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Picking on the Pamlico
Perserving a piece of history, one relic at a time
Featuring: Hidden History, Cape Sullivan, Oden's Antiques and Sam Taylor
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Spring-fresh recipes to treat your taste buds
MARCH/APRIL 2017 WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
brings you:
presents:
featuring anything & everything nautical! Big Nautical Flea Market • New & Used Boats for Sale Marine Vendors & Dealers • Nautical Artisans & Antiques Boat Rides @ the NC Estuarium • Great Food & More! sponsors needed!
Vendors & Flea Market Participants Wanted Reasonable Rates • Limited Space Available!
For more info call 252.947.1487 or visit www.whda.org
ALSO ON SATURDAY
APRIL 29
9TH ANNUAL
th
sponsored by:
heatre, Visit the Turnage T front! Downtown & Water
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IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURES & DEPARTMENTS SHINING LIGHT
IN EVERY ISSUE
18
6 8 15 38 52 54 58 60 64 66
Beacon of light: “Cape Sullivan” a lasting image in Beaufort County
18 PICKER’S PARDISE 26
Family legacy: Oden's Aniques a time capsule for rural life
Publisher’s Note The Scene What's in Store What's to Eat Cast a Line Dining Guide Word on Wine Calendar Why I Love Washington Advertiser Index
26 TREASURE HUNT 32
Hidden history: Past treasures around every corner
32 WHAT'S TO EAT 38
Spring forward: Treat your tastebuds with spring freshness
38 RUSTIC LIVING
ON THE COVER
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Oden's Antiques Store began its tenure as a general store at Hunter's Bridge near the turn of the century. Once Lynda Oden took over, it then transitioned into antiques. See FAMILY LEGACY, page 26.
Sam Taylor: All-in-one teacher, artist and collector
[PHOTOGRAPH BY MEREDITH LOUGHLIN]
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First pet. First car. First real job. Make your first house just as memorable. Buying your first home is a big event. We’ll walk you through every step of the process to ensure your success. And we’ll be there to celebrate when you close on your first home.
Contact: June Lee, Vice President Community Banker 252.940.4906 NMLS# 465940 june.lee@firstsouthnc.com
firstsouthnc.com MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 5
NOTE FROM ASHLEY
Hidden gems are around every turn
“
Oh, I just love Little Washington.” Anyone who claims our town is quite familiar with this refrain. Wonder a ways and you’re likely to encounter others with an appreciation for this area, even if they’ve only visited sparingly. That’s due to the unmistakable appeal of our community — its beautiful waterfront, its charming downtown, its hospitable people. For all its prominent allure, there’s just as much to be prized in less conspicuous corners. When it comes to hidden treasure, ours is an area with deep pockets. Historical gems are around every turn. You just have to know where to look for them. Some recognizable landmarks are home to fascinating fragments of days past. A jewelry store, bakery, church, condominium, salon, library and theater all hold relics worth a closer look. Discover Washington’s hidden history on page 32. It started as a general store more than a century ago. Today, Oden’s Antiques serves as a time capsule of small town life over those hundred plus years. Memories aren’t
the only thing accumulating off U.S. Highway 264. Check out some of the objects that spark them on page 26. Sam Taylor is keeping alive the art of handmade work. Bring a piece of furniture into his rustic shop and he’ll repair it, but he’s just as likely to show you how to do it yourself. Tinker in the old traditions on page 44. Take a ride down Creek Road in Bath and you can’t miss the crown jewel of Gary Sullivan’s collection. The 34-foot replica lighthouse is known to stop traffic. Stop to check it out along with the rest of his impressive collection on page 18. Enjoy picking through the history featured in this issue of Washington the Magazine. I hope it will inspire you to get out and explore the many treasures our community has to offer, particularly those a little harder to find.
Ashley Vansant Publisher
We would love to hear what you think about Washington the Magazine. Email us at news@ Write thewashingtondailynews.com or write to P.O. Box 1788, Washington, NC 27889. Letters chosen for publication to us may be edited for length and clarity. All submissions become the property of Washington the Magazine. 6 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
Publisher Ashley Vansant Editorial Kevin Scott Cutler Caroline Hudson Michael Prunka Vail Stewart Rumley Contributors Richard Andrews Virginia Finnerty Meredith Loughlin Will Preslar Advertising Director David Singleton Marketing & Sales Cecilia Prokos Spencer Stanley Amy Whitaker Distribution Sylvester Rogers Art Direction Ryan Webb Contact information Washington the Magazine P.O. Box 1788 Washington, NC 27889 Advertising inquiries 252-946-2144 Ext. 221 Subscriptions & change of address 252-946-2144 Washington the Magazine is published six times a year by Washington Newsmedia, LLC. Copyright 2016, Washington Newsmedia, LLC MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 7
THE SCENE Chamber of Commerce Awards On Jan. 26, the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 114thannual awards ceremony at the Turnage Theatre. The evening featured catering by The Meeting Place and a film-style announcing of the awards. The awards included: Community Leader of the Year, Paige Allen Harris; Business of the Year, B.E. Singleton & Sons; Small Business of the Year, Rachel K’s Bakery; Entrepreneur of the Year, Michael Lee; co-Nonprofits of the Year, Young Life and the Optimist Club; Young Professional of the Year, Stuart O’Neal; and Chamber Ambassadors of the Year, Alma Friedman and Bob Boulden.
Meg Howdy, Helen Masten and Nikki Klapp
David Carraway and Lisa Hodges
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Tony and Nancy LoPinto and Alma and Bob Friedman
Jon Sherman, Donald Sadler, Ed Booth and Tom Payne
William Pitt and William Brooks
Allison Hollowell and Will Page
Robert Griffin and Jennifer Hudson
Joy Smallwood and Gail Leggett
Ray McKeithan and Cynthia Crane
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 9
THE SCENE NCSU Alumni Oyster Roast On Jan. 27, North Carolina State University alumni held their sixth-annual Beaufort County oyster roast. The event was held at Steve and Pam Griffin’s home in Washington and featured music by The Parsons and food service by Keyzer Catering. Special guests included NCSU Chancellor Randy Woodson and Vice Chancellor Brian Sischo.
Michael Peed and Jeff Hathaway
Abby Harris and Sarah Whitson
Stuart and Allison O’Neal
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Daniel Howell and Forest Howell
Hodges Hackney, Ray Dennis, Marsha Hackney and Cliff MacFarland
Sandra Barfield and Sue Roberson
Ed and Shirley Stone
Harrison Palmer and Maxwell Palmer
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THE SCENE OUT AND ABOUT
Ron Clark visits BCCC On Feb. 6, educators, officials and residents gathered at Beaufort County Community College’s Building 10 to hear a presentation from Ron Clark, a Beaufort County native, awardwinning educator and founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. The event was in celebration of BCCC’s 50th anniversary. After the presentation, visitors could then meet Clark one on one and/or purchase his books.
Helen Sommerkamp Inman and Ron Clark
Dr. Laura Staton and Dr. Jay Sullivan
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Dr. Don Phipps and Alicia Vosburgh
Attila Nemecz and Trina Cobb
Dr. Virginia Hardy and Winnie Washington
Wesley Adams and Mark Nelson
Ronnie and Jean Clark
Clay Carter and David McLawhorn
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 13
THE SCENE Friends of Brown Library book Sale Friends of Brown Library held its annual book sale Jan. 20-22, at the Washington Civic Center. Items ranged from 50 cents to $2 each, and included nonfiction and fiction, as well as CDs and DVDs. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 20-21, and noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 22. Members of Friends of Brown Library met for a preview of the book sale on the evening of Jan. 19. Proceeds went to benefit the Brown Library and the organization.
