PLYMOUTH, N.C. (WITN) – Marty Brooks was born and raised in Plymouth. He says living here for more than 50 years gives him an understanding of the historical significance the town holds, especially during the Civil War era when the battles were fought in the town.

Historical markers inform the readers about a specific area, and Brooks and other community members hope to see the full story of the historical event, such as the Plymouth Massacre of 1864 where many African American soldiers and citizens lost their lives, with at least 50 victims, according to the Washington County African-American Museum and Cultural Arts Center.

They say 160 years later, the tragedy should be acknowledged and told.

“There is another side of the story that should be told, and we are the majority of the population here and we have been improperly represented, and we are asking for all fairness. Tell all sides. Tell the truth about it,” Brooks said.

The Mayor of Plymouth, Brian Roth says the town is unanimously supporting the historical marker program to tell Plymouth’s significance in the Civil War, although it may be a long, challenging process.

“The entire discussion of the Plymouth massacre is part of the story and it’s been very undertold and so this is an effort to at least have the state look at it and have state historians review,” Roth explained.

That is exactly what the state is working towards. “So that people can learn more context on what’s on the historical marker,” Leslie Leonards from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) shared.

According to N.C. DNCR, the state has a listening session with the town on June 13th.