​We invite you to ReDISCOVER Rockford

Over forty years ago, the Rockford Preservation Society, Inc. began its fervent efforts to preserve the history, culture and buildings it owns in the historic Village of Rockford in Surry County.  Rockford, the county seat of Surry County from 1789 to 1850, is located in the center of the Yadkin Valley Wine Appellation, on the NC Civil War Trail, the NC Scenic Byway, the Mountains to Sea Trail, and the Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor. Consequently, is positioned to be a center of cultural and heritage tourism for this region. 
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​To date in part, the Society has been successful in the following:
  • Establishing the Village on the National Register of Historic Places,
  • Renovated and opened the 1914 Rockford Methodist Church (commissioned the fresco “Come Unto Me” in 1989 by fresco artist Tony Griffin)
  • Renovated and opened the 1850 Dudley Glass Store as a community arts and crafts gallery
  • Renovated and opened the 1900 Rockford Post office as a crafts gallery
  • Initiated and currently completing the “Rockford Park” dedicated to memorializing the 1797 Grant-Burrus Hotel site
  • Initiated our “Remember Rockford” campaign to solicit support from descendents and supporters of Rockford
  • Provide historical tours, Memorial Day services and our annual Candlelight Christmas in Rockford Program (expanded to two nights due to its popularity).
  • Annual “Remember Rockford Families Reunion” for descendants of Rockford to experience the place of their heritage
  • Currently renovating the 1830 Mark York Tavern with small Foundation grants and contributions
  • Currently restoring the exterior, replaced north porch, replaced roof and restoring windows and doors of the ca. 1810 WP Dobson General Store/Masonic Lodge building.
Through the years, the RPS has been led by dedicated volunteers and supporters interested in seeing its mission completed; which is to stabilize and preserve the Society owned properties within the Village of Rockford as historic sites, and for each to be open to the public as art studios, a restaurant, antique store, or other like entities. This will require significant financial support from our donors, families, grantors, and corporations to complete. The completion of these signature projects will naturally enhance the region’s growing tourism industry.

Currently we are restoring the historic 1830 Mark York Tavern to eventually open as a restaurant, museum, art gallery or retail center.  We have been awarded small grants from organizations that recognize the importance and timing of these efforts, and the latest small grant has enabled us to continue our restoration efforts. 

The historic Rockford Masonic Lodge # 251 building, ca. 1810, was also a general store, known as W.P. Dobson and Company Mercantile.  We believe this building could thrive as a retail store again. 

 We hope you might be interested in becoming involved to help preserve these remaining properties and to see them become the centerpiece of the Rockford Historic District, Surry County and Yadkin Valley regional tourism. 

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