Historian Ricky Allred to talk about county ‘Poor House’ at Asheboro library

Ricky Allred

ASHEBORO – Until the middle of the 20th century, counties were responsible for taking care of their poor and indigent residents. 

Local historian Ricky Allred will discuss Randolph County’s role in caring for its neediest citizens in a talk at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Asheboro Public Library. The talk is free and the public is invited.

Allred is author of The Least of These: Caring for the Poor in Randolph County, N.C., 1794-1922, published in 2025. The book chronicles the provisions for caring for those who could not take care of themselves, from the parish-based system of colonial times through the post-independence shift to county responsibility and the creation of a county Poor House, to the beginnings of state supervision following the Civil War, and finally to the replacement of the Poor House with a modern County Home in 1922. 

While legal and government structure frame the historical account, stories Allred has uncovered of individuals within the system — both care recipients and caregivers — give color to the statistics and vitality to the narrative.

Allred’s interest in history springs from deep family roots in Randolph County, and has led to research into a variety of local history topics. He is known for his “Walk Through the Past” tours of the Old Asheboro Cemetery.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 336-318-6803.

Film screening, discussion to bring to life ‘The American Constitution’

 

ASHEBORO -- Experience the high-stakes story of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in The American Constitution, a new documentary movie, in a screening at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theater.

The event, hosted by Revolutionary Randolph, the county’s official America 250 NC committee, is free and the public is invited. A discussion with filmmaker David Garrigus will follow the one-hour film.

Guided by insights from leading constitutional scholars, The American Constitution unveils the origin story of the American system of government. Set in the sweltering summer of 1787, the film dramatizes the creation of one of the most influential documents in human history.

Non-partisan and non-political, the film is a scrupulously accurate story promoting historical literacy and the greater civic good. The script is drawn entirely from the historical record, using only the Founders' own words.

This commitment to authenticity is brought to life by an impressive cast portraying Framers like George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the ever-witty Benjamin Franklin.

The film is slated to be broadcast on public television in fall 2026. View the film’s trailer at ConstitutionMovie.com. 

Garrigus is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in historical documentaries. His previous work includes the critically-acclaimed PBS film Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers’ Journey of Invention. 

The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue. For more information, call the Asheboro Public Library at 336-318-6803.

Sigmon Theatrical’s “Mouse Saves Christmas” comes to all Randolph libraries in December

Asheboro – On Christmas Eve, one tiny hero with a big heart sets out to save the day — and the whole holiday season.

That tiny hero will visit all seven Randolph County Public Libraries locations during the week of December 8 as Sigmon Theatrical presents Mouse Saves Christmas, an all-new, interactive stage adventure brought to life with breathtaking puppetry, toe-tapping music and a cast of professional performers that will leave audiences of all ages laughing and cheering, and may even tug on your heartstrings.

The schedule is as follows:

• Archdale, 10433 S. Main St., 10 a.m. Thursday, December 11;
• Asheboro, 201 Worth Street, 6:30 p.m. Monday, December 8;
• Franklinville, 111 Sumner Place, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 10; 
• Liberty, 239 S. Fayetteville St., 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 9;
• Ramseur, 1512 S. Main St., 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 10;
• Randleman, 142 W. Academy St., 4 p.m. Thursday, December 11;
• Seagrove, 530 Old Plank Road, 1 p.m. Thursday, December 11.

The performances are free and are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. It’s a holiday celebration for the entire family, mouse-sized and magic-packed.

For more information call 336-318-6804.

True Grass to play ‘Country Christmas Concert’ at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Popular and long-lived local bluegrass/gospel band True Grass will present a “Country Christmas Concert,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The performance, supported by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

The group has played local venues including the Sunset Theatre, the NC Zoo, Randolph Community College, churches, corporate events and others for over 20 years.

Founding members Tim Moon and Gary Callicutt remain with the group.

Moon, a well-known performer and music teacher for over 30 years, plays mandolin and sings lead vocals. Callicutt plays bass and sings tenor vocals.

Matthew Nance plays banjo and sings baritone vocals. William Britt plays guitar and sings most lead vocals. Moon’s son Nolan plays blistering fast solos as well as beautiful waltz styles on fiddle. 

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for more information.

