Historic Smithfield Foundation, Inc.

08/22/2025

Come to Camp Flintlock tomorrow and have your picture taken with Smithfield’s founding father.

Come and join us for our annual Colonial Faire! 10 AM - 4PM. Grab a meal and enjoy a day in 18th Century America! Adults $10, Kids 6-16 $7, Under 6 FREE! Buy tickets at the gate! 218 Hickory Grove Church Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524

04/17/2025

At Celebrate Smithfield on Saturday, March 15, the Johnston County Museum celebrated Tuscarora history and culture as members of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina told stories, shared family oral history, sang songs, and performed ceremonial dances. Johnathan Chavis is shown here as he explained one of the dances. The turnout was great--sometimes standing room only. Our sincere thanks to the Johnston County Arts Council, the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and our Tuscarora friends for helping to make this a special day!

04/17/2025

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere..." How many of us had to memorize that poem by Longfellow in the lower grades?

From our director: "My grandmother was held back in 6th grade at the two-room Pleasant Hill School near Benson because she couldn't memorize the whole poem. Thankfully, I had a more lenient teacher, because I couldn't do it either!"

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of that famous ride, the Heritage Center will hang lanterns in the 3rd floor window tomorrow night (one if by land, two if by sea). If you come through Historic Downtown Smithfield, NC and happen to "see the light," let us know by liking or commenting.

02/24/2022

Tune in to the Johnston County Heritage Center's YouTube channel at 7 pm tonight to learn about Smithfield's Dr. Charles W. Furlonge and other African American health care professionals and to hear an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Marilyn Pearson.

Honoring Johnston County's African American health care professionals, past and present

01/28/2022

Many thanks to Ben Armstrong and Adam Carroll of the Johnston County Public Information Department for this wonderful video about the Heritage Center, including some footage at the Smithfield Freedmen's Schoolhouse with two descendants of students who are believed to have attended the school.

11/03/2021

For those who may have missed the Ghost Walk this year in Smithfield's historic Riverside Cemetery--you can view it on the Johnston County Heritage Center's YouTube channel. Search for JohnstonNC Heritage.

09/07/2021

The Smithfield Freedmen's Schoolhouse will be featured on WRAL-TV's Tar Heel Traveler tonight at around 5:55 pm. You can view it later on the WRAL website.

Get the latest articles, videos, photo galleries and blogposts related to WRAL's coverage of Tar Heel Traveler

02/08/2021

Now that the original board-and-batten siding (minus battens) is exposed on the Freedmen's Schoolhouse, we can begin to see what the 1869 building looked like. So far, we have raised over $72,000 in cash and pledges toward our $500,000 goal to restore and create an operating endowment for this rare historical treasure. Many thanks to all who have contributed already and to those whose contributions are forthcoming.

We need the help of all our friends to make this project successful. It is an opportunity to honor or memorialize a loved one or special educator who influenced your life. And remember, no gift is too small. For more information, contact our secretary, Todd Johnson, at 919-938-4708, or send an email to [email protected].

Online donations can be made through the Johnston County Heritage Center (designate Freedmen's Schoolhouse in memo box):
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=LNNcUXox-CRUQsqEyIPWR-PBHr1Wng5K6hARCdr059dsBuBtR5j5QcdROaX36TJKC3aGr5jHNfzDyhDl&fromUL=true&Z3JncnB0=

12/15/2020

Check out the Johnston County Heritage Center page for a week-long series of photos of a dollhouse inspired by the old Myatt house on South Third Street (no longer standing).

Over 20 years ago, Mary Lou Attayek and Ruby Creech spent the better part of a week with photo album, flash light, tweezers, and magnifying glass, painstakingly reassembling the furnishings and accessories in this amazing doll house, now on display in the Heritage Center. Smithfield native Margaret Myatt Baynes and her husband created the dollhouse to resemble her childhood home on S. Third Street as she remembered it at Christmastime in the 1920s and 30s. In the coming week we will be sharing one room per day from the Baynes' magnificent creation.

12/01/2020

Smithfield is home to the only freedmen's schoolhouse known to remain in North Carolina and one of about five nationwide. The Historic Smithfield Foundation has launched a campaign to raise $500,000 to restore the former Smithfield Freedmen's School, built 1868-69, and to create an operating endowment.

We are grateful to generous individuals, businesses, and organizations who have already contributed over $35,000 to this effort, but we still have a long way to go.

There are two ways to contribute - by sending a check payable to the Historic Smithfield Foundation, PO Box 2235, Smithfield, NC 25777, or by making an online contribution to our partner organization, the Johnston County Heritage Center, at
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Y0dCWVrZXf6bGadKyoHQGfbTDHctVyWna8RqUcGBzGHUvznHPwjK24k6XPcnclMYDTuyMimmwBW-tI7b&fromUL=true&country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (please designate "Freedmen's School" and provide your contact info in the comment section).

No amount is too small, and gifts can be made in honor or in memory of a loved one or a special teacher.