10 years ago, Wentworth was born

By Miranda Baines

Published: July 3, 2008

After celebrating the United States of America’s birthday on Friday, Wentworth people will celebrate their town’s 10th anniversary on Saturday.

The anniversary celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the National Guard Armory.

The celebration will feature local entertainment, beginning with a performance by Joey Troxler at 11 a.m. Wayne Seymour will entertain the crowd at 12 p.m., followed by a puppet show by Vertie Moore at 1 p.m. and singing by Veronica Jones at 2 p.m.

Farmers will sell their produce at the celebration, a clown will do face painting, a local potter will do a pottery demonstration and artists will have their work on display. The fire department, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office and EMS also will participate in the festivities. Free hot dogs, snow cones and beverages will be served.

Saturday’s celebration will kick off with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m., when Mayor Dennis Paschal will give a brief summary of the history of the Town of Wentworth. Paschal was a member of the committee for the reactivation of the Town of Wentworth.

“The reason we reactivated was to try to control our growth and to maintain the rural character of the community,” Paschal said.

The mayor said he feels Wentworth has been successful in maintaining its rustic identity.

The town sees a surge of commuters every day, 12,000 to be exact, Paschal said. The commuters work in the government facilities and schools in Wentworth during the day and go home in the evening, leaving only the 2,700 residents of the town in the area.

Since Wentworth was incorporated, two new schools have been built in the area and construction on a new courthouse will begin soon.

“I think the new courthouse is going to be a bonus for the county,” Paschal said.

Adding to the excitement of the Town of Wentworth’s 10th anniversary is the impending construction of the town’s first town hall. (The town’s offices and council chambers are housed in the National Guard Armory.) Paschal estimates the construction of the town hall will begin in late July or early August.

“The town hall is something we’ve saved for since our incorporation,” said Paschal. “The new town hall is going to be something that we’re going to grow into over the years.”

Town Administrator Brenda Ward is excited about the construction of the new town hall. She began her career with the Town of Wentworth in 1999 as the town clerk. Since then, the town council has made numerous decisions that have impacted the community.

Some of the historic moments in Wentworth that Ward recalls are the town’s petition to pave its first road in 1999 (construction has just gotten underway), and the town’s opposition to the Department of Motor Vehicles relocation to the site of the old prison/ jail annex in 1998.

“We opposed it because of the traffic it would create,” Ward said. “I think it’s ironic the way you looked at things 10 years ago and the way you look at things today.”

Things have changed, but the community spirit of the town and the community-minded decisions of council members have stayed the same.

“I’ve never seen so many public-spirited citizens involved in a local government,” Town Attorney Fred Baggett said.

For more information about the Town of Wentworth’s 10th anniversary celebration, call (336) 342-6288. The National Guard Armory is at 292 N.C. 65.

Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.