BAKERSVILLE — In the wake of Confederate monuments and statues being removed across the country, the Confederate monument in Mitchell County was discussed Monday, June 29 during the regular Bakersville Town Council meeting.
The monument, named the “Mitchell County Confederate Dead”, sits outside of the historic county courthouse in Bakersville. It was dedicated in 2011 with the permission of the Mitchell County Commissioners.
Edd Silver, a member of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said he has heard rumors that some are concerned about the monument.
“I can’t help it that it offends some people,” Silver said. “I’m sorry it does, but that’s local history. We opted not to make no great, big, monstrous monument, just to honor the men that served their country in the time in which they lived and gave their life.”
Robert “Robbie” Morgan, also a member of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, noted the monument is just a simple slab in the form of a tombstone with the names of 79 men who died during the Civil War.
“There’s nothing offensive on the rock,” Morgan said. “It’s just the names of these men. It was very tastefully made. If you’ll look, there are no emblems on the rock. It’s just writing.”
Bakersville Mayor Charles “Chuck” Vines directed the two men to the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners because the monument is on county property.
Silver and Morgan said they both plan to speak with the commissioners regarding the monument at the board’s upcoming regular session on Thursday, July 16.
“I’m gonna be around as long as there’s breath in my lungs to see that that rock stays there,” Silver said. “If it winds up having to be removed and forced upon us, we will relocate it to private property.”
While the Bakersville Town Council made no motions regarding the monument, council member Charles Nash stated his thoughts.
Nash said while he is “not offended” by the monument and has no problem with it staying in Bakersville, he is insulted by other monuments in the country.
“I am offended by some of the monuments put up in America that show people in subservient positions,” Nash said. “But, I think the monument that’s here is an example of how all of the Confederate monuments should look like.”
Additionally, Morgan asked the council if they would allow him to set up a security camera aimed at the monument in order to keep it safe.
“We’re not trying to spy on anybody, we just want to keep the rock safe,” Morgan said.
The council approved the camera as long as the installers received permission from the property owner on which the cameras would be placed and for the council to be informed of where the cameras were pointed.