ADACHI REVIEW

A beautiful summer evening at Historic Hicks Field provided the perfect backdrop for baseball and plenty of ballpark food as the Otter Banks Mullet Swingers defeated the Rocky Hock Gnats (Edenton Steamers) 9-2 on Wednesday night.

While the score favored the visitors, much of the attention centered on the volunteers who helped make the evening enjoyable for players and fans alike.

Edenton School Board Chair George Lewis explained the process behind the hot dog, hamburger, bratwurst brigade, making sure the grills were lit and the fryer was ready for a busy night.  

Working behind the concession stand, Ted Warren, Kendra Rice, Kim Asack, and Kyle Shoup spent the evening grilling hot dogs, preparing hamburgers, serving fries, and dishing up chicken tenders for a steady stream of hungry baseball fans. Judging from the smiles and conversations throughout the evening, the volunteer crew appeared to be having as much fun as the spectators.

Warren manned the grill as hot dogs sizzled over the heat, while Shoup and Rice perfectly prepared the very popular French Fries and chicken tenders.  Karen Foley and Kim Asack  were the wrappers for the night, keeping the food flowing to the servers working the concession window, ensuring fans spent more time enjoying the game and less time waiting in line.  

In the stands, families, friends, and longtime supporters enjoyed the action under clear skies and comfortable temperatures. Players from both teams soaked in the small-town baseball atmosphere that continues to make Hicks Field one of the most enjoyable venues in the Coastal Plain region.

Although the Steamers came up short on the scoreboard, the evening served as another reminder that summer baseball in Edenton is about more than wins and losses. It is about community members coming together, sharing a meal, supporting local baseball, and enjoying one of the town's favorite summer traditions.

Gray skies and an early morning shower did little to dampen the holiday spirit Saturday as the Edenton Farmers Market celebrated its annual Christmas in July event. By mid-morning, the rain had moved on, patches of blue sky emerged, and families filled the market for a festive day of shopping, food, music, and summertime Christmas cheer.

One of the biggest attractions was Inner Banks Santa, who traded snow for sunshine while posing for photographs with children, parents, and visitors beneath the market pavilion. Dressed in his signature red-and-white striped summer attire and Santa cap, he welcomed a steady stream of families eager to capture a uniquely coastal Christmas memory.

Young children dressed in bright yellow raincoats—still prepared for the morning showers—smiled for photos with Santa, while parents laughed and enjoyed the unexpected combination of rain gear and Christmas traditions. Others embraced the theme by wearing reindeer antlers, festive hats, and holiday glasses, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere throughout the market.

With the weather improving, shoppers lingered among more than 35 vendors offering locally grown produce, baked goods, handcrafted gifts, artwork, home décor, specialty foods, and early holiday treasures. The relaxed pace encouraged visitors to browse, visit with vendors, and catch up with friends as the market buzzed with conversation.

Edenton Hot Dog Co. kept visitors well fed throughout the morning, providing a popular stop between shopping and visits with Santa.

Although the day began with wet sidewalks and umbrellas, sunshine gradually returned, making for a comfortable summer morning and proving once again that a little rain could not wash away the community spirit that has become a hallmark of the Edenton Farmers Market.

For many families, the event was less about getting an early start on holiday shopping and more about creating memories together. Children delighted in meeting Santa months before Christmas, while adults enjoyed the playful reminder that the holidays are as much about community as they are about the calendar.

By the time the event concluded, Christmas in July had once again succeeded in bringing smiles, laughter, and a little holiday magic to downtown Edenton—demonstrating that even in the middle of summer, the spirit of the season is never too far away.

 The sweet taste of fresh figs, live music and cooking demonstrations brought about a few hundred visitors over the weekend to share in the seasonal bounty. Did you know the Spruill Conservation Farm is home to the only Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) fig orchard in the county? With more than 50 fruit-bearing fig trees representing over 20 varieties, the orchard took center stage during the Fourth Annual Fig Festival in Roper. The free two-day event, held August 1 and 2, drew visitors from both sides of the Albemarle Sound for a weekend celebrating agriculture, food and the outdoors.

Saturday’s activities began early, with guests enjoying a fig pancake breakfast from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by yoga at dawn, Taekwondo demonstrations, and optional swimming and paddling on the Albemarle Sound. The family-friendly day also featured the Fig Quest Scavenger Hunt Run/Walk, an interactive way for children and adults alike to learn about figs and the many varieties grown on the farm. It was a perfect summer day for families to enjoy the games while taking in the property’s natural beauty.

Sunday shifted the focus to food, with award-winning guest chefs Cheryl Orr and Audley Thompson, both of Edenton, presenting live fig-inspired cooking demonstrations. Visitors sampled a variety of creative fig dishes while also enjoying lunch options throughout the afternoon.

Chef Orr, well known in Edenton for her weekly tapas-style appetizers at the Edenton Bay Trading Company Annex, as well as her private cooking classes and wine-paired dinners, delighted festival-goers with another of her signature creations. With a loyal following and outstanding reviews, her appearance was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Chef Thompson, originally from Barbados, returned after cooking at the inaugural Fig Festival. This year he prepared two versions of a kale salad featuring organic figs freshly picked from the Spruill orchard, giving spectators another delicious way to experience the farm’s harvest.

