General Horatio Gates - Famous Painting

The new Chowan River Patriot welcomes Gates County bloggers to the combined blog.

Gates County's Namesake, General Horatio Gates, is pictured here at Saratoga, accepting the surrender of the British forces under General Burgoyne. The painting is believed to be done by Turnbull. One copy is owned by the Gates County Historical Society and can be viewed at the Godwin Courtroom in the "Old Courthose" in Gatesville.

General Horatio Gates is arguably the greatest patriot from the revolutionary war from the Chowan River region.

We have selected this painting as the icon for our Chowan River Patriot blog!

Battle of Albemarle Sound

Edenton, NC – The Battle of Albemarle Sound is becoming a part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails Campaign. The kick-off for the statewide program will take place on Monday, March 14th in Bentonville. Phase One, the Carolinas Campaign, will focus on Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign and those sites east of Salisbury. Edenton and Chowan County are pleased to be joining the Trail with two sites.

Battle of Albermarle Sound

The Battle of Albemarle Sound sign is located on the Edenton Harbor Waterfront. The sign shares with Civil War enthusiasts a description of the three hour battle involving the ram Albemarle, some of the Albemarle Sailors that were in the Union Navy, and the many men from Edenton and Chowan County that answered the call to duty in serving the Confederacy. Of particular note was Captain Badham’s Edenton Bell Battery, Company B, Third Battalion, N.C. Light Artillery.

The War on the Chowan River sign is located at Cannons Ferry at the J. Robert Hendrix Heritage Park and Cannons Ferry Riverwalk area. It gives an overview of the U.S. Navy vessels that patrolled the Chowan River from its mouth in North Carolina to Franklin, Virginia. This part of the river became the boundary between Federal-occupied counties to the east and Confederate-held counties to the west. It also highlights the Union gunboats Shawsheen, Lockwood, and Underwriter and how they successfully defended the river side of the fort at different times.

Partners for this statewide project include the NC Department of Transportation, NC Department of Cultural Resources along with the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

While learning more about the Civil War and what it meant to North Carolina, stop in to the South’s Prettiest Small Town to see the role that took place here and then continue on to our neighbors within the rest of Northeastern North Carolina to see how vital a role we all played in the overall war.

For more information contact Nancy Nicholls at (800) 775-0111.

Colerain's Seagull Cafe Opens

The famous Colerain "Seagull Cafe" opened with the usual enthusiastic crowd. The first customers through the door as the Seagull opened at 11:00 were smiling.

First Customers This Year!

The Seagull will be open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM for lunchtime. The view from the Seagull shows the Chowan River at its best. The small Cafe is located by the river near the end of River Road, close to the Colerain Beach Club.


View is spectacular!


The Cafe will remain open through April as it does annually. The food is unique and I highly recommend it. The menu includes herring specially prepared as they only do it here. This town had the first herring fishery in the new world, before the United States even existed. It also includes white perch prepared incredibly, and the most delicious shrimp you will ever taste. The cooks are simply the best.

The Seagull Staff

The crowd, as usual filled with regulars, was large and enthusiastic, and this year included people from Virginia who came down especially for the opening.

The Happy Crowd.

Irish Souper Bowl - Real Irish Fiddling

Great night - Great food - Great Art - Great Music!

The Bertie County Arts Council is having its annual Irish Souper Bowl on March 12 at 6:00 PM. The event will feature the Hunt Family Fiddlers. It also features an authentic Irish Dinner of corned beef and cabbage, potato soup, homemade bread and dessert. This is a great way to get in the mood for Saint Patrick's Day.

Each participant will receive a handpainted ceramic bowl created by Bertie County Arts Council members! The bowls are on display at the Bertie County Arts Center, 124 S. King Street, Windsor, NC.

