John Charles McNeill's poetry features the landscapes of the Sandhills of North Carolina. The setting for his poetry is Scotland, Richmond, Moore, Hoke, Cumberland, and Robeson counties. McNeill, skilled in the oral tradition of storytelling in regional dialect as well as in the use of conventional poetic forms, was also a lawyer. Because of his enormous popularity as a poet, achieved largely because of his regular contributions to The Charlotte Observer, he was elected a state legislator, but his heart remained with his poetry. McNeill's poetry still captures audiences today, partly because it is so accessible. This presentation by McNeill's great niece, who also grew up in Scotland County, places his work in a historical context and includes readings and songs from his poetry.

It has been said that Riverton, (near Wagram in Scotland county), ancestral home of poet John Charles McNeill and historian Gerald Johnson, is not a "place but a state of mind." Certainly tradition abounds in this tiny Scottish settlement on the backs of the Lumbee River. Riverton Nights, held regularly, resemble the original ceileidhs of the Scottish Highlands, where everyone has an opportunity to perform. An original "sunburnt boy," (see one of McNeill's poem "Sunburnt Boys") serving as a Baptist missionary to China, was imprisoned in a concentration camp on the mainland when Mao Zedong brought communists into power. From his cell, he wrote journal accounts of Riverton Nights and prayer meeting in Scotland County. The format for these gatherings remains unchanged to this day! This presentation will focus on folklore associated with the "old country" in Scotland County (formerly Richmond) and surrounding counties.

Requirements for Program: lectern and small table for display