ROCKINGHAM — Sponsored by the Sandhills Chapter, National Society Sons of the American Revolution, the General Henry William Harrington Chapter, NCSDAR, along with several other SAR and DAR chapters, participated in the wreath ceremony at the 243rd Anniversary of the Attack at the House in the Horseshoe on Aug. 3, 2024, in Sanford, North Carolina. Following the ceremonial posting of colors and speakers and representatives of chapters paid their respects with the traditional bow and curtsy.
Being surrounded by colonial costumes, 18th-century crafts, tools, gunsmiths, rifle demonstrations, and a battle reenactment transported us all to a different time, making the event more immersive and enjoyable. Volunteers with the North Carolina America 250 Promotion Vehicle set up tables with a wealth of information on the upcoming celebrations and activities throughout the state.
Located in Sanford, the House in the Horseshoe is described as a North Carolina Historical Site treasure. Built around 1772 by Col. Philip Alston, it became the location of a Revolutionary War skirmish in 1781 between Alston’s band of Whigs (patriots) when the Tories (loyalists to the King of England) attacked.
Alston’s wife, Temperance Smith, was quite courageous. She had her children stand on a table inside the chimney, and the brickwork protected them. The loyalists found a wagon, and the notorious David Fanning commanded his men to load it with hay, set it on fire, and push it into the house. Temperance cautiously stepped outside, believed with a pillowcase, and negotiated a surrender to save everyone inside. When touring the home, you can see the bullet holes and damage inflicted by Fanning’s men.
The House in the Horseshoe, named for its location on a horseshoe-shaped bend of the Deep River, offers guided tours, battle reenactments, and various educational programs. For more information, please visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/house-horseshoe.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890.
If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership, visit https://www.facebook.com/RichmondCountyDAR/ or contact https://www.ncdar.org/GeneralHenryWilliamHarringtonChapter.html.