Red Feather Rising: Sunset Series to go behind the scenes with actor Derek Hinkey

Derek Hinkey

ASHEBORO -- The Friends of the Library Sunset Signature Series will kick off it’s 2025-2026 season with actor Derek Hinkey, known for his portrayal of Red Feather in the Netflix television series American Primeval, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 7, in downtown Asheboro’s historic Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Ave.

Hinkey’s appearance is entitled “Behind the Scenes with Derek Hinkey: Boxer, Firefighter, Actor: Lessons from a Life of Courage and Transformation.” It is free and the public is invited.

Joining Hinkey will be students from the Guilford County Schools American Indian Education Program performing powwow and social dancing.

Hinkey is a Paiute-Shoshone actor and former professional boxer from Nevada, and an enrolled member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. In addition to his role as Red Feather, he appeared in season three of Dark Winds, AMC’s adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels, as Shorty Bowlegs.

He also has appeared in the TV series Walker: Independence, the film Americana and in Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga.

In his professional boxing career, Hinkey fought in the Super Middleweight division, winning nine times in 12 fights. As an amateur boxer, he was Nevada Champion five years in a row and three-time regional champion.

He also worked as a firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management.

Hinkey will discuss his journey from the boxing ring to Hollywood, and how it reflects his resilience, discipline and commitment to sharing authentic Indigenous stories. His appearance will take the form of a conversation with Archdale Public Library Manager Ashley Rose.

Rose connected with Hinkey via social media when Hinkey reached out to followers for help in finding out about his ancestry. Rose took up the challenge as an opportunity to learn more about the Randolph County Public Libraries’ genealogical resources, and presented Hinkey with his family tree.

The Sunset Series is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Library. Its goal is to bring culturally significant speakers and performers to Asheboro.

Also featured the 2025-2026 Sunset Series:

• Temple Grandin, animal behavior researcher and autism activist, “Great Minds are Not All the Same,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026;
• Lt. Col. Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient, Memorial Day weekend event, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2026;
• Elizabeth Hudson, Our State Editor, “Full Circle,” 7:30 p.m.  Friday, September 25, 2026.

 For more information, contact the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, 800-626-2672.

Historian to return with more Titanic stories in Asheboro library talk

Hearses line up on a wharf at Halifax, Nova Scotia,
to carry Titanic victims to funeral parlors

All the people who traveled on the Titanic in April 1912 are now dead.

Many lived decades after the tragedy to tell their stories. Those who died that night did not have that chance.

Through multimedia and memorabilia, Titanic scholar Dr. Melinda Ratchford will tell a few more of those stories in “Titanic: The Halifax Dead Speak,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 16, at the Asheboro Public Library.

After traveling to Halifax, Nova Scotia and visiting the graves of the 336 bodies recovered, Ratchford learned that even after a tragedy of such magnitude, the stories of heroism, cowardice, common sense, faith and hope live on.

Learn about the brave sailors from the ships Mackay Bennett, Minia and Montmagny, who recovered bodies and brought them to Halifax; the newly-devised numbering system for the bodies — sadly needed again in 1917 when two ships collided at Halifax resulting in an explosion that claimed almost 1,800 lives; how to determine whether to bury someone in the Catholic, Protestant or Jewish cemetery; and other intriguing issues that survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Ratchford is an associate professor of education at Belmont Abbey College. Her avocation has been a 60-year interest in the study of the Titanic and its history. She has visited Belfast, where the ship was built; Southampton, from where it sailed; the pier in New York where it would have docked; and Halifax. She also spent a week in the North Atlantic in 1996 at the site of the sinking.

A Kannapolis native, Ratchford worked in the North Carolina public schools for 31 years.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 3336-381-6803.

Learn about North Carolina’s first Congresswoman in Asheboro library talk

Jane Pratt

ASHEBORO – Elected by a landslide in 1946, Jane Pratt became the first woman from North Carolina to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Learn about Pratt as author Marion Deerhake talks about her book Jane Pratt: North Carolina’s First Congresswoman,  6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 2, at the  Asheboro Public Library. The talk is hosted by the Randolph Room.

After working as a journalist, Pratt served as secretary to five North Carolina congressmen, the first of which was Randolph County’s William Cicero Hammer. She was working for Rep. William Burgin in 1946, when he died in office. Pratt ran for and won his seat.

She voted to pass the Atomic Energy Act and worked to mitigate a century of flood disasters in western North Carolina. Her decision not to run for reelection, says Deerhake, offers insight into why 46 years passed before North Carolina sent another woman to Congress.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6815