SOCIALLY SPEAKING , Karen Foley

The flowers in the Cupola House Garden are in bloom and it’s evident by the number of social activities happening, as spring arrives, so is Edenton. Both locals and visitors start off the month with packed weekends starting April 5, full of activities.  

The grand openings at the Brick include Coastal Threads, Kraken Coffee and Huckleberry’s Ice Cream. With the touches of Down East Preservation apparent three unique inviting environment where created.

Across the street, the former Carriage Restaurant reopens as ‘Carrozza’ offering Italian food. I had the opportunity to taste a few dishes and I was very impressed with Chef Gavin Hotler’s style and flavor profiles.We’ll all be excited to try his culinary creations.  

Saturday evening enjoy the Chowan Art Council’s huge gala event ‘Destination New Orleans’. The is the CAC’s largest and most important fundraiser. Move quickly, you may be able to still buy a ticket.   

Moving on to April 11 weekend the 2025 Pilgrimage Tour is rapidly filling up, with many historic homes being featured for the first time.  The Woman’s Club is expecting 1,000 guests for the tour. This amazing group of women fund many local non profits through the club’s grant program supporting many local non profits.  

It appears to me a month of Women’s invoIvment in town. Recently, two women have been appointed to important positions in town. Many of you probably know Megan Weiss from the Chowan Chamber. She has been promoted to Edenton’s Public Information Officer. I look forward to working with Megan.  I also had a great conversation with Patti Mordecai, formally at Chowan Art Council. She has found her dream job joining the Edenton Historical Commission as the Director of Marketing, Retail and Community Events.

These stories and many more profiles along with a view of Edenton’s spring fashions in this spring 2025 edition. For full coverage of these and other events, update frequently throughout the week, visit www.edentonsociallight.com.

None of us expected Mother Nature’s postcard from Minnesota last week, but noticeably once the clouds cleared and we ventured outside you may notice the days, thankfully, are getting a bit longer.  

February is the month of love. I especially love the fact it leads us closer to spring with the hope of sunnier weather ahead. Others love it for different reasons, but one thing we know, we all love Edenton. Many have expressed those thoughts in our cover story.

We all have our personal reasons why this charming southern town has captured our hearts. Read a dozen reasons from local Edentonians, while merchants offer ideas on how to find the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.

Along with longer days, Valentine’s Day boosts the spirits in the middle of the month and will lead to long walks along Edenton Bay if your pooch so chooses that route.  

Chowan Art Center is gearing up for their March Gala event and the merchant’s windows on Broad  St. celebrate ‘Love’. Martin Luther King’s birthday celebrations included the NAACP banquet with an uplifting, motivational speech by Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., in coordination with Black History month.   

Edenton’s black history shines throughout our community with markers and  plaques in our parks and on historic buildings. This issue provides a blinking glimpse into the lives of ten black community leaders including Josephine Napoleon Leary. Although born into slavery she became one of the wealthiest Edenton business women through her focused real estate investments. The J.M. Leary building on South Broad Street proudly boasts her name and is a highlight of the Edenton Historic Tour. The Badham family, one of the most prominent builders in Edenton’s history built the Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church on Gale Street. The historic building currently under renovation. We lightly touch on the progress of Kadesh.  

We also pay tribute to a handful of our historic black community leaders in this issue. My appreciation and thanks goes out to Stella Brothers and Sam Dixon for their guidance in telling these stories. Black history is American history deserving the respect of all who share in the foundations it previously built. Within our limited pages, we couldn’t fully highlight these iconic community leaders.  EdentonSocialLight.com will be featuring black community leaders along with other events and profile stories in our weekly updates online during the month.   

It’s February, regenerate, catch up with a good book, take time for yourself and your significant other, take a walk on a sunny day and get ready…Easter is just around the corner.

Socially Yours,  

Karen Foley

Edenton has been a bit sleepy this January. Coming off the high of the holiday activities, the cold and snowy weather created a hibernation effect for some and others took that overdue vacation to warm-up. As I perused my email messages this morning, I read the Chamber of Commerce upcoming calendar of events. Edenton bounces right back with a list of events and happenings by community and civic groups that will certainly get Edentonians out of their comfortable chairs.

The number of community and historical events available for locals and visitors to enjoy throughout the year is amazing for a town of Edenton’s size. Between the historical sites showcasing Edenton’s American history and the active non-profit organization creating events attracting sizeable crowds Edenton has become a destination ‘Where locals go to visit and visitors go to feel local’. Simply put, there are always great things to do in Edenton throughout the year. 

These activities continue to benefit the economy and the hotels, retailers, artisans, restaurants and food vendors participating in them. However, many of these amazing events would not be possible without strong volunteer support from the community.  Whether it's volunteering time or offering financial support, Edenton’s long list of volunteers help keep the town moving forward.  

