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The decades
1700's 1800's 1900's 2000's
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| 1732 |
First settlement in Poplar Tent.
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| 1751 |
Church organized by Rev. John Thompson. Poplar Tent was established by early Scotch-Irish immigrants from Pennsylvania and Maryland.
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| 1753 |
Rev. John Thompson passed.
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| May 3, 1765 |
The tract of land on which the buildings of the church now stand was conveyed to Poplar Tent congregation by the Crown of England. The land deed was recorded at the courthouse in Concord. It is not known what became of that deed, but the transaction is recorded at the Cabarrus County Courthouse.
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| 1768 |
Classical school opened at Poplar Tent, remaining open for a century and producing some of the leading scholars of that time.
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| 1765 |
Minister was requested for Poplar Tent.
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| 1769-1776 |
Hezekiah James Balch - first official minister of Poplar Tent.
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| May 20, 1775 |
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence signed. The declaration was written by Rev. Hezekiah James Balch.
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| 1775 |
American Revolution begins. English Colonists vs. Great Britain.
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| 1778-1792 |
Robert Archibald
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| 1783 |
American Revolution ends.
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| 1792-1801 |
Alexander Caldwell
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| 1792 |
Cabarrus County formed when the northeastern corner of Mecklenburg County was cut off.
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| January 1793 |
Cabarrus County records begin.
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| 1799 |
Gold found in Cabarrus County.
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| 1801-1806 |
John Robinson
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| 1802 |
The poplar tree under which Rev. John Thompson preached fell just 51 years after its grateful shade sheltered those who gathered to hear God's word.
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| 1809-1841 |
John Robinson
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| 1812 |
War of 1812 begins. United States vs. Great Britain.
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| 1815 |
War of 1812 ends.
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| 1817 |
The first women's organization of the Presbytery Church, US was started at Poplar Tent and was called "Female Tract Society of Poplar Tent Church".
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| 1819 |
Female Tract Society of Poplar Tent Church reorganized as the Female Benevolent Society.
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| 1843-1857 |
Walter Wellington Pharr
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| 1847 |
Memorial to Rev. Hezekial Balch erected.
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| April 1852 |
Present sanctuary completed at a cost of $2,600.00. This colonial brick building was constructed under the pastorate of Rev. Walter Pharr. One interesting note regarding the architecture itself. The gallery was originally built to accommodate the slaves of the congregation. It has two sets of stairs, one from the vestibule and another that begins at what is thought to be the slaves’ entrance at the south entrance of the church.
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| 1858-1873 |
Daniel Allen Penick, Jr. D.D.
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| 1861 |
Civil War begins. Union vs. Confederacy.
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| 1865 |
Civil War ends.
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| 1867 |
Records show there were 163 white members and 104 black members.
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| 1868 |
Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church formed when most of the black members asked for a letter of dismissal from Poplar Tent to form a church of their own.
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| July 21, 1871 |
Instrumental music in church voted on- Question – Is it Right? Answer – Yes. Shall we use it – Answer – No.
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| 1871 |
Elder William S. Harris was appointed at the spring session to write a historical sketch of Poplar Tent.
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| 1874-1878 |
James Henry Thornwell, D.D.
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| 1879 |
Trustees of Poplar Tent Church bought the “manse” from Joseph Young. After moving it to its present site it was the home of 15 ministers before a new manse was built across from the church in 1949.
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| 1881-1883 |
James N. H. Summerell, D.D.
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| 1885-1888 |
J. L. Williamson
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| 1887 |
Cannon Mills Company founded.
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| 1889-1892 |
Henry Gilland
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| 1893-1894 |
H. D. Lequex
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| 1897-1900 |
George L. Cook
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| 1898 |
Spanish-American War begins. United States vs. Spain
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| 1900-1906 |
J. M. McLain
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| 1901 |
Spanish-American War ends.
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| Oct.11, 1903 |
On account of scarcity of hymn books a meeting of the people was called to consider the adoption of The New Psalms and Hymns.