Aisling Casey, Saoirse Casey and James Casey
Barbara Smith and Sue Fish
Sharon Johnston and Katie Lake
Autumn Pham and Kaley Radcliff
Tim and Valerie Lurvey
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WHAT’S IN STORE
A piece of
Washington WRITTEN BY CAROLINE HUDSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILL PRESLAR
TWEET TWEET Don’t just go with a regular birdhouse this season — take it up a notch! This detail-oriented birdhouse can serve as both a functional home for those sparrows and bluebirds, as well as quaint, backyard décor. It’s available at the D&H Home and Garden shop at Little Shoppes, located on Main Street in Washington. Birdhouse $21.99.
HOME SWEET HOME
MAN’S WORLD Father’s Day isn’t until June, but it’s always a good time to treat the man in your life. This Southern Tide combo of T-shirt and swim trunks in shades of teal and “Seven Seas Blue” is the perfect way to welcome in the warm weather. This and more combinations are available at Russell’s Men’s Shop on Main Street in Washington. Swim trunks $85, T-shirt $38.
There’s no place like home. Show your love and pride for our town with a simple, yet decorative wooden sign. This design was created by the Raleigh-based Mill Wood Art, which offers custom paints on weathered pine. Signs are available in other designs and colors at South Market Antiques on West Main Street in Washington. Wooden sign $27.
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CUTE AND FLIRTY Soak up the spring sunshine in an outfit that’s as cute and flirty as it is comfortable. This adorable romper from TCEC is a great choice for the season, and it’s perfect for the upcoming summer months, too. Pair it with sandals for a style that’s well put together. This romper is available at Pink Buoy Boutique on Market Street in Washington. Romper $37.
PERFECT PYTHON Are you in the market for a new wallet or clutch bag? These fun designs from GiGi New York are the perfect choice for fashionable, yet subtle flair. Available in many colors and sizes, the embossed python pattern will certainly draw attention. Pick out your favorite at Russell’s Men’s Shop, located on Main Street in downtown Washington. Clutch $125, wallet $80.
BRIDAL SEASON A spring wedding is the top choice for many brides in the Washington area. This necklace-earring set created by Sue Beck for Sue Sea Jewelry is the perfect balance of unique and classy. Handcrafted with sterling silver and Swarovski pearls, it is available at Lemonade Art Gallery on Main Street in downtown Washington. Necklace $175, earrings $75.
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SPRING FLING Get ready for the fresh flowers of spring with Vietri’s hibiscus fluted vases. They come in small, medium and large sizes, and are sure to be the centerpiece on any size table in your home. These vases are available at Stewart’s Jewelry Store on Market Street in downtown Washington. Small $68, medium (pictured) $98, large $124.
35 cents a day Call 252-940-4200 for a subscription MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 17
SHINING LIGHT
Old Esso and Exxon signage makes the workshop behind Gary Sullivan’s home resemble a gas station. He’s had people pull into his backyard to buy gas.
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THE BEACON OF BATH “Cape Sullivan” a lasting image in Beaufort County WRITTEN BY MICHAEL PRUNKA PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEREDITH LOUGHLIN
t’s impossible for a passerby to miss the 34-foot-tall lighthouse right off of Creek Road in Bath. It’s a replica of the one in Fort Story, Virginia, and it’s one of the most notable parts of Gary Sullivan’s extensive collection. It’s also one of his most prized items. Once the lighthouse was restored and painted, Sullivan put up a sign announcing its dedication. Around 75 people showed up on a Saturday at 10 a.m. to watch it turn on for the first time. “I dedicated it in loving memory of my mom and dad,” Sullivan said. “I call it Cape Sullivan. I told the people
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that when I was growing up, I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have, and I failed to do a lot of things I should have done. “I tied it into the lighthouse. I said, ‘No matter what, the light was always shining in my mom and dad’s eyes and I could come back home.’ So, the light of the Lord is shining on us, and the lighthouse reminded me of that.” Sullivan collects anything and everything. There are signs all over his property. Indoors, he has shelves of trinkets ranging from G.I. Joes to Barbies to Christmas village houses. Looking around outside his property, one will see thermometers hanging on the walls. Crosscut saws are perched above each window and door. There are large, old soda emblems, as well as massive signs from gas station chains that have long since gone out of business. In some way or another, there’s a rhyme or reason to it all. Sullivan has collected a lot, but there’s a place for all of it. He thanks his lady friend, Nora Stewart, for helping with the immaculate organization. Some of his affinities stem from his childhood. Sullivan is the youngest of nine children. His father was a well driller, and he was raised just around the corner from his current residence. “Some of us boys helped drill wells when we were growing up. For some reason, I took a liking to hand pumps.
(Above) Antique chairs line a table, upon which assorted collectables sit, in Gary Sullivan’s barn. (Below) Whether it’s old gas station signs or street signs, Sullivan has found a place for nearly everything in his extensive collection. 20 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
(Above) Gary Sullivan poses outside of his barn, which is adorned with various antique commercial signs. (Below, left) Once upon a time, cone-shaped buckets held water in case of fires. Sullivan has plenty old-school fire equipment, much of which is still functional. (Below, right) Sullivan uses all sorts of different hardware as decorative pieces.
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Gary Sullivan has found a significant amount of his collection in eastern North Carolina, but this Tiolene sign from Pennsylvania is one of many pieces that has come from all over the country.
I’ve probably got 75 or 100 hand pumps,” Sullivan said. A few of those hand pumps gracefully line the staircase to the second floor of his barn. Others are set up as decorative pieces in his numerous workshops. “I’m almost 70 years of age, and with these signs, I didn’t pay much mind to it growing up. If I had known then what I know now, I’d have barns full of this stuff. Who knew it was going to be valuable? And I don’t do it for the value. I do it because I enjoy it.” Much of what Sullivan has gathered over the years is from eastern North Carolina. He’s brought items back from 22 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
Virginia, Pennsylvania and other places, and his son was known to return with objects from Tennessee while he was in school. Among other antiques from Beaufort County, Sullivan has a large Canada Dry sign from the old Dr Pepper plant on Third and Bridge streets in Washington. He’s helped preserve a lot of eastern North Carolina history, although that’s not quite his primary intention. “I try to hang on to some history from my time period. It doesn’t have to necessarily be from eastern North Carolina,” Sullivan said. Sullivan finds immense joy in his
collections. So, too, do others passing through. That is, however, until they realize that his residence is not, in fact, a gas station. “I’ve had people stop in here to buy gas to put in their boats and stuff, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that,” Sullivan said. “I lay it out. If I buy something, I find somewhere to put it on the wall. … It’s just wherever I can find a space to find it, and that’s getting to be a problem.” Sullivan said that people sometimes mistake his house for an old-school convenience store, too. Others will slam on their brakes as they drive by, turn
Gary Sullivan has a sweet spot for hand pumps. They’re among his favorite things to collect. They can be found as decorative pieces in his house, barn and workshops.
