Albemarle Magazine - Fall 2022

We have a brand-new story to tell.

And it ’s all about you.

This is astory about anew health system,createdfor you. So youcan liveyour healthiestlife. Your bestlife. It ’s about educating tomorrow’s providersand bringing together some of medicine’s greatest minds and caring hearts forone purpose, to makehealth and health caremoreofwhatyou need it to be.

–Front Porch

–Fall Music Festival

–ECHNA’s Ghost Walk

–Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair

–Camden’s Heritage Festival

–New spots for Jollification! tour

–Fall events in Chowan

–Edenton National Fish Hatchery

–Currituck Farm Festival

–‘A Time to Remember’

–PAL Gallery

–OBX Lizard Land

–Edenton 1722

–Battle of South Mills 1862

Albemarle Magazine

–Calendar

Fall 2022

1016 W. Ehringhaus St.,

City, NC 27909

Editor

Eure

Goodwin McCarthy,

Fun is back as fairs, festivals, fundraisers return

Day, Reggie Ponder, Paul Nielsen, Tyler Newman, John Foley

Welcome to the fall issue of Albemarle Magazine. With nearly all COVID-19 protocols now lifted, area organizations and groups are again hosting in-person festivals, fairs and major fundraisers —

With so much going on over the next several months — we counted no less than 18 large events in the region between mid-September and the end of October — we decided to give readers a taste of what’s to come.

Staff Writer Paul Nielsen previews the 2nd annual Fall Music Festival scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at Mariners’ Wharf Park in Elizabeth City. The event will feature

Jordan Band, Brooke and Nick, and Chesapeake-based 5Starr. The Original Rhondels and the Nashville rock band the Flying Buffaloes will also perform.

Correspondent Savannah Hess pre views the Elizabeth City Historic Neigh borhood Ghost Walk set for the weekend of Oct. 14-15. The theme of this year’s will be “Murder and Mayhem.”

The Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair, the area’s longest-running crafts fair, also several years. According to correspondent Anna Goodwin McCarthy, the Oct. 29-31 event featuring the works of Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild members will be held on the portico at Museum of the Albe

marle this year.

Hess also previews the second annual Camden Heritage Festival, which is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Camden Com munity Park. A week before, on Oct. 1, Currituck County and the Currituck Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension will host the Currituck Farm Festival at Way in Barco.

Chowan Herald Staff Writer Tyler New man previews several events set for Sep tember and October in Chowan County, in cluding the Edenton Steamers’ Clam Jam on Sept. 24 and the 76th annual Chowan County Regional Fair, which opens Sept. 27 and continues through Oct. 1.

Multimedia Editor Chris Day previews two upcoming theatrical productions in the area: the mystery-whodunit “Clue” by the COAST Players at College of The Albe marle opening Oct. 27 and Carolina Moon Theater’s “A Time to Remember” on Oct. 21

This edition also includes a few snap shots of places in the region that can be visited in a day and a full calendar of late September and October.

As you can see, there’s a lot of fun to be had in the region this fall. Your job? Go have some of it.

“Child Care Resources”, “Giving EveryChild aGreat Start”,“Kaleidoscope Play and Learn”™, and other associated trademarks and logos are the intellectual property and registered trademarks of CHILD CARE RESOURES (www.childcare.org), an organization dedicated to pro moting equity for children, community stability,and school readiness.

Jordan Band, Flying Buffaloes headliners for Fall Music Festival

ECDI’s 2nd annual festival will be at Mariners’ Wharf Park

By Paul Nielsen Staff Writer

Organizers are call

ing September’s 2nd annual Fall Music Festival along the Elizabeth City waterfront a next-level music event for the city.

The free festival being sponsored by Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. will be held at Mariners’ Wharf Park Sept. 23-24.

sical acts, including one with a national following.

a covered stage for the

“We have all the talent booked, we have the stage lined up,” ECDI board member Jeff Mitchell said. “We have some fantastic talent, a great lineup. I think this will be a springboard to do better things in the future.”

The local country-rock Daniel Jordan Band will be the headline act on Friday, Sept. 23 per forming from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Chesa peake-based 5Starr will be the warmup act from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night.

The Nashville rock band the Flying Buffa loes will be the headliner on Saturday, Sept. 24, performing from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Original Rhondels will kick off

the music that day with a performance from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Brooke and Nick will then play from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Mitchell said he ex pects people will travel to the event and stay over night in local hotels and bed and breakfasts.

“People build vacations around events like this,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the event already has several spon sors but that ECDI is looking for more. Spon sorships start at $500.

“There are different packages for each level (of sponsorship),” he said.

