Chronology

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1. Civil rights era · 1945–1975

2. between 1953 and 1960
   Construction or physical change · Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough Hillsborough Presbyterian Church adds Strudwick Hall, a fellowship hall named for Shepperd Strudwick

   In C. H. Reckard's pastorate the church built a fellowship hall to his drawings and named it for Shepperd Strudwick, elder, Sunday school superintendent and clerk of session.

3. April 1956
   Publication, speech or performance · Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough Hillsboro Presbyterian pastor preaches against local stock car racing

   The Rev. C. H. Reckard, pastor of the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, delivered a sermon criticizing local stock car racing and its effect on young people, one of the clergy protests against Sunday races at Orange Speedway.

4. May 7, 1956
   Founding or opening · Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough Orange County pastors form a ministerial association

   Pastors of 18 churches in northern and central Orange County met at the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church and formed an Orange County Ministerial Association, electing the Rev. C. H. Reckard president and the Rev. Lawton Pettit of St. Matthew's Episcopal secretary.

5. May 8, 1957
   Law, policy or court · Orange Speedway (Occoneechee Speedway), Hillsborough The General Assembly bans Sunday racing in Orange County

   After protests by the Rev. C. H. Reckard and other Orange County clergy, the legislature passed a law on May 8, 1957 banning racing on Sundays, though Sunday races were being advertised again at Orange Speedway by 1961.

6. early 1958
   Construction or physical change · Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Hillsborough Hillsborough Presbyterian Church builds and moves into a new manse

   A new manse drawn by pastor C. H. Reckard was finished and occupied early in 1958.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 1, 2026.