PINEVILLE —The 212th birthday of a North Carolina native and one of America’s most effective presidents, James K. Polk, will be celebrated in a festive public program at the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville on Saturday, Nov. 1.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can interact with interpreters dressed as the Polk family would have been when they lived here in the late 18th- to early-19th century; they can see typical hearty dishes of the period cooked over an open fire, listen to music played on such 18th-century instruments as the fife and the recorder, and join in 18th-century country dances. The kids may try their hand at games like the young Polks would have played including Cup and Ball and Jacob’s Ladder. This public event is free, although donations are appreciated.
Demonstrations of how piedmont North Carolina families like the Polks commonly cooked meals will feature such rustic fare as cornmeal mush in bear’s oil. When James K. Polk was growing up here (1795-1806), farmers, hunters, merchants and even planters who settled around Salisbury, Charlottetown (as Charlotte was then called) and Salem had to literally live off the land. Costumed interpreters will also be performing various household tasks once commonly done on the former farm.
Marilyn Price and Cara Schuman will provide a musical accompaniment to the day’s festivities by playing such period instruments as the fife, recorder, spoons and mandolin. Visitors may also enjoy joining in typical 18th-century English country dances, like those performed in the movie “Pride and Prejudice.” These dances, which included “All in a Garden Green,” “Jack Pudding,” “New New Nothing” and many more, featured bowing and curtseying, ring formations and elaborate steps.
Meanwhile, the kids may enjoy playing the Game of Graces where two players, usually young girls, toss a wooden hoop back and forth, while trying to catch it on dowel rods. Others may find such toys as Jacob’s Ladder (blocks of wood held together by strings or ribbons — when the “ladder” is held at one end, blocks appear to cascade down the strings) and Cup and Ball to be more challenging than even the electronic Wii!
James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States, was born in Mecklenburg County near present-day Pineville in 1795. He lived with his family for 11 years on this farm before moving to Tennessee in 1806.
After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, Polk entered politics and went on to be elected president on the Democratic ticket. He had an extraordinarily eventful term in office and was responsible for acquiring more territory for the U.S. than any other president since Thomas Jefferson. In four short years, the nation gained over 800,000 square miles of western territory, extending its boundary to the Pacific Ocean. This land included present-day California, Texas, New Mexico and Oregon. A firm believer in equal rights for all, special privileges for none and friendship for the common people, President Polk ran an efficient administration and was known for his personal dedication and integrity.
The state historic site’s mission is to preserve and interpret the birthplace and history of Polk. It is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through October and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. from Nov. 1 through March 31. Located off exit 65, I-485, James K. Polk State Historic Site is at 12031 Lancaster Highway in Pineville.
For more information on the birthday program, contact the site (704) 889-7145 or e-mail at polk@ncmail.net or check out the Web site at www.polk.nchistoricsites.org.
Administered by the Division of State Historic Sites, President James K. Polk State Historic Site is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture through such programs as “Telling Our Stories.” For more information, visit www.ncculture.com.