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Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Raleigh: |
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Born on the level! Born on the square!
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM MECKLENBURG POLK 1758-1834
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1. Family history
2. Birth and early life in Charlotte
3. Heroism in the American Revolution
4. Life in Tennessee
5. William Polk as a Freemason
6. Forty-four years serving the University
7. His good work and last days in Raleigh
8. A descendant’s farewell
July 9, 2008, marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Lieutenant Colonel William Polk. Celebrations of that event extended across North Carolina, particularly in Mecklenburg County, where he was born and raised, in Chapel Hill, where he helped the young University to blossom, and in Raleigh where he completed his life’s work.
Polk’s famous descendant, author-explorer Milbry Catherine Polk, addressed two audiences that day, beginning at Polk Park on the Square in Charlotte, the very place where he was born. That celebration climaxed across the street at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library auditorium. Two days later two Masonic Grand Masters led the Chapel Hill celebration in Gerrard Hall on the UNC campus. And on July 11 all of Raleigh’s Masonic lodges honored Polk at his grave in historic City Cemetery by imbedding their A Hero Among Masons monument. All three events were to begin at high noon, but seasonal heat moved the Raleigh ceremonies to 11AM.
Because everyone in America named Polk seem related to William Polk and President James Knox Polk, all were invited. The three-city 250th birthday was a project of the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina Masons.
Will Polk’s character, leadership and bravery lived again that day as they did in the 18th century. Now grasp the breadth and depth of the Polk family in this first Masonic biography of Will Polk.
read more | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Download PDF version of this article 
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Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
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