Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Oct. 30, 2019, edition 1 / Page 7
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THE CHOWAN HERALD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 A7 Commission honors Frances Inglis, Elizabeth Matheson Named Women of Distinction at luncheon BY NICOLE BOWMAN- LAYTON Editor Edenton Historic Com mission celebrated the 245th anniversary of the Edenton Tea Party by hon oring two women of dis tinction — Frances Wood Drane Inglis and Elizabeth Matheson. The event was held Thursday at the 1767 Chowan County Court house. Sambo Dixon spoke about Inglis and her role as a historian, preservationist and civil rights advocate. Inglis who spent some time as a potteiy and weaver, did a lot over her many years. We’d need a book to cover it all, but here are some of the highlights. Here in Edenton, Inglis was a part of the committee responsible for getting a road in town named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She was one of the found ing members of the Racial Reconciliation Group. She was also a fervent sup porter of the annual MLK Day celebration and spoke at the event twice. In terms of the environ ment, she was a member of the Nature Conservancy and was instrumental of the preservation of Nags Head Wood. She also helped en sure John’s Island was protested. According to Dixon, Inglis loved Edenton Bay and Queen Anne Creek and was very concerned about pollution runoff and was “particularly distressed over the algal blooms. In regards to historic preservation, Inglis helped her father and brother-in- law carve much of the intri cate woodwork seen in the Cupola House. Dixon said one of Inglis’ biggest contributions for historic preservation in Edenton was putting pro tective covenants on the Homestead, her property along East Water Street, which will ensure that fu ture generations will see her property as it is today. Kevin Cherry, the deputy secretary of the Depart ment of Natural Resources, best summed up Inglis’ con tributions to the area. “North Carolina has ben efited from a small handful of people who have SUBMITTED PHOTO Franes Inglis (left) and Elizabeth Matheson share a moment on the porch during a visit to Nags Head. Edenton Historic Commission recognized both women as a Woman of Distinction Thursday at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, preserved their communi ties, who work hard to en sure that their place is true to its past. These people do not shrink from a difficult past but use that past today to make an even greater fu ture,” Dixon quoted Cherry as saying. “Francis Inglis was one of those people. Kevin said her gift to her community was helping Edenton stay true to its roots while encouraging it to grow and become some thing good.” Personally, Inglis impacted Dixon the most with the last project they worked on together — Kadesh AME Zion Church on East Gale Street. “After one of our first meetings, she grabbed my hands and typical Frances fashion said,’ We could do this and we can save all these Badham buildings also on Gale Street.’ I said to her, ‘Yes, we can.’ And now, on Nov. 6 in two weeks, we will have a meet ing with all the stakehold ers in Edentpn. They’re coming together to make a dream reality.” During the luncheon, Su san Inglies, Frances’ daugh ter, was asked to point out the many family members who attended the event. She also pointed that every one who attended are all the same people, “so we are all family, in a sense my mother appreciated. We are all products of where as well as who we come from. “Those of us fortunate enough to have been ac quainted with Frances Inglis, as descendants, as kin, as friends, know she is still with us in so many ways — in the results of those accomplishments cataloged yesterday, but also in our own memories, which will continue to in spire and guide us,” she said in an email after the event. “I am thankful for much that my mother gave us, es pecially her friends.” Charlotte V. Wainwright, retired founding director of Gregg Museum of Art and Design at N.C. State Univer sity, introduced her friend, photographer Matheson. Matheson is a cousin of Wainwright said both she and Matheson grew up in an era where art was con sidered a male’s profession. They also encountered a bias against photography as art. Matheson photographed other places across the globe, but she always re turned to North Carolina, Wainwright said of Mathe son. “Her work is like a multi layer poem that is honed in to say more than words,” Wainwright said. Matheson said the honor was overwhelming and meaningful and that she considered Edenton to be a holy city where everything is beautiful. She said that when she was offered the job of tak ing photographs of Eden ton for the book “Edenton: A Portrait in Words and Pic tures,” it was a dream as signment. The negatives and prints from the project are in the state archives. She noted that photo graphs show us the best of our culture. Besides the Edenton His torical Commission, the luncheon was sponsored by the Chowan Arts Coun cil, Museum of the Albe marle and Historic Edenton State Historic Site. Sheila Evans honored as Principal of the Year STAFF REPORT For the fourth time, the administrators of the Eden ton-Chowan Schools se lected Sheila Evans to rep resent them as the 2019- 2020 Principal of the Year. Evans was previously choosen by her peers to serve as the Principal of the Year in 2005,2011 and 2013. She was selected as Chowan Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. “Mrs. Evans is an out standing principal who has earned admiration through out the school system and community. She is a passionate advocate for our youngest learners, leading our efforts to expand the Pre-K program,” Superin tendent Rob Jackson said. “Based on the results from the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions survey, teachers love serving with Mrs. Evans and it shows, as every teacher in the school has met or exceeded state growth expectations each of the last two years. I greatly respect Mrs. Evans and appreciate her col leagues for recognizing her as the ideal candidate to represent our school dis trict.” EVANS Evans attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a bache lor’s degree and a Masters of Arts in teaching with a concentration in secondary social studies education. She completed prin-cipal’s certi-fication and supervi sor’s certification at East Carolina University. During her career, Evans has served as a middle school teacher, middle school assistant principal, director of curriculum and instruction, ele mentary school principal, and high school principal before serving as White Oak Ele mentary principal. She is proud to say that her entire ca reer has been dedi cated to the children of Chowan County. Evans is quick to recog nize that these awards are truly school awards. She says, “It takes every faculty member to ensure the suc cess of each student on campus.” Evans received her Na tional Board Certification in 1999 and renewed her cer tificate in 2009. She has worked with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Washington, D.C., and the Friday Institute in Raleigh on several long-term na tional and state educational projects. She has served on state and national discussion pan els and has had the opportu nity to speak at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., representing principals across the country. She pub lished an article in the Journal of Staff Develop ment and the school was the focus of a study in which the researchers determined the positive impact National Board Certified Teachers have on teaching and learn ing. Evans is married to Chowan County native, Steve Evans. They have two adult sons, two daughters- in-law and two grandsons. She teaches an adult Sunday school class at Rocky Hock Baptist Church. Evans will represent the school system in the up coming Regional Principal of the Year competition. I believe in Edenton! That is why I am excited to announce that I am running for re-election to the Edenton Town Council for the Second Ward. I want to continue to work with others to help create a town that honors its past while also seeking to build a sustainable future. I will work hard to promote projects like the North Oakum Street and the Moseley Street redevelopment zones and the restoration of culturally important iconic structures like Kadesh Church and the houses built by the Hannibal Badham family. I will always advocate for projects like the Edenton Farmers’ Market, the restoration of the Edenton Cotton Mill and Village and the Taylor Theater. I believe that organizations like Destination Downtown Edenton, the Cupola House Association and the Edenton Historical Commission have been instrumental in strengthening our community through preservation- based tourism and heritage economic development. As a member of the Town Council I have consistently voted for new infrastructure projects like the Police Station on Oakum Street, the repaving of our streets and the updating of our water treatment plant. I believe it is the duty of the Town of Edenton to keep our community safe and to provide our residents with quality services. The Town needs to continue to recruit new businesses and to encourage policies that support our current employers so that everyone in Edenton has real and beneficial opportunities. I want the Edenton of the future to be diverse and welcoming and a place where everyone feels empowered to build a better life. Paid for by the committee to elect Samuel B, Dixon
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Oct. 30, 2019, edition 1
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