Fire Fails To Dampen Macon Restoration Hopes
• • • i« «
By KEN FERRUCCIO
Staff Writer
Nathaniel Macon, man and legend, was resurrected in
the flames of Warren County's historical imagination
last Wednesday when a spark from burning rubbish
ignited the roof of his home at Buck Spring.
But hoDes for a restoration of Macon's home did not so
up in smoke. The non-authentic reconstruction built in
the 1930s had to go anyway, historians contend. The
authentic restoration to be built according to the scale
plans made by Norlina native Dan Knight a year ago and
a definitive biography would allow us to evaluate Macon
in the larger context of world cultural tradition. History
so judges men such as Macon, because such men
determine history.
Reading Macon's life is like reading an historical
romance. During the American Revolution, he refuses a
lieutenancy, preferring to serve as a private in the ranks.
Until otherwise persuaded by his Commander-inChief,
Macon refuses to leave the army and represent
Warren County in the Senate, to which he is elected in
1781. He thinks it a more pressing duty to remain in his
present position. He says that while he had seen the front
of the British soldier, he had not seen his back, and has no
intention of leaving until then.
Riding into Warrenton on business in 1781, Macon
becomes "enchanted by a newcomer from Virginia, the
lovely Miss Hannah Plummer, who had dazzled a whole
platoon of bachelors."
By 1782 Macon has defeated all rivals for Hannah but
one. whom he challenges to a duel of cards. He loses, but
is unable to give up Hannah, "love being a more noble
thing than fortune."
Married Oct. 9, 1783, the Macons move to the Buck
Spring house, built in 1781. The 80s witness the births of
their two daughters, Seignora and Betsy, and a son whom
Macon outlives.
During the 80s, logs and stones are hauled to th •
plantation for the grand house Macon plans to build.
When Hannah dies in 1790, Macon abandons these plans
for an unpretentious boarding house in Washington, D. C.
and 50 years of service to his county, state and nation.
Macon is a representative in Congress in 1782 and 1784
and also from 1791 to 1815. He is Speaker of the House
from 1801 to 1807, and a U. S. Senator from 1815 to 1828.
He is President Pro Tempore of the Senate from 1826 to
1828 and the president of the North Carolina Constitutional
Convention of 1835.
Just before he dies, he chooses the poorest, most
useless part of his plantation for his grave, to be marked
by a heap of equally useless stone. He thinks it unlikely
future owners of Buck Spring will disturb this spot.
For a while it seems as if both nature and the U. S.
Government will assist him in his desire for oblivion,
making it as difficult to distinguish his original house
from its later modifications, as it is to distinguish the
legend from the man.
A white oak falls on his kitchen in 1916, and in the 1930s,
the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) radically
alters the original house.
But those who believe in the value of what Edith
Hamilton calls "the eternal presenceof the past," persist
in their efforts to keep Macon alive in historical
consciousness.
The Macon Community Club marks his grave with a
bronze plaque on May 25,1923, and in 1934 Warren County
purchases the Macon house and outbuildings.
In early 1935 the W.P.A. begins reconstruction of the
house. However, working without either preliminary or
final plans, workers of the W.P.A. drastically alter the
original. <■
Next come thirty years of neglect. By the mid-1960s
"Buck Spring is in deplorable condition."
In 1969, Dr. H. G. Jones, director of the State
Department of Archives and History, asks Historic Sites
Restoration Supervisor A. L. Honeycutt, along with
a survey and planning team to visit the site.
The report submitted to Dr. Jones stresses the
non-authenticity of the Buck Spring "restoration," "its
total lack of interpretive facilities," and "its complete
failure as an educational tool."
The report recommends that it be "brought up to an
acceptable level of interpretation."
In the same year, 1969, The Warren County Historical
Society, after five years of inactivity, is reactivated
"through the efforts of Mrs. Horace P. Robinson of
Littleton, Mrs. James P. Beckwith of Warrenton, and
others." Thus begins "a local interest in the preservation
and restoration of Buck Spring."
Appropriations soon become available from various
sources. According to Boyd D. Cathey's historical
research report on Macon and Buck Spring, Sept. 24,
1975, the Warren County Board of Commissioners, on
July 1,1970, appropriates $2,500 for the restoration. This
is matched by a $7,500 Smith Riehardson grant on Sept.
22 of that year.
