By Denise Galloway
Daily Record of Dunn
ANGIER – Look down. The sidewalks of Angier have a story to tell …
At the end of World War II, the town of Angier came together and collectively chose to put their patriotism on display by flying American flags throughout the town along Broad and Depot streets.
Brass fittings with screw top covers were recessed into the sidewalks. Soon, identical 48-star flags were flying on uniform 12-foot poles that fit perfectly into the uncovered brass fittings — only 48 stars, since Alaska and Hawaii wouldn’t become part of the United Stated until 1950.

“There were (American) flags everywhere,” said Rufus Mangum, an 88-year-old Angier resident who remembers the time well. His father’s store was located at 53 S. Broad St. E. where C&D Insurances Services currently sits. “The whole town flew flags. Every store building flew a flag right in front of it. All the flags and poles matched up.”
Mangum recalls, “My father put me responsible for putting the flag up on every holiday — Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, V-E Day, V-J Day, probably some other times, too.”
He says he was an “itty bitty fellow, just big enough to tote the poles” and remembers how proud he was to accomplish the task of putting the pole pieces together and raising the flag.
A walk along the sidewalks of Angier reveals the remains of what once was. There’s a handful of the brass fittings, some still covered, some not. A few questionable scars exist where the brass fittings may have once been. All of this a far cry from the post World War II scene of a town filled with flags flying in the breeze, and the patriotism and community that scene represented.
Starting at 61 S. Broad St. E. — Thanks-A-Latte — and heading north, The Daily Record counted four of the brass fittings remaining. The search included both sides of each block radiating from the intersection of South Broad Street East and East Depot Street.
There were three in a row, 17 paces apart at the start of the walk. Two more were found on South Broad Street East in front of C&D Insurance Service; and the old Jabez Floristry location. Soon, the old sidewalk morphed into an obviously upgraded section — no more history there. The fourth brass fitting is found in front of Up N Smoke after making a right at East Depot Street.

Rufus Mangum, 88, and his sister Rachel Barnes, 90, sit with the 48-star flag that use to fly in front of their parents store at 53 S. Broad Street E. in Angier. Daily Record photo by Denise Galloway
Sen. Jim Burgin has the only known remaining 48-star flag and the original flagpole from the World War II era of collective patriotism in Angier. One of the covered brass flagpole fittings can be found in front of his office building at 53 S. Broad St. E. “Over the years as sidewalks have been replaced, nobody has thought about saving any of them. I’m not sure many people know what they are,” said Burgin.
Burgin’s current offices are the old location of the family store where Mangum used to raise the flag as a small child. The original pole and flag were a gift from Mangum. “It goes with the building,” he said. “This is where it belongs.”
Beautiful story! We need more good news JoCo
Absolutely a beautiful piece of history to share!