An informal downtown survey: What do you think of the Confederate monument?

Much of The Paper’s coverage of the Confederate Monument on Morganton’s Historic Courthouse Square consists of formal research, scheduled interviews, and sit-down conversations.

In the spirit of broadening the coverage with more spontaneous reactions and thoughts, The Paper engaged in the tried-and-true, old-school survey method known in the trade as “Man On the Street” interviews.

The method is simple. A reporter goes into the community and asks random passers-by a question germane to the story. In this case, the task is to gather thoughts concerning whether to keep or relocate the monument.

A few of those who did respond did not want their picture taken. Many declined to comment for the record. The responses of those who shared their thoughts are edited for clarity and space.

 The Paper’s general assignment reporter, Saydie Bean, talked with residents and visitors about the topic. What follows are 10 of those conversations. 

In no particular order, here are the “Man On the Street” interviews.

ACACIA HOLLIFIELD, GLEN ALPINE 

Listening to music and walking past the courthouse when approached, Glen Alpine native Acacia Hollifield said the statue should remain accessible for the purposes of teaching history in schools. 

“People will argue that it’s an important part of history,” she said. “But I don’t think it is a part of history that should be celebrated or even memorialized because it’s a time in American history when it should be scorned. … I think it’s worth taking a look at and applying the past to modern America and the message we should be sending as opposed to memorializing something we kind of don’t really want to talk about.”

“If you think about history classes for students K-12, they learn about the Confederacy and the Union, but they don’t learn everything that comes in between — the good and the bad. I think it would be better if the politicians around here took that in mind and thought about the message we could be sending as opposed to ‘Let’s appreciate this very negative part of our history.’”

“It could go in a museum and it could have a place there,” Hollifield said. “I don’t think necessarily throwing it away or destroying it is a proper solution. If we really wanted to take into account what it really means and the history behind it, putting it in the museum next to other things that are memorabilia of that era. Having a Confederate exhibit and then a Union exhibit beside it.” 

VETERAN DR. GERRY NIETERS of LAKE JAMES

A proud Vietnam veteran, Dr. Gerry Nieters was unambiguous with his opinion.

“It’s a tribute,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the soldiers and it's to their honor. Let’s face it, wars are considered immoral, the most recent of which is Vietnam. So are you going to malign all the soldiers that took part in that? Are you going to tear down all their monuments? No. Granted, the cause was not a good one. You don’t malign the soldiers that took part in that because they didn’t have a say.”

“It’s not a monument to slavery,” he said. “It’s a monument to the individual soldiers who fought and/or gave their lives. It’s history. If you do away from history, you never learn.”

RON HUGHES, A LOYAL VISITOR OF MORGANTON FOR YEARS

A frequent visitor to Morganton, Raleigh resident Ron Hughes was relaxing outside  Patterson’s Amish Furniture while his wife shopped inside.

“This whole thing about trying to erase Confederate history because of the slavery associated with it… I think we need to teach those things that we’re not very proud of,” he said. “We just can't make it ‘lily white’ by tearing down monuments.” 

“I think they (people pushing for removing the statue) have some misplaced anger over something they don’t fully understand. I mean, none of us lived in the Civil War. Some of us may have a long-ago relative who fought in the Civil War, but it was important to people at the time. That should be important to us now.”

“At least preserve it and put it in a museum. … It should definitely be a part of our history.”

MARIA POWELL AND MARY ACKELSON OF MORGANTON

Morganton native Maria Powell and her good friend, resident Mary Ackelson, are frequently seen strolling through town. As they walked past the monument on the courthouse square they shared their thoughts.

Ladies of few words, Maria and Mary got straight to the point.

“It’s really beautiful. I don’t think it should be taken down. They should leave it alone!” Powell said.

“They should leave it alone. It’s been there for many years. They can leave it. It’s a landmark, I think we ought to leave it alone,” Ackelson said. 

MADDIE REED, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER  

Maddie Reed of Connelly Springs is a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Lincolnton Middle School. 

“Being a history teacher and someone who studied politics, the actions of the Confederacy were treasonous and should not be honored as it has been,” she said. “Today, those who support the Confederate flag and letting Confederate monuments remain are also those who claim to be the most American patriots.

“You can’t be both because the Confederacy no longer wanted to be part of the Union,” she said. “We shouldn’t honor those who betrayed the Union, let alone because they wanted slavery to be maintained and spread into new territories in the West,” Reed said. 

“I think the monument should be moved from the courthouse to the Burke County museum which isn’t far away or to the library,” she said.

DEBORA LACKEY, HISTORY ENTHUSIAST  

Debora Lackey is a Morganton resident and said she considers the monument a prominent teaching tool that sits in front of the courthouse. 

“I am a true history believer. The monument is to teach us lessons of opportunities and mistakes,” Lackey said.

“It’s just history. I am a strong believer in monuments. As long as we preserve it so the younger generations can learn from it, I’m fine with that,” she said. 

DARRYL CONLY OF MORGANTON

Morganton native Darryl Conly relaxed outside an area business earlier in the week and said he considers the statue as a remembrance of soldiers and a symbol of truth.

"Don't pay attention to it,” he said. “It represents a soldier, let it be. Let me stay in my peace. You can't go too far left or too far right.

"Why are people concerned about that monument when there are people in the bushes, in the streets, and in alleys?” he said.  “It is what it is."

MOLLY FREEMAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR 

Patton High School senior Molly Freeman was working on homework in Thornwell Books, a block from the monument. Her family moved to Morganton three years ago from New York, and she said they were shocked to see the monument in the center of town. 

"I feel like if it really offends people, there’s better ways to honor your ancestors and honor history than something that offends the mass group,” Freeman said. “There’s been enough fighting about it to where it’s not worth it. It’s hurting people. 

“As a piece of history, I think it should be preserved. I just don’t think it should be front and center.” 

THOMAS NADAU OF NEBO

Thomas Nadau is from Nebo but said he enjoys coming to Morganton and walking downtown. He said the statue is a symbol of racism. 

“I think that there’s a lot of pride in the history of this area, but you can have pride in the things that are current and our current trend is getting rid of racism. I think that’s a valid thing. I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with putting it in a museum, but out in the public for everybody to see, and being prideful of it in public doesn’t seem right to me,” Nadau said. 

Nadau added he would like to see a response from elected officials. “Make some decisions and do some jobs that we pay you for.” 

MELANIE DUNN, DOWNTOWN RESIDENT

Melanie Dunn said she doesn't think the monument should be moved because it represents history. 

"We do not have a problem with it. It's a soldier. It's not a general on horseback with his weapons,” she said. “But I wonder why they don't do a monument for a Black soldier." Dunn said. "They should be acknowledged. If they put up a monument for them, I think that would be awesome."  

Saydie Bean is a reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email at saydie@thepaper.media.