Guilford Commissioners to Meet in High Point, Honor Sit-In, Consider Historic Lease

Guilford County commissioners moved their regular meeting to High Point to honor local civil rights history and consider a preservation lease that could shape stewardship of a late 19th-century homestead. The board’s shift from its usual Greensboro courthouse signaled an effort to hold county business in High Point while taking up matters with direct local ties.

The board met at High Point City Hall, 211 S. Hamilton St., with a work session at 4:00 p.m. and the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. The work session and meeting were open to the public and available via the county’s live stream on its Facebook page and Meetings and Minutes page, and through the Greensboro Television Network on Spectrum Channel 13, NorthState Channel 31, and AT&T U-verse channel 99. Residents seeking proclamations or resolutions were reminded to contact their county commissioner or the Clerk to the Board; centenarian recognition requests should include the honoree’s name and birthdate and be sent at least 45 days in advance to Ariane Webb at Awebb@guilfordcountync.gov or rkeller@guilfordcountync.gov.

A central agenda item was a resolution honoring the sit-in protests that began during the segregation era in both Greensboro and High Point. The resolution calls out the Feb. 11, 1960 Woolworth sit-in in downtown High Point, an action that is “believed to be the first in the South led by high school students.” In its closing language the board formally declares that it “celebrates the Civil Rights Movement and proudly honors the historic sit-ins that occurred in Greensboro and High Point, North Carolina, acknowledging their profound local and national impact.” The resolution also reaffirms the county’s commitment to “preserving this history, educating future generations, and continuing the work of building communities rooted in fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.” Commissioners were expected to adopt the resolution unanimously.

The board also reviewed an updated zero-dollar lease with the High Point Preservation Society for the Hedgecock farm property at Rich Fork Preserve. The county said the zero-dollar lease enables the society to preserve and care for the historic buildings on the property. The updated lease would allow the High Point Preservation Society to maintain its current service model while continuing the existing agreement, including site care and improvements. The Hedgecock homestead dates from the late 19th century.

On the choice of venue, a Guilford County Board representative said the move “wasn’t for a particular agenda item, but an effort to periodically hold the meeting in High Point.” Board Chairman Skip Alston added, “We try to do it every year but last year we didn’t so we wanted to go ahead and do it now.” The practice returns the board to High Point for the first regular meeting there since April 2022.

The gathering also touched on the county’s broader effort to memorialize student activism. The Penn-Griffin School for the Arts lobby was renamed “February 11 Lobby” by the school board in 2024 to commemorate the William Penn students’ role in the sit-ins. Reflecting on those events, Garlington said, “It was a scary time. It was. But we didn’t think at the time we were making history. We were just doing what we thought was the right thing when we met and planned the sit-in demonstration at the lunch counter because of their segregated policies. You know, when I start talking about that, I really get emotional because it brings back too many painful memories.”

Public reaction in online comment threads reflected a range of perspectives. One commenter, buildornot, asked whether joint recognition might spur shared programming between the cities. Other commenters raised fiscal concerns and skepticism about county priorities, reflecting ongoing local debate about resources and representation. The sentiment that High Point has sometimes been treated as a “red-headed stepchild” of county government still circulates in political conversation.

For residents, the meeting brought county deliberations into High Point neighborhoods and highlighted how preservation decisions and formal recognitions intersect with local memory. Watch the county’s stream or contact the Clerk to the Board for the official agenda and any follow-up documents if you want the full text of the resolution or the updated lease once they are posted.