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| July 16, 1905 |
Session unanimously voted to give pastor a vacation of four weeks of rest.
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| 1907-1909 |
Charles B. Ratchford
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| Aug. 19, 1907 |
County-wide Sunday School convention was held at Poplar Tent.
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| 1910-1914 |
James E. Summers
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| 1910 |
Boy Scouts of America was organized.
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| 1912 |
Girl Scouts of America was organized.
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| 1914 |
World War I begins. Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary vs. Triple Entente: Britain, France and Russia.
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| 1915-1920 |
R. W. Culbertson
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| 1917 |
The United States enters World War I and sides with the Triple Entente.
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| 1918 |
World War I ends.
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| May 11, 1919 |
The common cup for communion was discontinued (probably because of the influenza epidemic) and since then individual cups have been used. The first time individual communion cups were used at Poplar Tent was the second Sunday in May, 1919.
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| 1922-1924 |
Wade H. Eubank
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| 1924-1929 |
L. K. McIver
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| April 26, 1926 |
Session ordered congregational meeting to be held May 2nd to consider raising an endowment fund for the purpose of keeping the cemetery in repair.
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| Sept. 10, 1925 |
“The Ladies Aid Society” was first organized into the Women’s Auxiliary of Poplar Tent and held its first meeting in the church October 15, 1925.
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| April 14, 1929 |
At a congregational meeting held after services the trustees were ordered to lay off the newly acquired addition to the cemetery in plats and dispose of the said plats as best suited to the needs of the congregation.
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| 1930-1932 |
M. R. Gibson
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| 1933-1940 |
Marion Graham Lyerly
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| Oct. 2, 1935 |
At a congregational meeting, a motion was made to make the term of officers three years. A motion that all officers be eligible for reelection immediately after their retirement was submitted and carried. A motion that six elder and six deacons be elected prevailed.
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| 1937 |
Men from the church erected a log building for a fellowship hall, called "The Hut".
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| 1939 |
World War II begins. Axis Powers: Germany, Italy and Japan vs. Major Allied Powers: Great Britain, France and Russia.
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| 1940-1941 |
Waldo P. Robertson
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| 1941-1945 |
J. T. Barham
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| Dec. 7, 1941 |
The United States enters World War II and sides with the Major Allied Powers.
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| 1941 |
Manse wired for electric range.
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| 1945 |
World War II ends.
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| 1945 |
First Annual BBQ.
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| 1946-1947 |
Mary and Martha circle formed - meeting at night..
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| 1947-1948 |
Millard M. Miller
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| 1948-1949 |
New manse built.
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| July 18, 1948 |
Classes for children under 16 were ordered discontinued for the duration due to the polio epidemic.
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| Dec. 17,. 1949 |
Manse dedicated.
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| 1949-1961 |
L. T. Edgerton
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| 1950 |
Korean War begins. United States (as part of the United Nations) and South Korea vs. North Korea and Communist China.
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| March 27, 1951 |
Poplar Tent congregation voted to incorporate the cemetery.
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| 1953 |
Korean War ends.
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| Nov. 4, 1954 |
10th annual barbecue.
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| Feb. 6, 1955 |
Groundbreaking ceremony for the $53,000.00 educational building annex.
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| May 8, 1955 |
Mr. W. A. Morris, Sr. presented a Baldwin organ in memory of his father and mother whose bodies rest in the Poplar Tent cemetery.
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| June 1955 |
Beginning June 14-15-16 a historical drama "Voice in the Wilderness" by Legett Blythe was presented at the Southern States Fair grounds in Charlotte, sponsored by Mecklenburg Presbytery. Several members from Poplar Tent participated in this presentation.
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| July 14, 1955 |
The Baldwin organ was played for the first time for services.
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| Aug. 12, 1957 |
The grand piano in the sanctuary was given by the family of the late Mrs. R. S. Young.
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| Jan. 19, 1958 |
The first official session meeting was held in the new session room which was part of the new educational building.
