909 and 1912, the finished product of the paper mill was made from ground wood pulp (80%) and sulphate pulp (20%). Kraft paper was manufactured entirely from sulphate pulp after 1912. In 1913, the name of the company was changed to Halifax Paper Company, and improvements were made to the plant in order to boost production to thirty-five tons per day. The company continued to expand and merge over the years and is now a subsidiary of International Paper." [Review 11751 overall, 1533 of 2019.]

This simple marker is located in front of the Roanoke Canal Museum which I did not have time to…read morevisit today. Perhaps a future visit to this area. The marker has a little bit of text that reads, "Canal and locks completed around river rapids, 1834. Highway crosses canal route here. A lock is 200 feet south." Online, we learn that "The Roanoke Navigation Company completed the canal and locks at Weldon along the Roanoke River in 1834. Much of the work was done in the years 1819-1823. The canal consisted of three major parts: the lower 100-mile-long section of the Roanoke River; a nine-mile-long series of locks and waterways at Weldon; and the upper 300-mile-long stretch of rivers and streams extending into Virginia." Quite the achievement considering the technology of the day. No hydraulics. No diesel engines. Just people, probably slaves, digging and digging. [Review 11750 overall, 1532 of 2019.]

Halifax County was formed in 1758 from Edgecombe County, it was named for George Montague-Dunk, the…read more2nd Earl of Halifax, who served as president of the British Board of Trade and Plantations. Before European settlement, the region was home to the Tuscarora people, whose presence shaped the early landscape until they were displaced by colonial expansion. Halifax County's most enduring claim to fame is the Halifax Resolves, adopted on April 12, 1776. This bold declaration empowered North Carolina's delegates to the Continental Congress to join other colonies in seeking independence from Britain. It was the first official action by any colony calling for independence, earning Halifax the motto "First in Freedom." That said, the Mecklenburg Resolves were adopted on May 31, 1775 in Charlotte North Carolina and were a precursor to the Halifax Resolves of 1776 and the Declaration of Independence itself. The current courthouse, located at 44 King Street in the town of Halifax, was built between 1909 and 1910 and stands as the third courthouse on that site. It is a striking example of Classical Revival style, with Late Victorian influences woven into its detailing. The building's most commanding feature is its tetrastyle Corinthian portico--four stately columns supporting a pedimented entrance that evokes the grandeur of ancient Rome. Crowning the structure is a two-stage cupola. Inside is a central hallway with high ceilings and wide corridors, designed to accommodate both foot traffic and the ceremonial weight of legal proceedings. The main courtroom is the architectural centerpiece. It features a raised judge's bench framed by classical pilasters and a decorative entablature, reinforcing the authority of the judicial process. The jury box and spectator seating are arranged with clear sightlines. [Review 927 of 2025 - 4331 in North Carolina - 24483 overall]

"Resolved, That the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be empowered to concur…read morewith the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency..." - The Halifax Resolves, April 12, 1776 I have seen other Charters of Freedom installations in other cities. This one is slightly different as it uniquely includes the Halifax Resolves, the 1776 document that marked North Carolina's formal call for independence from Britain. It authorized North Carolina's representatives - Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn - to join other colonies in declaring independence, a bold move that helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence less than three months later. The installation was spearheaded by Foundation Forward, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to civic education, and supported by local leaders and donors who recognized Halifax's pivotal role in Revolutionary history. Far more than a monument, the site serves as a hands-on educational resource, especially during annual events like Halifax Day, when reenactments, artisan fairs, and living history demonstrations bring the past vividly to life. The display is open to the public year-round and is a centerpiece of the Historic Halifax State Historic Site, offering visitors a tangible connection to the ideals and debates that shaped the United States. [Review 931 of 2025 - 4335 in North Carolina - 24487 overall]

This marker points out one of the reasons Halifax is an important city in the Colonial journey. It…read morehas the same text on both sides and reads, "North Carolina Constitution. The first constitution of the independent state was adopted in Halifax on December 18, 1776." In November 1776, delegates to North Carolina's provincial congress convened in Halifax and appointed a committee - led by Samuel Ashe - to draft a state constitution. Drawing on guidance from Mecklenburg and Orange counties and a pivotal letter from William Hooper, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the committee reviewed other newly adopted state constitutions before presenting their proposals a month later. After minor revisions, the congress approved the Declaration of Rights on December 17 and the state constitution on December 18, following six sessions of debate. Though adopted separately, the two documents are generally regarded as a unified foundation for state governance. The exact location in Halifax where they were drafted remains a subject of historical uncertainty. There is more information online. This is marker number E-98 and it was erected in 1988 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. It's a quiet road so there is room to stop and read. [Review 928 of 2025 - 4332 in North Carolina - 24484 overall]

The historical marker is in front of a beautiful home just to the north of Halifax and points out…read morethe hero that lived here. It reads, "William R. Davie. 1756-1820. A militia officer during the Revolution; governor, 1798-99; envoy to France; "father" of University of N.C. Lived in this house." The house is in the Georgian Federal design with a two-story façade. There is also a caption in front of the house. But this is marker number E-4 and it was erected in 2014 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. William Richardson Davie, born in England in 1756 and raised in South Carolina, was a distinguished Revolutionary War officer, eloquent statesman, and founder of the University of North Carolina. After studying at Princeton and briefly practicing law, he joined the Patriot militia, rising through the ranks and earning acclaim for his daring cavalry raids and strategic supply work under General Nathanael Greene. A committed Federalist, Davie served in the North Carolina legislature and played a pivotal role at the Constitutional Convention, advocating for Southern interests while supporting compromise to secure union. As governor, he helped navigate tense diplomatic waters with France, later serving as a U.S. envoy and negotiator with the Tuscarora tribe. Though his later years were marked by personal loss and political retreat, Davie remained engaged with the university he helped establish, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, education, and public service when he died in 1820 at his South Carolina plantation, Tivoli. I'm not sure if the home is private or open for tours. There is room to stop for photos and to read the marker. [Review 929 of 2025 - 4333 in North Carolina - 24485 overall]