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HOMEBOY SPONSORED EVENT OFFERS PRIZED PRODUCTS
HOMEBOYS QUIETLY SHOW COMMUNITY SUPPORT
It was a free product giveaway for everyone in the community, however, many prized items went early on as the line formed before the doors at D.F. Walker Gym opened.
On Saturday, August 16, the Edenton HomeBoys “EHB” a 501c3 non-profit, presented the Edenton community with a free give away event. From 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. over 360 local people came to the Gym to browse through new household goods, clothing for all ages, electronics, and other prime accessories. They were encouraged to take home as many items that they needed at no cost. As a non-profit, the EHB organization works closely within the community over help, support and overall good gestures. Over 65 members of the EHB organization lent a hand organizing and categorizing the vast array of items.
It was like a Christmas shopping spree without any cash registers in August.
“We are fortunate to work with a number of other non-profits which provided us with an auditorium filled with important items needed by our community,” said EHB President Robert Rankins.
There were also some higher ticket items which were given away via a drawing at the end of the event. The EHB are known for their wonderful generosity and helping with many events throughout the year. The organization takes a proactive approach to making a positive difference within Edenton.
“We would like to thank First Missionary Baptist Church, from Wilson Mill, NC; especially Dr. Larry Honeyblue, Pastor,” said Rankins. “Many thanks to the non-profit Dr. Larry Honeybue and Bobby Tolson Foundation.”
SPEAKING OF FREE GIVE -AWAYS...
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NOTHING'S BEYOND REPAIR IN ANGELA'S DREAM
It’s interesting to speak with new residents in Edenton and ask that special question, “How did you find Edenton”. Everyone has an interesting story on their search, journey and eventually planting of new roots in town.
One day a few years back Angela Sikes found the video, ‘Tales of an Educated Debutante’ by Adrian Wood on You Tube. Sikes, an interior designer was living in Wake Forest, in a big house. An empty nester she had a dream to redo one more house. The video, Wood’s Golf Cart Tour Around Town, triggered Sikes' interest. The next day she headed for what would soon become her new home. Her first stop was the Edenton Coffee Shop.
During coffee she met realtor David McCall and she was treated to one of McCall’s knowledgeable tour of Edenton houses, some available, some historically not.
Eventually, after making the decision to move Sikesfound a house not on the market but was supposedly vacant for the past seventeen years. After a lot of digging, she was able to obtain the home in October,2022 when Covid restrictions where just ending.
Sikes was looking for a project and one might say she found one. However, some might have looked and had other thoughts about the house at 102 West Carteret St.
While it was a golf cart video propelling Sikes to town, the historic metal hinges on the original wooden doors and the potential of the once beautiful staircase bannister that secured her steps to Edenton.
She purchased the old home that many would have torn down but Sikes could see the strong bones of the house and the historic metal hinges on the heavy doors and the once beautiful staircase bannister, called to her. She moved to Edenton in November, 2023 and rented a home while working on the house. She wore full gear, including a mask, overalls and goggles during the renovation.
“I had to hire people to clean it out because squatters had been living in it. There was so much junk and old stuff piled in the house. I fell in love with the exterior, the bannister and old big door hinges and two detailed mantels”, said Sikes. “The ceilings were dropped and the doorways were small to keep the heat the rooms. We took the ceilings back to their original tall height and open up an archway into the living area.”.
Seventeen years empty, the plastered walls were crumbling, all had to be redone. The home now has new insulation, new electric, plumbing and HVAC. In the 1980’s an addition was put on the back of the house for an in-law space. As you walk into the addition, the doors were newer and hollow. Sikes had a great grandmother, Mama-Dillie and her home was being torn down. She was allowed to take whatever she wanted from the house and see selected the old solid doors from Mama-Dillie’s house and used them in her new home.
“There are very talented people in Edenton”, said Sikes. “From the foundation, to the HVAC, to every wall, ceiling, including the electric and plumbing had to be replaced, it was a major project. It was a labor of love”.
The top to bottom revitalized home, will be on the Pilgrimage tour April 11 and 12. Sikes’ has a background in interior design and has had clients since 1997. She also had three stores in Raleigh and Charlotte area for six years and has built her career and clientele by word of mouth. She now has clients in bothRaleigh and Edenton.
“I loved my stores and business but when you have 26 employees, you end up running the business with payroll and operational activities and I missed the one on one with clients”, Sikes continued. “I am now a one women show and have clients here but go to Raleighonce a week to visit my ongoing clients.”
Determining the homes date of origintook an extensive amount of research, proving the homewas originally surrounded byfarm land.
However, by analyzing the high ceilings and wood details it was determined the home boasted features of a “town house’with an elegant feel.
The home hasthree bedrooms andtwo bathrooms and Sikes has added a powder room on the first floor, nicely tucked under the stairs. The interior is simply charming. The curved bannister has been restored along with the long list of other features in the home. Many of the walls and ceiling are new.
The home is reminiscent of a past era as many of the pieces in the home are antiques from Grandma Cora Lee Sikes’ favorite things. Photosof the house portraying it in its recent, previous state just before it was purchased reminds Sikes how far she has come with the restoration and realizes there is more to come.
Remember the dream of ‘one more restoration’ Sikes had before she purchased her current home? Well, she had a second dream and it included thoughts of the neighboring house that was also in disarray. Plus, as an investor in town, she felt her property value would be protected by purchasing and restoring the home next door. Sikes plans on selling the neighboring house once completely restored.
