newsletter i. historic port of washington nov 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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132 South Market Street Washington NC 27889 Museum Winter Hours Saturdays Only 9:30- 1:30 & Special Events TBA
C O N T E N T S
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WELCOME FROM HPOW’s CHAIRMAN RAY MIDGETTE
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OUR HPOW GOALS
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BECOME A FRIEND OF THE MUSEUM -
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A FEW EXHIBITS AND PHOTOS
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NEW LECTURE SERIES
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RECENT STATE CONFERENCE, CASTLE ISLAND SHIPS GRAVEYARD
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TIMELINE OF PORT OF WASHINGTON
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www.hpow.org
FROM HPOW 2015 CHAIRMAN RAY MIDGETTE
FROM THE
Welcome to the new Historic Port of Washington Project (HPOW) newsletter. We hope through this publication we can share news of happenings and events regularly. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN….
. This month we are looking forward to our first ever lecture to be held on November 20 at 7:00 pm at the HPOW Center. It is our hope that this will be an evening of learning sharing as a pair of our community historians contributes their knowledge of local history. Dr. Michael McClure, scientist and historian, tells the story of the early naval stores industry in North Carolina in his lecture: “Treasures of the Long Leaf Pine: Naval Stores in Eastern North Carolina.” A second talk by Douglas Alvord, a well known maritime artist, author, and historian tells us about the Sharpie, one of the most common work boats of eastern NC around the turn of the 20
th century. The second lecture
is titled “Sharpies of the Pamlico, the Little Boat that Could.” Along with the lectures, HPOW is working on planning future projects and fund raising. Being discussed are projects such as creating new exhibits, updating the historic walking tour of
Washington. == for the HPOW center, collecting
and archiving oral histories, as
well as collaborating with the
historic walking tour of
Washington. We need volunteers,
individuals, students, corporate
sponsors and ongoing donations.
Loans and scans of photos,
memorabilia and artifacts are
much welcomed. If you have a
desire to help preserve the history
of Washington, email us at
We do hope to see you at one of
our upcoming Thursday meetings
in the S. Market location. We
usually have biweekly planning
sessions at 10am. Ray M.
Our HPOW Goals:
Sharing the story of the
Port of Washington and
the Pamlico as a center
of commerce and
transportation.
Engaging the
community with
exhibits and living
history projects.
Promoting Washington
as a destination for
heritage tourism.
Helping our city move
forward through its
knowledge of its past.
Bringing the Maritime History of Washington to life!
HISTORIC PORT OF WASHINGTON PROJECT November 2015 Vol. I.
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November 2015 Vol. I
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit us on FaceBook www.facebook.com/ historicportofwashington
BECOME A FRIEND
OF HISTORIC PORT
OF WASHINGTON –
Receive a signed print of the historic
waterfront mural…. Perfect for
Christmas and Birthday gifts. The
purchase of a signed print of the
historic mural of the Washington
waterfront, painted circa 1880-1920
by HPOW artist Douglas Alvord,
will entitle you to be a member. You
also will receive the newsletter,
information updates, and get
involved in a project we hope you
may help develop. The cost of each
signed print is $25.00. Extra copies
are for sale at the Pamlico Arts
Council gift shop at the Turnage
Theatre on Main. Contributions to
HPOW are tax deductible under the
501c-3 status. Send your Checks
payable to:
Arts of the Pamlico/HPOW
150 Main Street,
Washington NC 27889
Please show your support for the
HPOW Museum Project Today. --------------------------------------------
DID YOU KNOW?
Because Washington was an
important shipbuilding center prior
to the Civil War, the Confederate
government contracted to have three
wooden gunboats of the Macon
class built in Washington. When
Union naval forces steamed up the
Pamlico River to capture
Washingon, two were under
construction. To prevent capture,
one was burned on the stocks and
the other towed up the Tar River and
scuttled in Chicod Creek near
Grimesland, where it remains today.
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HPOW PHOTOS &
EXHIBITS FEATURE
WASHINGTON
HISTORIC
WATERFRONT AND
THE PAMLICO
This vibrant Civil War era
watercolor shows the occupation of
Pamlico river port of Washington.
