Reuben Brown House Preservation Society

08/09/2026

Join us today, Sunday, August 9, at 4 p.m. at historic Camellia Garden House in Clarkton to spend time with our guest poet, Alex Albright. We look forward to a relaxed afternoon of poetry, regional history, and great company.

08/07/2026

Thank you, Justin Smith and The News Reporter, for the outstanding video coverage yesterday of the Mt. Tabor School historic plaque unveiling.

07/24/2026

We hope you will join us Sunday, August 9, at 4 p.m. in Clarkton at The Camellia Garden House to spend time with our guest poet, Alex Albright.

Albright grew up in Alamance County before heading to UNC and UNCG for college degrees and then to ECU, where he founded the North Carolina Literary Review and spent his career highlighting the voices and culture of our home state.

We know him best for his deep ties to Whiteville native A.R. Ammons. Albright edited several collections of Ammons’s work—including The North Carolina Poems and Mule Poems—and brings a wonderful, personal understanding of what makes Ammons’s work feel so close to home.

We’d love to have you join us for a relaxed afternoon of poetry, regional history, and great company at the beautiful Camellia Garden House.

Pictured is Alex Albright, Founding Editor of The North Carolina Literary Review and 2021 John Tyler Caldwell Award for the Humanities.

07/09/2026

Founded in 1886, the family-owned and operated Council Tool Company marks 140 years of producing American-made striking tools, as well as industrial and firefighting hand tools in Lake Waccamaw.
Pictured left to right at the plant headquarters (constructed in 1903) is Council Tool president John Council (4th generation) with his sons, Cameron and Keaton Council (5th generation). standing beside the Reuben Brown House Preservation Society Columbus County Landmark Plaque #38.

07/09/2026

Please join us for a very special poetry reading with Alex Albright, founder of the North Carolina Literary Review, at Camellia Garden House in Clarkton at 4 p.m., Sunday, August 9. This is a free event and light refreshments will be served.

Located at 10193 N. College St. in Clarkton, the Camellia Garden House—originally known as the MacFayden Clark House—was built in the early 1890s and is one of the town’s most recognizable historic homes.

Clarkton, NC

05/04/2026

On April 21, 2026, the Reuben Brown House Preservation Society proudly hosted a Celebrate America 250 Living History Day, transporting visitors back to the 19th century. The historic grounds came alive with the sights and sounds of early Columbus County life, featuring a remarkable lineup of re-enactors. Guests had the distinct honor of meeting The Honorable George Henry White, who shared his powerful legacy as a local pioneer and national statesman. Nearby, the Community Healer fascinated crowds with traditional herbal "receipts," while volunteers portraying Reuben and Patience Teal Brown shared the intimate history of their family legacy. As the site of Whiteville’s first academy and a home where nine children were raised, the Reuben Brown House served as the perfect backdrop for exploring the founding stories of our community.
The day was filled with immersive demonstrations that showcased the ingenuity of our ancestors. Visitors gathered around the detached kitchen for primitive cooking demonstrations, watched the intricate art of weaving, and learned the vital role of the honeybee at the beekeeping station. A highlight of the afternoon was a visit from the Moores Creek National Battlefield rangers, who provided expert insight into the naval stores industry and its strategic importance during colonial times. To bring the celebration to a stirring close, the Southeastern Oratorio Society chorus performed a selection of patriotic music, leading a spirited group sing-along that united voices across the grounds. Offered free to the public, this event was a true community celebration made possible with a gift from the Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) Community Grants program.