The High Point Museum's newest exhibit, "New Deal for High Point," opens Tuesday, November 7 and in anticipation of it the Museum will be hosting a program to highlight one of the many New Deal projects that was developed during that time. On Saturday, November 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Glenn Chavis, a local historian, will discuss his research into the lowering of the railroad tracks.
Chavis will discuss his experience looking into the New Deal project to lower the train tracks in the center of the city. Learn about the archives and collections that he used to uncover their lost stories. His work culminated with the casting and mounting of a plaque dedicated to the three African American men, Sam Camp, James Palmer, and Grover Sutton, who died over the course of the project. The plaque is located at the Train Depot.
"The lowering of the tracks had a tremendous impact on both the look and functionality of the intersection of the railroad and Main Street," Edith Brady, Museum Director, said. "As we travel over the tracks through downtown High Point today, most of us are unaware of all that went into making it happen. It was quite an undertaking. I think people will enjoy hearing some of the stories and afterwards may even better appreciate how the intersection works today."
"New Deal in High Point" will showcase the lasting impact of the various New Deal projects on the physical landscape of High Point that we can still see today. The exhibit will highlight several New Deal building projects and their legacy in High Point. A few of the projects included the CCC Camp, High Point City Lake Park and Washington Terrace Park, Allen Jay Rock Gym and Clara Cox and Daniel Brooks Housing Developments.
The lowering of the tracks will be explored more in-depth with a photographic exhibit in the lecture gallery that will open Tuesday, November 28.