Kiln Fired Bowls by Local Artists

The Irish Souper Bowl begins at 6:00 PM, on March 12th, 2005. The location will be the Bertie Senior Center on School Street in Windsor. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children age 8 and under. Anyone interested may contact BCAC by telephone at (252) 794-9402 , or email to bertiearts@earthlink.net.

Bobbie Cobb (left) and Cleo Warlick, were Bertie County Arts Council's Featured Artists of the Month for February. The wall is filled with their work. (Photo by Jeanette White)

The Bertie County Arts Council also has additional artwork from local artists on display at the Bertie County Arts Center. Although work by multiple artists is on exhibit at the Arts Center all the time, work is featured by one or two artists every month. Other recent artists featured have been Barbara Sant of Windsor, Ken Attkisson of Edenton and Margaret Attkisson of Windsor. Artist for March is Carolyn Dail of Windsor and other upcoming shows will feature Dr. J. Fred Saunders of Aulander, Nancy Spruill of Windsor and Jacquelyn Perry of Colerain.

Bertie County Arts Center offers the work of numerous local artisans, including fine art, jewelry, ceramics, photography, needlecrafts, books, handpainted glassware and other select items.The Council has public classes and workshops throughout the year that offer such crafts as stained glass, guitar, piano and knitting.

The Arts Center is open free of charge Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.at 124 South King Street in Windsor.

200th Anniversary Luncheon

The 200th anniversary of the Dismal Swamp Canal and the 65th anniversary of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Luncheon was held today, and it was a great success. The room was packed as you can see below.

Panorama of the Luncheon

The speeches were truly educational, informative and enjoyable. The speakers included Randy J. Forbes, U.S. Congressman, Dalton S. Edge, Mayor of Chesapeake, Melvin Jeralds, Chairman Camden Commissioners, Lloyd Culp, Refuge Manager, George Ramsey, Local Historian and Eric Sheppard, President Slave Descendants Freedom Society. The Keynote speaker was Bland Simpson, Director - Creative Writing Program - UNC-Chapel Hill.

Speaker's Dais

The programs of all speakers had a consistent theme, highlights of the history of the area, its influence on the nations transportation infrastructure and its incredible impact on American will. The Dismal Swamp, bordered on the North by the Tidewater, on the East by the Outer Banks, the South by the Albemarle, and on the West by the Roanoke Chowan rivers, has been at the heart of our nations creation as a nation of freedom. The Dismal Swamp, like our nation, was heavily influenced by George Washington. His involvement also influenced his growth as an individual and contributed to creating his amazing will and determination, characteristics that served our nation well in the revolutionary war. Another local individual who is famous is Moses Grandy, from Camden County. A former slave, his determination and will to be free reflect what has been the driving force of many American's personal history, overcoming adversity. His ultimate success is the American dream.

Mr. Bland Simpson performed some delightful songs about the region to conclude the service.

Bland Simpson

A special award was given to Penny Leary-Smith for her outstanding contributions. Penny is shown below (in red) with Program Chair, Colonel Yvonne Prettyman-Beck, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with Melvin Jeralds, Chairman Camden Commissioners.

Explore the South’s Prettiest Town

January 2005 - Nancy Nicholls

Civil War Trails, Canoe and Kayaking, Sailing, Guided Walking Tours and Trolley Tours from the Historic Edenton Visitor Center including our 1767 newly restored Courthouse – where the General Assembly has given permission for the NC Supreme Court to hold sessions twice a year, Garden Conservancy Tours, Pilgrimage of Homes and Gardens, Rotating Gallery Exhibits and Performances at the Chowan Arts Council, Antiquing and Self-Discovery Enrichment Workshops, Musicals at the Rocky Hock Playhouse, Matinees at the Shepard-Pruden Library, Aquarium and Aquatic Exhibits at the Edenton Fish Hatchery are all on the horizon for 2005. Events are woven into the daily activities taking place throughout the year making this part of the world a great place to visit as well as live.



