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Widely known as "The Prettiest Little Town in the South," Edenton, North Carolina has a rich history to complement its picturesque atmosphere. Incorporated in 1722, Edenton is one of the South's oldest towns and once served as the first capital of colonial North Carolina. It is situated on the beautiful, open waters of the Albemarle Sound, the largest body of fresh water in the United States after the Great Lakes, and was a major port and trading center in the early 1800s.
This small but important town escaped major damage from the Civil War and many of the homes, stores, and churches still survive from the early 18th Century. The oldest courthouse in North Carolina stands here as the anchor of an exceptional historic district, which includes St. Paul's, the oldest incorporated Church in the state. Numerous public buildings and private homes in this quaint town appear on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to its historic buildings, Edenton's earliest residents played significant roles in the making of history in both North Carolina and the United States. Joseph Hewes (signer of the Declaration of Independence), Hugh Williamson (signer of the U.S. Constitution), and James Iredell (one of the original Supreme Court Justices appointed by George Washington) all called Edenton home. Today, some of these and other illustrious leaders' homes are often included on historic tours.
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Edenton exists today as a testament to this rich historical past but it has also evolved into an interesting and eventful place to live during the 21st Century.
It is the heart of this community that will capture your soul. Edenton embodies small town southern charm at its best. After all, friendly neighbors, and new friends are as important as the location you choose, whether you are relocating or searching for the perfect spot to get away.
One of Edenton's greatest assets is our newcomers. They come with vast and varied experiences, valuable time to devote, the willingness to participate and the desire to contribute.
Edenton's new residents are quickly woven into the life of the town, becoming vital threads in the rich and colorful tapestry of our community. Our entire county thrives on the energy and enthusiasm of new people discovering the joys and allure of our area.
We would welcome the opportunity to show you around. Come for a visit ... but be prepared to stay!
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| History |
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| The Town of Edenton |
The exact year of the settlement of what is now Edenton will probably never be known. In the mid 1500's, Amadas and Barlow, explorers from one of the initial Raleigh expeditions, entered the waters of the Chowan River. They reported finding an established colony of Indians, numbering 800 and known as the Chowanokes.
As far back as 1658, fearless adventurers from the Jamestown, Virginia area drifted down the eastern streams and wilderness, discovering a location on the bank of a natural harbor of exquisite beauty. The site would become Edenton.
"So here in this region was established the first permanent settlement in North Carolina, the "mothertown" of the State. Edenton at once became the focal point of civilization in the Province, the capital of the Colony and the home of the Royal Governors. Supposedly incorporated in 1715 as "The Towne on Queen Anne's Creek," and running through a subsequent diversity of titles such as "Ye Towne on Mattercommack Creek" and "The Port of Roanoke," in 1722 the spot was named Edenton in honor of Governor Charles Eden." |
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Text taken from statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us |
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| The Edenton Tea Party |
"North Carolinians vigorously protested unfair British taxation policies of the 1770s, and the Tea Act of 1770 aroused particular ire. Delegates from throughout the colony met in New Bern in August 1774 independent of the royal governor in the First Provincial Congress. This meeting, which "fully launched North Carolina into the revolutionary movement," passed a series of non-importation and exportation agreements that include refraining from wearing British cloth and drinking British tea. Despite the realization that these measures were ominous signs for Edenton's mercantile and shipping interests, the local citizenry supported the actions. Later that Fall, fifty-one ladies from five counties signed a resolution, dated October 25, 1774, and vowed
"... it is a duty which we owe, not only to our near and dear connections, but to ourselves..., to do everything as far as lies in our power to testify our sincere adherence" to the provincial agreements. The Edenton Tea Party has been backed the earliest known instance of political activity on the part of women in the American colonies." The resolution was never, as far as is known, published in a contemporary North Carolina newspaper, but was printed several weeks later in the Virginia Gazette in Williamsburg. The event is best known by a caricature printed in March 1775 by a London print-seller. The reputed leader was Penelope Barker, a prominent Edenton native and the wife of lawyer, merchant, and colonial agent Thomas Barker."
