Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Belmont, NC (WNN) - On June 4, 2026, many members of the public gathered to see the fruit of the combined efforts of the Major William Chronicle DAR chapter and artist Boyce McKinney. For those who are unfamiliar with the NSDAR, the William Chronicle Chapter’s Regent has this to say on the organization. “We're a nonprofit women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and supporting education.”
To further these values, the project began last summer as a concept tossed around by Melissa Humbert and Melinda Suddes, the Vice Regent and Registrar for the chapter, while discussing how to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. This happens to coincide with the chapter's official 100th year since being chartered in 1926. The mural was selected to feature the chapter's namesake and the South Fork Boys to show local representations of patriotism throughout history.
After deciding on the art piece, the chapter reached out to Cassidy Lackey, Belmont’s Community Development Director, to start the process of finding a home for the mural. Lackey directed Humbert to Richard and Sandra Cromlish, who were located at 140 North Main Street in Belmont. The artist, Boyce McKinney, was then chosen for his extensive mural work, including pieces depicting revolutionary figures. He had also participated in the filming of two Revolutionary War movies, making him uniquely qualified for this role. After collecting 58 sponsors and donors, the project came to life right in downtown Belmont.
McKinney has completed between 100 and 150 murals, making his work extremely recognizable in the area. He noted that some of his better-known works are the Coca-Cola mural in Mount Holly and the train mural in Stanley. The artist got his start after working weekends painting murals with his brother, and realizing it was paying more than his job designing exhibits for Discovery Place.
After being contacted in August, McKinney got to work on the design. The chapter had inclusions such as the America 250th logo, Major William Chronicle, the South Fork Boys, and the name of the town they wanted to appear in the work. However, how to include all of these and how to design it were up to McKinney. After several rounds of redesigns, the final draft was landed on. Some of these were to ensure that the outfits in the mural were 100% period-accurate. While earlier concepts included the town’s name as it appears in its logo, it was decided that a font common in the 1700’s would be more fitting for the mural. Mid-March he began painting the mural with help from his wife Donna and brother Joe. His brother is the artist who painted the New Year's Shooter and Cherryville murals in Cherryville, NC.
McKinney felt honored to represent his country on the occasion of its 250th anniversary in this way. While not having served, McKinney participates in veteran fundraisers, such as the cross-country Run for the Wall motorcycle ride, raising awareness of Vietnam veterans each year. He mentioned that this is the first time he has been recognized in this way for his work, making it more than just paint on a wall for him, and thanked Cromlish for allowing him to “mess up his wall.”
Lynne Smith, the commemorative events chairperson for the Major William Chronicle Chapter, led a look into the stories of the South Fork Boys. She began by saying that from where the mural is now, you could have seen or at least smelled William Chronicle’s farm. He joined the Tyron militia at 20, going on to fight in battles across the Southern USA. Chronicle took charge of the South Fork Boys when Colonel Fredrick Hambright appointed him as a Major. This was due to his leadership and knowledge of the local area from hunting.
She then told a story introducing some of the 20 South Fork Boys. Enoch Gilmer was known as a prankster, which made him a wonderful choice for espionage. Posing as a loyalist, Gilmer parlayed with several loyalist women. After successfully gaining knowledge on William Ferguson’s location, Chronicle and the South Fork Boys “raided” the home and pulled Gilmer out via rope around his neck, claiming they were going to hang him far enough away to leave the women’s property unhaunted. This led to the Battle of Kings Mountain, in which Chronicle lost his life shortly after the battle began.
Smith then told the story of the South Forks Boys’ tenacity and patriotic spirit by telling Robert Henry’s tale. Henry was 15 when he joined the militia. His father instilled in him a patriotic nature from a young age, taking him to see the Mecklenburg Declaration. During the battle, Henry was impaled by a bayonet through his hand and into his thigh. William Caldwell, a fellow patriot, removed the bayonet from his hand and reportedly had to kick it out of Henry’s thigh. This, however, did not stop Henry. As soon as he was free of his predicament, he began using his working hand to fire his rifle and continue the onslaught, showing the will of the South Fork Boys and all the patriots that day.
Steve McKee, NCSSAR President - Major William Chronicle and the South Fork Boys Mural Unveiling - Belmont, NC - June 4, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
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Several others spoke on the meaning of America’s 250th to the town and to our country. This ranged from DAR members to essay winners from Gaston County Schools. This included Belmont’s mayor, Joe Jordan, who felt it was important to remind the crowd that these men were not trained soldiers. They were local farmers and craftsmen who took up arms to fight for the freedom we enjoy now, centuries ago. This leads nicely to the point made by speaker Steve McKee. McKee spoke about the meaning of America’s 250th anniversary, calling it especially important given the current state of the nation. He believes that the ideals of equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence are the most important political doctrine in history. He noted that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” has been used multiple times in our history to advance the values of equality by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. He hopes that the 250th will help remind those of the values our country is founded on, and hopes that someday in 250 years, the mural will still be enjoyed by the citizens of the United States. While he may not make it to the 500th anniversary of the country, he says that, even if his children have to push him in a wheelchair, McKee plans to be here to enjoy the country's tricentennial. |
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