Your Town Tuesday

Lisa of 1Wasabi Mommy is hosting a meme sharing views and interest of your town.   The town I am sharing
today, is not where I grew up.  I do have a few photos of my town, that I will share at another time.  My area is steeped in history, very rural. I live in North Carolina, when you drive down the road, there are a couple of farm stands selling their wares. There are fields of corn, soy beans, okra, wheat and cotton all around.   I was told, if you do not have allergies; you will!   (It is true...)

When I was young, I grew up in a small, coastal town in New England, we had to drive a good hour to go berry picking, now I live close to a patch!  I love it...
The season is officially over,  but there are still are berries to pick; They now operate on the honor
system.
I have only seen this in movies and other spots in rural America.   The highlight of my tiny town is coming.
I do live in a rural area, smaller than where I am from, but I'm 1 1/2 hrs from the Outer Banks, 1 hr from
Norfolk, VA, and 11/2 hrs from Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.    I can get to the city, but live in the country, for my family and me it is the best of both worlds.
When you drive into the tiny town, the draw bridge can delay you; It goes up when there is water traffic, boats coming through.   I live near the Dismal Swamp;our town has the canal bridge, the oldest man made one in our country.  Two hundred years ago, it was an important part of trading. George Washington and Patrick Henry decided this was necessary to build.  In May 1763, George Washington visited the swamp to see how the work was going. This Intracoastal water way connects the Chesapeake Bay in VA to the Elizabeth River and the Albemarle Sound in NC, via the Pasquotank River.  Today many boaters use this waterway. Lake Drummond is a major part of the swamp.  
 
 Visitors and canal navigators travel where famous explorers and presidents have stood and literary greats have been inspired for over 2000 years. For example, astride the two states’ border is the site where the infamous “Halfway House” hotel was built in the late 1820’s. The hotel was a popular spot for marriages, duels and those escaping the law. Since the hotel was on the state line, this last group simply walked to the other side of the hotel to avoid being captured in either state. It is also said that Edgar Allen Poe wrote “The Raven” during one of his stays at the hotel. And, as you follow the canal, you retrace the course of James Adams’ Floating Theatre, where Edna Ferber got the idea to write the novel ''Showboat,'' upon which the famous musical is based. (from the website)

The Dismal Swamp Canal is on the National Register of Historic Places as  Landmark, and is also  a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. In February 2004, the Dismal Swamp Canal was included in the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. It is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a navigational resource along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 
 Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge consists of 107,000 acres of forested wetlands, surrounding Lake Drummond, a 3,100 acre natural lake located in the heart of the swamp. William Drummond, the first Governor of North Carolina (1663-1667), discovered the oval lake. The depth of the lake is only about six feet, its unusually pure water is essential to the swamp's survival. The amber-colored water is preserved by tannic acids(tea has this kind of acid) from the bark of the juniper, gum and cypress trees, these acids prevent growth of bacteria. Before refrigeration, water from the Swamp was a highly prized, on sailing ships.When put in kegs, it  would stay fresh a long time. People spoke of the magical qualities of the Swamp's tea-colored water and how, if drank regularly, it prevented illness and promoted long life.

There is also a nature trail adjacent to the swamp; You can hike, bike, fish, jog, etc.  Beware of the bobcats,
snakes and bears...



There are sightings and reports of ghosts by visitors and locals recall strange lights at night.

Like all good legends and mysteries, the Lady of the Lake is rooted in reality. Eerie lights in the middle of the night are not uncommon and have been attributed to ghosts, pirates, madmen, or flying saucers. What causes these strange lights is Foxfire (a luminescence given off by the decaying of wood by certain fungi), burning methane escaping from decomposing vegetation, or smoldering peat. (via website)


                                       Our town is steeped in history, during the Civil War.


This updated home use to be a hospital, during the battle of South Mills.  It is called the William Riley
Abbot House, built in 1840, a large plantation type house.  Here it is known as the Nosay House, it is on
Nosay Rd.    The period being 1850-1874, it was used as a hospital. (click on this photo and tell me what you see in the door's reflection; I can't figure it out, there was nothing on the lawn, it is strange).

