On Thursday, June 19, Mooresville joined the rest of the nation in recognizing Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth honors the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation—to ensure freedom for the last remaining enslaved African Americans. It became an official federal holiday in 2021.
This year, Town of Mooresville offices are closed in observance of Juneteenth, with solid waste and recycling services delayed by one day. Banks, post offices, and other federal services are also closed. Many major banks—including Chase and Bank of America—shuttered their doors, while schools and private businesses vary in observance.
In addition to official closures, the Mooresville community gathered over the weekend for a Juneteenth Community Celebration at Willow Valley Park, organized by the Eastern Heights Community Watch. The family-friendly event featured live music, guest speakers, historical reflection, and free activities for children. The celebration provided an opportunity for neighbors to learn, remember, and come together in the spirit of unity.
Local institutions such as the Mooresville Public Library also acknowledged the holiday with educational displays and curated reading lists on African American history and culture. Residents are encouraged to reflect on Mooresville’s own history, including the legacy of the Dunbar School and the contributions of Black citizens throughout the town’s development.
While Juneteenth may be new to the federal holiday calendar, its roots run deep. As Mooresville continues to grow, so does awareness and recognition of the stories that shape the community.
This 60-minute documentary captures the history of the Black community of Mooresville through interviews with residents who shared their memories of growing up in Mooresville. It was created in honor of the 150th birthday of Mooresville, NC, and is presented by the Town, the Mooresville Public Library, and the Celebration History Committee; directed and produced by Iredell County Television’s Shawn Eckles with narrators Reverend Curtis Johnson, Reverend Gavin Gabriel and Sharnetta Clark-Gordon. The individual interviews and many of the photographs, are also available online through the Mooresville Public Library Local History & Archives website at https://digital.mooresvillenc.gov/dig….