around and ask to look around. Despite being retired for more than 11 years, Sullivan likes to keep busy, but will gladly show visitors around if he has time. “If they’d like to stay for a long time, I suggest they bring work gloves and work clothes,” he chuckled. Sullivan’s family also gets plenty of entertainment out of everything he’s amassed over the years. He’s hosted large family gatherings. A segment of his yard looks like a small playground. There are bouncy animals on springs and a homemade merry-go-round he can set up, which is a hit with the children. “I would tell the kids that, if you want
to ride, it will cost $100, but if you don’t have any money, you can ride for free,” Sullivan said. “They would all say, ‘Well, I don’t have any money.’ I’d say, ‘That’s fine, get on.’” Bath is renowned for its beautiful waterfront scenery. Few people visit the Bath area to see Sullivan’s collections, but he’s still part of the small town’s legacy. Most who simply drive down Creek Road will remember the image of the Cape Sullivan lighthouse. “I don’t want to put a feather in my hat by no means,” he said. “But, I do enjoy knowing that most people seem to enjoy it. I get a good feeling of pride out of that.” MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 23
WASHINGTON HARBOR DISTRICT
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HOLIDAY PICKER’S HOME PARADISE
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FAMILY LEGACY
Oden’s Antiques Store is a picker’s paradise with aged items around the building looking for a new home, as well as items lining the wall behind the counter, which are part of Lynda Oden’s personal collection.
Oden’s Antiques a time capsule of small-town life STORY BY CAROLINE HUDSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY MEREDITH LOUGHLIN t’s a place full of memories — full of timeless antiques, friendly banter and swapping stories around the old heater. John H. and John W. Oden opened a general store in 1896 and about eight years later, moved the store to its Hunter’s Bridge location. The store, known as Oden’s Antiques today, off of U.S. Highway 264, grew to become a community staple. “In 1900, it was one of these stores
at the head of the creek in every county because that was the transportation; the water was the transportation system,” storeowner Lynda Oden said. “The building itself was down at the creek and … up until 1926 the roads were not paved here. All the traffic was by water. … In ’26, when they paved the road, it was moved up here.” Oden has been a part of the store since she was little, working with her grandfather as soon as she could see over MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 27
From old cans to rusty tools and an unexpected hornet’s next suspended from the ceiling, one could spend hours at Oden’s just taking in all there is to see.
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Oden’s Antiques Store has a long history, starting in 1896. Some of the items there today offer a nod to the past of the store and of the community as a whole.
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the counter. “Everything from coffins upstairs to fertilizer in the back room,” she recalled. “I’ve been here all my life, so this is kind of more home than home.” John H. and John W. split off into separate businesses — earning the nicknames “city John” and “country John” — and when John H. passed away in 1961, his son, also named John, took over operations at the general store. Lynda Oden went into the antique business from 1968-1972, but when the 1970s gas shortage hit, she decided to go into farming. Her heart, however, was still very much a part of the family’s store. Oden recalled how residents would stop by the store to sit and socialize around the kerosene stove-heater. “It was farmers sitting around in here, and they would spit tobacco down that hot stove toward that sand. That’s one of my worst memories,” she laughed. In 1993, Oden took over the store, transitioning it from a general store to antiques. The building also experienced structural problems in the 1990s, requiring a four-to-five-month project of pushing it back and building another section to essentially keep it propped up. Although Oden’s Antiques is a little different than when it began, a lot remains the same. With an incredible collection of arrowheads (some thousands of years old) collected mere miles away, old signs from the original store and thermometers from Belhaven’s Guy Cuthrell Gulf Service, the store is still very much a community staple. Plenty of residents also take time to stop by for a visit. Longtime employee Sherry Modlin is a familiar face at the store. “Try not to get too excited except about politics, basketball and religion around here,” Oden said. Oden makes trips to Pennsylvania and Maryland a handful of times a year to look for antiques, and she makes trips locally in the area every couple of weeks. “When the checkbook says go, you 30 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
go,” she said. “I don’t know how you pick what you buy. You just seem to know what you want.” Oden said she’s seen the antiques in demand change over the years: what wouldn’t sell at all 10 years ago is now in high demand. Popular now is corningware and vintage Bell jars. “If you really like the old stuff, you get to pick first, so it becomes almost an obsession,” she laughed. “It’s a horrible,
horrible way to make a living, but it’s a good way to live.” It’s a life she wouldn’t have any other way. Although charged with keeping the store up and running, Oden said she would like to see it turned into a state museum in the future. It’s not so much about the things in the store. For her, it’s a time capsule of memories, not only for her, but also for the community as a
Oden’s is a friendly place, a place for friends and family to gather and chat. Lynda Oden said it’s been that way as long as she can remember.
whole. She views her role as a temporary caregiver. “It’s just years and years, two or three generations of accumulation,” Oden said. “I decided a long time ago I will look after it while I’m here. When I’m gone, somebody else can worry about it. That’s the way it works here. No, I’m not worried what’s going to happen to all this stuff I want to sell. Somebody else can worry about it.” MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 31
HIDDEN TREASURE
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Washington past treasures lurk around every corner STORY AND PHOTOS BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY
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In upper floors, behind closed doors, in attics and basements and even in open sight, the history of Washington is apparent to anyone who’s paying attention. Though Native American settlements at the forks of the Tar River had existed for centuries, the town was officially established in 1776 on land donated by Col. James Bonner who, along with his brother Major Henr y Bonner and their brother-in-law Col. Edward Salter, laid out 60 lots that were given away by lottery.
Col. James Bonner is buried in the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church cemetery on East Second Street, and in the 241 years since, Washington has collected, and kept, its share of history. From architectural elements to remnants of the past revealed through renovation, Washington’s history can be seen quite clearly for anyone paying attention. These photographs represent just a few pieces of history throughout downtown. Can you tell what they are and where they’re located?
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E G A UNVEILED ADVERTISEMENT Stewart’s Jewelry Store, Market Street
Stewart’s Jewelry Store has occupied the same building since 1910. While many people have visited the Market Street store, very few have made it upstairs where several rooms are used primarily for storage. It was after a hurricane in the late 1990s that an unknown work of advertising art was revealed to store owner Betty Stewart, when a leak began peeling plaster off the wall. “It started cracking, then it started crumbling down,” said store manager Aaron Adams. It turns out that the building, rather than having its own exterior south wall, instead shared a wall with the building next door. And when the Stewart’s Jewelry Store building was constructed, builders simply plastered over the brick of the adjacent building. On that brick an advertisement was painted, which was a common practice at the time. Only part of the advertisement is visible, so the name of the oil company is unreadable. “It would be neat if we could pick (the plaster) all off so you could see the whole thing,” Adams said. For now, plaster remains over half of the medallion, but given time, the origin of this ad will eventually be revealed. 34 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
CIVIL WAR BELL First Presbyterian Church, Gladden Street
Washington has a rich Civil War history, especially since any coastal town was considered a key strategic point in moving supplies to troops. Beaufort County men marched off to war with the Washington Grays in 1861. By 1862 Union troops had claimed the city and Confederate efforts to reclaim it failed. In April 1863, however, Confederate forces were able to mount a two-week siege on federal troops in Washington, but by 1864, Washington was no longer considered strategically important, and the Union army withdrew to New Bern. Federal records indicate that Connecticut troops set fires, burning half of Washington, then a few days later, an accidental fire consumed the rest. Following the burning of Washington, parishioners of the First Presbyterian Church collected over 1,000 pounds of scrap metal to be cast into a bell at a foundry in the north. During its return trip, the ship sank off the coast of Hatteras, but, strangely enough, the bell washed ashore. It remains today in the church’s steeple.