The teapot is a familiar and beloved icon of Edenton, and a memorial stands in the side yard of the Homestead on the town's Courthouse Green.
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Text taken from Edenton: An Architectural Portrait by Tom Butchko |
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| Historic Edenton Visitors Center |
Built in 1892 for Louis and Ella Ziegler, this home is one of Edenton's most elaborate Victorian residences. The Edenton Historical Commission acquired the property from the Zeigler heirs in 1981, and sold the it to the State of North Carolina the following year. The house provides a short audio-visual presentation on Edenton's history, and reception, gift shop and display areas. Guided walking and trolley tours originate here. The facility is open year round.
| April - October |
9 am - 5 pm |
Monday - Saturday |
1 - 4 pm on Sunday |
| November - March |
10 am - 4 pm |
Monday - Saturday |
1 - 4 pm on Sunday |
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| Admission |
Free to Visitor Center. |
| Walking tour admission |
$10/adult, $3.50/student, free for preschool children, $20 per family. |
| Trolley Tours |
Tuesday - Saturday: $10 per adult, Students $2. |
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| 1767 Chowan County Courthouse - National Historic Landmark |
"In November of 1712, the Colonial Assembly passed an act "to promote the building of a courthouse to hold the assembly in, at the fork of Queen Anne's Creek", essentially establishing the town to be the seat of the provincial government. By 1718, the first courthouse was completed, apparently unsatisfactorily, and a second building was constructed in 1724. The location of the 1724 building was on the north side of East King Street", the same location of the courthouse to be built in 1767.
"One of the most important surviving buildings of the colonial period in North Carolina, the Chowan County Courthouse has stood at the head of the Courthouse Green since 1767. Now a National Historic Landmark, the venerable brick structure has an illustrious past, being the scene of meetings among Edenton citizens who assumed leading roles in the struggle for independence. Just as importantly, it was the county's seat of government for over two hundred years and the town's major public meeting place. In this role the building was the scene of innumerable events and activities, some of regional and statewide importance but many more of purely local interest, that shaped Edenton through nearly three centuries of growth and development."
"In April of 1819, President James Monroe, our nation's fifth President, received a twenty-one gun salute when he arrived in Edenton and accepted an invitation to a dinner in his honor in the large Assembly Room upstairs in the courthouse."
"Although most official functions were moved in 1979 to a new structure on South Broad Street, the building remains the oldest courthouse in North Carolina still in active use."
In 1996, the County government realized that the cost of needed restoration was beyond the resources of the county government, ownership was transferred to the State of North Carolina. Closed in 1996 for major restoration, the state celebrated the re-opening of it's oldest government building in 2004. The courthouse is used for court sessions, tours, and programs, and the second floor Assembly room is available for both public and private use.
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Text taken from www.chowancountync.gov and
Edenton: An Architectural Portrait by Tom Butchko |
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| The Barker House |
"Moved to a waterfront location in 1952 and renovated for the Edenton Visitor Center, the Barker-Moore House, or just the Barker House as it is commonly known, is a landmark in the town's architectural landscape. It is best known as the home of Penelope Barker (1728-1796), the reputed leader of the famed Edenton Tea Party in 1774, and her husband, Thomas Barker (1713-1789), a successful lawyer, planter, and colonial agent. It was also, for over 120 years, the home of Augustus Moore (1803-1851) and his descendants, a family of attorneys and jurists during the nineteenth century.
Originally situated on five lots, the house was located at what is now 209 South Broad Street. The house has undergone several changes, perhaps in as many as three eras."
The house, and a bookshop within, are owned and maintained by the Edenton Historical Commission. The Commission has made the Barker House, often referred to as Edenton's Living Room, available for the enjoyment of residents and visitors 364 days a year.