While the event is free, ECDI will be selling VIP tickets that include a

reserved seat and two drink tickets. Beer and wine will also be avail able for purchase both days of the event by mu sic-goers of legal age.

ECDI Executive Direc tor Deborah Malenfant said local downtown businesses are also plan ning to have live music at their establishments during the two-day fes tival.

“It will be a downtown, and possibly a citywide, festival,” she said.

Last summer, ECDI was planning a fall festi val, after the 2021 Potato Festival was canceled, with the centerpiece being amusement rides offered by Florida-based

Deggller Attractions. But COVID concerns forced the cancellation of the rides.

ECDI then rebranded the event into a music festival, which featured 15 musical acts, and put together the event in just a matter of weeks. It was of October and attracted good crowds despite wet weather on one of the festival days.

“It’s a big festival and we are building on what we started last year,” Malenfant said.

“We started earlier this year than we did last year,” Mitchell added. “But we still have some things to do.”

‘Murder and Mayhem’ focus of ECHNA’s Ghost Walk in October

EC’s ‘ghosts’ to tell their stories, relate local history Oct. 14-15

By Savannah Hess Correspondent

After cooling their heels the past couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elizabeth City’s “ghosts” are eager to appear again so they can entertain and teach about the city’s rich history.

chance the weekend of Oct. 14-15 when the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Associa tion Ghost Walk returns October 2019.

ECHNA member and Ghost Walk scriptwrit er Marjorie Berry said promote historic preser vation in Elizabeth City is “really excited” about the event’s return.

“We’re so glad to be able to do it this year since we’ve had to miss the past two years,” she said.

This year’s Ghost Walk theme will be “Murder and Mayhem.”

“I came upon several interesting people that we hadn’t had on Ghost Walk before and it just happened that there were several murders, so I thought that it would be interesting to add mystery and

mayhem to that,” Berry explained. This year’s Ghost Walk will include stops at the Charles-Harney house, the Richard son-Pool-Glover house, the Edwin F. Aydlett house, and the Episcopal Cemetery. Each venue will feature the story of a “ghost” portrayed by a local actor.

One of the ghosts who’ll be telling his story at this year’s Ghost Walk

is Edwin F. Aydlett, James Wilcox’s lawyer during the Nell Cropsey murder trial. Wilcox was the beau of the 19-yearold Cropsey, whose unsolved murder in 1901 has been a topic of sev eral books and a source of speculation for more than century. Cropsey, whose family home still stands on Riverside Ave nue, has a been a popu lar ghost in past Ghost Walks and was sched

uled to be the theme of last year’s event before its cancellation.

Throughout Ghost Walk’s long run since the

ghosts have appeared and told their stories. This is largely due to the dedication and talent of Berry, who has been researching and writing scripts for Ghost Walk since taking over the role from Patsy Houtz in 2001.

“Murder and Mayhem” will be the theme of this year’s Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association Ghost Walk the weekend of Oct. 14-15.

–The Daily Advance

“I love local history and I love to write, so this was the perfect combination of being able to do both of those things,” Berry said.

Berry conducts her own research and writes all the scripts for Ghost Walk.

“It takes a lot longer for the research than it does the writing,” she notes. “I can usually write a script in about three hours once I have all of the research done.”

For her research, Berry said she consults the internet as well as family members of the characters if their descendants can still be located.

Who plays the characters Berry spends months researching and writing about? They are none other than local actors looking for a chance to entertain their com munity.

“The actors like to come back year after year, so I’m fortunate

that I can call on our local actors,” Berry said.

The scripts for Ghost Walk often revolve around a theme cho sen by the Ghost Walk steering committee each year. The steer ing committee usually begins planning Ghost Walk as early as February.

After writing Ghost Walk scripts for more than two de cades, Berry has no plans to stop anytime soon. She hopes to keep writing scripts “as long as I can keep coming up with new charac ters,” she said.

Over the years, Ghost Walk has grown in popularity as themes change and new stories are intro duced. When asked about Ghost Walk’s success, Berry attributed it to the event being “a combination of a house tour, history lesson, and live theater.” She believes the mixture of history and entertain ment will continue to capture the attention of attendees for years to come.

Ghost Walk will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on both Oct. 1415. Admission is $15.

Ghost Walk venues are spaced out but are generally within walk ing distance of one another. For Ghost Walk attendees who might venues, two buses will be circling the routes each night providing transportation.

Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair will return in October at new site

62nd fair will be held at Museum of Albemarle Oct. 28-30

By Anna Goodwin McCarthy Correspondent

After a two-year absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the granddaddy of all area craft shows returns this fall during the last weekend in October.

