On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Nicole Ambrose’s 11th grade History class at Middlesex High School (MHS) hosted a Joe Cameron Cook-off and Competition, and faculty/staff were the impartial judges charged to taste-test the food to decide the winners. Ambrose found out about Cameron on a recent visit to the Middlesex County Museum where Curator Holly Horton conducted a scavenger hunt for students on famous Middlesex County African-Americans.
“Joe Cameron was a hometown hero, African-American, and also the chief dietitian of Christchurch School for boys for 45 years,” said MHS Principal Susan Fleet. He started in the cafeteria at Christchurch in 1928 and retired there in 1973.
“We have a handful of his recipes for fried chicken, rolls, potato salad, coleslaw, and corn-on-the-cob,” said Fleet. “Each student prepared a dish based on his recipe. Students competed to see who out-dished one another in each category.”
The competition was also about learning of the significant role Cameron as an African-American played in Middlesex County’s Black history. Cameron was a role model for all races. He was most noted as the chef at Christchurch School and in 2014 Cameron was inducted into the Christchurch School Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement.
Cameron was also a first in politics in Middlesex County. He was the first Black to serve as a member the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors. He served on the board from 1973-1975 as the Saluda District supervisor. He was appointed by the board when supervisor J.W. Ferguson resigned. He served again in 1978 when Saluda District supervisor C.D. Dameron resigned.
The formation of an elected Middlesex County Board of Supervisors was an 1870 Reconstruction-era mandate by the conquering United States government. For 103 years, the board was composed of all white males until Joe Cameron was appointed the first African-American to the board.
The MHS Joe Cameron Cook-off is just a reminder that Joseph C. Cameron Jr. was a great cook and a great example of a man!