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Text taken from Edenton: An Architectural Portrait by Tom Butchko |
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| Cupola House - National Historic Landmark |
The Cupola House was built in 1758 for Francis Corbin, land agent for the last of the English Lords Proprietors, Robert Carteret, Earl of Granville. It has been called the finest Jacobean house south of Connecticut, as well as "North Carolina's most significant early dwelling."
In 1777, Corbin's heirs sold the property to Dr. Samuel Dickinson. A Connecticut native, he married Elizabeth Penelope Eelbeck Ormond, Penelope Barker's niece, and one of the women who signed the Edenton Tea Party resolutions. The Dickinson family and their descendants occupied the house for 141 years.
In 1918, in financial straits, Miss Tillie Bond, the last of a long line of heirs, sold the elaborate Georgian woodwork from the Cupola House to a representative of The Brooklyn Museum. Edenton residents, alarmed that a piece of their history was being lost to them, hastily organized the Cupola House Association on March 10, and on the very next day, purchased the upstairs woodwork back from the dealers. The downstairs woodwork was installed in the Brooklyn Museum's American Rooms exhibit, where it remains on display today.
Tillie Bond sold the house to the Cupola House Association shortly after the woodwork's removal. The Cupola House Association was the first organization in the state established to save and preserve a specific building in North Carolina.
Following the purchase, the first floor of the house was used as a county library for 45 years. The upstairs, with original woodwork intact, served as a local museum and was gradually filled with objects associated with the house and its occupants.
In the 1960s, the library relocated to their new building next door, and the rehabilitation and restoration of the house began in earnest. With full cooperation of the Brooklyn Museum, the Association reproduced the lost woodwork. The restored interior was opened in August 1966. It has been furnished with period pieces, and is on the town tour of historic properties.
The Association acquired land to the north and south of the house, and installed flower and herb gardens in the 1970s, using eighteenth century planting materials. A group of dedicated volunteers maintain the exquisite gardens today.
In 1971 the Cupola House was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark. It is owned and operated by the Cupola House Association, and remains one of the Architectural treasures of Edenton and North Carolina.
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| James Iredell, Sr. House |
Construction began on this dwelling in 1773 for silversmith James Whedbee. James Iredell, Sr. purchased part of the property in 1778. Iredell's contributions to "Edenton, the state, and the country are well documented. The son of a merchant in Bristol, England, Iredell came to Edenton at age seventeen as a comptroller of customs at the Port of Roanoke. In Edenton he studied law under Samuel Johnston, the future governor and U.S. Senator, and in 1773 Iredell married his mentor's sister, Hannah. An articulate and well-read person, Iredell emerged as the most influential political essayist in Revolutionary North Carolina.
For a brief time in 1777-1778, he was a Justine in the state's Superior Court (Supreme Court) system. From 1779 until 1781 he served as Attorney General for North Carolina, and although he returned to private law practice in 1781, he maintained an active interest in political matters.
On February 10, 1790, President George Washington appointed Iredell as an Associate Justice to the first U.S. Supreme Court. He remained on the Court until his death in 1799 in Edenton." Both James and Hannah are buried at Hayes Plantation.
In 1949, the property was purchased by the Edenton Tea Party Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Three years later, title was transferred to the State, who undertook restoration of the home to be made available to the public.
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Text taken from Edenton: An Architectural Portrait by Tom Butchko |
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| War Cannons |
"The picturesque cast-iron Revolutionary War-era cannons mounted throughout Edenton were shipped in 1778 on board Captain John Borritz's vessel Sacre Coeur de Jesus. Commissioned by the provisional governments of Virginia and North Carolina, Captain Borritz loaded the cannons in Marseilles, France, and crossed the Atlantic dodging storms and the British Navy.
Arriving in Edenton the captain discovered that North Carolina could not pay for the cannons. Borritz had them dumped overboard in Edenton Bay, but the pieces were later recovered. In 1861, the NC militia mounted the cannons at the foot of the Courthouse green for the Town's defense against Union invaders. On February 12, 1862, Federal warships arrived at the Edenton waterfront and began off-loading occupation troops. Upon seeing the abandoned battery, Federal officers ordered the cannons spiked and remarked that there appeared to be "more danger behind them than in front of them."
