A Time For Thanks
We at the Chowan Herald want
to pass on to everybody along the
Public Parade our appreciation
for their continued understanding
and support since last Thanks
giving day.
First of all, we want to thank
our readers for continuing as
faithful subscribers to the Chowan
Herald. Without them, our best ef
forts would go largely
unrewarded.
Then, of course, we want to
thank our advertisers, who supp
ly 90 per cent of the funds which
keep us going. Without them, we
could hardly pay the postage on
our mailing list, not to mention the
paper on which our newspaper is
printed.
Next comes our staff. Their
dedication to their job and will
ingness to put up with the rigors
of a renovation program merit the
most sincere thanks we can give
them.
And, so far, we have given
thanks only for those things affec
ting us personally and our
business. But the day requires far
more than that.
We are thankful that our
business is located in one of the
most attractive little towns in
North Carolina, mature in its
ways, secure in its heritage and
unafraid of the future. Edenton
has more to offer of the good life,
however defined, than almost any
other community in the state.
We are thankful for the
policemen who check our doors at
night, for the postman who brings
our mail in rain or snow as well as
during sunshiny days, the sheriff
' and his deputies who respond to
law enforcement emergencies
throughout the county. We are .
■ thankful for the firemen Who pro
tect our property and for the
health care people who protect
, our lives, and our ministers who
shepherd us toward a better land.
All of these we are too prone to
take for granted, just as we do
many other things, such as the
birds that visit our feeders, the
squirrels that always outsmart us,
the ducks and geese that fly south
in the winter and return north in
the spring.
We are thankful for the cardinal
that stays with us during the cold
of the winter, for the mallard that
returns to our pond, for the
mother quail that leads her brood
,in a long, thin string across our
lawn. All of them represent
something for which Thanks
giving day is an appropriate
reminder.
Last — and perhaps most im
portant of all — we are thankful
for continued good health. When
we were young, and wild and free,
we hardly ever gave a second
thought to the state of our health.
But age has a way of focusing at
tention on the things that count.
So we want to pause today, not
only to give thanks for our own,
but to wish you all the best of
health and happiness on this,
another Thanksgiving day.
District Court
Chowan District Court was in
session November 19; the
Honorable John T. Chaffin
presiding over the criminal
calendar.
Charles Irving Hines was found
guilty of improper passing. He
was fined $35 and cost of court.
Murray Wheeler was found guil
ty of unsafe movement; no liabili
ty insurance; hit and run-property
damage; and false report of theft.
The cases were consolidated for
judgement and Wheeler was
sentenced to 24 months, suspend
ed for three years; a fine of 1500
and cost of court; restitution of
$1,600 for the benefit of Jennifer C.
Lane and was given six months to
ay. Wheeler appealed all three
Zena Ann Cofield was found
guilty of shoplifting and was
sentenced tp a 90 day commitment
fit the NC Dept, of Correctidns
Women’s Division.
Volume XLIX - No. 44
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, November 28, 1985
Single Copies 25 Cents
Awards Assembly Held
A special National Recognition
Awards Assembly at John A.
Holmes High School Friday mor
ning brought community leaders,
students, faculty, administration,
and staff together in a culmination
of the recognition of the school for
“Excellence in Education/’
Deputy Under Secretary
(Management) of the U.S.
Department of Education, Dr.
Linda Combs, was the special
guest speaker. Dr. Combs pointed
out in our remarks that the occa
sion also marked American
Education Week.
She told the students, “You tru
ly exhibit class.”
Combs outlined the procedures
used to single out the school for
this award. She said that 509
schools, nominated by each
state’s chief school officer were
examined from across the nation.
“Out of these only 212 were
selected as being outstanding.”
She continued that, “for
perspective, there are 16,000
school districts in the U.S., many
r
of which have a number of high
schools within them. This shows
how special you really are.”
Combs listed some specific
favorable comments made in the
evaluation of Holmes.
• Teachers could take an active
role in the planning and develop
ment of the curriculum.
• Students appreciate the
awards they receive for excellent
performance.
• Parents are enthusiastic about
the school and its place in the
community.
• The community is very sup
portive of the school.
Dr. Combs then presented a flag
and a plaque and congratulations
on behalf of the President and the
Secretary of the U.S. Dept, of
Education to a delegation of
students, administators, faculty
and parents.
Similar delegations, received
awards and resolutions from the
Town Council, County Commis
sioners, Board of Education and
Chamber of Commerce.
m
RESTORE HOUSE— Robert and Wanda Rossman on the staircase
of the Speight house. The couple is in the process of restoring the turnr
of-the century mansion.
Couple Restoring Ingleside
By Jack Grove
An energetic couple from Fair
fax, Va., who love old homes and
history,'have moved to Edenton
and embarked on an ambitious
project of restoration. They have
purchased the Speight house at
the town limits on Highway 32
South, built in 1900 by Will Oscar
and Minnie Perry Speight.
The couple, Robert and Wanda
Rossman, purchased the house on
November 11 from Gillam Wood
who has owned it for several
years. The Rossmans were
delighted recently by a surprise
visit by the son and grandson of
the builders, Will Edward Speight,
72, now living in Hertford, and
W.O. Speight, II, 52, a retired Air
Force colonel, who now lives with
his family in Abeline, Texas.
Both Speights were raised in the
house and gave the Rossmans in
sights into the history of the home.
The senior Speight said that there
were nine children in the family.
His father operated the Edenton
Brick Co. “Probably half of the
brick in the buildings of the town
came from there,” he said. He
also said the home had been nam
ed “Ingleside” by Mrs. Minnie
Speight and that the original spell
ing of the family name was
“Spaight.”