The 62nd Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair will be held on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After decades of being held at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center, the Craftman’s Fair will be held a new venue this year: Museum of the Albemarle.

The annual fair is coordinated by the Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild, and fair vendors are guild

crafts have been juried by other members of

the guild. Pottery, wood carving, handcrafted jewelry, fused glass and stained glass are just a few of the types of handcrafted work that will be on display at the fair.

“There is a little bit of every thing,” said Cindy Winslow, presi dent of the Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild.

With the Craftsman’s Fair having to be canceled the past two years due to pandemic, Winslow said guild members are enthusi astic about the fair’s return this year. She said many guild mem bers have used the past two years to expand their skills.

“We really missed not having it the past couple of years,” said Winslow. “It’s a great feeling to be back.”

After decades of being held at Knobbs Creek Recre ation Cen ter, the Crafts man’s Fair will be held a new venue this year: Museum of the Albe marle. That’s because of renovation work at the rec center.

Cindy became a juried member of the Albe marle Craftsman’s Guild in paper quilling in

2006 and has served as the guild’s president since 2019.Winslow expects at least 35 members of the Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild will be displaying their work at this year’s fair.

She said some of the longest-par ticipating guild members who participate in the fair include Debbie White who makes hand crafted dolls; Max Whitley, who works in leather; Marcia Phillips, who works with stained glass and crafts lamp; Randy Phillips, who tying; and Gregg Barco, who crafts stool and chair bottoms.

Because the Albemarle Crafts man’s Fair is a “demonstrating fair,” guild members spend time throughout the three-day event showing attendees how they pro duce their works and answering questions about their craft.

Winslow said the artisans will be “scattered throughout the mu seum.” That way, fair attendees will also be able to take in some of the exhibits at the museum while browsing the crafts at guild mem bers’ booths.

Winslow said the Albemarle Craftman’s Fair is a great place to do some Christmas shopping or purchase items to give as gifts for a later occasion.

“We are hoping to have a suc cessful fair this year,” she said.

For those worried about having to cut short their fair visit because they don’t want to carry around

–The Daily Advance

Bob Decker, of Hertford, carries a large handmade bench he and his wife, Margie, purchased at the 2019 Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center in Elizabeth City.

their purchases, the fair will have a station set up where attendees can check in what they’ve bought and pick it up before leaving.

For those who get hun gry while doing all that shopping, a food truck will be parked in front of the museum each day of the fair. Winslow said Wings-N-Thangs will be at the fair on Friday, Coinjock Marina will be there on Saturday and Captain Bob’s will be on hand Sunday.

Admission to the 62nd Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair will be $2 per day and free for children younger than 12.

For people interested in becoming members of the Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild, the group screens crafts twice a year through a juried process.

For more information about the 62nd Albe marle Craftsman’s Fair, visit the organization’s Facebook page or website at http://albemarlecrafts mansfair.com.

Fiber artist Judy Wobbleton, of Williamston, weaves a basket at her booth at the 2019 Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair.

–The Daily Advance

Leathersmith Max Whitley shows off some of his work at the 2019 Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair. –The Daily Advance

Camden to host second Heritage Festival celebrating county’s history, culture

Event will be held at Camden Community Park Oct. 8

By Savannah Hess Correspondent

off the success of the

Hill said. Silly Little Goose Designs, Sultry Scents, Collins Clay Earrings and Coastland Photography are among the 25 vendors who will be showing and selling their crafts and art.

For those who get a little hungry from all the activ ities, food vendors, includ ing GCF Smokehouse, Owl Feed Ya, Oh Yard Boyz, and Williams Strawber ry Farm Homemade Ice Cream, will be on hand.

Also throughout the day, attendees will be treated to live music performanc es by Bobby Plough, The Beekeepers and Adam Nixon and Uphill.

Festival-goers will also get a chance to pick the winner for a People’s Choice Award in the Camden Tourism Devel opment Authority’s 3rd annual Photo Contest. Attendees will vote on the winner from photos submitted for the contest and that entry will be an nounced at the festival.

The Camden Heritage Festival made its debut last October after several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic and drew a crowd of 1,200 people. The original idea for the event, however, was proposed long before its debut.

“Commissioner Randy Krainiak proposed the idea of a county heritage festival several years ago, with discussions and planning beginning in early 2019,” Hill said. “Mrs. Brenda Bowman, wife of retired county manager Ken Bowman, was instrumental in the

organization and success well as assisting with the initial details for planning

Camden County Parks and Recreation Director

Tim White has also been involved with the Cam den Heritage Festival since its conception.