When I first moved to Edenton, just over three years ago, I joined the Chowan Senior Center to make use of the gym. I was thrilled the facility and the services were complimentary to senior residents and after a few months, I volunteered to help in the office. I thought it would be a good way to give back and thank them for the wide range of benefits and services the center and staff offered. What I discovered is volunteering offered an opportunity to utilize my professional corporate experience and assist in areas where my talents were needed. Volunteering allows you to learn something new, share your skills and experiences, become part of something larger than yourself and meet new friends, all while supporting our community.  

Volunteers make things happen.  

Have you ever thought of becoming a volunteer historical interpreter or docent? Why not recreate those days on the ball field?  The Chowan Rec. Department is frequently looking for umpires, referees and judges for a variety of activities.

If you have ever wondered what volunteer positions are available in town, there's an upcoming meet up where questions about volunteering will be answered.

Main Street Edenton’s Event Coordinator Timmy Turner is hosting a special event to learn more about volunteering and the organization seeking volunteers. The gathering will focus on the needs of local organizations and will enable attendees to meet with representatives from local non-profits and learn about the many volunteer opportunities available in Edenton. 

The event is being held at the  American Legion, 1317 W. Queen Street,  Thursday, Feb. 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The evening offers residents an opportunity to mingle and share ideas and to learn about non-profit organizations looking for volunteers. If you happen to be an organization wanting to participate in the event, please contact events@mainstreetedenton.com.   

Volunteers help make a difference. I hope to see you there.

Karen Foley

It was a  just about now, three years ago, when we first laid eyes on the ‘Jimmy T’. My husband is a wooden boat enthusiast and the boat caught his eye. A call to Scottie Harrell prompted a price that was reasonable, but would have included the fee for a divorce lawyer as the last thing we needed was another wooden boat. 

We drove by regularly. It always brought a twinkle to his eye.  

Last week we drove by to look at the Jimmy T. We pulled to the covered boat slip section of Edenton Marina and John pointed and asked "Do you see the Jimmy T?"  There was nothing viewable in it’s regular slip. A closer look proved the Jimmy T hadn’t moved forward, but down. Yes, last week, the Jimmy T found the bottom of Edenton Marina. It was a sad day. However, on Monday's snow day Edenton yachtsman Michael Reardon assured John Harrell could raise her without a problem.

ODE TO THE JIMMY T

Oh my, Oh me, what a beautiful floating site to see, the old Jimmy T.  

A Chris Craft Body, with a nice sized stern,  a cockpit and cabin for the space, you’d yearn

A nice cruiser of Mahogany and Teak,

not that  fast, nice beam, not sleek

Oh my, oh me , what a perfect boat, the Jimmy T

She’d seen some voyages, from the shape she was in,

Might of caught a few big waves, maybe a whale’s fin.  

Her varnish was peeling, a bit of rot  here, more rot over there

she was up for sale, needed work, the price pretty fair.  

It was a work in progress, although little was made

the dream of ownership was beginning to fade.

And then all of sudden, like a slow leak turned fast,  

There was no Jimmy T, the Chris Craft succumbed at last.

Oh my, oh me, there’s not much more of the Jimmy T to see.

If you go by the marina, slow down a bit, the stainless steel cowl,  

breaks water where the Jimmy T now sits.  

Yes, it’s been cold in Edenton. The dampness of Albemarle Sound makes it especially bone chilling. Even the dogs don’t want to take a walk.  

Following a marvelous holiday season where the streets of Edenton were buzzing with shoppers, it’s now time to welcome the chilly few months of winter and Edenton’s hibernation season. What’s there to do is the question on everyone’s mind.  

Here are ten tips that may help you to get out of the house...

What a great time to catch up on a good book. Did you know that Kingstreet Marketplace has a gently used book store with historical books as well as many best sellers, just waiting to jump into your hands to share a story or two with you.

Get into the ‘Swing of Things’ by teeing up at the Taylor Theater. My husband and I just took a tour of the golf simulator and were very impressed. Plus the beer and wine at the clubhouse -  downstairs at the concession stand - can be enjoyed with a White Castle and a bag of popcorn.  Here’s your chance to learn to golf or improve your swing. You’ll be all set for that first good day of spring.

Play inside Pickleball. If you are a member of Chowan Senior Center, join in the fun. Both beginners and experienced players are welcome to play at the Walker Gym twice weekly. 

It may be cold outside but Edenton is blessed with many sunny winter days.  Don’t forget the Edenton Farmers Market is open every Saturday. Support those local vendors who are there to serve you whether warm or chilly. Many of the summer vendor's products are available inside the market shop.