Wheelock the artist was a luminist
like Missouri frontier painter
George Caleb Bingham, similar to
artists from the Hudson River
School. Above Image “Little
Washington” by Merrill G
Wheelock 1863 Courtesy of NC
Collection Wilson Library UNC
CH.
DID YOU KNOW? Built
in colonial Washington was
Diligence, a revenue Cutter
authorized by the Continental
Congress in 1790. She was built in
Washington and was launched
sometime June or July of 1792. Her
first master was William Cook. And
she was sold in 1798.The revenue
cutter’s displacement was 35-55
tons, length: 50 feet, beam: 25 ft,
draft: 6ft 6 inches. Armament:
Muskets, Pistols, Swivel Cannon.
NEW LECTURE SERIES
by HPOW – 2 Talks For 1 Dr. Michael McClure, Scientist, and
Historian, to speak on “Treasures of
the Long Leaf Pine: Naval Stores in
Eastern North Carolina.” Douglas
Alvord, Maritime Artist will inform
and enlighten us on “Sharpies of the
Pamlico, the Little Boat That Could.”
Our winter Lecture Series are being
planned, 2016 upcoming dates will
be announced soon.
Steamboats of the Pamlico
Railroads and The Maritime
Underground
Oyster schooners of
Washington and on the
Pamlico
Maritime Trade in the Age of
Sail on the Pamlico
Customs Houses and Port
Customs officials of early
Washington & Beaufort Co
LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS…WITH
THE HARBOR WALK OF LIGHTS.
Sign up for the First Annual Downtown
Waterfront Docks Lighted Boat Contest.
Prizes. Free Slip on the Stewart Parkway
Docks Dec 3-Jan 4th
. Reserve your boat
slip today.
http://www.washingtononthewater.com
For Contest details Call (252) 940 1241
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NEWSLETTER
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RECENT N.C.
MARITIME HISTORY
COUNCIL
CONFERENCE IN
ELIZABETH CITY
Two regional history enthusiasts recently
gave talks featuring Beaufort County,
Bath, Washington and the Pamlico River
and its Colonial and Civil War era
maritime heritage at the November
conference of the NC Maritime History
Council. This year’s event was held at
the Museum of the Albemarle in
Elizabeth City. In anticipation of next
year’s 300th anniversary of Port Bath,
Ms. G Hookway-Jones spoke on the
colonial customs service operation in
Beaufort County 1716-1790. Ms.
Wanda McLean gave a talk on eastern
North Carolina’s maritime Underground
Railroad operating out of eastern North
Carolina waterways.
Our national parks system in September
2014 designated the Washington
waterfront and the Stewart Parkway as a
Network to Freedom site and a
permanent pictorial exhibit is soon to
open at the Washington train car by the
civic center.
For more details on the Network to
Freedom site see the National Parks
Service Network to Freedom web
site or look up the Washington
newspaper archives article date
Monday, September 22, 2014.
The state NC Heritage Library last
month launched a new site on early
Beaufort County maritime history
explaining where, when, and how
Port Washington and predecessor
Port Bath fit into the British
American Colonial Customs Service
organization. Find new article here:
http://www.ncpedia.org/port-bath .
CASTLE ISLAND SHIP’s
1863 Leslie’s Illustrated Civil War map
Washington town plan and defenses.
CASTLE ISLAND SHIPS GRAVEYARD….DID YOU KNOW?
Before Hurricane Floyd shifted the
harbor channel sands, East Carolina
University conducted nautical
archeology fieldwork underwater off
Washington’s Castle Island. Over
fifteen years ago numerous old 19th
and 20th c sunken hulls were
identified including a stern paddle
wheel steamer, oyster schooners, a
barge, even a river ferry.
Access the 2006 ECU Research
report online with details of the
1998=2000 Castle Island Field work
investigation results, click this link:
https://www.google.com/#q=ecu+pd
f+castle+ship+graveyard+washingto
n+nc
The Castle Island north shore image
below shows last known locations of
submerged vessel remains: the 2006
report describes other Pamlico River
abandonments and shipwrecks as
well.