The festival is orga nized by the Camden

on is shifting some of the locations of our vendors like food trucks, classic cars and certain games and activities to better utilize the park space.”

Organizers will con tinue to learn from each year’s festival in order to provide the best experi ence possible, she said.

Later on in October, Dismal Swamp State Park will celebrate its annual Dismal Days, an event that celebrates the nature and wildlife of one of the state’s newest public parks.

Dismal Days will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include wild life-themed vendors, plus educational wildlife ex hibits. Past Dismal Days have included displays of live animals indigenous to North Carolina.

Dismal Swamp State Park opened in 2008 after being designated a state park by the N.C. Legislature in the pre vious year. The park is lo cated in South Mills next to the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center.

Festival Committee

of citizens and commu nity agencies that meets monthly, Hill said.

Just after its debut last October, preparations began for this year’s festival. Asked what organizers learned from last year’s event, Hill said, “One of the items the committee is working

To access the park, visitors must enter at the welcome center entrance and drive around to the rear to the canal bridge. The park’s visitor center, boardwalk and many trails are all located on the other side of the bridge.

This year’s event

since 2019. The event was postponed in 2020 because of COVID-19 and again last year because of scheduled maintenance on the canal draw bridge.

Children participate in sack races, just one of the many familyheld at Camden Community Park in Camden, last year. Approximately 1,200 Camden and other area residents attended

–The Daily Advance

Colton Cottrell, 8, poses with his trophy after winning the Heritage Festival, held at Camden Community Park, last year.

–The Daily Advance

History museum, old movie theater added to Jollification! tour

From staff reports

Webster’s

Dictio

a lively celebration with others.

Organizers of the Per quimans County Resto ration Association’s annual

hoping for just that kind of event this fall.

The PCRA, the non Newbold-White House in Hertford and encourages historic preservation in Perquimans, will host Jolli

24, starting at 12:30 p.m.

The event begins with a self-guided tour of historic homes and sites in down town Hertford. Tour-goers will gather at the fellow

Clam Jam, Chowan Fair, Shrimp by the Bay, Star 45 regatta on tap in Chowan

By Tyler Newman Staff Writer

Fall is a cool time in Chowan County, and that’s not just because of the weather. From seafood shindigs to an award-win ning fair, there is plenty to do and see in Edenton while the leaves are falling.

Kicking off the autumnal season is the Edenton Steamers Clam Jam. To celebrate their Premier Collegiate League championship this summer, the Edenton Steam ers are hosting a community event featuring live music and good food Sept. 24 at Historic Hicks Field.

Getting underway at 4 p.m. the Clam Jam will feature local bands PBNJ, the Eric Dunlow Band and the Daniel Jordan Band. Cost for admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate.

Local food trucks will be on site. Cold beer and Steamers sweet

treats will available all night. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blanket or lawn chair and sit

Following just days later is the 76th annual Chowan County Region al Fair. An award-win ning local favorite that draws crowds from across northeastern North Car olina, the fair highlights Chowan County’s agricultural heritage through exhibits, activities, amusement rides, food and entertainment. The fair will be held at the American Legion Fairgrounds on West Queen Street from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

The fair will also feature farm and train displays, pig races, a beauty pageant, a baking compe tition, fair games. Advance tickets for the fair are $6, gate tickets are $8. Those prices do not include midway rides. For unlimited rides, a wrist band is avail able for $17 in advance and $20 at the gate.

In October, the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Com merce will host its annual Shrimp by the Bay fundraiser. This year marks the 21st iteration of the celebration, which has become a tradition in Edenton.

Shrimp by the Bay will be held rain or shine on the green of the

The award-winning 76th annual Chowan County Regional Fair highlighting Chowan County’s agricultural heritage will be held at the American Legion Fairgrounds on Edenton’s West Queen Street from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1. –Chowan Herald

1767 Chowan County Courthouse on Friday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature live music and dancing, sea food from Captain Bob’s of Hertford, a silent auction, adult ring toss, cornhole and more. Organizers promise the shrimp will

be steamy and the bever ages cold.

Attendees can enjoy the music for free; tickets including all you can eat shrimp and all you can drink beverages cost $50. Proceeds go to the Cham ber. For tickets, call (252) 482-3400.

Rounding out Chowan County’s fall events is the Star 45 Championship Regatta. Edenton’s waterfront will play host to the 2022 National Championship for 45inch model radio control yachts on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9.

Skippers will stage their boats on the Penelo pe Barker House lawn before sailing from the pier out into the waters of Edenton Bay. The event is free; parking will be available at near by Colonial Park or on South Broad Street.