I cropped it and check it out:   It looks like a woman to me; I see a reflection of the trees across the street.








Thanks for visiting my town with me; It was fun...    Y'all come back now, you hear~(so wrong,  I know, and yes, I still have a New England accent, with a touch of southern, now)  Yeah, it is funny!

Comments

My, it sounds and looks a wonderful place to live. Loved the photo's .

Have a lovely day.

Yvonne.
Unknown said…
I have not done this yet for my own meme but I plan too- I hope to be able to visit you this year maybe in September... How far are you from willmington NC??
Foxfire never heard of it, but I think I am going to use it as the title of a new story I am writing... thanks you always inspire me.
Never been to the Dismal Swamp, but I know where it is!
Arlee Bird said…
Enjoyed the pictures and the story. I don't recall if I've been to that precise area where you are, but I've traveled extensively throughout North Carolina and always liked it. I used to work for a company based in Charlotte.

I guess I prefer Western NC since I like mountains more than coastal areas, but it's all pretty nice.

Good post.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Thanks for sharing! Yes, those 'suthern' towns do have their charm. Like you, I grew up in a small new england town (connecticut) but my parents moved to South Carolina about seven years ago so that's where I go now when I visit the states.
I enjoyed the tour. And I'm glad you haven't lost your New England accent!!

xxoo
Unknown said…
Great tour! Looking at the photos, it appears to be a reflection of some trees, maybe across the street? The trees are dark, and the sky is light.
Holly Lefevre said…
This is a part of the country that i cannot wait to explore! I love the history and traditions. That photo is creepy and very cool. Stopping by from Wasabi Mommy! Here is my link to the meme:
http://www.504main.com/2009/10/monarchs-crafts-coin-toss.html

Holly
504 Main
stacey said…
Beautiful post! That house reminds of the house from the movie 'The Notebook' !!! I want to live there- I'll deal with the ghosts ;)

I love that you pay for the berries by the honor system- that is awesome! I wish more places could be like that.
Julie@beingRUBY said…
HI Ellie
Well I love hearing about your town... and you are surrounded by so many fascinating places steeped with history.... The Lady of the Lake story is interesting... and I love a good ghost story.. as long as they aren't in my bedroom whilst I am sleeping.. haha... You know they have a similar luminescence in Thailand.. I think it is plankton.. or something similar...

Look forward to hearing about your own hometown soon... ciao ciao xxx Julie
Hart Johnson said…
What a cool, colorful place to live! I definitely saw two people in the door reflection--wasn't you? I adore ghost stories and it sounds like there is enough history there, that if there really ARE ghosts, that is a place they'd be!

I am cracking up though, at the name Dismal Swamp. *snort* Oh, somebody had a sense of humor...
unnamed lad said…
i wouldn't be bothered by bobcats. snakes and bears? my luck/curse...i'd be running from a bear and get bitten by a snake. copperhead or rattler. yeah...only in r...rural areas do you find the honor system. old fashioned folks taking people for granted at face value. you have a lot of history there! i enjoyed reading it, too! so howmany times have you run away from hurricanes? you must really get nailed there with'm. so....hubby gonna put out earthworms for birdies? :)
Ella said…
Bud-Remember you asked, lol, Gosh I lived in Florida for 4yrs, not all at once. We were there, l yr, Don had a school, then 3 yrs later on. When I left Pensacola, I said, I would never want to be pregnant there. Came back 10yrs later and had a baby girl; Shame on me, for saving never!
I'll never be published, I'll never be free of insulin shots, okay, a girl can dream...

