Progress
The Perquimans Weekly, June 24, 1999 3B
'Perquimans: tfie gem of the SiCSemarte area just waiting to he discovered
Cotton was king in the
Old South, but tourism is
expected to bring in the
bacon as Northeastern
North Carolina enters the
21st century.
In his 1995 book,
“Touring the Backroads of
North Carolina’s Upper
Coast,” Daniel Barefoot
stated,” As is evident along
much of the tour (of
Perquimans County), most
of the eleven thousand peo
ple who call Perquimans
home earn their livelihood
from the land. Few counties
in North Carolina are more
rural and agrarian.
Though the county is
blessed with three rivers
and Albemarle Sound, it
has not been able to parlay
these resources into tourist
revenue. Perquimans rests
in relative obscurity, sur
rounded by counties that
have used their historic
pasts to develop tourist
industries. However,
despite its apparent lack of
tourist appeal, Perquimans
is an undiscovered gem for
coastal visitors who are
interested in the history of
the Albemarle.”
: Those who live in
Perquimans County are,
for the most part, proud of
tfte county’s rich heritage
and many are preparing for
a: future that will take
Perquimans County out of
the “relative obscurity” to
wliich Barefoot eludes and
into a heritage tourism des-
thiation in the 21st century.
; There is a base for her
itage tourism already
established in the county.
Entrepreneurs have turned
several architectural trea
sures into bed and break
fast inns, each with a dif
ferent look and theme.
Ben and Jackie Hobbs
have combined their pen
chant for historic structure
collecting, Ben’s furniture
making skills, and a bed
and breakfast enterprise
which is very unique. The
couple, both former teach
ers, began collecting and
moving historic structures
in need of repair to their
property years ago. Ben
also became very interest
ed in handcrafting repro
duction furniture.
Today, the couple’s
restored “village” includes
the 1760 Richard Pratt
House, the 1837 Bear
Swamp House, the 1750
Bennett’s Creek House and
the ca. 1710 Flat Branch
House. The beautifully
restored buildings serve as
their home and as Beech
Tree, a Bed and Breakfast.
In addition, Ben offers fur
niture making classes to
which students from across
the country come. While
here, they have the oppor
tunity to stay in one of the
Beech Tree cottages. Ben’s
furniture graces homes
across the country.
Next to turn an heirloom
into a bed and breakfast
was Peter and Nancy
Rascoe. The Windsor cou
ple restored Swampside, a
plantation in Nancy’s fami
ly, into 1812 on the
Perquimans.
The spacious center-hall
B&B features a second floor
porch that overlooks the
Perquimans River in the
distance.
In addition to serving as
a place to spend the night,
1812 hosts etiquette parties
for children and the front
lawn, enclosed by a white
picket fence, has been the
site of several afternoon
wedding receptions and
parties.
The Eagle and Anchor on
JVlarket Street was next to
open. Ron Carrier pur
chased the home at 215 W.
Market Street and, along
with his cousin, Sally, oper
ate the bed and breakfast,
mainly on weekends. Still
employed in the Hampton
Roads area, Ron plans to
retire to Hertford.
Jane McMahon was the
most recent Perquimans
resident to become an
innkeeper. After months of
restoring a long-empty
home at 107 Covent Garden,
Jane opened The Covent
Garden Inn this spring.
With themed rooms and an
especially cozy kitchen, the
inn features one room with
a balcony.
In addition, Thomas and
Linda Morris have restored
the old county home across
from the softball fields in
Winfall. From its parlor,
Linda and Jane McMahon
operate the Blue Door
Gallery.
These are just a few
examples of how architec
tural treasures which will
draw people to the county
are being given new life.
In addition to this,
Perquimans County has
some very unique shops.
The downtown area has
some true treasures, both
free-standing and tucked
inside Hall of Fame
Square. There are also
interesting places to
browse at Ward Shopping
Center. One can find sur
prise businesses around
many corners and down
many rural roads.
Add to these gems the
Newbold-White House, the
state’s oldest standing
OFFICES
within
Municipal Building
►Municipal Building
Mayor: John Beers: 426-7805
Town Manager: John Christensen, 426-1969
Collections and Billing : Water, Electric
Town Clerk: Cindy Sharber 426-5311
Customer Service :Nancy Chappell
DMV License Plate: Judy Bateman 426-1087
Location: 114 West Grubb Street,
Hertford
Hours: Mon-Fri.; 8:30am-5:00pm
• Hertford Police Department
Chief: Dale Vanscoy : 426-5587
Location:
' Behind
Municipal
Building
114 West
Grubb Street
• Public Works: Water, Sewer, Street,
Electric, Yard Waste
Director: Parker Newbern - 426-5609
326 West Grubb (Behind Fire Department)
• Hertford Volunteer
Fire Department
Chief: Sid Eley-911
Evening and weekend Emergencies handled by:
Perquimans Dispatch 426-5751
brick home, a walking tour
in Hertford, a driving tour
of the county, friendly peo
ple and a variety of eater
ies, and Perquimans has
what it takes, with some
marketing efforts, to
become a tourist destina
tion.
To get the
Daily Advance
call Teri today!
335-0841
It’s the perfect
companion to
The Perquimans Weekly
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