News & Updates
The latest information on the Raising the Shade project - from the upcoming PBS documentary to monument installation updates, community engagement opportunities and so much more .
.png)
Press Release
Raising the Shade: Franklin County 1850-1910 Announces New Location for the Franklin County United States Colored Troops Monument
Rocky Mount, VA — Raising the Shade is excited to announce a significant update regarding the Franklin County United States Colored Troops Monument, originally slated for installation at the Rocky Mount Veterans' Memorial Park. The First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount has graciously extended an invitation to collaborate with the restoration and renovation of their original 1896 church building on Franklin Street. According to Virginia's Department of Historic Resources, the church is a contributing building to the Rocky Mount historic district.
We extend our gratitude to the town of Rocky Mount for their generous offer to host the monument at the Veterans' Memorial Park. However, we believe that the historic First Baptist Church provides a more visible and accessible location for this important tribute. Plans for this site will create a learning opportunity accessible to all members of the community, making it an ideal setting for honoring the contributions of African American soldiers from Franklin County to the Civil War.
The design and creation of the monument will be undertaken by master sculptors Paul DiPasquale and Rick Weaver, alongside installation experts Team Henry Enterprises, whose expertise and vision will ensure that the monument serves as a lasting tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the United States Colored Troops.
The Raising the Shade project is made possible thanks to the work of the Franklin County NAACP and generous funding provided by Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia and the Mellon Foundation, which support our mission to honor and preserve the rich history of Franklin County.
We look forward to sharing further details about a Community Education Forum this coming spring, and the monument's unveiling in the fall of 2025. We will invite the entire community to join us in celebrating this important addition to our town's heritage.
For more information, please visit our website at www.raisingtheshade.org and learn more about MAAV's other projects at www.moremountainstories.org
For further media inquiries, please contact:
Eric Anspaugh
President, Franklin County NAACP
Community Engagement Chair, Raising the Shade: Franklin County 1850-1910
eanspaugh@yahoo.com