NEWS - in and about Edenton
The funds are greatly needed and appreciated as the Commission takes the next steps in awarding contracts for the restoration. The Endowment recognizes that the Commission receives well over 90% of its funding from individuals, not from state or federal governments, and that a grant significantly supplements those individual contributions.
Donations to help fund the restoration are still needed and can be sent to The Edenton Historical Commission, 505 South Broad Street, Edenton, NC 27932. The Commission is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
-- The Cupola House, c 1758, is featured in a very well done piece by WRAL TV. The house is owned, restored and protected by the Cupola House Association, the oldest preservation group in North carolina, and while it is not a Edenton Historical Commission project, everyone in Edenton is proud of its restoration. Take a look.
-- The Roanoke River Lighthouse restoration is underway and now you can watch. The web cam picture can be manipulated to zoom in or reflect work that has occurred since the camera was mounted in early June.
The old roof has been removed in preparation for the installation of a new roof made of the same type material used when the lighthouse was first constructed. The windows and doors have also been removed so they can be individually restored. Work to replace girders and other structural timbers beneath the lighthouse is also progressing.
-- The Edenton Historical Commission's History and Legends Committee is preparing an updated report on the role of Edentonian Joseph Hewes. What most do not know is that Hewes is viewed by knowledgeable folks as the Father of the US Navy. It is a story worth telling. Hewes was a very successful Edenton merchant and owner of ships involved in international trade. He risked his fortune to redirect his ships in support of the Revolutionary War effort.
-- A small tornado, wind sheer or whatever it's called struck Edenton around 4 am, April 9th as Cycle NC group camped near the Barker House. One of our chimneys was blown down. Happily and thankfully, no one was injured.
-- The 3rd annual Taste of Edenton will occur September 10th at the Barker House, Edenton at 6 pm. Regional restaurants share their bounty. Limited tickets. $10 per person. Partners this year include:
309 Bistro & Spirits, Edenton
Captain Bob’s BBQ & Seafood, Hertford
Chero’s Market Café, Edenton
Cypress Creek Grill, Elizabeth City
Edenton Bay Oyster Bar, Edenton
Edenton Bay Trading Co., Edenton
Hammerhead’s, Windsor
Heritage House, Windsor
Jimbo Jumbo’s Peanuts, Edenton
Kristy’s Place Italian Restaurant, Edenton
Leon Nixon Catering, Edenton
Luigi’s Pizza, Edenton
Mac’s Back Door Oyster Bar, Edenton
Montero’s Restaurant, Elizabeth City
Murray Nixon’s Restaurant, Edenton
Nothin’ Fancy Café, Edenton
The Soda Shoppe, Edenton
The Southern Lady Catering, Hertford
-- Speakers Forum, October 7th, featuring Kroghie Andresen, a North Carolina decoy historian and author, will discuss decoy carvers and offer, for a fee, appraisals of your decoys. Tickets, excluding appraisal fee, $25 per person, free for Friends of the Commission.
-- Thanksgiving Day, November 25th - the Barker House will be closed.
-- Edenton's Candlelight Christmas Tour of private homes decorated for the holidays, December 10th and 11th, Edenton.
-- Christmas, December 25th & 26th - the Barker House will be closed.
-- The State of North Carolina is spending around $600,000 restoring the exterior of the Roanoke River Lighthouse at Edenton. Relocation and restoration work began March 15th and should be completed within 6 months.
The Edenton Historical Commission rescued the lighthouse and gave it to the State, which retained an architect to plan and oversee permanently locating the lighthouse on Edenton's waterfront. To make it more accessible for visitors, it will be located on land. The Lighthouse is the last existing screw-pile frame lighthouse, the kind that was used throughout the Albemarle region until the early 20th century. The Commission is responsible for furnishing the interior of the lighthouse, as it would have existed when in use. Donations to help us acquire these rare furnishing are needed. The Edenton Woman's Club's recent donation of $5,000 toward this effort is greatly appreciated and will speed acquisition of the furnishings. The Commission's Executive Committee named Simon Rich III of Edenton to chair the Lighthouse Committee in December '09.
-- The Commission's project to save Martinique, one of the oldest houses of the region, is making progress. The house stood on a land grant conveyed to John Wallace by Lord Granville in 1752. In a remarkable story of continuity, Martinique was handed down through the same family for seven generations. It has now been moved and stabilized so it is out of harm's way. The home is for sale but must be restored following prescribed renovation covenants. Speaking of Martinique, North Carolina historic property expert Reid Thomas said:
"Early features include double-shoulder chimneys, beaded weatherboards, and some Georgian woodwork including doors and raised-panel wainscoting. The chimneys were probably built by the same mason as those of the Cupola House," noting that they will be moved with the house. He continued, "When homes of this vantage were built, there were not such things as a construction loan or a mortgage. So, people built what they could afford at the time. This house, after being framed, had the studs and the inside of the exterior walls whitewashed. Later, as money allowed, plaster interior walls were added, at significant expense. That original whitewash is still visible on the studs, and there is some evidence of fabric used to insulate some of the walls."
Make the Barker House your Edenton living room and walk where historic leaders of the Colony, North Carolina and America walked.
Unlike other areas where historic homes have been replicated, Edenton's historic homes are the real thing. Over 22 homes in Chowan County date to the 18th century and most are lived in every day. You can stay in one of our delightful bed and breakfast inns right in the middle of the historic area or at traditional hotels near the historic area.