Live music by Cabpot Creek kept the atmosphere lively throughout Sunday as guests browsed educational exhibits, visited local fig vendors, and enjoyed activities for children. One of the festival’s most popular attractions was the opportunity to pick fresh figs directly from the orchard. Visitors also took guided trail walks leading to the picturesque shoreline of the Albemarle Sound, adding to the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

The Spruill Conservation Farm is owned and managed by The Peanut Factory, a nonprofit artist residency and community arts program based in a restored 1932 peanut processing mill in Edenton. Special guest John R. Spruill, whose grandparents were sharecroppers who owned the land beginning in 1919, shared why preserving the property was so important to him. Rather than seeing it developed into waterfront homes, he wanted the land protected for future generations.

“I am thrilled that the Spruill Conservation Farm is now protected and can be enjoyed by all, just like today’s event,” said Spruill.

With the conservation deed now recorded, the property will remain permanently protected as a place where visitors can camp, hike, experience its natural beauty, and support research, education and sustainable agriculture for generations to come.

For more information about the Spruill Conservation Farm, visit: https://thepeanutfactory.org/spruill-conservation-farm/

Joe and Stephanie Wach opened the doors to the freshly restored Wozelka House Tuesday evening as invited guests had the rare opportunity to view the restored historic home along with the phenomenal works of edenton artist Paul Olsson.

The house holds special purpose in Olsson’s life as the dining room ceiling displays his original artwork.

However, while the home and Olsson’s work were the highlight of the evening, the preservationists that restored the home deserve a round of applause.

As the story goes, when Joe and Stephanie Wach came to Edenton on a visit, they had little thought of becoming one of the town’s major investors, both from a financial and volunteering standpoint, however, Edenton has a way about it, to coin a phrase.

What many people don’t know about the Wach’s is they are entrepreneurial gamblers, not in the Vegas sense of the word, but in the invest your money in town sense of the word.

The building housing Surf, Wind and Fire on Broad St. didn’t always appear as inviting as it is today. . It was in need of a fix up or two, maybe three or four, when the Wach’s decided to go to the real estate dice table, purchase the building and restore it. Granted, Edenton was on an upward trend, but the speed of its trajectory was uncertain at the time. On top of Surf, Wind and Fires’ restoration they created two VRBO’s and filled them. That added to th ecounty occupancy tax.  You might say the couple spearheaded downtown retail and VRBO renovation.

Their next project could be considered a “Put it all on number 7,” type move. Without any knowledge of one of the most risk oriented businesses in the world, they decided to purchase and restore the waterfront Conger Building and open a needed restaurant.

From that success, the couple opened Carrozza and now their commitment has taken another step in the historic preservation of town. 

The Wozelka house has been on the town’s preservation radar for decades. The fact it has come to fruition was a team effort.

“It was an honor for the Edenton Historic Commission to partner with Southern Bank and the Town of Edenton to chart a path for the Elizabeth Wozelka House. Southern Bank’s generous gift of the property allowed us to find an investor willing to restore the house and abide by restrictions to respect its historic integrity”, said Edenton Historical Commission Executive Director Robert Leath “Outeast LLC with Stephanie and Joe Wach checked all the boxes.  They have preserved the building with respect for its original woodwork and decorative painted ceiling, and now it becomes a positive contributor to Edenton’s downtown economy.”

Known throughout Edenton as "the bread folks," John Wozelka established a thriving commercial bakery that became both a successful business and the foundation of the family's future. 

The Wozelkas raised four children, each becoming part of the family's local history.

Among them was Elizabeth Wozelka, whose name would become permanently associated with one of Edenton's distinctive homes.

In 1927, Elizabeth contracted respected local builder Lord Byron Perry to construct her residence at 103 West Queen Street.

Perry, who worked extensively throughout Chowan, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties during the early twentieth century, proposed building the home for $5,500. Remarkably, his original construction proposal has survived through Elizabeth's descendants, providing historians with an invaluable glimpse into the home's creation.

The house itself is an architectural standout.

Designed as a Craftsman-style bungalow, it features the broad wraparound porch and Doric columns characteristic of the period while incorporating an unusual second-story central section that distinguishes it from more traditional bungalow designs.

The home's design proved so admired that it became something of a regional model. According to the records, neighboring Gates County resident W. Graham Byrum borrowed Elizabeth Wozelka's architectural plans as inspiration for constructing his own residence.

Yet perhaps the home's greatest legacy is not simply its design, but the foresight of the woman who built it.

Because Elizabeth carefully preserved the original architectural documents, generations of descendants were able to pass those records forward. Today, they have become part of North Carolina's historic preservation archives, allowing researchers to understand not only how the house was constructed, but also the remarkable family behind it.

The Wozelka story is ultimately one of perseverance, entrepreneurship and community. From immigrants seeking opportunity to successful business owners known affectionately as "the bread folks," the family's influence extended far beyond their bakery and into the streetscape and civic life of Edenton.

Nearly a century after Elizabeth commissioned her home, the house remains more than an impressive example of Craftsman architecture. It stands as a reminder that behind many of Edenton's historic homes are families whose determination, hard work and vision helped shape the community that residents and visitors continue to enjoy today.

The house is currently deemed commercial and office and retail spaces are available and the location couldn't be any closer to a bank.