HPOW NEEDS
Y O U ! GET
INVOLVED
TODAY Hosts and Hostesses and organizers are
needed to greet visitors and help in
planning lectures and special events
throughout the year. You can sign up for
either two or four hour segments or
Contribute behind the scenes with gifts
of time or a contribution. Help us
promote knowledge about our maritime
heritage by volunteering and being a
Friend of the project. We are also
seeking experienced grant writers.
Image above: Engraving, Slaves building
drawbridge across the Tar-Pamlico River.
Visit us on the Web www.hpow.org
www.
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November 2015 Vol. I
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PORT OF
WASHINGTON
TIMELINE
The 1700’s:
1769 The 70 ton brig
Acorn is built in
Washington
1770’s Washington is
one of few colonial
Atlantic ports not
blockaded by the
British, Washington
mercantile fleet
supplies ships and
provisions to
Continental army and
ports blockaded by
the British. Forks of
the Tar is renamed Town of Washington
1782 General Assembly incorporates
Washington. 30 houses in 1783.
1785. Port of Bath Customs Service
operations, customs collectors and naval
officers move from town of Bath
upstream to Washington, the new
county seat
1787 a new Federal Courthouse is built
on Market Street, the second oldest
surviving in North Carolina
1776-1790 Port of Bath Customs
Collectors and Port officials operate out
of Respess St. Customs House,
Nathan Keias Port Collector builds
house on Water Street next door to John
Gray Blount Port of Bath District
Commissioner. They are both buried
with their wives at St. Peter’s Episcopal
Cemetery.
1790 Port Bath Customs and Impost
District seated in Washington renamed
Continental Port of Washington
1791 Revenue Cutter Diligence built in
Washington
The 1800’s
1810 the Young Eagle a 100 ton
schooner built in Washington
1811 Two brigs the George Washington
and the Edwin built in Washington
1812 War of 1812 Hawk built here
1815-1830 Shipbuilding declines
1830 Shipbuilding rebounds, Builders
included Cap Hezekiah Farrow and his
son Joseph Burton Shipp, William
Tannehill and Hull Anderson.
1825 John Meyers shipyard & marine
railway
1838 Corp of Engineers installed locks
and dams, 3.5 feet channel up to
Tarboro. Steamboats appear on the Tar.
1845 Washington recognized as a major
shipbuilding center in the Southeast
1847 The first locally operated
steamship the Oregon arrived in from
ship yards in Baltimore
1849 John Meyers and Sons operated
two stern paddlewheel steamships
Amidas and Governor Morehead towing
cargo flats and delivering mail service.
Departs 6am arriving Greenville 12noon
1850 Washington ranked as No 1
shipbuilding center of NC, 23
shipbuilders in Beaufort Co, large
tonnage ships built: the GR Dixon a
209 ton schooner, Queen of the South a
305 ton schooner, and Pathfinder a 428
ton schooner.
1855-56 A productive period, much port
activity, many runaway slaves find their
way to Washington to escape by water
on Union ships, Castle Island sawmill
1862 Union forces occupy Washington,
Confederate Navy planned for
Washington shipbuilders to construct 3
gunboats
1865 -84 following the Civil War fire
which burned half the town, only one
shipyard Joseph Farrow remains
1885 shipbuilding rebounds due to
Railroads system making Washington a
regional hub and Washington harbor
dredged 9 ft channel to Pamlico Sound
1890 Twenty seven known vessels (7 of
them steamers) moored in Washington
1876-1891 annual revenue for the Port
of Washington increases from $500,000
to $4, 800,000.
1880’s to 1900 Port of Washington
known for shipping and commerce and
boatbuilding. Along the docks were
lumber, grain and cotton mills, freight
and passenger terminals, oyster
canneries and fish houses.
The 1900’s:
1900-1920 Zenith of Port of
Washington maritime commerce. The
Atlantic coastline railroad had a station
on Gladden Street, flat bottom
steamboats carried goods inland up the
Tar as far as Rocky Mount. By 1918
there were 50 wharves. Many schooners
were home ported here for trade to the
Outer Banks north to Boston and south
to the West Indies.
1950 Federal Port closed.
1960 Coast Guard Station Closed
Fowle merchant ships in Barbados,
Image courtesy of Brown Library.
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