Letter: Statesville has a history that needs to be marked

On May 1, 1868 (140 ago), the event that made Statesville known around the world happened just south of the railroad tracks.This same event made Statesville known around the world again in the late 1950s when the Kingston Trio sang their number one hit song,“Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley.”

It was on this date Tom Dula (Dooley) from Wilkes County was hung at the “Circus Grounds” just south of the train depot for the murder of Lara Foster. This was the first “crime of passion” case to become famous in America and around the world. Many stories have been written over the years about the love affair of Tom Dula, Lara Foster and Ann Melton. Lara Foster’s death still remains a mystery to this day.

Tom Dula stood trial twice in Statesville. Tom’s defense attorney was the former governor of North Carolina, Zebulon Vance. Gov. Vance lived in Statesville and moved the capital here in 1865 when the Federals (Yankees) invaded Raleigh at the end of the War of Northern Aggression, or “Civil War.” It was at this house the Federals arrested the governor. The house and museum still stands on West Sharpe St.

The two most historic events in the history of Statesville are almost totally ignored by our civic leaders of today. More than 90 percent of our schoolchildren in this county don’t know Statesville was the home of Gov. Vance and the capital of North Carolina was right here.

I have tried to get a state marker erected on Shelton Avenue near the present-day site of the Depot. This is the place where Tom Dula was hanged. The state will not put a marker there because they have a marker near his grave in Wilkes County. The state claims it will erect only one marker per person or event, yet you see dozens of markers around the State telling of Stoneman’s Raid.

Since Tom Dula was hung near the present site of the Depot and tourist information center, it would add a lot to the tourism of Statesville to mark where Tom Dula was hanged. So far, our civic leaders have not stepped forward and offered a hand in getting a marker put up, and a private marker costs a lot. It would take a big fundrasier to buy a suitable marker.

I do not want to bring glory to someone who committed a crime such as murder, if indeed Tom did kill Lara, but the trials and hanging did bring international attention to the town of Statesville. May1,1868, is a part of Statesville’s history.

Buddy Hemric
Statesville