A C OM MU NI TY

AS STR ON GA S STE EL

At Nucor,t he strength of our steel goes beyond the mater ials, technology and dedicated teammates behind ev er yp roduct we ma ke

Our real strength comes from the comm unities that suppor tu s. Tha t’sw hy we ar ep ro ud to giv e back whenev er we ca n. From local char ities to local schools, our goal is to remind our comm unities ev er yd ay that we kn ow where real strength comes from. Tha nk yo uf or making us strong.

We ar eo nl ya ss trong as the comm unity that suppor ts us.

Edenton National Fish Hatchery in operation since 1898

By Tyler Newman

Justoutside of Edenton’s thriving downtown, en route to Windsor via West Queen Street, is the Edenton National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of the Interior, the hatchery is one of more than 80 federal hatcheries throughout the country dedicated to the preservation of America’s

Since 1898, Edenton National Fish Hatchery restoration, and/or threatened/endangered species cooperation with and supported by the state of North Carolina.

locals and visitors to come out and test their mettle. However, this year those derbies are on hiatus due to replacement of pond kettles.

Visitors can tour the public aquarium at various striped bass and lake sturgeon to white shiners, Johnny darters, Cape Fear shiners and gopher frogs.

The hatchery also boasts a short trail to a dock one’s heart’s content.

The Edenton National Fish Hatchery and Aquari um are free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call (252) 482-4118 or visit www.fws.gov/edenton.

The Edenton National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of the Interior, is one of more than 80 federal hatcheries throughout tradition. Tyler Newman/Chowan Herald

Skillet-throwing contest, cornbread bake off highlight Currituck Farm Festival

Oct. 1 event also to feature handmade, homegrown contests

From sta

An afternoon of food, events and activities will celebrate Currituck County’s agricul tural heritage.

The Currituck Farm Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Currituck County N.C. Cooperative Exten sive Center in Barco. The center is located at 120 Community Way.

Because residents found last year’s event so entertaining, this year’s celebration was expanded to include more activities, con tests and family-oriented activi ties.

A tribute to Currituck’s farm families and annual tractor parade will commence this year’s festival. A food truck corral will be on site and attendees will have the opportunity to sample local agricultural foods.

This year’s contests include the popular skillet-throwing champi onship.

Other competitions include the homegrown and handmade con

grown, baked or canned farm food in the county.

Contest entries will be accept ed for adults 18 and older, plus three youth groups, ages 5-8, 9-13 and 14-18. There will be four entry categories: arts and crafts, canning, baked goods, and homegrown items. Entry is free

The Currituck Farm Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Currituck County N.C. Cooperative Extensive Center in Barco. A tribute to Currituck’s farm families and annual tractor parade will kick off this year’s festival.

-The Daily Advance

and “Best in Show” awards will be presented to the winners of each category.

Something new this year is the Cornbread Challenge. Partici pants in four age groups are en couraged to bring their best corn bread recipes to the Cornbread Bake Off. Those groups are adults 18 and older, and youth ages 5-8, 9-13 and 14-18. There is no fee to enter and to register visit the fes tival website at cornbreadbakeoff. eventbrite.com.

Other activities throughout

the day include the Mini Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest, sack races, corn hole and more. Limited ven dor space also will be available.

For more information about the Currituck Farm Festival, or for questions or to request accommo dations for persons with disabil ities, contact Cameron Lowe via email cameron_lowe@ncsu.edu or phone 252-232-2261 at least 10 days prior to the event.

Online, visit currituck.ces.ncsu. edu/2022/08/currituck-farm-festi val-2022/.

Carolina Moon to stage ‘A Time to Remember’

By Chris Day Multimedia Editor

Amurder-mystery will head line the upcoming fall pro duction season of College of The Albemarle’s Student Theatre.

The COAST Players will open the year with a stage adaptation of der-mystery will be performed just in time for Halloween, said Mariah Schierer, manager of COA’s Per forming Arts Center.

was directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Lynn and John Landis. The movie several promi nent actors, including Eileen Bren nan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, among others. The International Movie Database performance. Additional perfor ences 13 years and older.

For more information about

Hertford’s Carolina Moon The ater Group also has an October musical scheduled.

‘Time’ performances Oct. 21-23, 28-30; ‘Clue’ performed Oct. 27-30

‘Time’ performances Oct. 21-23, 28-30; ‘Clue’ performed Oct. 27-30

“A Time to Remember” opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, with subsequent performances starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 and at 4 p.m. Sunday, p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 and at 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30.

