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!