Visit the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library. It offers so much more than just books. They have a great group of current magazines and a comfortable chair, just waiting for you. You can also access their historical files to thumb through some of Edenton’s interesting history.

Many of the merchants are in their back rooms cleanup and stocking new spring inventory. If you walk in and don’t see your favorite merchant, give a hello shout out.  

Too cold to walk outside?  Jump on a treadmill at one of the three gyms in Edenton.  You can read about them in our health section.  

Warm the car and drive to the Museum  of the Albamarle in Elizabeth City . Enjoy meandering through the art while getting t inspired.  Don’t feel like driving that far, visit Chowan Art Council and view art from the many talented local artists gracing the serene, enjoyable space. 

They say life's a chess game. It is on Tuedsays at the Chowan Senior Center's weekly chess game series. You don’t have to be a senior to play some worthy senior opponents. Stop in. Kris Bateman of Downtown Roots is a regular participant and many seniors claim his game is as good as his sandwiches. Give them a call for times @ 482-2242.

A note about the chilly...We found many things shocking when we left Manhattan for Minneapolis in 1988.  During our first winter, in 1989 we saw the temperatures dip to negative double digits. The following year, the winter was so warm residents were parading in bathing suits and the Winter Carnival Ice Festival was replaced with a sand castle competition.  

Although the sand castle temperatures hovered around 32 degrees, similar to what they are in Edenton currently, there are no outdoor sandcastle competitions currently scheduled for downtown Edenton.

Not to worry. Spring will be here soon . I am looking forward to seeing all of the town dogs walking their owners down Broad St. 

We'll have a very exciting dog announcement news as soon as the cold weather (paws's, had to do it) and becomes dog walkable again. 

Enjoy the week.

Karen Foley  

It looks like 2025 is going to be a great year for Edenton.  Downtown is looking more vibrant and healthier than it has in years. The retailers were bustling all holiday season with both locals and visitors choosing Edenton as their shopping destination.  The Cupola House interior has returned home from the Brooklyn Museum and the reinstallation of the original woodwork has begun.  The Albemarle Queen is getting its sea-legs with themed dinner cruises. Also, the four empty retail spaces on Broad Street are under renovation with exciting new retail experiences ahead. We can stop into the Farmers Market Saturdays all winter for local honey and baked goods which doesn’t happen in most towns our size. Downtown even has a cigar bar, for the so inclined. Edenton is also home to the Chowan Senior Center, one of only two ‘excellent’ ranked centers in all of Eastern North Carolina.

Edenton has managed to embrace its historic preservation efforts while staying on-trend with innovation. It’s amazing  you now can improve your golf game without leaving the city limits.  Drop the kids off at the Taylor Theatre to see a newly released movie and get in a round of golf on the second floor of the theatre at TaylorGolf. I can think of a number of situations where the gals go shopping and the guys spend time improving their game.  Edenton continues to evolve with unique services and experience for both our residents and visitors alike making it a top destination in eastern North Carolina. 

As we look at neighboring municipalities throughout the region, we must be proud of the targeted focus and integrity used in maintaining Edenton's prosperous downtown.

Preserving the past while embracing the future is always a tricky balance to obtain and even more difficult to maintain. 

Thanks to the efforts of community leaders Edenton's history melds perfectly with it's  progressiveness making the destination a coastal fascination.  What a wonderful time to live in the south's prettiest small town.

KF.

Kids, dogs, adults and Deere on Broad St. was a wonderful site. 

It was a weekend that will be remembered as thousands of locals and visitors gathered in Edenton on Saturday morning to watch the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. The weather, almost balmy, provided sunny skies and just the right amount of briskness to make warm hats, scarves and blankets appropriate.  

The overflow crowd at the Edenton Coffee Shop and the Broad St. Diner along with the hundreds of folks that took advantage of the Christmas Farmer Market filled the sidewalks  in preparation of marching bands, fabulous floats and a parade of tractors that would have made John Deere proud. For those less enthused about tractors, John Deere was born in Rutland Vermont in 1804, became a Blacksmith and developed the first steel scouring plow and founded the company in 1837. Many Edenton farmers are fond of the Deere brand  apparent from the parade of big wheeled Deere on Broad St. 

It wouldn’t be a parade without the judges, the curbside sitters, dogs,  horses and of course, fire trucks, and the tractor parade along with cameras to capture the warm, joyful expressions of the crowd. 

I had a terrific day photographing the parade of children and dogs and after the parade cleared, watching the shops overflow with customers. 

It was an amazing weekend of constant activity. 

While the Chamber of Commerce and the Edenton's Historical Commission sponsored the weekend events, the volunteers and town workers that diligently worked behind the scenes to make everything happen play a major roll in making milestone weekends. 