WASHINGTON FIRE EMBLEM Fire Station Lofts, Market Street
From 1924 to 1965, the building on the corner of Third and Market streets served as Washington’s fire station. Firefighters hung out upstairs waiting for the call; on the ground floor fire engines sat at the ready. In those days, the quickest way to the fire trucks was not by stairs, but by cutouts in the floor surrounding a long pole stretching from floor to floor. Once the alarm sounded, firefighters raced for the poles, sliding down to the garage bays below. When Scott Campbell and Bill Sykes bought part of the building in 2006 to renovate into condominiums, two holes still existed. One they covered with hardwood, but rather than remove the other in their East Loft, they instead chose to give a nod to Washington’s firefighters and that piece of Washington history. Engaging the help of woodworker William Dorsey, Sykes and Campbell had the old Washington Fire Department emblem turned into a work of art that now resides in the space where the fire pole once was. Made of Brazilian cherry wood, carved by water jetting, black epoxy was used to draw out the emblem framed by rope and embedded in inch-deep clear epoxy. When the camera crew of the HGTV show “You Live in What?” filmed an episode at Fire Station Lofts, current members of Washington FireRescue-EMS were invited to view this unique bit of design. The clip ultimately made it into the show. “We were really emphasizing that it was not about us — it’s about Washington history,” Sykes said.
BUCKMAN’S DEPARTMENT STORE ELEVATOR Current Oasis Building, West Main Street
Harkening back to the days of old, the chandelier in the antique elevator of Oasis Salon and Spa, and its sister business located upstairs Spring Hill Antiques, is something one doesn’t see every day. Tucked into the building’s southeast corner, the elevator is original to the building, and Buckman’s Department Store that occupied it for seven decades, from 1906 to the early 1980s. “Buckman’s was a big deal. Three floors of everything you could imagine,” said Greg Purser who, along with Everett Duncan, owns the building. Purser said many older Washington residents remember riding the elevator as a child, back when the elevator operator wore white gloves on the job. The elevator isn’t just a showpiece. It still works today, cranking its way slowly between floors — cranking its way slowly back in time.
D BUILDER’S SIGNATURE Rachel K’s Bakery, Market Street
When Rachel Midgette bought the old City Hall building in 2014, work began almost immediately to renovate and create the thriving downtown business it is today. But during exterior renovations in December 2014, Midgette found an unusual bit of Washington history. Located behind a stained glass window being removed from its housing on one of the upper stories, the words “J.L. Gadner Builder 1884” were revealed. “As I took the piece out, I realized it was the original builder, J.L. Gadner Builder 1884,” Midgette said at the time. “The only thing we could figure is it was never intended to be seen. It was like his signature. I don’t recognize that as a common name around here, but maybe it was back in that time period.” Today, that signature is hidden again, but for those in the know, the builder’s recent appearance made a lasting impression.
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F VAUDEVILLE THEATER Turnage Theatre, West Main Street
Walk down West Main Street and Arts of the Pamlico’s Turnage Theatre marquee automatically draws the eye, whether its unlit by day or its neon glow is lighting up the night. The early-20th-century theater underwent a massive renovation in the early 2000s, and became home to the local arts council in 2013. One part of the building did not undergo renovation: down a long hall in the depths of the building, up stairs that gradually give way to older wood and through a doorway is the old vaudeville theater — the original Turnage Theatre. It’s like stepping back in time, with its tin ceilings and floor slanted toward the stage. Medallions that once
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framed chandeliers hang above a U-shaped balcony where plenty of Washingtonians came to be entertained. Roy Rogers once rode Trigger onto the vaudeville theater stage. But once moving pictures with sound came to the theater, the noise of traffic through the open windows — open because there was no air conditioning — interfered with moviegoers’ enjoyment. The current theater, deeper into the building and away from West Main Street, was built as a solution. Today, the idea of renovation and revival of the vaudeville theater remains on the Arts of the Pamlico’s wish list. Who knows what the spirit said to haunt the place will say about that?
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OLD COURTHOUSE BHM Regional Library
The Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library occupies an interesting place in Washington’s history. Built as a courthouse in 1786, it’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. Once the building was the center of legal life in Beaufort County; now it houses books, computers and other resources available to the public Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. What’s also available to the public is the key that unlocks its second-floor treasure: the intact courtroom that once saw the notorious trial of the Rev. George Washington Carawan, a fire and brimstone preacher accused of almost murdering his wife and one of his tenants because he was convinced they were having an affair. During his 1850 trial, Carawan pulled out a revolver and fired at prosecutors and into the crowd before turning the gun on himself. The incident made national news, though only Carawan lost his life that day. The courtroom, however, is known to be the home of Carawan’s restless spirit and many have witnessed the otherworldly. Anyone can — all one has to do is ask for the key. MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 37
WHAT'S TO EAT
CORN & CRAB CHOWDER
Lillie Ann M. Jones The Wilkinson Center 1 (17-ounce) can creamed corn; 1/2 cup onion, diced; 4 cups chicken broth; 1 cup milk; 2 cups half and half; 1/2 pound crab meat; 7 tablespoons flour; 7 tablespoons butter. Step 1: Combine corn, onion and chicken broth in a large pot. Bring to a hard boil for 15-20 minutes. Step 2: In another pot, combine milk, half and half and crab meat. Cook until hot. Do not boil. Stir often to prevent burning or sticking. Step 3: Melt butter. Add flour and cook one minute. Do not brown. Strain mixture from Step No. 1 into pot from No. 2 and bring to a simmer. Do not boil. Whip in Step No. 3 until smooth and thickened.
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SPRING FORWARD Treat your taste buds with the freshness of spring STORY BY KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER PHOTOS AND FOOD PREPARATION BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY
T
he arrival of spring along the Pamlico is greeted with the anticipation of flowers in bloom, fresh fruits and veggies and the promise of boat rides
on the river. Spring also brings about a change in appetite, when the hearty and heavy meals of winter are forsaken in favor of lighter fare. Pasta accompanied by locally grown vegetables, fresh seafood and the ever-popular southern staple, deviled eggs, take center stage on dining tables throughout the area. Top the menu off with the tartness of a lemonade cake or the soothing coolness of a yogurt pie or fruit trifle, and you have the makings of a memorable meal sure to satisfy family and guests alike. As usual, our recipes appear courtesy of the Washington Daily News' Pamlico Pantr y collection of fundraising cookbooks published by local churches, schools and nonprofit organizations. Enjoy! MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 39
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TORTILLA ROLL UPS
Washington Pediatrics 2 (8-ounce) packages lite cream cheese; 4-ounce can chopped green chilies, drained; 4-ounce can sliced black olives, drained; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon cumin; 1/4 cup salsa; 8 10-inch flour tortillas. Mix all ingredients together; spread on flour tortillas and roll up. Cut off the ends. Wrap in saran wrap and chill for several hours. Slice each roll into eight to 10 pieces and serve. Note: Serve with extra salsa for dipping.
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DEVILED PARTY EGGS
Jackie Carrington Ephesus Free Will Baptist Church 12 hard cooked eggs; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons chopped chives; 4 teaspoons yellow mustard; 1/4 teaspoon salt; olives, pimento strips, bacon bits or small shrimp for garnish. Peel eggs and cut in halves lengthwise. Remove yolks and put in bowl. Break up yolks until fine and crumbly. Using electric mixer at low speed, add mayonnaise, olives, mustard and salt. Mix until smooth. Pipe mixture into egg whites using pastry bag with large star tip, or use a teaspoon. Decorate. Cover. Chill in refrigerator up to six hours before serving. Makes 24.
