SPENCER — Yadkin United Church at 203 N.C. Finishing Lane is having a homecoming service Sunday, with worship at 11 a.m. in the church and going to the neighboring Yadkin Baptist Church off U.S. 29/70/150 for a covered-dish meal by 12:30 p.m.
Former and present members and all area residents are invited to come and celebrate.
The Rev. Gary Hauze, who was the supply pastor from January into June and who is an associate member of the congregation as well as the church consultant, will preach a sermon titled “What Mean These Stones?” based on Joshua 4:1-10.
Joe Barbee, supply minister and a Hood Theological Seminary student whom Hauze supervises for field education, will be liturgist. Barbara Poole will be organist.
The members of the church recently decided to collect memorabilia from the Village of Yadkin, the N.C .Finishing Company, the church and from the history of that area along the Yadkin River. They will be stored in vacant Sunday school classrooms.
Four strands of history are especially notable, according to Hauze:
• A Saponi Native American Indian settlement and trading ford.
• A Revolutionary War engagement involving Gen. Charles Cornwallis and his troops.
• A Civil War battle after Appomattox with Gen. George Stoneman and Union troops and Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and Confederate troops facing one another;
• The N.C. Finishing Co. (and its successors) and its founder-owner Milton Erlanger and manager Julian Robertson Sr., and all the workers and residents of the Village of Yadkin and their lives.
Organizers hope a museum might be built and dedicated to all who helped make the country great and to celebrate their contributions.
One example from the area’s history is “militarization” of the N.C. Finishing Co. during World War II when parachutes and olive drab cloth were manufactured there. Other threads of history that are a part of oral tradition should be recognized and researched. For more information about this or homecoming, call 704-638-0871.
Former workers at the plant and former residents of the Village of Yadkin and others are encouraged to consider donating any artifacts or articles or things related to the history of that area. Hauze has bullets from the Civil War, one from each side, that were given to him by his wife’s grandfather, W.C. Taylor Sr., when Gary and his wife Linda married 45 years ago. In a lock box, they will be donated by the Hauzes when a museum is built.
Yadkin United Church is located off U.S. 29/70/150 (North Salisbury Avenue through Spencer) where the former N.C. Finishing plant was on the left just before the Yadkin River on the Rowan County side.
From I-85, take Exit 84 and follow the signs to Spencer. The church is just across the river to the right on N.C. Finishing Lane.