SALISBURY — The Salisbury-Rowan NAACP, in partnership with Rowan Museum, is set to host “Legacy of January 1: The Day They Walked Free” on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m. on the steps in front of the Rowan Museum.

This event is a day of commemoration, education and awareness aimed at reflecting on the significance of Jan. 1 as it relates to Black history in Rowan County.

Attendees will meet in front of the museum’s steps, which historically served as the old courthouse steps, to view a visual presentation and hear an educational talk on the historical significance of this day. This event will honor the legacy of African Americans in the region and educate attendees on the profound changes that took place on New Year’s Day in the years following the Civil War.

“Jan. 1, 1866, marked a day in Rowan County history symbolizing freedom and new beginnings. ‘Legacy of Jan. 1: The Day They Walked Free’ is to honor and reflect on the transition from oppression to freedom. This event will highlight and serve as a reminder of African Americans’ struggles and the resilience that continues to shape Rowan County today,” said NAACP President Gemale Black.

The event will highlight the historical context of Lease Day, a period in the antebellum era when, up until 1865, every New Year’s Day was marked by the leasing of enslaved Black people. People came from across Western North Carolina to rent enslaved individuals for one year. This practice was so prevalent that it was advertised in local newspapers and the actions were carried out with an auctioneer on the courthouse steps.

However, the significance of Jan. 1 changed in 1866. On Jan. 8, 1866, The Daily Union Banner, a Salisbury newspaper, reported New Year’s Day was quiet in town with little activity, unlike previous years. The only action in town was the recently freed Black population walking the streets, in direct contrast to the Lease Days of the past.

“In all my years of researching local history, few events have leaped off the page and demanded to be retold like New Years Day 1866,” said Aaron Kepley, Rowan Museum interim executive director. 

The public is invited to attend, reflect and learn about this important part of our local history. For more information, email the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP at info@salisburyrowannaacp.org.