During the late 19th century, some of the cannons were placed as memorials on the courthouse green. In 1928 three were mounted in their current location on East Water Street pointing toward Edenton Bay. In the 1960s, another was mounted at Broad Street's Monument Square."
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Text taken from Metro Magazine May 2004 |
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| St. Paul's Episcopal Church - National Historic Landmark |
St. Paul's is North Carolina's oldest incorporated church. "The parish was organized in 1701 as the first parish in the colony under the provisions of the Vestry Act of 1701. A post-in-ground church building was erected the next year on an undetermined plot of land just east of Queen Anne's Creek on what is now known as the Hayes farm; Edenton would not be founded for another eleven years. By 1736, perhaps when the post-in-ground chapel had outlived its usefulness, it was decided to build a new church in the bustling town of Edenton, which was also the colony's capital. Here, the church occupied the lots set aside for church and churchyard (cemetery) before 1722 and construction began on a brick building that followed a form popular in Virginia.
On October 15, 1736, the Williamsburg Virginia Gazette reported that "a large, handsome Brick Church, with Steeple, is shortly to be built" in Edenton, with "many of the Bricks being already burnt." By the summer of 1740 work had come to a halt for lack of funds. Aided in part by a tithe of two shillings per poll levied by the colonial Assembly, work resumed and by July 1746, the roof had been raised; however, it was left uncovered for another two years. The church was completed enough for the Vestry to meet in the building for the first time on April 10, 1760. Even then, the windows were unglazed until 1767 and the interior woodwork not finished until 1774.
"St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the second oldest church building in North Carolina and the oldest in regular use, is a landmark in the development of religious architecture in the state. Described by architectural historian Thomas T. Waterman as "an ideal in village churches," the handsome Flemish bond brick edifice is one of the most important colonial period buildings in Edenton; indeed, in 1856, David Hunter Strother, writing under the name "Porte Crayon," referred to the church as the "pet" of the town.
The exterior stands today much as it was first built, except for the spire, which was not added until 1809.
In 1947, examination of the building revealed termite damage, loose plaster, and roof deterioration. After detailed architectural studies and drawings, everything that could be removed from the interior, including the flooring, was taken out for storage. Archaeological investigation located all nine graves known to be under the church, and enough of the original floor tiles to provide for their reproduction. The farsighted removal and documentation of the woodwork was fortunate, for on June 1, 1949, the building burned - galleries, roof, and spire. Because the brick walls were not harmed (there apparently not being sufficient woodwork left inside to generate high enough temperatures), the building could be rebuilt" with many of the original interior components."
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Text taken from Edenton: An Architectural Portrait by Tom Butchko |
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| 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse |
May 23, 2007, will go down in history as being the day that the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse found its new home on the shore of Edenton Bay in Colonial Park. Under local leadership, and with the assistance of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, this exceptional feat was accomplished - placing it where it will be restored and become an attraction for visitors and residents.
This, one of the few screw-pile lights left in the world, and the only screw-pile lighthouse left in the US, had marked the entrance to the Roanoke River near Plymouth on the Albemarle Sound until abandoned in 1940. It was vacant for about 15 years and then bought by Mr. Elijah Tate along with two other lighthouses, but the other two were accidentally demolished in an attempt to be removed.
Mr. Emmett Wiggins, a World War II Navy Engineer Captain and Underwater Salvager, bought the lighthouse from Mr. Tate. He performed a supposed engineering feat by recovering the lighthouse and transporting it to Edenton placing it on land at the mouth of Filbert's Creek. Mr. Wiggins lived in the lighthouse until 1995 and it remained in his family after his death.
In May 2007, the structure officially became the property of the Edenton Historical Commission and was moved to its new home where it will become part of the Heritage Tourism efforts for many years to come.
