The City of Mount Holly Black History Committee for the past four years has been working on a project called “A Walk Down Memory Lane”.  The project was created to commemorate the former A.M. Rollins Elementary School, the only school for blacks in Mount Holly.  The school was located off of South Hawthorne Street in the old Freedom Neighborhood, that which was predominantly black.  From 1930 to 1968 the school educated all of Mount Holly’s elementary school children. The school was named after Mr. A.M. Rollins, the former Principal.

The project consists of a new sidewalk on South Hawthorne Street that is comprised of brick pavers depicting the names of teachers, students, staff, corporate sponsors and others that made contributions to the project. Also included in the project is a granite monument that stands as a reminder of where the school was located. The monument is approximately eight (8) feet in height. The bricks were purchased by those connected to the school, corporate sponsors and other private individuals.  The Black History Committee also held fund raisers over the last four years to help with project costs.

The Black History Committee held a ground breaking ceremony on Saturday, August 15, 2009.  The ceremony included words from Mayor Robert Whitt, committee members Caroline Reid Howard, John Hope, Dan Jackson and Danny J. Jackson.  The committee then held an unveiling ceremony on Saturday, September 12, 2009.  The monument was unveiled and people were able to see the new sidewalk with brick pavers.

The project is of major significance because it will become a major legacy for the black community and for Mount Holly as a whole. Mount Holly has a rich history is rapidly transitioning into a community with dynamics that are attracting people from all over the country.  The project is a culmination of partnerships created along the way. For those that wish to see the project it is located adjacent to the Rollins Apartment Complex, 311 South Hawthorne Street.  The apartment complex was named after the elementary school because it sits on the site of the former school.

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Danny J. Jackson
City Manager
Community Development
City of Mount Holly
P.O. Box 406, 400 E. Central Ave.
Mount Holly, NC 28120
704-822-2938
704-822-2933 (fax)