World War II Memorial, Cliffside
The Cliffside World War Two Memorial consists of a series of small bronze placards, attached to a wood backing. The wood backing is held in a laid brick display that stands approximately 6 feet high and 6 feet wide, giving the effect of a large picture frame. There are 30 placards in three columns with room on each for 12 names. The left column holds 10 placards. The center column holds a larger plaque at the top with the inscription. This plaque also has four names sandwiched between the words “Cliffside Mill.” At the top of this plaque is an eagle with spread wings holding an American flag and arrows in its talons. 9 placards are beneath the inscription plaque. The right column has 11 placards. The memorial contains 357 names of those from the Cliffside, North Carolina community who served in World War Two.
Images:
Side view
PROUDLY WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEMBERS / OF OUR ORGANIZATION WHO ANSWERED / THE CALL TO THE COLORS
CL[ ]FF[ ]E MIL[ ]
Owned by Rutherford County, maintained by the Cliffside Historical Society
Dedication: Circa 1943. Re-dedication: November 11, 1994
35.242580 , -81.769170
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Bailey, Alfred Reno. "Remember Cliffside," Cliffside Historical Society, remembercliffside.com, (accessed September 21, 2020) Link
Bailey, Alfred Reno. "Remember Cliffside. Cliffside in World War II," Cliffside Historical Society, remembercliffside.com, (accessed September 21, 2020) Link
Gordon, Jean. “World War Two Plaque Rededicated in Cliffside,” Rutherford County News/Enterprise (Forest City, NC), November 16, 1994, (accessed February 26, 2020) Link
“Haynes Memorial Clock Tower,” Visitsmalltowns.com, (accessed February 26, 2020) Link
Yes
Bronze, red brick, wood
Cone Mills
There was no formal dedication when the memorial was created as names were added through the war years.
Rededication in 1994: Terry Hines, general manager of Cone Mills' Rutherford County plants, addressed the crowd. “It is my privilege on behalf of the Cliffside community to rededicate this plaque in honor of the men and women from this area who proudly served our country and fought for the freedom that we all enjoy today,” Hines said.
Jack Hunt, NC House of Representatives, also spoke at the rededication ceremony. “These are the best people here and it is the best community ever,” Hunt began. “If you ever live in Cliffside, you become a part of Cliffside and Cliffside becomes a part of you,” he said.
The memorial had its origin shortly after the war began. A local resident, John Tinkler, began keeping a record of Cliffside Mills' employees and Cliffside area residents as they entered the military. Charles Haynes, President of Cliffside Mills, upon learning of the list suggested that Tinkler look into getting a plaque erected with the names of those in the military. The plaque was placed on the porch of Cliffside Mills’ main office, next to the Cliffside Post Office, where it remained until 1962, when it was moved to the town's American Legion Hut. In 1971, after the Cliffside American Legion disbanded, it was placed in storage to protect it from vandals until 1994. It was re-erected near the Memorial Clock Tower that now stands on home site of R.R. Haynes, founder of Cliffside Mills’ and the town of Cliffside.
The memorial is located in Cliffside, NC. Postal address 207 Old Main Street, Mooresboro, NC 28114
A small grassy hilltop park surrounding the Haynes Memorial Clock and other local memorials.
The placards were first displayed at the Cliffside Mills’ main office. In 1962 the memorial was relocated to the American Legion building. From 1971 until 1994 it was stored at a private residence.
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