In 1971 the Warren County Bicentennial Committee
makes the site its chief restoration project to celebrate
American independence. The county commissioners
contribute $3,000 for this purpose, matched by $2,500
from other sources.
Also in 1971 the Buck Spring plantation is placed on the
National Register of Historic Places and becomes
eligible for National Park Service grants, two of which
are granted: $4,000 in 1971 and $4,000 in 1972.
Finally, the 1975 session of the General Assembly
approves of a $22,500 authorization, not to be used until
after July 1, 1976.
Perhaps the underlying irony of this is that Macon was
very stingy when it came to government spending.
John Quincy Adams said that one of the great
foundations of Macon's popularity was his parsimony.
"He votes against an cuuiiia ouu <ui ucw a^vy..
ations."
Macon once disapproved of a presidential request (or
$14,000 in household repairs "because it violated his
strict sense of economy."
Seen through the eyes of his contemporaries, Macon
not only was a man of honesty and virtuous simplicity,
but a man of self-denial as well. One wonders if he would
have advocated appropriations for the restoration of his
own home at Buck Spring.
But tradition is the soul of culture. And the
reinterpretation, recreation and assimilation of tradition
is the soul of individual culture. Macon, as part of that
tradition, remains a challenge. It can be met with a
definitive biography and an authentic restoration.
n
Ollje Harren Eecarti
Thursday, September 29, 1977 Page 13
Doctor With Local Connection
Helps Solve Murder Mystery
The granddaughter of a
Warrenton resident goes
about her unique job with
deadly seriousness, and the
results of her efforts often
border on the incredible.
Dr. Margaret E. Hamilton
of Wilmington, Delaware,
who teaches anthropology at
the University of Delaware
helps authorities sketch
photos of victims with badly
decomposed bodies in hopes
to identify the victim. Dr.
Hamilton is the granddaughter
of Mrs. John G.
Williams of Brehon Street,
Warrenton.
Recently the Evening
Journal in Wilmington printed
such a sketch in hopes
that a victim could be
identified.
Authorities were hoping
that the sketch could help
them identify a murder
victim whose body was
dumped on the side of a road
three months before it was
found.
The badly decomposed
body of a woman was found
June 27 by a boy walking
along a road. The body had
been dumped about 30 feet
from the road.
Pathologists at the state
medical examiner's office
were able to determine that
the body was that of a white
woman, 5-3 to 5-6, of
medium build, 95-105 pounds
and 40-50 years old.
The woman's hair was
approximately four inches
long, light brown streaked
with gray and showed signs
of bleaching. Thirteen teeth
were missing.
Letters were sent out in
hopes of finding a report of a
missing person. Nothing
turned up. Dental reports
also netted no clues.
Dr. Hamilton was called
in to reconstruct the
physical details. This was
the second time she had
been called upon to assist
police in such a project.
The first case involved
that of a skeleton with a rope
around the neck. The reconstruction
was successful,
she said.
Reconstruction "begins
with the outline of the skull,
which is best derived from
X-rays," Dr. Hamilton said.
"It is critical to replicate
proportions of the face, how
Educational Specialist
Degree Awarded Principal
Michael F. Williams has
been awarded the Educational
Specialist Degree in
School Administration by
East Carolina University in
Greenville. This degree is
awarded by E.C.U. upon
completion of the Sixth Year
! Program and is the highest
degree offered by the University's
School of Education.
Candidates for the degree
are required to complete an
additional 45 quarter hours
of graduate study beyond
the Master's Degree.
Williams is currently certified
by the State Department
of Public Instruction
to teach mathematics at the
secondary level and serve
as principal of any school
serving grades kindergarten
through 12.
Completion of the Sixth
Year Program means that
Williams will now be
certified as a Superintendent,
Associate and Assistant
Superintendent, and Advanced
Principal.
Williams has been principal
of Mariam Boyd School
in Warrenton since 1972. He
is a graduate of Littleton
High School and earned his
WILLIAMS
Bachelor's Degree at the
University of North Carolina
in Chapel Hill and his
Master's Degree at East
Carolina University.
Before coming to the
Warren County school system
he taught mathematics
at Roanoke Rapids High
School and was principal of
Enfield High School.
Williams, his wife, the
former Sandra Stansbury,
and their two sons live in the
Enterprise community near
Littleton.
