By Linda Swearingen Davis
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution rededicated Daniel Boone’s Trail Marker at the Wilkes Heritage Museum in Wilkesboro on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The event marked the 100th anniversary of the placement of the marker by the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter of Salisbury.
They were joined for the occasion by Daughters of the Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of North Wilkesboro.
A group of 50 people gathered to celebrate the history of the marker and Daniel Boone accomplishments. Original placement of the marker took place in 1913 at the 1902 Wilkes County Courthouse, now the Wilkes Heritage Museum by the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter when the chapter was the closest to Wilkesboro.
The Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, the second oldest chapter. in North Carolina was organized Nov. 22, 1898.
The N.C. Daughters originally placed 13 of the cast iron tablets at key locations across the northwest quarter of the state, including Wilkesboro and up the Blue Ridge where Daniel Boone lived and hunted in the 1760s, according to historian Randell Jones, author of the award-winning books “Trailing Daniel Boone” and “In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone.”
Under the leadership of Lucy Patterson of Winston-Salem, North Carolina was the first of four states to place a tablet marking Boone’s trail from North Carolina to Kentucky, which eventually included 45 markers, Jones said.
Development, vandalism and natural disasters destroyed some of the markers, and today only six remain in North Carolina — including the one in Wilkesboro. The marker, now more weather-worn than at its placement in 1913, was affixed to a granite boulder and sits on the on the southeast corner of the old courthouse square, on the front lawn of East Main and Broad St. at the Wilkes Heritage Museum.
The rededication also included greetings from Wilkesboro Town Manager Ken Noland, Wilkes Heritage Museum Director Jennifer Furr and remarks from Jones on the history of the occasion.
The main speaker was R. G. Absher, President of “The North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, Inc”, an organization established to advance and support the preservation, promotion, and education of the history and heritage of Daniel Boone’s life in North Carolina.
The Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter and the Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution, the Salisbury Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Rowan Resolves Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution conducted a wreath laying ceremony in honor of Daniel Boone and his impact on the American frontier with the trail he blazed from North Carolina to Kentucky.
The colors were presented by the Miller Creek United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 399 with Scoutmaster Wade McInnis.
Jones praised the vision of those early DAR members who embarked on the trail project and the current members who continue to honor the heritage.
The society now has 175,000 members across the world.
“My heartiest congratulations to the Daughters of the American Revolution on a job well done,” Jones said.
Those attending the event include:
The Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, Salisbury — Regent, Jane Steinberg, Trudy Hall, Linda Davis, Sandra Parrish and Cathy Foster.
North Wilkesboro Rendezvous Mountain Chapter — Regent Phyllis Moulton, Sue Barr, Carol Shepherd and Barbara Pendry
The Sons of the American Revolution, Salisbury Chapter – F. Grady Hall,
The Rowan Resolves Society –Children of the American Revolution –Salisbury Chapter – Kirkland Hunter.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority has dropped off items for those in the Rowan County community in need this holiday season.
Lambda Epsilon Sigma has been collecting new shoes for all ages and sizes for the last several months to benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. This is the local chapter’s second year hosting the shoe drive.
In addition, the organization is having their annual “adopt a family” to benefit Nazareth Children’s Home in Rowan County.
The items were dropped off Saturday. The organization has been adopting families since it was chartered in Rowan county in 2010.
Lambda Epsilon Sigma Salisbury Alumnae Chapter will have additional programming to kick off the new year in January to support their partnership with the local March of dimes.
The chapter will be accepting applications for their affiliate groups, The Philos (adult women) and The Rhoers (middle and high school girls), which support the organizations efforts within the community.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority is committed to improve the quality of life for its members and the society it serves. If you are interested in participating with the chapter send an email to salisbury.sgrho@gmail.com or visit the website at salisburysgrho.com.