General William Davie Bench, UNC (Chapel Hill)
A marble bench sits at the base of "Davie Poplar", a large tulip poplar tree in McCorkle Place on the campus of the University of North Carolina. The bench has become worn and weathered during the century since its installation. The tree is believed to be more than 300 years old.
Image: Rear inscription
Front: 1756 WILLIAM RICHARDSON DAVIE 1820
Rear: GENERAL DAVIE CHAPTER / N.S.D.A.R. / DURHAM, N. C. / NOV. 3, 1914
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
February, 1915
35.913400 , -79.051790
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Angley, Wilson. "William Richardson Davie," NCPedia.org, (accessed May 12, 2023) Link
Carr, James O. "Presentation of Portrait of William Richardson Davie to the State of North Carolina: In the Senate Chamber at Raleigh, November 15, 1910 by the North Carolina Society of the Sons of the Revolution," (accessed May 25, 2012) Link
Clark, Walter. An Address Upon the Life and Services of Gen. William R. Davie, "A Great Man in An Age of Great Men." Delivered at the Celebration on the Battlefield of Guilford Court House 4th July 1892, (Greensboro, NC: Guilford Battle-Ground Company, [1892]), (accessed November 12, 2012) Link
Denniston, Eliza Olver (ed.). Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, 46: 2, (1915), (accessed May 18, 2012) Link
Yes
Marble
General Davie Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
Mrs. Wiley, chapter regent, and Mrs. Reynolds, State regent, both made remarks at the presentation of the bench to the University. They discussed the rich history of Chapel Hill and their appreciation for the University. Dr. Edward Kidder Graham, University President, accepted the gift on behalf of the University. The University Glee Club sang for the attendees.
Davie Poplar Bench
William Richardson Davie, an attorney and officer in the Revolutionary War, served as Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799. He was heavily involved in the founding of the University of North Carolina while he was a member of the North Carolina general assembly.
[Additional information from NCpedia editors at the State Library of North Carolina: This person enslaved and owned other people. Many Black and African people, their descendants, and some others were enslaved in the United States until the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in 1865. It was common for wealthy landowners, entrepreneurs, politicians, institutions, and others to enslave people and use enslaved labor during this period. To read more about the enslavement and transportation of African people to North Carolina, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/programs/africa-carolina-0. To read more about slavery and its history in North Carolina, visit https://www.ncpedia.org/slavery. - Government and Heritage Library, 2023.]
The bench stands in front of the giant Davie Poplar in McCorkle place on the University of North Carolina Campus in Chapel Hill, NC.
The bench is surrounded by shady trees, bushes and perennials.
According to legend, if a couple kisses on this bench, they will marry. This has led to its becoming a popular place for wedding proposals.
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