The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
Of Eastern North Carolina, a
Place of Beauty and Rest
Where Will be
FOUND A PEOPLE WHO ARE
Noted for their Hospitality, and Whose Ances-
try were Among the First Settlers
Of the Old North State Lands
Equal in Fertility to
Those Of the
Nile"

Nile
Edenton, the historic and picturesque
county seat OF Chowan county. has been
the subject of hundreds of articles writ
ten by men and women from all parts
of the country, who spend their lives
searching through the archives of his
tory, visiting places of colonial interest
and writing columns on these most in
teresting subjects.
| have read great many of the arti-
Giles written in regard to Edenton, fair
city of which too much cannot be said
Yet there is room for more and
could the peaceful slumberers who sleep
under the cedarS of the Johnston plan
tation at Edenton look forth from their
silent graves, would their kindly hearts
regret or rejoice to see so fair and large
city creeping through the elms that
Overriding their fields? Their own habi-
tation, which contains the graves of
three United States senator's, two gov
ernors. judge of the Supreme court.
and an appointee of General Washing
ron, all members of one family, has come
under the sounds of whirring mills. and
their stately mansion. after sleeping for
years among the iessamines, and under
the shadows of the magnolias and mas
sve sycamores. now looks forth on busy
steamers, rushing locomotives, noisy saw
mills. and sites for cotton factories. The
low and rambling roofs that once but
sparsely showed themselves among the
tree tops are expanding into business
blocks and lumber mills, and instead of
the soft welcome of the dignifed plant
er the sharp shril cries of hotel porters
startle the ear. But in the new days,
as in the old. the claim of Edenton TO
heing beauty spot will remain uncon-
tested, and a bidding to her pleasant
shades is 4 sweet, alluring call which
it rarely enters into the heart of man
to resist Time only mell0ws the
green luxuriance of those fields of Eden
ton, whose feet rest in the mouths of
the Roanoke and Chowan, and a sail
on the brown tides of Edenton bay.
while the dew upon its banks is yet
sparkling with the sun glints upon the
water. drifting back as shadows deepen.
and the knocking birds notes of linger-
ing sweetness sings in the tender twl-
light. is a calm and restful summer idyl.
whose charm ever seems fresh and new
Although Edenton is reported to have
been founded in 1716, the earliest writ
ten mention of the place states that the
ST. PauFs church society was founded in
1701. Tt was named in honor of the
Royal Governor. At Edenton dwelt
the first inhabitants of North America.
and at Roanoke island. a little to the
southeast, first saw the light, Virginia
Dare. the first child of English parent
age horn upon the soil of the New
World. For many years Edenton was
the capital and chief seaport of North
Carolina. The court house was built in
1876 of brick brought from England.
and in its walls were heard the first
efforts of many who have been promi-
nent i'm our nations history. In those
DAYS. as now, game and fish were album
dant. the rivers near Edenton possess
ing always several of the largest fisher
les in the world Cattle, sheep and
swine throye and multiplied upon the
spontaneous fruits of the earth. If
there was little Of the parade and pon1p
of older communities, ease and abund-
ance were the rewards of but a slight
degree of frugality and industry.
In Edenton are buildings bearing the
impress of their ancient erector's hands,
and each preserving individual memories
OF the marked phases of Americas ear
ly life. A quaint looking structure tells
the story of the Eden palace, which was
framed in England and erected upon its
present site in 1853. Here, too, stands
another old structure, in which the ladies
of colonial Edenton gathered and re-
solved not to dring tea until the tax
imposed by Great Britain should be re-
pealed The venerable walls of st.
Paul's church, which were built of brick
imported from England many years be-
fore the war for independence, rear
above many noted men, whose graves
nestle close to each other with that air
of mutual protection which seems TO tell
of a long life together. The court house.
Of which / have already spoken, CON
tans the oldest Masonic lodge-room in
the state. and the chair occupied by
George Washington when grand master.
The Norfolk and Southern railroad
made it's terminal in Edenton in 1881.
and the building of this road created Il
new and increased prosperity for the
city. 1t brought in its wake several
large lumber mills and enhanced the
commerce of Edenton in many ways.
1t would be n happy thought If the
advantages of Edenton as location for
large cotton and lumber mills were
brought more wildly to the attention of
the manufacturers Of the North for
there is no place comparable with 1t for
extensive commercial operation.