We had a very active hurricane season in 1986, when we were lst there. Second time, just as bad, Hurricane Erin and Opal, were bad. I slept pregnant under my husband desk at NTTC Corry Station. We had a direct hit, it was a 5 but when made land fall, it was a catergory 3. It ruined so much of the beach front footage. We lived quite a ways from the beach. Gosh, how many....here(NC) it was
Hurricane Isabelle, that was really bad; We
evacuated with the Navy, kids and dog, left at
4am in the morning. Must be 13-15; I love FL, but couldn't stand all the long lines and hurricane evacuation. You should try to shop, when there is one in the area, circles of people in cart, wound around the perimeters of the store. Crazy~
The worst nat'l event, I have been through was Mt. Spurr started to errupt in Anchorage, Alaska. It was only an ash plume, but it was headed our way. Anchorage is bowl shaped, surrounded by mts. We were advised it would look like brown snow from a distance,closer looked like cig ashes. Everyone in base housing ran out, to put sheets over their vehicles...it would clog the air filters. We did and were stuck inside for 3 days, couldn't go outside, while this grayish, brown ash dropped on us. It wasn't safe to breath. Even months later it was bad, I got some in my eye and couldn't see. My vision did come back.
Hopefully photo op, today with the birdies. I
see they are feeding them, both male and female. You said, it well...same type of thing would happen to me.
The honor system is after the season ends for picking. They are usually open 2-3 wks, then go to honor system. One Farmer's stand is all the time honor system... Sometimes the owners come out and chat, really nice people, but you weight it and pay it! Unique~
There is a farm produce market within walking distance of my house that is on the honor system. Its heart lifting to see something like that isn't it?
Ella said…
Hart-Yeah, it is funny! I looked it up online and it says, the house on Nosay is haunted, when you paint the inside of the house, blood seeps down the walls. http://theshadowlands.net/places/northcarolina.htm I will have to check this out; One place says Battle of South Mills another Shiloh. Shiloh is a good 30min from me.

Julie-I,too, love a good ghost story, but not before bed! My music teacher in school, said, his house was haunted. He moved away and now his home is on the most haunted list in my home town. He had a piano and he would hear the ghost tickling the ivories. Nell Cropsey was murdered, where I frequently shop.
There is a book written about it:
http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Beautiful-Nell-Cropsey-Nonfiction/dp/0807844322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275495405&sr=8-1 Perhaps, I should go find her house, next... Her real name was Ella, maybe not~

Nell is the most famous ghost in Elizabeth City, perhaps, I will find her home and share that on my next Tuesday Town post!

Stacey-Wasn't that a gorgeous house in the movie; You are right, it does look like it!
I love the honor system, too. It is really rare!

Hi Holly-Thanks for coming by; I think I am going to find me the Nell Cropsey book. I haven't read it, just started looking around and found this out. A famous ghost, not far from my house. They have a Ghost Walk every October, guess I will go this year. Somehow I miss it, someone gets sick or something else going on.

Mary-There are trees on the other side of the street. It isn't me, I was quite far from the door. I took it on the edge of the road, zoomed in as best, as I could. I don't know, I still can see a side angle of a woman's profile and hat.

Colette-I have moments,I think when you get excited or upset the accent comes right back. I do talk fast, that is a New England trait.
Do you have an accent? I would imagine you do!

Creepy Query Girl-If you want to meet 1/2 way sometime, let me know! I would love to come to South Carolina. I haven't met anyone who didn't like Charleston! My husband is from Conn.

Lee-I love the coast and mountains, had the best of both worlds in my Home town. I have been to Charlotte, I'm a good 3+ hours away.
There is beauty everywhere...

Alex-Hi,I look forward to the "Dirty Dozen" movie picks. This is going to be hard, I can
3 right off, then I start to hem and haw!

Lisa-It would be fun; email me! You started a fun topic; I hope more join in!

Yvonne-It is rural, but I can get to the city. Yes, I hear crickets and frogs at night, took forever to get use to it.
Ella said…
Hi Karla,
Yes it is; reminds you of days yonder and how we as a society, functioned!
Ella said…
Okay, we didn't function that way, but they did
;-D and we see touches of it, in rural America!
Unknown said…
Supposedly the Nosay house is haunted, but who knows. No one stays in that house long.