Hickory Sun

City of Hickory issued the following announcement on Dec. 18.

Today, Hickory community members gathered at the SALT Block, the site of the former Claremont Central High School, to recognize and honor a piece of Hickory history with the dedication of the Claremont Central High School Baseball Home Plate at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library.

The historic baseball home plate that is now hanging in the lobby of the library was in use for 50 years, from 1928 to 1978, on the baseball field at Claremont Central High School. The plate was originally located in the southeast corner of the current parking area of the SALT Block, near the entrance to Catawba Science Center. Patrick Beaver Memorial Library now stands in what would have been center field.

Roger Martin, Claremont Central High School Class of 1967, salvaged the plate the day that construction began for the current SALT Block and stored it at his home until his passing in 2017. 

Many people in Hickory touched this home plate over the years, either through high school athletics or recreational sports activities. Martin’s family and friends felt the historical plate was something that would help people in the community connect with their past.

Bob Duckworth, a graduate of the last class of Claremont Central High School in 1972, approached the City of Hickory for assistance with finding an appropriate place to permanently display the plate for the community. 

Thanks to the community’s efforts to preserve this piece of high school sports history, many generations after us will get to learn about our city’s past and Claremont Central High School. Stop by Hickory Public Library's Patrick Beaver Memorial Library to see it in person!         

Original source can be found here.