HISTORY SAVED ONCE AGAIN

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”.

Former Edenton Police Chief Greg Bonner’s 35 year career on the Edenton Police Department, ten years of which he served as Chief, was marked with accolades. One of the most important is his standing as Edenton’s first African American police chief. He was also the first Black patrolman promoted within the department.  

Bonner should also be recognized as a man of letters of the most important kind, public praise.  

When researching Chief Bonner’s career, I reached out to Edenton Police Chief David LaFon. Chief LaFon did some research and found numerous letter’s praising the late Chief’s service, especially as an officer. Those letters came from locals and visitors alike bringing Bonner’s service to light. Bonner’s service to the Edenton community and its residents was stellar.  

Bonner never set his sights on a career in law enforcement until former Edenton Police Chief J.D. Parrish solicited his services to join the force.  

Bonner wanted to make a difference in his hometown, saw an opportunity and accepted the job, never expecting a career to lead to the chief’s chair. Bonner made history time and again as he   was the first Black officer promoted first to corporal in 1978, then to Sargent in 1979. In 1989 he was promoted to captain and was promoted to chief in 1998. Bonner retired from the department in 2008.

Bonner was influential in the building of the current police station and focused on the youth of the community. Through his kindness, awareness and eagerness to serve he left his mark.  Chief LaFon’s research led to 18 letters praising Bonner for his continued community involvement.  

Whether helping Principal Ralph Cole work with kids ‘playing hooky from school’ or driving a visiting couple to their hotel room. They had locked their keys in their car and cabs weren’t thought of at that hour of the night.  

One of the first letters on file came from a frequent letter writing fan, Principal Ralph Cole who praised Bonner regularly.  

Dear Patrolman Bonner, Cole wrote, It is with pleasure that I write this letter acknowledging your help in working with students who have found it necessary to play hooky from school. Your keenness and alertness to spot such important areas involving our students also keeps us on our toes. Cole went on to thank Bonner and Chief Parrish while reminding both law enforcement officer that “we are still trying to teach good citizens.”

Cole went on to write two more times on the record, both time praising Bonner.  

Chief Bonner was known for his advise to Black youth of the community. He’s been quoted as saying, “Have the right attitude. Have a goal and commitment to that goal. And have discipline. By using these you will have the ability to make a difference in other lives as well as your own”.

Chief Bonner grew up going to school hungry, with very worn out shoes. He understood that life can be difficult. Chief Bonner was known to say,  “You only fail when you stop trying.”

Chief Bonner’s legacy left a positive imprint on the Edenton community.

N.C Secretary of Department of Public  Safety Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr. captivated an audience of over 250 people last Saturday evening at the annual Chowan County NAACP meeting at the American Legion Hall.  

NAACP members and guests, including Edenton Mayor Hackney High, Edenton Police Chief David LaFon, Edenton Town Manager Corey Goodin and Chowan County Vice Chair Commissioner Larry McLaughlin gathered for an evening of commemoration and celebration two days ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

The evening’s theme, “All In” encourages people to stand unwaveringly committed to justice and equality, to lean into challenges that demand change and to embrace the hard work of community uplift, according to the evening’s program.  

“The theme reminds us that it takes all of us working together, bringing strengths, talents, and perspectives to drive meaningful progress in our neighborhoods, our cities and our country.”

A highlight of the evening, before Buffaloe took the podium, were the various presentations and a dance performance by Praise Dancer Mckaylah Wilson. Wilson a Fannie A. Parker Youth Club Member has won numerous awards across the country for her remarkable moves. Other Certificates of Recognition and Service to the Community went to Amahni Norman, Jayla Phelps, and Jadin Welch. Gary Outlaw once again played keyboard and directed Essence in their musical entertainment.  

A surprise presentation went to Chowan County NAACP President Darnell White. The award was presented by Stella Brothers for White’s undaunted dedication to the organization and the community.  
Buffaloe wasted little time in captivating the crowd. The secretary and former Interim Elizabeth City Manager is known for his powerful speeches filled with antidotes, passages and humor. Saturday evening he did not disappoint.

“I stopped by my parents house in Northampton County,  and I asked my 88 year old mama and my 94 year old daddy, what could I say to folks in Chowan County?  And my dad looked up at me as he was sitting in a chair and he said, boy,  just tell them we hooked you on drugs,” said Buffaloe.  “So what you mean?”, Buffaloe asked his daddy.

“He said, we drug you to church,  we drug you to Sunday school, we drug you to Bible study.  Just tell them we had you hooked on drugs.”

Buffaloe went on to explain.  

“I'm going to tag this text in Joshua, the sixth chapter in the third verse. And you can read it when you get home because tomorrow is Sunday.  But in that one verse it says, You shall march around the city, all of the men of war, and go around the city once, and do it for six days. March, men of war, do it once, and do it for six days. I just want to tag this text, peace, be still. I began to look back in history and how Dr. King would respond to critics and crisis that have happened over our country the last several years and several months. In my contemplation with Eddie Buffalo Senior, he told me to tell you, “Peace, be still.”   

While the secretary continued with his moving words of wisdom, the words of Eddie M. Buffaloe Sr., “Peace, be still”, moved the crowd. They may be words to take to heart.