To commemorate this site, in the fall of 2018 we held three public events which were funded by the North Carolina Humanities Council.
70th Anniversary Event at People & Paws 4 Hope
On 11/4/18 we held an event at People and Paws for Hope commemorating the closing of the hospital. A local non-profit who’s home was once part of the Polio Hospital. At this event we held a lecture with two speakers Jim Schlosser and Ruth “Boo” Jobe. Both Speakers discussed the history hospital. Following a Q&A session the building was opened for people to walk around and look at the exhibit we created, watch the oral histories from patients, and if they chose to record a short oral history.
Friends Home West
On 11/10/18 we hosted an event at an assisted living facility. At this event each group had a representative speak about the methodology, design of the exhibit and the history of the polio. Following a brief discussion, the residence in attendance were able to walk around and look at the exhibit as well as take part in voting on what they would like to see on the historic marker that we applied for.
International Civil Rights Center & Museum
On 11/17/18 our final event focused around the civil rights aspects of the old polio hospital. To start things off we had a lecture from Dr. Linda Brown. A retired professor from Bennett College. Not only is she an expert who wrote the book about the 1963 protests but she also lived through it as an individual who was involved. After her lecture we had a brief Q&A session. Following that everyone exited the auditorium and was given the opportunity to look at the exhibit we created and place their vote for the text that could be on the historic marker if we get it. Also, like all of the previous events we had memory stations for anyone that wished to do a brief oral history.