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| 1960 |
Vietnam War begins. United States and South Vietnam vs. North Vietnam
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| 1961-1966 |
George S. Calhoun
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| Jan. 2, 1961 |
Artificial flower arrangements were used for the first time during the Sunday service.
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| 1961 |
Bay of Pigs Invasion. United States vs. Cuba.
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| Nov. 5, 1964 |
20th annual barbecue.
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| Jan 30, 1966 |
Twelve inches of snow fell and the temperature was minus 3 degrees, no church service was held this Sunday.
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| May 8, 1966 |
Mrs. Jane Morrison Harris Nierenberg presented a gold cross to the church. The cross hangs behind the pulpit.
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| 1966-1978 |
E. Pressley Love
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| 1969 |
Existing "Fellowship Building" was built at a cost of $41,192.00.
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| 1969 |
Boy Scout Troop 38 chartered.
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| 1970 |
Large wooden cross made from hand-hewn planks donated by Mr. J. Y. Johnston.
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| 1971 |
Boy Scout Troop 38 awarded the Frank Liske trophy having achieved the highest score of points in the various skills and competitions during summer camp.
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| Feb. 7, 1971 |
Steve Poplin first scout from Boy Scout Troop 38 to be awarded the Eagle Scout award.
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| April 27-28, 1971 |
The 65th annual Presbyterial meeting was held at Poplar Tent.
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| 1973 |
First female elder, Mrs. Mary King Smith, was elected.
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| Nov. 7, 1974 |
30th annual barbecue.
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| Jan. 10, 1975 |
Death of Mrs. Georgia Isenhour Weddington, widow of Boyden Monroe Weddington. Georgia was the last living spouse of a Civil War Veteran in North Carolina at her death.
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| 1975 |
Vietnam War ends.
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| 1979-1988 |
Joel D. Cherry
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| 1983 |
Grenada - United States Intervention.
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| Jan. 1, 1984 |
Beginning January 1, 1984, church was ruled by one board called the Session which consisted of 18 members.
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| Nov. 1, 1984 |
40th annual BBQ.
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| Nov. 20, 1984 |
Display case in the history room was made and donated by Buren Efird.
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| Nov. 1984 |
From the will of Clyde Widenhouse - $36,000.00 in trust to Poplar Tent with the request that the church make adequate provision for the upkeep of the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Boyden Weddington and generally maintain and beautify the old portion of the church cemetery.
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| 1985 |
Bibles for the church were bought. They were placed in the church pews to be used during the worship service.
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| 1988 |
Mike Edwards crafted and donated a cherry table for the church history room.
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| 1989 |
United States Invasion of Panama. United States vs. Panama.
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| Sept. 21, 1989 |
Hurricane Hugo makes landfall, comes inland and passes over Concord.
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| Jan. 1990 |
Mrs. Diane Carriker presented a drawing of Poplar Tent Church that had previously hung in the H&M Medical Clinic which Dr. Ladd Hamrick wished to donate to the church.
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| 1990-2002 |
Peter R. Hale
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| 1990 |
Persian Gulf war begins. United States and Coalition Forces vs. Iraq.
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| 1991 |
Persian Gulf war ends.
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| Nov. 3, 1994 |
50th annual BBQ.
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| 1995 |
Intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina begins. United States as part of NATO acted as peacekeepers in former Yugoslavia.
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| 1996 |
Intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina ends.
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| Jan. 2000 |
Poplar Tent took supplies to Edgemont Presbyterian Church in Rocky Mount following floods in that area.
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| 2001 |
United States invasion of Afghanistan begins. United States and Coalition Forces vs. the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to fight terrorism.
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| 2003 |
Iraqi War begins. United States and Coalition Forces vs. Iraq.
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| Nov. 4, 2004 |
60th annual barbecue.
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| 2005- |
Jay D. Smith
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| 2007 |
Fellowship Building remodeled.
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| 2012 |
Sanctuary remodeled. |