The turn-of-the-century house,
is of Queen Anne Victorian brick
construction. Rossman said all of
the exterior waljs are 14 inches
thick. The house has a slate roof.
It contains 15 rooms and has seven
fireplaces which are faced with
dutch tile.
Included in their purchase was
five acres of adjacent land and the
old cotton gin located just behind
the house. The gin was built in
1902 and operated by Will Speight.
The house and cotton gin are
listed in the National Register of
Historic Sites. Rossman said that
due to their historical
significance, restoration is being
monitored by the N.C. Dept, of
Cultural Resources and the Na
tional Park Service. The state
agency “is making recommenda
tions and imposing restrictions’’
he said.
Wanda Rossman, a native of
South Africa, said they found the
house through an ad in Country
magazine in the July issue that
had a feature article on Edenton.
They came to look at the house
and then she said she had to sell
her husband on the idea of buying
it and undertaking the large task
of restoration.
Bob Rossman said the house
contained the original wiring and
was one of the very first houses in
Edenton to have electricity. He
said the original owner went into
the woods to cut his own power
poles.
Rossman said that the main
areas of modernization are the
electrical and plumbing systems.
He said the interior of the house
is basically in sound condition
with only minor problems of mold
and mildew being encountered.
These are being overcome by
painting and new wallpaper. Hie
hardwood floors will be re
conditioned also.
The house has beat vacant for
the past three years, with oneex
Continued On'Page 4
WASHINGTON DIGNITARY— Dr. Linda Combs, Deputy Under Secretary of the U.S. Dept, of Educa
tion, congratulates a delegation representing John A. Holmes High School on being awarded the “Ex
cellence in Education” honor.
Liability Insurance Laws Enforced
State law in North Carolina re
quires continuous liability in
surance (financial responsibility)
coverage of licensed motor
vehicles. Process officer Hardy
Gillam of the enforcement sec
tion of the Division (formerly
Department) of Motor Vehicles
says that even a one-day lapse in
coverage can cost the motorist his
license plate and a civil penalty.
Gillam stated that the law was
changed on October 1,1985 allow
ing for the following action by the
vehicle owner within ten days of
receipt of written notice by the
Division of Motor Vehicles:
“Certify to the Division that he
had financial responsibility effec
tive on or prior to the date of such
termination; or in the case of a
lapse in financial responsibility,
pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) civil
penalty; and certify to the Divi
sion that he now has financial
responsibility effective on the date
of certification, that he did not
operate the vehicle in question
during the period of no financial
responsibility with the knowledge
that there was no financial
responsibiity, and that the vehicle
in question was not involved in a
motor vehicle accident during the
period of no financial
responsibility.
If for any reason the vehicle
owner has not reinsured his
vehicle and does not wish to do so
and pay the civil penalty within
the ten (10) days allowed, he is re
quired to surrender the license
plate during the 10-day time
period. His vehicle may be
relicensed any time thereafter
upon payment of the $50.00 civil
penalty, license fee and proof of
liability insurance coverage
(Form FS-1 or FR-2).
Failure to respond in any man
ner to the options allowed by
notice given (Form FS5-7) within
the ten (10) days will result in a
revocation of the vehicle registra
tion and license plate. The revoca
tion requires surrender of the
plate to the Division for thirty (30)
days. On the 31st day, the vehicle
may be relicensed upon payment
of $50.00 restoration fee, $50.00
service fee, appropriate license
fee and certifying liability in
surance coverage.
While revoked, the vehicle can
not be re-registered in the name
of the owner, spouse, or any child
of the spouse, or any child of such
owner within less than thirty (30)
days after receipt of the plate, ex
cept a spouse living separate and
apart from the registered owner.”
Gillam’s job is to confiscate
license plates of those vehicles not
in compliance with the law. He
said that in the case of those
motorists seen driving with revok
ed plates by the N.C. Highway
Patrol, the trooper is empowered
by confiscate the plate on the spot.
In the case of the Edenton
Police Department, Chief John D.
Parrish said that a motorist is
normally issued a citation and
Gillam’s office is notified.
Gillam said that “If anyone has
any questions or needs assistance
concerning enforcement of this
law, they may_qftntact me at
482-4994.”
Open House
Planned For
December 8
The Iredell House Association
and the Cupola House Association
will have Open House and Wassail
Bowl on Sunday, December 8,1985
from 2:00 to 5:00. Musical enter
tainment will be provided by a
group of Edenton Choral Society
members.
Everyone is invited to view
these historic houses decorated
for Christmas by members of the
Iredell House Association and the
Garden of Eden Club.
Christmas Parade. Entries Still Being Accepted
Late entries are still being ac
cepted for Edenton’s annual
Christmas Parade which will get
underway from Coke Avenue (in
front of TG&Y) on Sunday after
noon, December 1, at 2:30 p.m.
According to the Chamber of
Commerce, which sponsors the
event, maps and instructions will
be mailed to those who have fill
ed out registration forms.
In addition to the parade,
several other special activities
will be taking place Sunday after
noon on the Courthouse green im
mediately following the parade.
Santa will be there in his sleigh to
talk with the kids, and to pose with
them for pictures, thanks to the ef
forts of the Edenton Jaycees.
Also, the Chowan-Edenton Op
timist Club will be sponsoring a
Sing-Along, featuring area church
choirs and other local talent.
Among those who will be having
floats in this year’s parade are:
Continued On Page 4
PREPARE FLOAT— Members of the Chowan Hospital Women’s Auxiliary begin preliminary work
on their entry for Sunday’s Christmas parade. Standing from left to right are Catherine Robey, Dr. Can
dace Corson and Maureen Blakemore. The children will ride the float.