The Curator of the Cupola house

Vonna O’Neill lights up Edenton

It’s only fitting Edenton has it’s own ‘Miracle on Broad Street and appropriately the recent development at Edenton’s Cupola House could make that dream a reality. 

When Vonna O’Neill became President of the Cupola House Association three years ago she had already achieved an extensive list of accomplishments while traveling the world as a global marketing director for a major telecommunications company. 

However, her legacy as a preservationist and President of the Cupola House Association may top the list. It was O’Neill’s creative expertise leading to Edenton’s most recent tradition prominently displayed in the gardens in front of the Cupola House.

“Eight years ago, I started the Community Christmas Tree Program for Edenton which at this point is a tradition.  Originally, we had ten trees donated and decorated by various groups in town and they were located by the waterfront,” noted O’Neill, adding, “Five years ago, we re-located them to the Cupola House Gardens, it was more protected from the elements and provided a more cohesive display.” 

While O’Neill’s creativity and the support from holiday volunteers light up Edenton during the holidays, it’s O’Neill’s preservationist’s perserverance that has recently brought increased prominence to the famous architectural gem overlooking the harbor. 

“As president of the Cupola House Association, Inc. for the past three years, I have had the great pleasure to work with an outstanding Board in making dramatic progress to further the preservation efforts of the Cupola House and Gardens. We are now at a major crossroads of changes that will affect the intrinsic historic value of the Cupola House story for a very long time,” advised O’Neill. “With the successful procurement of the original first floor woodwork back from the Brooklyn Museum after 106 years, that event alone has resulted in plethora tandem preservation projects to return the Cupola House to it's original state.” 

Plans are underway to build a two story kitchen where it was originally located when Francis Corbin built the house. There are additional plans to put the widow's walk around the Cupola back in place; remove the clapboards on the house and put the rusticated siding back in it's place. 

“As part of this whole process, we are actively seeking funds to support filming a historic documentary on the marvels of the Cupola House, the inhabitants, founders of the Association and the continued efforts to lead the preservation efforts in the center of downtown Edenton. We are calling this, "Miracle on Broad Street", said O’Neill.