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History Project
Turns into a Book for Student
 As
a child, Blake Tyner learned to appreciate history sitting on the knees
of his forefathers.
"I have always
been around history," Tyner said. "I grew up spending time
with both sets of great grandparents, and I was raised in the house
in St. Pauls that my great, great grandfather built with his hands."
A UNCP student and
administrative secretary for the university's Art Department, Tyner
has been commissioned to do a photographic history of Robeson County
for Arcadia Publishing House's "Images of America" series.
It is scheduled for release this fall.
"Many of the
photos will come from my own collection," Tyner said. "I also
found some really neat pictures at the State Archives."
Tyner said he would
give Robeson County - all corners of the county - a fresh new look,
even for some often-photographed historic sites.
"I am continuing
to search for photos, but I am especially interested in photos that
show a new perspective of people and buildings, like the old Robeson
County Courthouse, which have been seen many times by the public,"
he said.
Tyner said balancing
the view of Robeson County is important.
"Everybody
and every community played a role in Robeson County history, and everybody
and every community should be represented," he said. "I am
attempting to show all aspects of life in the county's past - home,
work, religion, education, government as well as every race and community."
Some outstanding
photographs have emerged, he said.
"I have found
three photographs of Rosenwald Schools - in Lumber Bridge, Maxton and
St. Pauls," Tyner said. "Robeson County had 14 of the 813
Rosenwald Schools that were built in North Carolina by the former Sears
chief executive officer."
Other photos of
interest include: cedar shingle-making in the 1890s, the old Barnesville
General Store, a Commencement Parade in 1916 Lumberton, and the 1896
Carolina Military Academy football team and band. One of the oldest
of the collection is a portrait of Margaret Dalrymple McNair, who was
born in 1787.
Tyner lives in Maxton
with wife, Bess (Facilities Planning and Construction) and son, McCay.
The project also serves as an independent study under the direction
of Prof. Stephen Berry of the History Department.
If you have questions
or would like to submit a photo, please contact Blake Tyner at the Maxton
Historical Society at 910.844.2377 or email at blake@bbtyner.com.
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