II with courage, hope and tism,” she said. ten by Ray Sawyer with assistance from Lynne Raymond and focuses on Hertford and Perquimans org — tickets won’t go on

25 men, women and of Perquimans County who responded to the

in Hertford. Contact the theater by phone at 252426-5102.

Small town PAL Gallery boasts nearly 100 artists

By John Foley

The Perquimans Arts League’s Gallery is a world-class styled art gallery in a small town.

Brightly capturing the eye of vis itors, the gallery offers an array of local artwork in a variety of media. Housed in one of Hertford’s newly remodeled historic buildings, PAL opened the gallery after a success ful fundraising effort earlier this year.

Quintessential American artist and Hertford resident Jack Par due frequently displays his iconic portraits and epic landscapes at the PAL gallery.

Located in Hertford’s Histor

ic District at 133 North Church Street, PAL’s gallery exhibits and sells the work of approximately 95 artists and craftsmen from the surrounding area.

In addition to paintings and assortment of hand-crafted jew and wood items, as well as books by local authors. Exhibits change frequently.

PAL also recently began hold ing art classes for both youth and adults in its building.

PAL’s gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information call 252426-4041 or visit perquimansarts. org.

The Perquimans Arts League’s gallery exhibits and sells the work of approximately 95 artists and craftsmen. -John Foley

By Chris Day

OBX Lizard Land

Incorporated in 1722, Edenton is state’s second-oldest town

By Tyler Newman

Nearly everywhere you look in Edenton’s downtown, you see 18th and 19th century history.

Established in the late 17th century and incor porated in 1722, Edenton is North Carolina’s sec ond-oldest town. Only Bath is older.

Once North Carolina’s second largest port, Edenton provided enslaved men and women with a means of escape via the Maritime Underground Railroad before they were emancipated following the end of the Civil War.

Today, the town features an extensive historic district with architectural styles spanning 250 years. Examples include the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse National Historic Landmark, Cupola House, Iredell House and Historic Hicks Field.

Visitors can take free self-guided tours of the

downtown; brochures and maps to help guide you are available at the town’s welcome centers. Historical markers dot Edenton’s streets, denoting the history and legacy of many of the sites.

For a guided tour of Edenton’s historic sites, visitors can take an All-Sites Tour at either 10 a.m., noon or 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Guided docent tours are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children between the ages of 3-15.

Individual site tours are also available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children ages 3-15.

For tour information, visit the Historic Edenton State Historic Site Visitor Center at 108 North Broad St., Edenton on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center can also be reached at (252) 482-2637 or at www.historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/his toric-edenton.

This map shows where the Union forces engaged Confederate soldiers at the Battle of South Mills in April 1862.

-Map courtesy NCDCNR

By Savannah Hess

Take a step back in time with the Battle of South Mills Driving Tour. This self-guided driving tour allows visitors to explore the his tory of a Civil War battle that took place in Camden County.

According to the N.C. Depart ment of Cultural and Natural Resources, Union troops landed in Camden County on April 18, 1862 destroy the locks on the Dismal Swamp canal system.

River Bridge in South Mills. Haw kins’ troops made a wrong turn, however, delaying their arrival at the bridge by several hours. By the time the arrived, other federal troops were already engaged with Confederate forces.

led by Col. Ambrose R. Wright, kept the Union troops from trav eling past Sawyer’s Lane and de stroying the Dismal Swamp Canal Locks. The Confederates knew the Union troops were coming and prepared for the battle by digging

Welcome Center, visitors can view

where Hawkins’ troops charged and the waterfront near Chantilly Road, where Union troops docked. Visitors can also learn about how Hawkins’ misstep on Gumberry Road cost the Union troops victory in the battle.

Visitors can pick up the Battle of South Mills Driving Tour bro chure at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, which is located at 2356 US Highway 17 N South Mills, NC 27976, or online at https://www.visitcamdencountync.

By John Foley

Located at the inter section of Belvidere Road and Perry-Bridge Road in Belvidere, Layden’s Country Store is a land mark where locals go to visit and visitors go to feel local.

The store’s clapboard building, originally constructed in 1860, was and blacksmith shop. It became home to C.E. Layden’s butcher shop in

1952 when C.E. Layden Sr. purchased the build ing and moved his busi ness there from across the street.

Three generations lat er, Charles Layden sits in grandfather once did, on the other side of the wall from where meats hang to cure.

In a time when meats come prepackaged from wherever, Layden’s sells meats the old way: customers approach the

meat counter, tell butch ers what they want and how much. Butchers then make those cuts, wrap up the meat and pass them over the counter.