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PASTA SALAD
Susan Tankard St. Thomas Episcopal Church 1 pound rigatoni pasta (or other type); 1 1/4 cups sugar; 1 1/4 cups vinegar; 1 1/4 cups salad oil; 2 tablespoons dry mustard; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds; 1 tablespoon onion flakes; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 3/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon Accent; 1 tablespoon parsley flakes; 2 large cucumbers, chopped; 1 green pepper, chopped; 1 tomato, chopped. Cook pasta and drain. Add other ingredients and stir. Keep refrigerated.
SHRIMP BUTTER
Carol Nash Saint Peter's Episcopal Church 1 pound cooked shrimp, roughly chopped; 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened; 1 stick unsalted butter, softened; 2 tablespoons chopped green onions; 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; 4 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 to 4 drops hot pepper sauce; Melba toast or crackers. Blend softened cheese and butter thoroughly with mixer. Add rest of ingredients and stir until well blended. Refrigerate covered until ready to use. Yield: two cups.
BROCCOLI SLAW
Mae Jack Piland St. Thomas Episcopal Church 1 package broccoli slaw; 1 bunch green onions, chopped; 2 packages beef flavored Ramen noodles; 1 cup sunflower seeds; 1/2 cup slivered almonds. Crunch up noodles and mix with seeds and almonds. Dressing: 1 cup olive oil; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/3 cup vinegar; 2 seasoning packets from the Ramen noodles. Mix dressing. Chill well before tossing together with the slaw mixture.
TOMATO CREOLE
Jean Corbett The Wilkinson Center 4 tablespoons butter; 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped; medium onion, chopped; 2 cups okra, chopped; 3 cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped; salt and pepper to taste. Saute bell pepper, onion and okra in butter for 10 minutes. Add tomato and salt and pepper to taste. Cook. Serve over rice.
YOGURT PIE
Annie Norman Hodges Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church 1 graham cracker crust; 8 ounces strawberry yogurt; 1 (3.5-ounce) package vanilla instant pudding; 8 ounces Cool Whip. Mix yogurt, vanilla pudding and Cool Whip. Pour into graham cracker crust. Cover and refrigerate.
CURRIED CHICKEN & SHRIMP SALAD WITH RICE & ARTICHOKES
Saint Peter's ECW Saint Peter's Episcopal Church 1 (6.9 ounce) box chicken-almond rice vermicelli mix; 1 (6-ounce) box long grain and wild rice mix; 3/4 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 to 1/2 cup Italian dressing; 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon curry powder; pepper to taste; 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped; 1 (24-ounce) can plain artichoke hearts, drained and cut into pieces; 3 to 4 green onions, chopped; 4 cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces; 1 pound shrimp, cooked and cut in half; 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds. Prepare rice following box directions. Mix together mayonnaise, Italian dressing, curry and pepper. Combine rice and vegetables; then add chicken, shrimp and almonds, mixing gently. Blend in the dressing mixture and refrigerate overnight. If necessary, blend in more mayonnaise and Italian dressing before serving. Yield: 15 servings.
LEMONADE CAKE
Alva McCall Terra Ceia Christian School 6 ounces frozen lemonade, set aside to thaw; 2 cups confectioners sugar; 1 small package lemon Jello; 3/4 cup hot water; 4 eggs; 1/2 cup oil; 1 box lemon cake mix. Dissolve Jello in hot water; set aside to cool. Beat eggs; add oil, beat. Add cake mix. Mix well. Fold in cooled Jello and mix well. Spray or grease tube pan. Line bottom only in pan with wax paper. Pour batter in pan and bake at 300 degrees for one hour and 10 minutes. Mix lemonade with 2 cups of confectioners sugar; pour over cake as soon as it is taken out of the oven. Leave in pan to cool.
TRIFLE Fran Parrish Bath United Methodist Church 1/2 angle food cake, cut into bite size pieces; 2 cups strawberries (or peaches); 1 box instant vanilla pudding; 8 ounces sour cream; 1 cup milk; 1 teaspoon orange rind; 2 cups Cool Whip. In a bowl, mix pudding, sour cream, milk and orange rind until thick. Fold in Cool Whip. Layer half of cake, half of pudding and half of strawberries. Repeat. Top with additional Cool Whip and sliced strawberries. Refrigerate. Note: Prepare one day before serving.
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RUSTIC LIVING
One of Sam Taylor's specialities, this stool is made of handwoven seagrass. Taylor specializes in handcrafted pieces using repurposed wood.
RUSTIC Teacher, artist, collector — Sam Taylor loves his job STORY AND PHOTOS BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY “Did you see this? This is from before even I was born.” Sam Taylor picks up a rusted and banged-up license plate: Maryland, 1926. In his 80s, with a career in the 44 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
forestry service behind him, Taylor has a new venture: Sam’s Rustic Shop in downtown Washington. It’s a place filled with the past: antique bottles and sets of skeleton keys, a razor and case made in
Sam Taylor sits in front of his South Market Street shop where he gets plenty of visitors, some to chat, some to bring in their repairs and others to browse through his vintage collection.
England, Taylor’s handmade pieces attesting to an old tradition, and the tools of his trade. While anyone can bring a cane-bottom chair into Sam’s Rustic Shop and pay for its repair, Taylor encourages people to do it themselves — he’ll advise and oversee the process. He’s got a work space, along with retail space featuring his handmade work displayed alongside antique bottles, license plates,
keys and more. The overall theme is repurposing, letting nothing go to waste. His decorative stars are crafted from hand-hewn tobacco sticks used to hang drying tobacco many years ago; his stool legs are made from branches he finds in his travels, their flat surfaces from reclaimed wood that once had another purpose in life. Taylor got his start in re-caning old chairs with MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 45
Sam's Rustic Shop has an interesting assortment of the vintage, from old bottles to items such as this 1926 Maryland license plate.
his mother: after his grandmother died, the two restored several of the inherited, antique cane-bottomed chairs. This led to hunting down other chairs, missing their seats, that he’d pick up at bargain prices, restore and sell at a profit. But it wasn’t until he stumbled across a book on rustic furniture that he really found his niche. “There’s a satisfaction in creating your own piece of furniture; your own piece of work,” Taylor said. In 2015, he opened Sam’s Rustic Shop, a place where one can bring in repairs and take a look at his evolving collection. It’s also a place where one can stop and sit a spell, and talk about the weather. 46 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
“You read now that meeting and being social with people is good for you,” Taylor said. So it was when Taylor met Jerry Creech, a woodworker in his own right, who came to see Taylor about a chair. Taylor offered to teach him the craft of cane weaving and Creech took him up on it. Now, Creech spends Mondays through Wednesdays at the shop on South Market Street; Taylor mans it Thursdays through Saturdays. That gives Taylor time to take his walks in the woods at the farm he and his sister own on U.S. Highway 17, north of Washington, and at the invitation of other
property owners. “All these people that I know tell me to go get what I need,” Taylor said. “They open their woods to me.” With the forestry service behind him, Taylor is no stranger to eastern North Carolina woods, but these days, his walks in the woods don’t include assessment, leading to advice to a landowner about whether to clear cut or thin a forest. Now he’s going to find raw pieces of wood to craft into walking sticks and legs for stools whose tops are made with repurposed wood. On certain days, he’ll sit and stay for a while. “It’s fun to go in the woods when
Another of Taylor's specialties are his wooden stars, crafted from sticks on which in many years past tobacco was once hung to dry.
