Hide Article Text (OCR)
HomeEveryone has to feel like they are partcontinued from page LAfamilv can find other titan the land itself.“But we know that he acquired other land all around us,” Sherrod said. “He grew this 17 acres to as far as you can see be-hind us. His youngest son, Arthur, actually farmed this land.”* “The only thing that we have that my great -grandparents touched is a femily Bible, and it will be on display in the historical room because this is all about exploring family history, Sherrod said.The familv has estab-lished lineage from five children of Jack and Cassie Sherrod: Arthur, Benjamin, Dallas. Fannie and John.There were other children. including an Ida Sherrod, who are mentioned in the familv Bible but w hose history is un-known.“We are hoping to locate more familv members inthe area that don't know thev are connected to thisWproperty5, and we don't know they are connected toWthis property,' Sherrod saidSherrod recently erected: ' Wa sign in front of the home “Sherrod Homestead, Established 1886,Proudly maintained bvw mdescendants of Jack and Cassie Sherrod, it reads “The people in the area, they are excited, and thev come by the property and they' see the improvements that are beingmade. The sign out fronthas reallv, reallv raisedip * Wthe level of enthusiasm”And thenthe most important group in-kind stakeholders,Sherrod said “The entire people w hoarea, Fremont, Eureka, Bailey, Sims. Wilson, Black Creek, all of these towns around here w heretime, their energy, their expertise, their intellect and their stuff. Sherrod is heading upwe have family members. committeesWe have family members living all over the place“They live up and down the coast from Florida all the wav up to New York and out west, of course We are scattered all over. said Sherrod, wtio resides in Porterville, California.To finance the restoration and provide for the maintenance, familv mem-bers stepped forward“I established three categories of stakeholders to build and increase interest in the project, Sherrod said. “Founding stakehold- one ers are those eight or 10people w ho came together and put money down to get the property out offoreclosure Sustaining stakeholders are people who contribute monev each month for the maintenance and the upkeep and to pay the mortgage.ntshings for the home and for the restoration.Part of the restoration is to re-expose one of the original brick fireplaces that had since been covered over bv walls.wFamily members are offering their own memories of the site.“A pig farm used to be on the back side of theproperty. One remember-that there w as a pear tree over by the garage, and it is not there now, Sherrod said, “Well, you can plantgoing to do is open up the grounds for familymembers to plant things— flowers, shrubs, trees, a memorial. All of thesethings are talking points.'It's all about ownershipSherrod said “Everyone has to feel’• ■W' ■like they are a part of if,think, Sherrod said “W%making it so. They can become a part Not just financially, but emotionally.And it s working 'Last week. Sherrod stood in the graveyard behind Watery Branch Free Will Baptist Church, The graves of Jack and Cassie Sherrod are right there, with those of other deceased family members about 200 yards away from and within sight of the homestead.To be able to standseewhere your great-grand parents are buried, that raises a lot of emotionsSherrodTheandI can see his grave from the front yard.Restoring the homestead is a passion for SherrodLordpartpreserving this property because it has been in the family for so long and it is such a rich historv that I could not stand by and let it go, he saiddwfson a w tKaflt’rw^com 1 265-7818Leonard Paul Sherrod Jr. holds a picture of the home his great -grandfather built tn 1886. The home is being restored for a September reunion of descendants. Drew C Y* son j T mes
Newspaper Details
Wilson Times
Wilson, North Carolina, US
Mon, Jul 17, 2017
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 22 Jan 2023
Other Publications Near Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson Flag Of The South
Wilson Advertiser
Wilson Advance
Wilson Times
Wilson Mirror
