Between 75 and 100 people turned out for the presentation of a historical marker commemorating the Corbitt Company this morning in McGregor Hall in Henderson.
The Corbitt Company manufactured buggies, automobiles, tractors, heavy trucks, and other transportation equipment from 1899 until 1952 in Henderson, North Carolina.
The ceremony was conducted by the Corbitt Preservation Society, a group located in Henderson which seeks to preserve the history of the Corbitt Company.
Corbitt Preservation Association President Charles Powell and Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert
Tem Blackburn
The presentation ceremony was attended by such notables as Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert, Henderson City Council members Mary Emma Evans, Bobby Gupton, and Lynn Harper, as well as Tem Blackburn of the Vance County Historical Society and James Edwards, publisher of The Daily Dispatch.
Members of the Corbitt family in front row
Also attended were members of the Corbitt family Mrs. William Shaw Corbitt, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. William Shaw Corbitt III, Mr. William Shaw Corbitt IV, Mr. & Mrs. Albert Green Borden, Mrs. Mary Borden Currin, and Mr. & Mrs. John Crane Borden.
For the occasion, McGregor Hall was decked out with pictures of Corbitt vehicles, clocks featuring the Corbitt logo, historical books, plaques, and other memorabilia, and Corbitt T-shirts and hats.
David Robinson from the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame
David Robinson of the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame informed Home in Henderson that his commemorative organization would be inducted Corbitt Company founder R.J. Corbitt into its Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 23 of this year.
The North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame has a museum in Spencer, North Carolina.
At the beginning of the presentation, Charles Powell, President of the Corbitt Preservation association said that the historical marker from the NC Department of Transportation was the culmination of two years of work.
The marker will be installed on Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week at the intersection of Dabney Drive and US 158. That location was chosen because Corbitt used to test drive its vehicles on Dabney Drive.
After the invocation, Powell read the history of the Corbitt Company, from R.J. Corbitt’s beginning in Vance County as a tobacco farmer to the sale of the company to what Powell characterized as “Northern interests” in 1952 and the liquidation of the company and its facilities in 1954.
Powell noted that Corbitt made the first North Carolina school bus and that during World War II, sales reached $10 million a year.
Members of the Corbitt family in attendance were recognized as well as those present from the Henderson City Council.
Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert welcomed visitors to Henderson and “beautiful McGregor Hall” and praised the Association for preserving a “big part of Henderson history”.
Tem Blackburn commented that a photographic display of Vance County historical markers would be on display in the County Courthouse.
Mike Hill, Director of the NC Department of Transportation’s Historical Marker Program
Mike Hill, Director of the NC Department of Transportation’s Historical Marker Program, described the process by which the historical markers are cast from aluminum ingots by a company that specializes in the markers in Ohio. They are designed to last for generations.
He told the audience that 1,513 signs have been approved throughout North Carolina.
Hill also informed the audience that the Department of Transportation purchases, erects, and maintains the signs.
The Corbitt historical marker is the fifth to be placed in Vance County.
The Web site www.ncmarkers.com contains GIS maps showing where the signs are located.
Hill told the crowd that North Carolina historical markers are designed to be read from moving vehicles, and therefore must tell their story in as few words as possible.
Powell stated that he believed the application for the marker was approved “so easily” because of the contributions made by the Corbitt Company.
After the unveiling of the marker, Powell said that the Association was already planning an event for the anniversary of the first Corbitt truck in 2010.
Powell also told those assembled that the Association is working on obtaining its 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status.
William Shaw Corbitt III
After the presentation, William S. Corbitt III told Home in Henderson that it was “a tremendous honor for the entire family and city”. He said that he was especially proud of Corbitt’s military participation.
“That’s what gives us the most pride,” Corbitt said.
Corbitt noted that during the Great Depression the company “looked after everybody,” in fact, growing its number of employees.
“I think it went absolutely great,” Powell said in a brief interview. “We had to get more chairs.”
Powell said that the event would help the aims of the Corbitt Preservation Association. He said that the Association was close to its 100-member goal, having recently welcomed its 85th member.