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A dead giveaway as to whether a chair seat is handwoven or manufactured is the hand-tied knots beneath the chair seat.
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Taylor points out a difficult-to-repair tear in a handwoven cane seat.
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you’re not under that kind of pressure,” Taylor said. “I do have a chair out in the woods, mainly looking over a real large field that’s near Cherry Run Creek. I’ll go and sit there, looking at the wildlife.” After a good wind storm, he can often be found stalking trees that may have lost branches. “I know where all the sycamore trees are in Washington. After a big wind, I’ll go and look for branches that have blown down. I’ll try to grab those before the city gets there,” Taylor laughed. Teaching others to re-cane seats, make tobacco-stick stars or weave seagrass gives Taylor a sense of satisfaction in that he’s passing down a disappearing skill. Working in his shop introduces him to people he’s never met. But it also gives him the opportunity to be his own boss. “If I want to close at 4 o’clock, I can close. If I want to put something in the middle of the floor, I can,” Taylor laughed. He’s enjoying life, and work, meeting and teaching people an old art. In his eighth decade, he’s taking nature’s creations and modifying them into his own. Sam and his rustic shop have a good deal going. Jerry Creech, who mans the shop several days a week, describes his latest repair project.
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CAST A LINE
Warmer weather may bring red-hot fishing
S
pring is a wonderful time to be a fisherman. It's a season of transition, which yields great weather, great fun, and adventures, which make lasting memories on the beautiful waters of our Pamlico River. Fo r w a r m - w e a t h e r fishermen, wiping off dust and oiling their favorite reel, organizing tackle boxes, and getting boats dewinterized and ready for the upcoming warmer months is the routine. For anglers who fish throughout the calendar year, spring is a time to rethink strategies for targeting resident speckled trout and striped bass as water temperatures warm, and to focus on the transient speckled trout, flounder and puppy drum that are moving through our inlets into our estuary from the nearshore waters of the ocean and heading our way. Spring is also productive for panfish, with white perch, yellow perch, crappie and bream plentiful in the backs of some of our larger, fresher creek systems. On the Tar, spring is synonymous with the annual shad-spawning run. We have
STORY AND PHOTO BY CAPT. RICHARD ANDREWS two species of shad: hickory and American, or white shad. Hickory and American shad are anadromous fish, which means they live most of their life in salt water and spawn in fresh water. Each year, they make the long trek in from the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the fish that spawn in North Carolina spend much of the year in the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada. The area between Tarboro and Rocky Mount is the primary spawning ground for the Tar River shad. Other rivers, such as the Neuse and the Roanoke, experience similar shad spawning runs. While the Roanoke hosts a greater quantity of shad consisting of mostly hickories, the Tar is known for a better variety with its abundance of mature female white "roe" shad, a much sought-after catch by local shad fishermen. My personal favorite in early spring is the striped bass fishing on topwater lures. In the spring before the spawn in April and May, the stripers are full of roe and milt. Therefore, they are much larger than they would be during the late spring and summer. On the Pamlico, anglers
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Capt. Richard Andrew poses with a winter striper from he reeled in from the Tar River.
consistently encounter stripers in the 25- to 30-inch class, which may range in weight during the pre-spawn from 7 to 15 pounds. These are no small fish on light tackle. Witnessing a 30-inch, 15-pound striper attack bait on the water's surface is truly remarkable, and one of my favorite types of light-tackle fishing. We are ver y fortunate to have such bountiful and consistent striper fishery in our estuary. Anglers on the Pamlico can catch them yearround, and they give anglers a quality moving target at times when the speckled trout, puppy drum and flounder fishing is slower. I encourage each one of you to get out and explore
the resources on the Pamlico River. We have a wonderful resource that must be treated with respect and reverence. We all have a responsibility to be stewards to the river by protecting and preserving its natural integrity for future generations. Capt. Richard Andrews is a resident of Bath and the owner of Tar-Pam Guide Service, a year-round guide ser vice offering fishing excursions on the Pamlico, Pungo, Neuse and Roanoke rivers and specializing in light tackle fishing for speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder, striped bass and big game fishing for giant red drum and tarpon. Check out his daily fishing reports at www. tarpamguide.com.
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DINING GUIDE
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“I have some college credits... but no degree!” Were you off to a good start in college, but life’s events or family obligations got in the way? Did financial issues mean you had to drop out to go to work? Did you get yourself into academic trouble at the university?
Yes!
“Can I still get my degree?”
You Can.
Whatever the reason your life took a detour, BCCC can help you get back on track. Whether your goal is a four-year college degree or learning a new skill for a better job, we want to help. Our tuition and fees are significantly lower compared to other colleges and schools. Night classes and online classes let you keep working while you attend college. Financial assistance is available to over 80% of our students. There’s also assistance to help meet child care needs. And you may be able to earn college credits for your prior work in many occupations and for many veterans leaving military service. Yes, you can at BCCC! We’re here to help.
Call BCCC Admissions at 252-940-6233 and let us build a plan to help you.
Beaufort County Community College 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889 • 252-946-6194 Find us on Facebook 56 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
www.beaufortccc.edu
Follow us on Twitter
Rod Cantrell, CFP®, AAMS® Financial Advisor
258 West Main Street Washington, NC 27889 252-975-2663
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1296 John Small Avenue Washington, NC 27889 252-940-1803
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MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 57
WORD ON WINE
Wine trends for 2017
T
WRITTEN BY VIRGINIA FINNERTY
BY VIRGINIA FINNERRY
he wine industry is always growing and ever y year the consumption of wine increases. The world of wine is vibrant and the market is constantly changing; winemakers, distributors and retailers continually watching for the new changes and trends. New developments you can expect for 2017 are:
THE MILLENNIALS In 2016, millenials out-drank the Baby Boomers; it is estimated that about 28 percent of millennials drink wine on a daily basis. They live at a fast pace and are not likely to take the time to read a label. About 51 percent of millennial women say they prefer organic and sustainably bottled wines. That means you can expect the markets to target millennials and the wines they prefer; to see more interesting and eye-catching logos and labels; to find more organic wines and greater focus on sustainability.
WOMEN BUY MORE WINE Women made up 57 percent of wine sales in 2015, according to the Wine Market Council report. Naturally, wine sales marketing will lean toward the female demographics.
BIODYNAMICAL WINES Because so many millennial women prefer sustainable, organic wines, biodynamic and minimal-intervention wines are becoming more popular. “Natural” is the new term for
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this type of wine. There aren’t any special requirements for a wine to be “natural” other than the wine be made from organic or biodynamic grapes, and the process is simpler than certified organic wines.
DRINKING OUT VS. DRINKING IN With consumers becoming thriftier and DUI laws becoming stricter, on-premise wine sales are declining, while off-premise wine sales are increasing. People are choosing to drink wine by the bottle at home, rather than pay more money on a glass and risking a ticket while they’re out. Wine sales aren’t alone; beer sales are down as well. As a matter of fact, sales were down 1.6 percent in 2015, and continued to decline. So this is a trend you will probably continue to see in 2017.