Annual 4-H Show, Sale Set
The annual 4-H Pullet Show and Sale will be held
Friday, September 30, at the Warren County Fair
Grounds, G. W. Koonce, extension agent, 4-H, announced
yesterday.
Koonce said that free admission to the Fair Grounds
will be granted to all attending the show and sale.
Some 108 five-month old high production sex link
pullets will be sold in multiples of 6 and 12 per pen,
Koonce said. The highest bidder will get the purchase.
Average sales price last year was only $4 23 per bird.
Koonce said free crates and free crating service are
furnished all buyers.
high as to how wide, and
how the eyes are."
Dr. Hamilton and a state
police artist worked for
eight hours on a portrait of
the face.
One of the striking
features was a pointed nose,
which Dr. Hamilton said she
was able to derive from
measurements of the bridge
and base.
Another prominent feature
was a protruding chin
"due to the loss of teeth."
After adding the features
that make a woman's face
"feminine," plus lines for
age, the two were able to
come up with two composite
drawings.
The greatest possibility
for error. Dr. Hamilton said,
is the color of the hair and
eyes - a "guessing game,"
she said. Hairstyles are
usually based on how the
artist thinks the woman
might have worn her hair.
DR. HAMILTON
.. ■< • n -
1
Grub Rustling Over
———————
|
Lawmen All Smiles;
I
j Main Course Nabbed
Warren County lawmen won't have to rustle up
any second-rate grub for their planned feast for
I visiting criminal intelligence agents scheduled
II to meet here next month.
A 900-pound black angus cow earmarked as the
Smain dish for the law officer's banquet has been
recaptured following a four-day search by the
Warren County Sheriff's Department.
The Department announced Monday that the
cow was found about one mile from the barn he
t fled last week.
Using specially trained cow dogs belonging to
Sam Meador of Norlina, the posse, riding
horseback, tracked the cow for three hours
Friday night before capturing it about 9:?0p. m.
Warrenton Police Chief Freddie Robinson,
assisting in the hunt, said the cow ran by him
going about "80 miles an hour."
The animal was loaded and carted off to
another barn to await the transition to barbecue.
uwtftmuminnM
Mrs. Butler Receives District Award
Mrs. Anna Butler of
Warrenton has been honored
in the nation's capitol as
a district winner from the
2nd Congressional District
in the first North Carolina
Democrat of the Year
recognitions.
Mrs. Butler was recently
presented to the annual
North Carolina Democratic
Scholarships
Await Children
Of Servicemen
By RUSSELL CURR1N
It is again time for us to
begin working toward seeing
that all our eligible
veterans' children who are
seniors are aware of the
State Scholarship Program.
This program is just one of
the means whereby the
state of N. C. recognizes the
contributions made by its
veterans. Also this program
is in conjunction with the
57th annual observance of
American Education Week,
Nov. 13-19.
If you are a veteran's
child, a senior, and you
think you might meet the
eligibility requirements,
please contact the Veterans
Service Office in the Courthouse
at 257-3385. Each
school with graduating
seniors in June has received
a synopsis which will enable
the applicant to determine
eligibility.
Worcester sauce was
made in the English town
of that name some 140 years
ago.
REWARD
Offered If Found
BLACK ANGUS COW
Weighing 860 Lbs.
Unloaded at Hicks'
Farm in the Oine
community and
disappeared Friday
Notify-F. F Ingle
456-3144
Club of Washington, D. C.
Banquet and Ball by Mrs.
John L. McCain Chairman
of the North Carolina Democratic
Party.
Mrs. Butler was earlier
this year selected as
Democrat of the Year in
Warren County, and is one
of five Democrat of the Year
winners at the Congressional
District level.
Long active in the
Democratic Party, Mrs.
Butler has been active in
many areas of the Democratic
Party, and is one of the
founders of the Democratic
Women's organization in
Warren County.
Governor James B. Hunt,
Jr., presented the winner,
Mrs. J. B. Spiiman of Pitt
County and the First
Congressional District, who
was named North Carolina
Democrat of the Year. The
97-year-old Mrs. Spiiman is
widely known for her long
service to the Party at all
levels of the Democratic
Party, and currently serves
as an officer in her precinct.
The Washington Banquet
and Ball was sponsored by
the N. C. Democratic Club of
Washington, and was attended
by 400 North Carolinians,
including Senator
Morgan, and nearly all
Democratic Congressmen
from North Carolina.