As Halloween approaches, we call upon all who may dare to consider the persistent presence of those who lived before – to commune with the spirits of those passed and wonder if they might still dwell among us. Indeed, Wake Forest’s first spirit has sent a sign to the good people of Wake Forest in the form of a long-lost ledger – or gravestone.
As a wise and knowing soul, one still among the living in the historic section of Town tells the tale, in the spring of last year, a man was clearing land south of Nashville, Tennessee when he unearthed a large stone ledger inscribed with the famous name of Wake Forest’s founder, Dr. Calvin Jones. The mysterious marker included the various titles and occupations Jones held while residing in Raleigh – that of medical doctor, mayor, general during the War of 1812, and newspaper publisher.
Naturally curious to discover the story behind the name etched upon the strangely placed stone found in a land far from Wake Forest, the man did some digging and soon found himself communing with Ed Morris – another wise and knowing soul still among the living – who until his retirement this June had long served as Director of the Wake Forest Historical Museum.
After the 615-acre property Calvin Jones owned was purchased by the North Carolina Baptist Convention in 1832 – and became the first home of Wake Forest College – Jones, his family, and his slaves moved to Bolivar, Tennessee – where he had purchased a large plantation.
Married to Temperance Bodie Williams Jones – the widow of Thomas Jones, and cousin of Lucy Williams Polk, wife of President James Polk, both from Warrenton – Jones died in Bolivar in 1846.
More than 100 years later, in or around 1950, local descendants of Calvin Jones saw that his grave was sinking and the original ledger was cracking. An identical replacement was commissioned and placed on his grave, while the original – in three parts – was left in a field 30 miles away, only to be found over 70 years later.
Morris wanted the ledger for the museum but was unsure how to transport it. Summoning other local living souls for their sage advice and counsel, Morris called upon Jill and Randy Bright, who often manage such matters at Bright Funeral Home. This past spring, the couple headed to Tennessee in Randy's red pickup truck to recover the original ledger.
The Brights met the property owner in Bethel Springs, and with his help managed to wrangle the ledger in three pieces into the truck. And upon learning that the actual gravesite of Calvin and Temperance Jones was only a short drive further west to Bolivar, Randy insisted on seeing it.
Polk Cemetery began as a private burial plot for the family of President Polk but is now public. The Brights began searching through the cemetery – only to find several Calvin Jones monuments – relatives of the Wake Forest founder, Morris assured them by phone.
The Calvin Jones plot is reportedly humble compared to that of his wife on his right-hand side, marked by a five-foot memorial with her name on the front and his on the back.
Once returned to Wake Forest, the Brights employed a perfected process to remove the century and a half or so of earthly accumulation on the ledger. Alas, while the ledger is now restored to resemble new stone, because the inscription is so shallow, the cleaning process made it less legible without the decades of dirt.
Wake Forest’s own Electric Motor Shop fashioned a stainless steel frame of sorts on an elevated stand for the Calvin Jones ledger, which was recently installed next to the house built in 1820 that bears his name at 414 North Main Street.
“We're amazed and grateful to have this important piece of Wake Forest’s history in the Town's possession,” said Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership. “Thanks to the fortuitous finding of the ledger as well as communication with and teamwork between Ed Morris, Jill and Randy Bright, and the Electric Motor Shop, this original creation now rests back where a big part of Calvin Jones’ story began,” continues Cannon. “During this spooky and fun time of year, this is just one more way we can look back on a part of the rich history that gives Wake Forest its unique small-town charm."
Spirits of Wake Forest
While the spirit of Calvin Jones clearly lives on in its myriad forms, the annual Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walk tour in historic downtown Wake Forest is another way to connect with those who came and lived here before.
Firebox Theatre Company is partnering with Wake Forest Downtown to provide a cast of storytellers to lead the tours each night. Indeed, with more than 100 years of history, Wake Forest’s oldest buildings and sidewalks have some spooky tales to tell.
“I love thinking back on what Wake Forest would have been like many years ago with the railroad at the center of town,” says Cora Hemphill, co-founder of Firebox Theatre. “It is particularly exciting to us here at Firebox as the historical train was inspiration for our name.”
The tours began in the fall of 2020 thanks to the collaboration of Dolores Riggins, Lisa Hayes, and Kent Lower, who had talked about wanting to do ghost tours for some time. And having heard some historical tales from the Wake Forest Historical Museum, they devised the original script that summer, and started the tours in October – all of which were quickly sold out.
Featuring stories of old interwoven with new material, this year’s tours last just over an hour and occur primarily along South White Street. Groups meet outside Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 Brooks Street, and tours begin promptly at their scheduled time.
Hemphill says the stories in the Spirits of Wake Forest ghost tours enrich the charming streets of downtown with an interesting history and the excitement of the unknown. “It’s a perfect event for this spooky month of October!”
Offered through Oct. 28 on Thursdays and Fridays at 6:30 and 8 p.m., and Saturdays at 6:30, 7, 8, and 8:30 p.m., the tours are presented by Wake Forest Downtown in partnership with Firebox Theatre Company. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online here. Although, be warned: if the past forecasts the future, tickets sell out fast!