BOURBON BARREL WINE Bourbon barrel wine was a trend of 2016 that we will definitely continue to see in 2017. You often hear about “aged wine” when someone determines if it’s a good bottle of wine. Most aged wine sits in a barrel at some point, even if some white wines can do without. Sustainability is a concept that’s trending, and “natural” wine isn’t the only way to stay sustainable in the world of wine. Barrels that once held bourbon or whiskey are being refurbished and used to age wine. The oak barrels are charred for aroma and flavor. The popularity of bourbon barrel wine is continuing to increase, and will definitely be a topic to talk about in 2017.
RECONSIDERING VATS Interest in cement and especially clay, as preferred essential fermentation vessels is growing as winemakers search for the most stable and least interfering container for fermentation. Stainless will continue to lose, as will oak.
WINE GOES TO POT When Gilian Handelman participated on a panel at the Grape Symposium on market disruption last year, she pointed to pot as the biggest industry disrupter. We should see the beginnings of her prediction this year. Marijuana will impact on a certain sector of wine consumption at the supermarket level.
CIDER AND OTHER FERMENTATIONS In 2017, wine boundaries will break down. With an increase of interest in the exciting — no matter where they come from — wines made from sources other than grapes like mead and autumn olive will start to appear on wine lists.
AFFORDABLE BUBBLIES Sparkling wine has not yet totally liberated itself of its reputation as a holiday drink. Sales still nearly triple in December. However, bubbly sales have been steadily increasing for the last 14 years. The availability of more affordable
bubblies is probably the reason they have gained in popularity over other wines. Sparkling wine is still a premium product in consumers’ minds, even when priced low. Lessexpensive Prosecco and Cava have become go-to sparkling wines for ladies’ nights or someone’s weekly glass of indulgence. They’re affordable luxury. As more consumers, especially millennial women, come to see Prosecco and Cava as a priceacceptable means to satisfy their wine cravings, while also offering a taste of upscale lifestyle, the entire sparkling market will continue to increase in sales beyond the holiday spike. Look for Prosecco, and sparkling Rosé in particular, to reap these benefits in 2017.
BURGUNDY’S SURVIVAL STORY Last year was one of the most devastating for Burgundy. In April 2016, the worst frost in 30 years hit Burgundy, decimating 30 percent or more of the budding grapes in the region. Winemakers did what they needed to do to carry on. Burgundy, France's most sublime high-rent district, went shopping for grapes elsewhere. You will see gamay from the Loire, syrah from the Rhône and Carignan from the southwest being made in the Côte d'Or.
RED BLENDS According to the Wine Market Council report, red blends grew
10.1 percent in sales in 2015. So it appears “blends” are losing their negative reputation. Many winemakers say there’s nowhere they’d rather be than at their blending table. And it shows in the quality of the red blends now on the market, which are well-balanced drinking experiences in ways that some single-varietal bottles cannot always match.
SOCIAL MEDIA Since so much of wine purchases are now based on what seems intriguing, different or culturally relevant, then it makes sense that social media will remain so relevant. Brands that have digitally positioned their products in ways to appeal to modern consumers enjoy a considerable advantage. Hashtag campaigns have also proven effective with wine, especially when promoting lifestyle appeal or the fun of impulse/ explorative purchases. The new Ste. Michelle Wine Estates brand Motto recently launched a social media campaign called #WhatsYourMotto. The hashtag “encourages people to share their mottos as it relates to wine and their lifestyle.” Look for wine brands that have figured it out on social media, as customers will come into stores and restaurants with those wines already on their minds. Virginia Finnerty is the owner of Pamlico House Bed & Breakfast and its in-house wine store.
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CALENDAR
OUT AND ABOUT
MARCH
All month BCTMA Jam Turnage Theatre Beaufort County Traditional Music Association’s open jam Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Musicians and fans are encouraged to attend and play. There is no admission fee. www.bctma.org.
March 9-12 East Coast Championship Hunters’ Pointe Sporting Clays East Coast Championship, 8 a.m. Register at www.scoringpro.com.
March 9, April 13 Senior Dance Washington Civic Center 7p.m. Singles and couples over 40 are welcome to come and dance the night away. Admission is $8. 50/50 drawing. Door prizes. No alcohol/no smoking/no children.
March 17-18 Fifth Annual Pamlico Writers’ Conference & Competition Turnage Theater Call 252-946-2504 for more information or visit artsofthepamlico.org.
March 24 Rotary Reverse Raffle Washington Civic Center 6 p.m. Annual fundraiser. Call Steven Wood at 252-717-3497 for tickets or more information.
March 31 Dinner & Concert for a Cause The Blind Center 7 p.m. Come and join us for a night of fun, laughter, delicious dinner and entertainment with RiverSong Trio at The Blind Center. Tickets are $15. Call 252-946-6208.
APRIL
All Month BCTMA Jam Turnage Theatre
March 11 Riverdance Turnage Theatre 7:30 p.m. Combo movie and dance performance. $10 tickets. Beverages and popcorn for sale. Call 252-946-2504 for more information or visit artsofthepamlico.org.
March 12 “A Night Out with Angels N Camo” Tar Heel Variety Theater Third-annual “A Night Out with Angels N Camo,” 5 p.m. Single ticket, $50; couples ticket, $80. Dinner, silent auction, live auction, band entertainment. Contact Lisa Adams at 252-402-6575. www. angelsncamo.org
Beaufort County Traditional Music Association’s open jam Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Musicians and fans are encouraged to attend and play. There is no admission fee. www.bctma.org.
River Roving Educational River Tours North Carolina Estuarium Learn about the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront. These boat tours cruise the Pamlico River on Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. No admission fee; advance reservations required. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride; a respon-
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sible adult must accompany children under 16. Call 252-948-0000 for reservations.
Every Saturday starting April 30 Farmers’ Market Washington waterfront 8 a.m. to noon. The Market begins in April and runs through October. Farmers’ Market is fun for the whole family. Our market features local growers of fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers, delicious, fresh baked goods, handmade pastas and roasted peanuts. You never know what might find; the products are always changing! Call 252-947-1487 for more information.
April 1 Special Olympics Beaufort/Hyde Rabbit Race 5K/10K & Fun Run Festival Park 8 a.m. Enjoy the scenic views of the Pamlico River, downtown Washington and Washington Park in this new 5K/10K and Fun Run event. Call 252-902-9712 or go to www. runtheeast.com/calendardetail. php?id=532 to register or for more information.
April 9 Tenoré Washington High School Performing Arts Center 3 p.m.. Tenoré unleashes a glorious sound that breaks down musical barriers, draws together diverse cultures and celebrates a repertoire of lyrical sweetness and dramatic strength. They are known for their powerhouse vocals, rock star charisma and invitations with audiences to sing along with them. A Beaufort County Concert Association event. Visit www.gobcca.org for tickets or more information.
April 12 “Ben Hur” Turnage Theatre 2 p.m. Classic movie. When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. Call 252-946-2504 for more information.
April 14-15 Glass Tulip Film Festival Turnage Theatre 7 p.m. Featuring amateur and student films from North Carolina. Eligible students must be attending a N.C. high school, college or university. Opening April 14 with the winning Best Overall film shown preceded by a meet and greet with some of the judges, film makers and cast. Best of each film category shown on Saturday. Tickets on sale March 1. Call 252-946-2504 for more information or go to filmfreeway.com/ festival/GlassTulipFilmFestival.
April 17 Easter Egg Hunt Susiegray McConnell Sports Complex City of Washington Easter Egg Hunt, 2 p.m.