The Edenton Womans Club will host one of their biggest fund-raising events on April 22nd and 23rd. The Edenton Pilgrimage takes place only on odd years in April and gives visitors a chance to tour the inside of some beautiful 18th and 19th century homes as well as their well-designed gardens. Twelve to Fifteen private homes will be on this year’s tour.

The recent purchase of Holladay Island only enhances the greenway/natural area preservation effort that is already taking place in our County. This island is directly across from the J. Robert Hendrix Park & Cannons Ferry Heritage River Walk and a great place for the addition of camping platforms that paddlers will be able to use while exploring the Albemarle Canoe and Kayak Trail System.

An inaugural event will take place on April 9th when the Garden Conservancy Open Days Series will host a tour of five of our designed private gardens from 10 am – 4 pm. The featured gardens will be Homestead Garden, Water Level Garden, The Gardens of Jubilee, The Garden at Hayes and Beverly Hall Gardens.

Everyone is very excited about becoming part of the newly developed North Carolina Civil War Trail Program. Our interpretative signage has been constructed on the shore of Edenton Harbor depicting the Battle of the Albemarle and this sign is in close proximity to the “St. Paul”, one of the four cannon cast from bells donated by Edenton churches, giving visitors an overview of Edenton during the War.

East Coast Flat Water Canoe and Kayak Sanctioned Races will kick-off the Community Music and Water Festival on Saturday, June 18th. This event combines on the water activities of paddling, sailing and demonstrations that all ages can participate in with talented musicians entertaining, great food and new-initiative 4-H games. Commercial vendors will be on board just in case anyone wants to purchase a canoe, kayak or sunfish for their personal, all the time use.

Tradition comes into play when fall arrives on the scene with the Peanut Festival, Chowan County Regional Fair and Bass Fishing Tournaments. This year, Edenton will host the North Carolina Bass Federation State Championship on October 6 – 8th. We are excited about having excellent anglers from all over the state fishing our waterways finding their favorite spots and getting ready for the big event. From what we understand, qualification is needed or this event. Our Holiday Season is always ushered in with the Annual Candlelight Tour Weekend when residents decorate beautifully and open their doors year after year in a most hospitable way.



While touring our many neighbors throughout the Albemarle, by water or land, you may want to stop by the “South’s Prettiest Town” and experience our extraordinary history, natural beauty, architecture, fine accommodations, restaurants, downtown shopping and small town charm. Give us a call at 1-800-775-0111, 252-482-3400 or visit us at: visitedenton.com. Historic Edenton State Historic Site is a member of the Historic Albemarle Tour organization marketing and promoting 17 counties within Northeastern North Carolina. This tour has helped thousands of people follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and pirates, soldiers and slaves, sea captains and colonists. To learn more, visit historicnenc.com.

Condi - The Person We Need For America!

Condoleezza Rice is one of the most amazing Americans we have ever seen. World class musician. Outstanding figure skater. Brilliant educator. Expert on football. Fluent in French and Russian. She is most assuredly a master of English, is tough as nails and a world class debater.

Condoleezza Rice

The following article proves that Condi is impressing people all over the world.

Condoleezza Rice Brings Morality To Realpolitik
Editorial Opinion - Daily Telegraph (U.K.) - 05/02/2005

"There cannot be an absence of moral content in American foreign policy," she says. "Europeans giggle at this, but we are not European, we are American, and we have different principles."

An expert in political science who is a master of military tactics, she has a command of facts that impresses the heavy weights in both fields. She is known as a quick wit, is well liked generally and thought of as a pleasant if blunt spoken individual.

In 1993 she became the youngest Provost in Stanford history, a post she held for 6 years until she left to support George Bush for President. She succeeded as a conservative in an arena and school that is dominated by liberals. That skill alone is significant.

A very moral person, Condi is close friend and confidant of the President. With hard work and dedication she has acheived an amazing amount already. It seems impossible that anyone could find time to become as accomplished in so many different fields. She is impressive. I nominate her for President in 2008.