Historical Home

 Nell Cropsey had moved with her family in 1898, from New York to a booming riverside town, Elizabeth City, NC.  She met the sheriff's son, Jim Wilcox.  They dated for 3 yrs; she thought it was time for a proposal.  She started flirting with other suitors to make Jim jealous; She was last seen alive, on Nov. 21st, 1901 on the family home's porch talking to him.
 *photos courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

 Jim Wilcox, son of the county sheriff; convicted of murder. He later was released, but committed suicide.  He told a reporter the whole story, the reporter also died in an accident and the story was never found.  Jim was 5 yrs older, then Nell.
There was also a psychic involved, that said, Jim was guilty.    There was no physical evidence that tied Jim to the murder. There was only talk and speculation.     

  Nell Cropsey, real name, Ella vanished from her home and was found 37 days later murdered near the Pasquotank  River, across from the family home.   She was nineteen and in love...  Nell's beau, Jim Wilcox was accused of the crime. He was the last one to see her alive. Every October, the Cropsey home, "Seven Pines", is part of the Ghost Walk in this city.  I have never been, perhaps this year...
 
 Here is the Cropsey home today;  Isn't it gorgeous

If you click, you will see the year of the home and the name, "Seven Pines"  Nell was suppose to leave November 23rd, to go back to New York and have Thanksgiving with her cousins.  

The night she disappeared a dent was in the screen door and it was off it's hinges.   The search began at
midnight.  Nell's sister, Ollie had a suitor, Roy stop by and Jim had wanted to speak to Nell. They went out on the porch.  Ollie knew they needed to settle things.   She didwonder what was taking so long.  She opened the door and noticed the screen was swinging off the hinges   Her father was still up and then there was a disturbance, they thought someone was stealing one of their pigs.   She told her father, Nell wasn't home and the search began...
Here you can view some of the interior of the home...I didn't see a For Sale sign...but I wouldn't put one out either.  This is the home of the biggest unsolved mystery in this area.   You can read about it in this book,
"The Mystery Of Beautiful Nell Cropsey"    Her real name was Ella Maud Cropsey; It is rumored that her and her mother's ghost have been sighted, on the porch.   I will let you know if I see anything....on this hot, June day...nothing appeared.  I, only feared  the owner chasing me away...

This is the view across from the home, now, this is the Pasquotank River.   Her body, was later found here...