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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Rowan County Committee of Safety, Salisbury. Photo by Natasha Smith

  • Monument Name

    Rowan County Committee of Safety, Salisbury

  • Type

    Plaque

  • Subjects

    Colonial History

    Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

  • City

    Salisbury

  • County

    Rowan

  • Description

    A simple bronze tablet with an arched top displays the logo of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the inscription.

    Images:
    Far-off view

  • Inscription

    TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN THE MEMORY OF THE / PATRIOTS / OF THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY / AUGUST 8TH 1774 / VII RESOLVE “THAT IT IS THE DUTY AND / INTEREST OF ALL THE AMERICAN / COLONIES FIRMLY TO UNITE IN / AN INDISSOLUBLE UNION AND / ASSOCIATION TO OPPOSE BY / EVERY JUST AND PROPER MEANS / THE INFRINGEMENT OF THEIR / COMMON RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.”

    ERECTED BY THE / ELIZABETH MAXWELL STEELE CHAPTER / SEPTEMBER 15, 1927

  • Custodian

    Rowan County

  • Dedication Date

    September 15, 1927

  • Decade

    1920s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.668810 , -80.468440 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Smith, Carmen Minor. 2006. “Committees of Safety,” NCPedia.org, (accessed December 3, 2019) Link

      “Minutes of the Rowan County Committee of Safety,” Rowan County (N.C.). Committee of Safety. Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, September 23, 1774 Volume 09, Pages 1072-1075. From "Documenting the American South", docsouth.unc.edu, (accessed December 3, 2019) Link

      “The Rowan County Committee of Safety,” Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, NC), July 22, 1880

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze

  • Sponsors

    Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

  • Subject Notes

    The Committees of Safety were a network of 22 committees in counties and towns across North Carolina authorized by the Continental Congress, endorsed by the Second Provincial Congress of North Carolina and the North Carolina Assembly. They were established in late 1774 and early 1775 to enforce the banning of trade with Britain, spread Whig (Patriot) propaganda and begin making military preparations.

  • Location

    The memorial plaque is attached to the exterior wall, left corner, of the Rowan County Courthouse, 210 N Main St, Salisbury, NC 28144. The Rowan County World War I Memorial stands in front of the Rowan County Courthouse, on the right of a paved walkway leading to the courthouse building. The Elizabeth Maxwell Steel memorial plaque is attached to the outside wall of the historic courthouse building that stands to the left of the modern Rowan County Courthouse.

  • Landscape

    The Rowan County Courthouse is surrounded by lawn, with a few trees planted around the building.

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