>>Dedication Ceremony Scheduled For Historic Marker In Charles City County
(Charles City, VA) -- The state Department of Historic Resources is paying tribute to a man who became one of the first Black sheriffs in the United States. Richard Stelling has the details.Preview: Voicer Script:
The agency has scheduled a dedication ceremony this weekend for a historic marker that honors Stephen Bates. Born as a slave in Charles City County, Bates went on to work for a Vermont congressman and began serving as a constable in 1875. He was elected sheriff in Vergennes [[ ver-GENS ]], Vermont in 1879 and alternated between being sheriff and chief police until his death in 1907. The dedication will happen near the Shirley Plantation in Charles City this Saturday.