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Text taken from visitedenton.com. |
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| Scenes |
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| Stroll along shady streets past handsome period homes and historic landmarks. One of Edenton's most distinctive features is a dense grid system that offers a wide variety of architectural styles in the same neighborhood. The Historic District is bordered by the waters of Edenton Bay, and envelopes a bustling downtown business district. |
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| Edenton's main street is Broad St., so named for the row of trees that once grew down it's center. Today, Broad St. remains the heart of Edenton. The street is lined with busy restaurants, boutiques, galleries, a movie theatre, and a variety of other retail and office spaces. Our historic downtown commercial district is alive and well. |
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| Edenton overlooks Edenton Bay. Much of the downtown waterfront is maintained as parks and green space, for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors. Our easily navigable waters are ideal for canoeing, sailing, fishing, skiing and swimming. The town provides short term dockage for transient boaters. |
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Edenton and Chowan County enjoy a prime business location and rich industrial diversity, which provide for its economic well being. Manufacturing ranges from peanut roasting to boatbuilding to steel manufacturing. Agriculture and associated businesses continue to be a large employer. Corn, peanuts, cotton, tobacco, and soybeans are among the many crops grown in this rich agricultural area. |
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| Lodging |
| CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS INN |
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| A Colonial Revival Home (c. 1907), now an elegant Bed and Breakfast Inn. The Captain's Quarters Inn was completely renovated and redecorated in 1994; they offer eight guest rooms, each with private, modern bath (one Jacuzzi), telephone and sitting area with cable TV. All of the rooms are tastefully decorated with nautical themes. The inn has central air conditioning. |
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| THE GRANVILLE QUEEN |
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| Enjoy being
"Queen for a Day" in this 1907 manor home, located in the heart of
Edenton's historic district. The guest rooms are appropriately
appointed with handsome antiques, and a divine breakfast is served
daily. |
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| THE LORDS PROPRIETORS' INN |
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| The Lords Proprietors' Inn comprises three restored homes on over an acre of grounds in the Historic District of Edenton. The Inn offers sixteen elegant guest rooms, and two luxury suites. The Whedbee House dining room is located in the center of the Inn's grounds, and provides the setting for truly fine dining. The cuisine is sophisticated, with a distinct taste of the region. |
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| TRESTLE HOUSE INN |
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| The Trestle House Inn is surrounded on three sides by water on a wildlife refuge. It is located near Edenton Bay Plantation and is the closest Inn to the Country Club. A freshly prepared gourmet breakfast is included. |
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| HAMPTON INN |
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| 115 Hampton Drive |
| Edenton, NC 27932 |
| (252) 482-3500 |
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| Events |
| HOME TOURS |
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| Homeowners open their doors for tours offering gracious, southern hospitality. |
| The annual Christmas Candelight Tour - hosted by the Edenton Historical Commission - features a different neighborhood of private residences decked out in Holiday finery. |
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Every other April, the Edenton Womans Club celebrates the Bi-Annual Pilgrimage,
opening public and private homes of
historic significance to thousands of visitors from around the country.
