Freedom Spring
Entrance sign to the Alexandriana Trailway in Huntersville, NC - Photo courtesy of Clio.
For centuries the legend of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (known locally as the "Mec Dec") claimed that a swath of land in lower Huntersville, NC contained a natural spring deep in the woods where a group of Mecklenburg patriots decided to formally declare independence from England. On May 20, 1775, they presented their document, fifteen months before Thomas Jefferson wrote similar sentiments in the United States Declaration of Independence for the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
One hundred feet or so straight down from the top of a ravine on John McKnitt Alexander’s land in a naturally secluded alcove around a natural spring is said to be where Alexander and the rest of the brain trust behind the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence gathered to debate how to proclaim independence from England.
Seventy-five years ago, Independence Hill Baptist Church regularly used Freedom Spring as its baptismal font. The church even dug out and framed a small wading pool for submersion. Just below the spring, one can see the remnants of the wood-framed baptism reservoir. It’s about five feet wide and fifteen feet long, with steps on one end, and about four feet deep.
The location of Freedom Spring is on private property, outside the boundary of Alexandriana Park. To learn more about the history of Freedom Spring, David Fleming’s Who’s Your Founding Father is a must-read for anyone who knows or doesn’t know about the Mec Dec!
The entrance to the Alexandriana Trailway in Huntersville, NC - Photo courtesy of Clio.
Freedom Spring photo courtesy of Palmer Magri.
The memorial marker for the birthplace of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence at Alexandriana Traiway in Huntersville, NC - Photo courtesy of Clio.
Freedom Spring In the News
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HEARTS Let Freedom Spring Event
Historic Freedom Spring on the privately owned Alexander estate is where a group of colonial scholars from Princeton gathered to discuss freedom from British rule, leading to the creation of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775 (a date honored on the NC State flag).
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Is an unassuming spot next to I-485 the birthplace of American independence?
Forget Independence Hall in Philadelphia. There’s a spot just south of Huntersville that might just be the birthplace of American independence. It’s at Alexandriana Park on Old Statesville Road, not far from the entrance to Interstate 485. At the park entrance is a sign that reads "Birthplace of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. May 20th 1775."
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Freedom, Meck Dec, spring creatures and Crankies delivered ‘HEARTS-style’
Held on land that was once part of the Alexander plantation and now houses Pioneer Springs Community School, HEARTS Collaborative delivered a superbly woven presentation featuring the history of the Mecklenburg Declaration from David Fleming and Scott Syfert whom shared their research on Freedom Spring which Fleming calls the “the birthplace of American independence.”