Known for its sausages — local Cub Scout Pan cake breakfasts highlight the craftsmanship of Layden’s butchers — the store sells about 400500 pounds of sausage a week. That amount increases during the Christmas holidays when the butchers package about 4,000 pounds of the sought-after products.

Hardly a tourist attrac tion to the residents who

frequent the store regu larly, Layden’s is a step back in time for those visitors who have only read about the aromas of an authentic butcher shop. A local institu tion that has served the residents of Perquimans County for the past 70 years, Layden’s reach now extends to Virginia, Washington D.C., and beyond.

Layden’s Country Store at1478 Belvidere Road, Belvidere, can be reached at (252) 2972875. The store’s also at facebook.com/laydenssu permarket.

Layden’s Country Store, located at the intersection of Belvidere Road and Perry-Bridge Road in Belvidere, has been selling sausages and other meats the traditional way for more than 70 years.

- John Foley

New museum chronicles

Currituck’s maritime history

By Paul Nielsen

The 10,000-square foot Maritime Museum opened in the summer of 2021 and it features artifacts and exhibits chronicling Currituck’s maritime history.

The museum includes 12 historic boats, artifacts, photographs and exhibits that tell the story of Cur rituck’s rich and long maritime history for both recreation and business.

Some of the boats on display are in their original condition while others are restored, but all were either built or used in Currituck.

The museum also features interactive exhibits on knot tying, navigation exercises and boat build ing exercises along with an interactive map table. Visitors duck decoy carving demonstrations will be given regularly.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The wildlife center next door to the Maritime Museum educates the public on the wildlife, nat ural resources and the history of Currituck in the waters surrounding the county.

The Center offers both indoor and outdoor attrac tions for visitors to enjoy.

The wildlife center is open Monday through Fri day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

to renovations at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center,thisyear’s

at Museum of the Albemarle 501

Elizabeth City,North Carolina

General Admission is $2.00 per person; 12 and under free

Food Trucks Daily from 11 am -3 p.m. For questions or additional infor mation, please call 252-338-3954 or 252-562-5441, or go to info@albemarlecraftsmansfair.com.

FALL 2022 Calendar

SEPTEMBER

Mariners’ Wharf Fall Music Festival

The Mariners’ Wharf Fall Music Festival will be held at Mariners’ Wharf Park at 110 S. Water St, Elizabeth City, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fri day, Sept. 23, and 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Satur day, Sept. 24. Admission is free. Food vendors and a beer garden will be available.

Edenton Steamers Clam Jam

The Mariners’ Wharf Fall Music Festival will be held at Mariners’ Wharf Park at 110 S. Water St, Elizabeth City, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fri day, Sept. 23, and 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Satur day, Sept. 24. Admission is free. Food vendors and a beer garden will be available.

Perquimans Restoration Associa

The Perquimans County Restoration Association

urday, Sept. 24, starting at 12:30 p.m. The event begins with a self-guided tour of historic homes and sites in downtown Hertford and con cludes with a barbecue dinner on the lawn of the Newbold-White House at 5:30 p.m. The dinner will include both a silent auction and cake auction as well as music by Uphill. Tickets are $40 for both the tour and dinner, $25 for just the tour or the dinner. Visit https://perquimansrestoration.org.

Chowan County Regional Fair

The 76th annual Chowan County Regional Fair opens at the American Legion Fairgrounds on West Queen Street in Edenton on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 1. The fair, which highlights Chowan County’s agricul tural heritage, will feature exhibits, activities, amusement rides, food and entertainment. Ad vance tickets for the fair are $6, $8 at the gate. Those prices do not include midway rides. For un limited rides, a wristband is available for $17 in advance and $20 at the gate.

Empty Bowls of the Albemarle Food Bank of the Albemarle will

-The Daily Advance

The Dismal Swamp State Park and Camden Tourism Development Authority will host the 8th annual Dismal Day at Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The soup is prepared by local restaurants and the bowls are crafted by local artisans and students. Tickets are $40 which in cludes lunch and a choice of a bowl or $25 for just the lunch. Tickets are available at the Museum of the Albemarle Gift Shop or by phone at (252) 335-4035.

ECFD Fire Safety Show

The Elizabeth City Fire Department will host its Fire Safety Show in the Performing Arts Center at College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 28-30, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Manhattan Short Films Festival

Arts of the Albemarle will host the Manhattan Short Films Festival Friday, Sept. 30, and Satur day, Oct. 1, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The festival

world. This is a ticketed event.

