The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1962-01-19

UNDERWAY OF OLD
SWANSBORO HOMES
Historical Group Given Old
Home To Restore: 208
Charter Members

SWANSBORO - Just year ago
the historic old town of Swansboro
was like many other old towns in
North Carolina: the old landmarks
were fast being destroyed, and no
effort was being made to save them.
Some of the citizens became so
concerned that they decided to see
what few interested, but dedicat-
ed, people could do.
AS result, the Swansboro His
torical Association was organized on
April %, 1861, and Incorporated the
following May 4th. After a drive
for charter members, the associa-
tion's roll now contains 208 names.
A campaign to raise funds for
restoration projects brought in
$1,000, Of which sum the North Caro-
lima Society for the reservation of
Antiquities awarded grant of 5000
at the annual Culture Week in Ra-
leigh, November 30th. The most for
tunate event occurred just recently
when the association was given one
of the towns oldest houses to re-
store, gift valued at several thous-
and dollars. In addition, the State
Department of Archives and His
tory has this week obtained an ad-
ditional grant of $1,000 from the
Richardson Foundation of New
York City to assist in the restoring
Of the old house.
The house, known locally as the
Harget or Jones House, was given
by Lee w. Jones, Kathleen Jones,
Bell, John Y. Bell, Robert M. Gray
and Elizabeth w. Carey as me-
mortal to the late J. M. Jones and
wife Minnie Ward Jones.
The association intends to restore
the house and grounds as funds be-
come available. It will be used both
as a meeting place for the associa-
tion and for housing a community
museum.
County records seem to indicate
that the house recently given the
Swansboro Historical Association,
Inc, was built between 1880 and
1900. It appears definite that the
house was built by either Peter
Ringware, owner of the property
from 1778 to 1884, or by Colonel
Reuben Grant, 17s4-1S1O.
The late ]. M. Jones acquired the
house early in the present century.
Before that, it had belonged to
Daniel A. Harget, who bought the
house in 1850 from the estate of
William P. Ferrand, Sr., deceased.
The historic Importance of the
house, which is built in the Louisi-
ana style, is its connection with two
previous owners who played import
ant roles in this history of Swans
boro.
Col. Reuben Grant was a native
of the White Oak River area, of
Scotch descent, and one of the
towns leading citizens in his day.
Before the Revolutionary War,
Grant had been colonel in the
Onslow Militia, was commissioned
officer in the war, was the high
sheriff of the county after the war,
and represented Onslow County in
the General Assembly for six terms.
Grant was also named as one of
the original commissioners of the
town when Swansboro was incorpor-
ated in 1888.
The other historical owner was
William Pugh Ferrand, Sr., who
was dwelling in the house when he
died there in 1s47. Ferrand was the
symbol of Swansboro at the peak
of its port and shipping activity. OF
French Huguenot descent, Ferrand
was well educated, cultured gem
tleman and the wealthiest merchant
in the towns history. He was the
leading exporter of naval stores in
the area and held the job of post
master longer than anyone else in
the history of Swansboro. Like
Grant, Fe1rand also represented
Onslow County in the General AS
sembly.
The Swansboro Histroical AS
sociation hopes that another year
will see the success of other at
tempts to collect and restore relics
and landmarks of the village and
community. Owners of old docu-
ments, wills, deeds, map, plats.
land grants, and letters pertaining
to the Swansboro- White Oak River
area, as well as old Bibles, other
old books, record books, accounts,
diaries, ETC., utensils, tools, photo
graphs, tintypes, guns, swords, ma
riners' instruments, relics of The
fishing class, whaling relics, naval
stores relics, and all othe IS
and artifacts relating to the Ons-
low -Carteret area are requested 20
contact the association. Many such
items are being sought for preser-
walton and for study to learn what
data can be obtained from them.
The association hopes that contri-
buttons of both money, time, and
museum items will result in the
realization Of a restoration move
ment of even greater significance
and widen scope of old Port Swanns-