On August 2, 1958, the Saturday Evening Post profiled Percy Flowers of Johnston County, labeling him the “King of the Moonshiners.” Throughout his career, Flowers managed to stay just out of reach of the law and developed a reputation as a local Robin Hood
Topics Related to This Day in North Carolina History
On August 2, 1953, Gov. William B. Umstead appointed James Larkin Pearson of Wilkes County the state’s second Poet Laureate after Arthur Talmage Abernethy.
On August 2, 1781, British forces clashed with the North Carolina Militia near Wilmington in a skirmish now known as the Battle of Rockfish.
On August 1, 1776, Cornelius Harnett read what would become known as the Declaration of Independence to a crowd in Halifax.
On August 1, 1828, more than 200 people gathered at the home of William Albright in what is now Alamance County to respond to UNC President Joseph Caldwell’s pleas for a state-supported railroad. The meeting led to increased public interest in internal improvement
On August 1, 1880, the first patient enrolled at what is now Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro. The hospital was set up to serve North Carolina’s black population.
On July 31, 1924, noted academic Daniel Harvey Hill, Jr. died.
On July 31, 1949, Depression-era governor John Christoph Blucher Ehringhaus, died.
On July 31, 1970, Slow Poke the Possum was granted executive clemency by Governor Bob Scott in a ceremony at the State Capitol.