Visitors on the Pilgrimage will enjoy seeing her large eat-in kitchen with its antique reproduction pull down light fixtures and tall kitchen cabinets. The entry is simple elegance. The living area has a comfortable feel with Sikes’ personal memorabilia from family members, each with a story to tell. In researching her ancestry, Sikes found that she had family from the 1700’s that lived in Edenton and Bertie Counties. As Sikes puts it, “It must have been faith that I ended up with my beautiful home in Edenton”.
Speaker Series an Edenton Hallmark
Markoya leaves his mark on the attentive crowd
Matt Markoya was tasked one day with polishing the family silver for an upcoming event. He was seven years old at the time when the spoons, knives and forks became the catalyst for a journey that dates back to the seventeen hundreds. A few strokes of a soft cloth revealed a hallmark. Matt pursued his hallmark interest after his father suggested a trip to the library to research the imprints. It were those first hallmarks igniting the curiosity leading him to his current passion of porcelain and pewter. During the most recent Cupola House Speaker Series held at the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library, Matt offered an overview of porcelain making from its earliest 'soft clay' production in the 1700''s to 'hard clay' production. He also explained the various types of porcelain, its origin and the history behind many of its manufacturers over the years.
A CONSITUTIONAL CONVERSATION
The Edenton Tea Party Chapter NSDAR is holding a Constitution Day celebration on the Historic Chowan County Courthouse steps. The event is sponsored by the Edenton Tea Party Chapter, DAR and the State Historic Sites Edenton.
The program includes a presentation of American 250 Award to Mayor Hackney High and a special Constitutional Conversation between Willie Jones (Alex Kehayes) and James Iredell, ( Larry McLaughlin. Russ Corker is the ‘Town Crier”
Following the conversation, Rev. Jonathan Tobias will offer the keynote address, ‘How a Garden saved the Constitution.”
Constitution Day is especially important for Edenton for numerous reasons. One is the Hugh Williamston Memorial that was dedicated on Constitution Day, 2017. However, the idea came to mind long before.
It was 26 years ago Virginia Wood, anEdenton Tea Party member had a dream and decided to honor Hugh Williamson, an Edenton resident and constitution signer. After the first successful July 4th celebration honoring Joseph Hewes and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Virginia and Beth Taylor collaborated and began brainstorming about the monument, its location, type of monument and how to procure the funding.
On January 16, 2002 the Chowan County Commissioners appointed a commission and Judge Terry Boyle would serve as chairman. In 2003 the drawing was approved—an elliptical wall bordering the present Hewes monument. In August 2005 funding was received from the N.C. General Assembly.
However, the project lost momentum, the funding was returned to the GA in 2009. In 2012. the monument project gained new life and Mayor Roland Vaughan and Bob Hopkins, Site Director for the State Historic Sites Edenton came up with the idea that the monument would be placed in the Elizabeth Vann Moore Park.
The town would have ownership of the monument. Frank Parker drew a design, got a cost figure and a site plan was drawn. The application was hand delivered to Rep. Bob Steinburg on March 14, 2016. On July 4th 2016, it was announced that funding had been approved by the North Carolina General Assembly.
The monument was installed April 2017 and on Constitution Day 2017 the monument was dedicated. It was 26 years ago that Virginia Wood, member of the Edenton Tea Party, had a dream...a dream to honor Hugh Williamson, signer of the Constitution and Edenton resident. After the first successful July 4th celebration honoring Joseph Hewes and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Virginia and Beth Taylor collaborated and began brainstorming about the monument, its location, type of monument and how to procure the funding. Both ladies presented the idea to the Edenton Tea Party Chapter and it was approved that Virginia Wood andBeth Taylor would attend the Chowan County Commissioners meeting, present the project and ask that a Hugh Williamson Monument be erected. On January 16,2002 the Chowan County Commissioners appointed a commission and Judge Terry Boyle would serve as chairman. In 2003 the drawing was approved—an elliptical wall bordering the present Hewes monument. In August 2005 funding was received from the N.C. General Assembly. "The project got bogged down and because of the recession we lost our funding back to the NC General Assembly in June 2009." said DAR Honorary Chapter Regent Beth Taylor.
" In 2015 the project got back on track. Mayor Roland Vaughan and Bob Hopkins, Site Director for the State Historic Sites Edenton came up with the idea that the monument would be placed in the Elizabeth Vann Moore Park. A Brilliant Idea. The town would have ownership of the monument."
Frank Parker drew a design, got a cost figure and a site plan was drawn. The application was hand delivered to Rep. Bob Steinburg on March 14, 2016. On July 4th 2016, it was announced that funding had been approved by the North Carolina General Assembly at the annual reading of the green where the Honorable Judge Terrance Boyle was in attendance. The town received the news with enthusiasm and a sense of accomplishment! The monument was installed April 2017 and on Constitution Day 2017 the monument was dedicated, according to Taylor.
“It took 70 years to accomplish this feat and 18 years for Virginia Wood’s vision to become a reality. Two words best describe this project patience and perseverance. Hugh Williamson will be at each ceremony in spirit, as will Virginia Wood, whose vision made the monument a reality,” said DAR Honorary Chapter Regent Beth Taylor.
The Constitution Day Celebration begins on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 11:30 a.m. on the Historic Chowan County Courthouse Steps.