William E. "Smitty" Smith - On his career as a rock mason
Interviewed by Danielle Dulken on January 15, 2023
"I’ve learned on every project I’ve done. And I’m still learning."
- William E. Smith
William E. “Smitty” Smith is a rockmason and builder who has lived in Chapel Hill for his entire life. First brought into building through a class at Chapel Hill High School, he reflects on what brought him into his trade, his life as a rockmason, stonemason and manager, and notable projects he has worked on in the area. In a house that he built himself, Smitty tells stories about his impact on Chapel Hill and the Northside neighborhood, as well as advice on how to be a successful builder. The interview also introduces us to Mr. Smitty’s hobby of competitive homing pigeons, which he raises in his home in Northside.
Tags: African American business, apprenticeship, Builder, Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill High School, construction, education, infrastructure, rock mason, stonemason, UNC rock walls, UNC-CH
Oral history interview of Smith, William E. conducted by Dulken, Danielle on January 15, 2023 at Home of William E. Smith, Chapel Hill, NC. Processed by Wilcox, Zoe.
Citation: Marian Cheek Jackson Center, “William E. "Smitty" Smith - On his career as a rock mason,” From the Rock Wall, accessed September 13, 2026, https://fromtherockwall.org/oral-histories/william-e-smitty-smith.
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