OCTOBER

Currituck Farm Festival

Currituck County and the Currituck Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension will host the Cur rituck Farm Festival Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Ex tension Center at 120 Community Way in Barco. The festival, which celebrates Currituck’s rural heritage, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. and include a tractor parade and contests like skillet throwing and mini-punkin’ chuckin’. Food trucks will be available.

Arts on the Perquimans

The Perquimans Arts League will host its 11th an nual Arts on the Perquimans Artisans Show at the Perquimans Recreation Center at 310 Granby St., Hertford, Saturday, Oct. 1. Outdoor and indoor spaces for artisans will be available. The event will also feature a barbecue meal from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $10. Contact: 252-426-3041.

Arts of the Albemarle will host its eighth annual River City Rhythm & Brews tasting party on the portico at Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

-The Daily Advance

First Friday

First Friday ArtWalk, a monthly showcase of lo cal artists, artisans and musicians, will be held in Elizabeth City’s downtown Friday, Oct. 7, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Downtown businesses and venues host the artists, artisans and musicians.

Shrimp by the Bay

The Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce will host its 21st annual Shrimp by the Bay fundraiser on the green of the 1767 Chowan County Court house, Friday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature live music, dancing, seafood, a silent auc tion, and games. Attendees can listen to the mu sic for free. Tickets to enjoy the event’s food and beverages are $50. For tickets, contact: (252) 4823400.

Camden Heritage Festival

Camden County and the Camden Tourism Devel opment Authority will host the second Camden Heritage Festival Saturday, Oct. 8, at Camden Community Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will feature more than 30 heritage displays featuring antique farm equipment, classic cars, re-enactors and local wildlife. Visitors may also tour the historic Camden Jail.

Second Saturday Science

Port Discover, Elizabeth City’s hands-on sci ence center, will host the Second Saturday Sci ence program, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to noon

River City Rhythm & Brews

Arts of the Albemarle will host its eighth annual River City Rhythm & Brews tasting party on the portico at Museum of the Albemarle, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees will same more than 20 craft brews and cider. The band 5Starr will perform and Old Colony Smokehouse’s food truck will be on site. Tickets are $30 in ad vance and $35 at the door and available at AoA. Contact: 338-6455.

Elizabeth City Kids’ Flix

iners’ Wharf Park Saturday, Oct. 8, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Star 45 Championship Regatta

The Star 45 Championship Regatta for 45-inch radio-controlled yachts will be held on Eden

ton’s waterfront Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9.

ECHNA Ghost Walk

The Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Asso ciation will host its 23rd annual Ghost Walk Fri day and Saturday, Oct. 14-15, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Attendees visit historic homes in Elizabeth City and hear stories of famous personages from the early 20th century told by “ghosts” por trayed by local actors. “Murder and Mayhem” is the theme of this year’s Ghost Walk. Tickets are $15. Purchase locations not available at press time.

ECSU Vikings Homecoming

Elizabeth City State University will host its Homecoming football game at Roebuck Stadium at 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, Satur day, Oct. 15, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Vikings will play the Lions of Lincoln University.

Carolina Moon stages ‘A Time to Remember’

Carolina Moon Theater in Hertford will stage performances of “A Time to Remember,” an orig inal play based on Hertford life during World War II, Friday, at 110 W. Academy St., Hert ford, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m.

The play will also be performed at 7 p.m. on Fri day, Oct. 28 and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. For tickets, call 252-426-5102 or visit carolina moontheater.org.

Dismal Day in Camden

The Dismal Swamp State Park and Camden Tourism Development Authority will host the 8th annual Dismal Day at Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dismal Days will be held on Sat urday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes wildlife-themed vendors, educational wildlife exhibits, and animals indigenous to North Carolina.

ECSU Community Connections

Elizabeth City State University will host jour nalist Leila Fadel, a host of “Morning Edition” on Thursday, Oct. 27, as part of its free Community Connections: Performance and Lecture Series at the K.E. White Center. In collaboration with Na tional Geographic, Fadel, who was raised in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, won the 2019 Godziher Prize

for her “Muslims in America: A New Generation” series.

COAST performs ‘Clue’

College of The Albemarle’s COAST Players will perform the murder mystery “Clue,” based on

Thursday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. Additional performances will be at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 28; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30.

Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair

The Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild will host its 62nd Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair Friday, Sat urday and Sunday, Oct. 28-30, at Museum of the Albemarle. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The fair features the work of both lo cal and regional craftspeople, all of whom are guild members. Admission is $2 for persons over 12. Visit: info@albemarlecraftsmansfair. com.

Food Bank of the Albemarle will host its annual Empty Bowls of the Albemarle fundraiser at Museum of the Albemarle with a sneak peek event Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and lunch on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

-The Daily Advance