April 22 2017 Greenville Marine Bass Trail Tournament Havens Gardens Visit greenvillemarine.com/2017greenville-marine-bass-trail for more information.
April 22 Historic Homes Tour Historic Bath 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission $20; group rate is $15 per person. Call 252-964-3441 or 252-923-9571 for more information.
April 27
April 29
Week of the Young Child Parade and Festival Downtown Washington
Washington Marine Market Downtown Washington
Parade line-up begins at 9:30 am at Festival Park. Festival will begin immediately after the parade with live music by Pamlico Joe and Clean Water Flo. Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket to enjoy all the dancing and music. Free children's booths with activities around movement, creative play, art and literacy. For more information call Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children at 252-9754647, ext. 7, follow us on Facebook or visit bhckids.org.
If it is nautical, you’ll find it here. Buy, sell and trade in this waterfront. Call 252-947-1487 for more information.
and regional musicians — bands, jams and much more. Rain or shine. The headliner band is “Bad Ridge Band” performing on the main stage from 7-9 p.m. Visite www.bctma. org, artsofthepamlico.org or call 252-946-2504 for more information.
April 29 9th Annual BOCO Traditional Music Festival Turnage Theatre 10 a.m.-10 p.m. All-day, free traditional music event featuring local
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Tour the best gardens. Join us for our
Garden Tour
for Scholarships Saturday, April 29 10 am-1 pm Self-guided tour tickets are $20 each, or let us drive you on our tour bus for $25 each.
A perfect Mother’s Day gift! Call 252-940-6218 for tickets or details.
AssureVest Insurance Group ryanwhitford@allstate.com
252-946-3904 700 W. 15th St. Washington, NC
252-792-8131 1121 Walmart Dr. Williamston, NC
Beaufort County Community College F O U N D A T I O N
GREENVILLE TOWN COMMON
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We Want to Be Your PharmacY!
The Areaʼs Largest Staff Of Local Registered Pharmacists & Certified Pharmacy Technicians. tayloeshospitalpharmacy.com
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MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 63
Y’ALL COME BACK
I
Why I love Washington
Making up for lost time WRITTEN BY KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER | PHOTO BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY
really regret not growing up in Washington, so much so that I find myself trying to make up for lost time. My roots are firmly planted in Beaufort County soil. According to family lore, my ancestors moved here from Massachusetts in the late 1700s, eventually settling in the area near what is now Goose Creek State Park. Through my Cutler lineage, I can even claim a tenuous link to the family of Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee. My pedigree, as a whole, is a hodgepodge of longtime Beaufort County families: Harding, Cox, Mayo, Barr, Smith, Cannon and the like. But, except for the first few years of my life spent in Pantego where my father secured his first teaching job, I grew up in Hyde County, first in Swan Quarter and later on Ocracoke Island. Those were good years, but trips to Beaufort County to visit my grandparents instilled in me a love for the area. So when I was presented with the opportunity to "move back home" in 2006, I jumped at the chance. And I have never looked back. During my time as lifestyles and features editor with the Washington Daily News, I relished the opportunity to share all the great things going on in the Washington area and the stories of the people who make them happen. My love for local history led me to write about Beaufort County's colorful past; that interest was most likely passed on to me by my father, who enjoys sharing family stories passed down through the generations. For example, a portion of the Cutler family migrated from the north side of the Pamlico River to the south side sometime in the early part of the 19th Century. As one version of the story goes, one of four Cutler brothers fell in love with a beautiful Blounts Creek girl by the name of Mary Kelly; since that brother
64 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
had a tendency to feud with the rest of his family, it was only natural that he made the move south where he begot and begot ... and, well, here I am. I'm old enough (barely) to remember downtown Washington as "the place" to shop. Excursions with my mother, aunts and grandmothers usually included stops at White's, McClellan's, Jowdy's, Suskin and Berry, Jimmy's News Stand, Harris Hardware, Tayloe Drug Store and Belk-Tyler (I still slip up and refer to the "new" Belk in that manner, dating myself). My father recalls getting his first bicycle from a shop on Market Street sometime in the 1940s and being allowed to ride it all the way home, a journey of some 15 miles. Today, one of my favorite pastimes is prowling a now revitalized downtown Washington and waterfront with my dear friend and sidekick, Kay Sharpe. Since she is just a wee bit older than I am (wink wink) and had the privilege of growing up in Washington, I especially enjoy picking her brain for information about the older buildings downtown. Incorrigible delinquent that she was as a child, she also has a hilarious story about herself, an ice cold Coca-Cola and hapless bystanders who made
the mistake of placing themselves in front of her during Washington's Christmas parade many years ago. But since she has forbidden me to ever speak of the incident publicly, my lips are sealed. We can't turn back the clock to our carefree childhood days but we can enjoy every moment of what Washington offers us today. I love attending the Christmas parade and the Washington homecoming parade each year. Window shopping and admiring the decorations during the holiday season are usually on my "to do" list, as are walks along the beautiful waterfront. Special events such as Smoke on the Water and the Washington Summer Festival are always fun. And don't even get me started on the Turnage Theater. I adore that place, and it has been a favorite of mine since I was a child, when I watched countless Disney movies there. I've even had the opportunity on several occasions to tour the old vaudeville theater upstairs, a jewel just waiting to be polished. The Turnage and Arts of the Pamlico offer so many activities, from exhibitions to movies to live stage shows, that there is something to do practically every weekend. There is no excuse for being bored in this town! I've recently discovered two fairly new additions to the downtown area, the Underground Railroad Museum in the caboose near the Civic Center and the Port of Washington Museum on Market Street near Harding Square. Anyone living in and around Washington should visit these museums, thereby supporting efforts to preserve our rich history. Yes, indeed, the Original Washington has nearly everything one needs to lead a happy and fulfilling life. Now, if only we had a Cracker Barrel ...
MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 65
ADVERTISER INDEX Acre Station Meat Farm, 55 Arendell Parrott Academy, 63 Arts of the Pamlico, 65 AssureVest Insurance Group, 62 Beaufort County Community College, 56 BCCC Foundation Spring Garden Tour, 62 BERTIE County Peanuts, 53 Big Bargain Furniture, 25 Bloom Women’s Apparel, 25 Bragaw & Co. Insurance, 50 Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, 17 Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty, 3 Cypress Landing, 51 Daughtridge Patio & Hearth, 62 Dellinger’s Pawn, 25 Dr. Lee Lewis DDS, PLLC/ Dr. Derek Steele, DDS, MS, 17 El Charrito, 54 Executive Personnel Group, 51 Farm Bureau Insurance, 51 Feyer Ford, inside back cover First South Bank, 5 Fitness Unlimited 20/30, 66 G.W. Walker & Sons, 25 Gail Kenefick/CB Coastal Rivers Realty, 57 Gerri McKinley/CB Coastal Rivers Realty, 66 Kimberly Lee - Attorney, 17 Lone Leaf Gallery, 5 Mauri Evans/State Farm Insurance, 57 Meeting Place Café & Catering, 54 New Bern Historical Society Homes Tour, 53 No Wake Zone Grill, 54 PotashCorp Aurora, 57 Rich Company, 61 Robinson Jewelers, 5 Rod and Jordan Cantrell/Edward Jones, 57 Ruth’s House Golf Tournament, 61 Schmitt’s Jewelers, 50
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66 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | MAR/APR 2017
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MAR/APR 2017 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 67
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