CHAPEL HILL - Tucked away on a gravel road you've probably never been on, sits a beautiful home that once sheltered notable families who dedicated themselves to noble causes. From its perch overlooking the Rosemary Street extension, those who called it home sought to better the lives of those less fortunate in their country and their community.

From the foot bells in the floor to call the maids to the sealed-up secret room to the long summer days spent in the yard shooting 78 rpm records with pellet guns, Steve Scroggs remembers growing up in the house as a "magical" experience. But the most meaningful part of his youth became the principles shared by his dynamic mother, Mary Adkins Scroggs.

Mary served on the Carrboro-Chapel Hill Board of Education from 1961 until 1977 while her husband, Ross, served as a Chapel Hill Board of Aldermen. During her time, Mary became a compassionate and outspoken proponent on issues that would benefit the children of her adopted town. During her campaign during the civil rights movement, she ran on a platform to desegregate Chapel Hill schools and two months after her victory, she promoted a groundbreaking plan to integrate schools.

She continued to push education and advocated for the construction of several schools when faced with overcrowding. For her 80th birthday, Scroggs celebrated with the children and served every student punch and cookies. In 2000, Mary Scroggs Elementary School was named in her honor and, upon her death in 2007, school officials cited her as, "one of the most influential school board members in our district's history." As a clue to understand her desire for justice, one might look to her surroundings and the spirit of her home's original builder.

Like Mary's elementary school, the Van Hecke-Wettach Hall, is named in honor of Maurice Hecke who modernized UNC's law school. Van Hecke came to Carolina to teach in 1921 and became dean of the law school in 1931. To celebrate, his appointment he built his house on Rosemary Street a year later.

Friends remembered Maurice as a "very nice guy" who cared about people." His passion for justice and interest in law drove him to create the North Carolina Law Review and earned him two special appointments from, first, President Franklin D. Roosevelt to reform the civil service, and then from President Harry Truman to head a committee on problems facing farm workers.

As dean of UNC law school, Van Hecke took a final step of his career to help those in need by simultaneously accepting the position of the dean of the new African-American law school at N.C. Central University, which he held until his death in 1942. UNC honored him in 1968 by naming the new law school in his honor.