I would image the town crew, the police department, town officials and everyone involved in the events would appreciate a standing ovation for the great work they contribute throughout the year, and especially on the weekends of added activity. 

Whenever you see these dedicated individuals, offer them a Merry Christmas for helping to make ours, and so many visitor's holiday season Merry. Thank you all.

KF.

The holiday season took little time in getting here. Last week signified it is upon us.  

The annual 43 year Candlelight Tour this weekend will bring locals and visitors to Edenton to view a dozen or so historic homes decked out in Christmas cheer. 

As we begin our holiday shopping, let’s look to our downtown merchants who work tirelessly to fill their stores with items on your shopping list.  Shopping locally benefits the entire community. It builds relationships within town and helps support the local economy. Spending our dollars at shops and restaurants helps keep Edenton healthy. You may be surprised at the interesting items you will find.  The friendly service can’t be beat by big box retailers or online shopping. In most cases, you will be greeted by the local shop owner who has invested in Edenton with their heart, soul and money to make Edenton the special place we all call home. Reciprocating with your patronage is your gift to them.

I received an email last week from a reader who enjoyed her shopping experience downtown. I thought it would be terrific to share. 

"Found the paper at the Diner on Broad and LOVE it! Good writing, good content, good editing and enjoyable reading. A week ago  I decided to start the horrendous task of shopping for our large family(37)and starting my annual mantra, I hate the mall, I hate shopping. I took a walk downtown hoping I might find something to jumpstart my shopping list and I’m so excited to tell you this. I bought every single gift, from babies on up, on Broad Street in Edenton. In every store I had personal service; the clerks, totally familiar with their stock and inventory, are happy to have me in their store and care that I’m there. Some even offered to gift wrap my purchases. Most offered to carry my bags to the car, which happened to be parked in front of the store, or within the block. (Totally unnecessary, but what a lovely offering.) what a lovely shopping day that was, and did I mention, gifts weren’t made in China? Turns out, I really don’t hate shopping! I love our town. Shop local! Thanks for the nice publication. Merry Christmas."

Her kind words ring out to all the merchants making this holiday season so special.
Take a shopping break and catch a fish in front of the mural on King St. It will make a great holiday fish story. 

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year.  We have much to be thankful for in our special community.    

Karen Foley

Destination Downtown Edenton, now doing business as Main Street Edenton, is an award winning program dedicated to preserving and enhancing the charm, vitality, and economic health of historic downtown Edenton. We work to support existing businesses, recruit new investment, and foster a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors.

Our programs and initiatives focus on four pillars: Economic Vitality, Design, Organization, and Promotion. Through Economic Vitality, we support the growth of local businesses by offering resources such as data analytics and business development services, organizing networking opportunities, and advocating for the needs of our entrepreneurs. We also actively work to recruit new businesses and investments that complement our downtown’s unique character, creating job opportunities and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our team collaborates with property owners and local government to maintain the beauty and historic integrity of our downtown through Design initiatives. We actively advocate and review downtown policies and offer a Façade Grant program to ensure our historic downtown maintains it’s charm. Organization focuses on bringing together volunteers, community leaders, and partners to foster a unified vision for Edenton’s future. We work in lock step with the local Tourism Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Commission and Edenton Chowan Partnership to ensure we have aligned vision for Edenton’s future. Finally, through our Promotions work, we host events like Boogie on Broad and the Sounds of Summer Concert series, showcasing Edenton as a lively hub of activity and culture.

Main Street Edenton is proud to serve as a bridge between Edenton’s storied past and its bright future, where businesses thrive, visitors feel welcomed, and the community gathers. Join us in our mission to make downtown Edenton a place that’s vibrant, inclusive, and unmistakably unique.

Ches Chesson is the Executive Director Main Street Edenton.

When I came up with the idea to publish a small guide for the 250 celebration my original idea for a four page newsletter grew. There was more ‘good news’ than I expected.  

I can’t express how thankful I am to everyone who has stopped me on the street or in a store and offered kind words about the printed issue of The Edenton Social Light.  

As we can tell from the amount of cars downtown and the people enjoying the town’s retailers that Thanksgiving  will once again bring many Edenton families  together. It’s the beginning of the Holiday Season. Speaking from experience, the Christmas Season in Edenton ranks high among those in other charming renowned communities.  

Edenton’s Community calendar is full. Make sure to take a look and download ours, it has a list of events that will warm your heart and bring good cheer to your soul.  

If you on a tour of town over the weekend, stop by Surf, Wind and Fire and see if you can catch the large fish on the retailers wall. On Sunday, December 1, Surf, Wind and Fire is hosting another Downtown Sunday event. Stop by, listen to tunes, enjoy some food from the variety of trucks and catch a fish for two.  

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Karen Foley