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| WATERFRONT SPORTS |
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| Edenton Bay is homeport of the Edenton Yacht Club. Throughout the year, residents delight in seeing sailors take to the Sound in Regattas. |
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| CHOWAN COUNTY FAIR |
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The American Legion is home to the area's only regional fair held every September. It's been delighting thrill seekers for over sixty years. |
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| FOURTH OF JULY |
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Our downtown waterfront literally explodes on July 4th, with the area’s largest fireworks display. The waterfront park hosts a festival, and boats fill the bay. People come from surrounding counties to witness the Optimist Club’s dazzling display over Edenton Bay. |
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| SMALL TOWN AMERICA PARADES |
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Broad Street plays host to two annual parades. The Peanut Festival Parade in early October and the Christmas Parade in early December feature regional bands, local clubs and civic organizations and a host of enthusiastic citizens. |
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| Directions |
| Finding Edenton |
| FROM THE WEST |
| Take Interstate 40 East to Raleigh. Take Wade Ave Exit on the right and travel 3 miles to 440 N (inner beltline). Turn right onto 440 North heading towards Wake Forest/Rocky Mount. Take Exit 13B exit onto US-64 East to Rocky Mount (about 45 miles). After crossing over I95 in Rocky Mount, follow US-64 to Exit 514 Williamston. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto US-17 North. After 1 mile, turn right at the traffic light, you will still be on US-17 North. Continue straight for 12 miles to Windsor. Follow the sign for US-17 and keep right as you enter Windsor, turn right at the light and go over the small bridge staying on 17. Follow US-17 to Edenton 15 miles. After crossing the Chowan River Bridge, take the first exit onto 17 business for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Granville St and left again on Water Street. 114 is on the left (north) side of the street. Drive time from Rocky Mount is about an hour and a half. |
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| FROM THE NORTH |
| Take Interstate 95 south towards Richmond. Merge onto I-295 S via exit number 84A -on the left- toward Rocky MT NC. Take exit 3A to US-460 East to Suffolk, VA. When you enter Suffolk, you will merge onto US-58 which will take you downtown. Keep going straight through downtown Suffolk and head south out of town, the road changes to hwy 32/13 South. Take a left just after the airport following 32 South to Edenton. Drive time from Richmond is about 2 hours. |
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| FROM THE SOUTH |
| Take Interstate 95 North to Exit 138 (Rocky Mount) and turn right onto US 64 East. Follow US 64 to Exit 514 Williamston. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto US-17 North. After 1 mile, turn right at the traffic light, you will still be on US-17 North. Continue straight for 12 miles to Windsor. Follow the sign for US-17 and keep right as you enter Windsor, turn right at the light and go over the small bridge staying on 17. Follow US-17 to Edenton 15 miles. After crossing the Chowan River Bridge, take the first exit onto 17 business for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Granville St and left again on Water Street. 114 is on the left (north) side of the street. Drive time from Rocky Mount is about an hour and a half. |
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| View maps and get precise directions from any location, by clicking on this link to Google. |
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| NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL AIRPORT |
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Small private planes and corporate jets share the landing strip at Edenton's Northeastern Regional Airport. UPS and FedEx fly in regularly. |
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| Recreation |
| ALBEMARLE SOUND & TOWN CREEKS |
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The easily navigable waters of the Albemarle Sound and adjacent creeks are a boater's dream. The Sound is ideal for sailing, sunset cruising, skiing, fishing, swimming, and all types of water activities. Two navigable creeks are ideal for canoeing and kayaking - Queen Anne's Creek and Pembroke Creek, a state designated canoe trail. Kayaks are available for rent at the Waterfront Park, and transient boaters may dock at the town's dock. |
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| EDENTON STEAMERS |
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Historic Hicks Field is home of the Coastal Plain League's Edenton Steamers during the summer months. College players reside with local host families during the season. The team draws large crowds seeking family entertainment. |
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| CHOWAN COUNTRY CLUB |
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Golfers enjoy postcard weather on the greens overlooking the Albemarle Sound at the Chowan Golf and Country Club. The semi-private club features an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, sound front pool, snack bar & grill, and a pro shop. |
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| GYM MEMBERSHIP |
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There are two privately owned membership gyms located in downtown Edenton. Both offer the services of personal trainers.
Chowan County residents may enjoy use of the Recreation Department's facility at the Northern Chowan Community Center.
Curves, a national chain of women's fitness centers, also has an Edenton location.
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| TENNIS |
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Many locals participate in an active Tennis League. The town has six lit courts located on Broad Street at John A. Holmes High School that are available for public use. |
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| OUTER BANKS |
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The nearby Outer Banks offers world renowned sport fishing. Only an hour and fifteen minutes drive, many Edenton residents make frequent trips to the seashore to take advantage of the ocean's amenities. |
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