The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-02
NAPLES OF AMERICA
Historic Memories of Beauti-
full Town of Edenton.
PROFITBALE FISHERIES
Five Hundred Thousand Shad Caught
This Season.
GOVERNMENT FISH HATCHERY O0ES G0OD
GOVERNMENT FISH HATCHERY DOES GOOD
About 10000, 900 Eggs Were Collected This
Season, Twice as Great as in Any
Previous Season.
(staff Correspondence

Edenton, N. c. May 31.-Around the
name of Edenton clusters many ro-
mantle memories, and much eventful
history. 1t was once the proud colonial
, capital of North Carolina and was even
| then noted for the refinement, culture
| and charming grace Of it's society. 1t
was the birth place and home of many
! distinguished patriots, both men and
/ women, whose learning and deeds
| would shine Respondent in any age or
| country The people in this section
| We're pre-eminently noted for their love
| of liberty and religious freedom, they
| chafed under British tyranny and OPP
preston and defied English authority
/ long before the Revolution-until some
| thirty-two years ago the house was
still standing in which fifty high souled
patriotic women met in October, 1774
and passed resolutions approving the
action of the Colonial Congress. They
further resolved they would neither
countenance nor conform ito that per-
nicious custom of drinking tea, and that
the aforesaid ladys would not promote
We wear of any manufacture from Eng
land" until that government abolished
from the colonists History records the
action of these patriot women as the
"Edenton Tea Party" This incident is
believed to have ante-dated the action
of the Boston Tea Party"
HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
The county court house at Edenton
was built of brick brought from Eng
land in 1876, and stands as solid and
sound now as the day it was built-a
monument to good and honest work
manship. Within the vaults of this
old building are well preserved records
that date back to- the early part of the
seventeenth century. Tradition relates
many interesting incidents connected
with this old court house. In the early
life of this settlement it is said there
was great ball given in the court
house, at which a young midshipman,
scion of England's royalty, participated.
The warship to which he was attached
was then cruising in American waters,
and he came ashore to attend the dance.
The whirl and excitement among the
colonial bells caused by this visit of
royalty can readily be imagined, and
was a fruitful theme for long time
afterwards The court room is on the
first floor. The second floor is used as
a Masonic lodge room. This is the old
est Masonic lodge in the State. In this
room there are many valuable and rare
relics, the most important of which is
q large mahogany chair which was used
by George Washington when he was
Grand Master of a Masonic lodge in
Fredericksburg, Va. This chair was
brought to Edenton about a century
ago, it is said, by the captain of a yes
sci and presented to the Edenton lodge
The chair is ingeniously and deliberately
carved, showing many of the symbols
Of Masonry on its arms, back and
legs. The bottom of the chair is made
of thick leather. The whole chair is
quite ornamental and in the best state
of preservation.
FIRST CHURCH BUILT ON NORTH
CAROLINA SOIL.
ST. Paurs Colonial Episcopal church
was the first church ever built in North
Carolina. The original edifice was erect
ed by the Society of st. Paul in 1902.
Owing to being so poorly constructed
the building lasted but a little while.
Another church building was com
menced in ITO, but was never COM
pleted In 1888, the present building
was commenced and finished seven
years later. The end of the eighteenth
century showed much dec&yed and
dilapidated church and a small mem
bership. but under the able admins
tration of the Rev. Daniel Earle, under
chose charge it came about this time,
the membership and church property
We're again built up and placed on
healthy basis. The Rev. Daniel Earle
was better known as PEARSON Earle.
He was not only a good minister but
a successful farmer and fisherman as
we'll His love for herring fishing was
SO great that he was called the her
ring catching parson." Some fun glowing
persons, thinking to tease him. shocked
him very much by lacking the follow
ing placard on the church door:
"A half-built church
And a broken-down steeple,
A herring catching parson
And a dam set of people"
ParSon Earle was a pronounced pa
triot in freedoms cause and the British
made many endeavors to catch him, but
failed. The vestry of ST. Paul were
so patriotic they framed a Declaration
of Independence for themselves fifteen
days in advance of the National De-
claration of Independence. Another
contribution to patriotism was during
the war between the States when the
original bell of st. Pauls was taken
down and melted into cannon with which
to defend the South The history of ST.
Pauls church is full of vicissitudes and