SYDNEY: Since I know you like history, I thought I would tell you how our town got its name. Our town is called China Grove because there used to be a grove of Chinaberry trees near the old train depot. You would not believe how many times my parents have been asked if there are a lot of Chinese people that live in our town!I had never seen a Chinaberry tree before so I looked them up on the internet. The grove that our town is named for died out a long time before I moved here. They’re interesting to look at.
JOYCE: I have Chinaberry trees in my backyard. The berries create a nice bright spot on a winter day.)SYDNEY: My Grandpa told me yesterday that he had a Chinaberry tree in his yard when he was a little boy. He and his brother used the green berries in their homemade slingshots. He said that the yellow berries felt nasty when they stepped on them with bare feet.
JOYCE: True. And "the nasty" gets under my fingernails when I pull weeds. (gloves, please!) All those berries drop into my flower beds and sprout more trees. It wouldn't take long to have a grove. The leaves and berries are pretty but they're also messy so I'm not surprised that China Grove removed them. Too bad they can't have one token tree. Ha!
Thank-you, Sydney for sharing this bit of history with us. I've always loved the name of your town but until now it was just a fascinating name. Some day I hope to visit. Your Farmer's Day Celebration on the 3rd Saturday in July looks like a blast!
MORE HISTORY TRIVIA: I did vist China Grove's website, and discovered that before it was called China Grove it had two other town names. I bet the students in Sydney's AIG class at Bostian Elementary School, know what they are.
Hi to everyone in Ms. Rymer's class. Do me a favor - click on the comment link below (with Ms. Rymer's permission) and tell me the two names that China Grove used to be called. And, if your class can tell me how it got those 2 names, I'll send signed bookmarks for each of you.
A Little More History I lifted from the town's website:China Grove had its beginnings prior to the American Revolution. The town served as an early stagecoach stop. One claim to fame is that the first Rural Free Delivery Mail was made in North Carolina at the China Grove Post Office on October 23, 1896. It was only the second RFD made in the United States.
