Friday, June 21, 2013

Elizabeth City - Harbor of Hospitality

Coming off the Albemarle Sound we headed into Pasquotank river enroute to Elizabeth City.  "Complimentary city docks were completed in 1983 as donations from various individuals and businesses.  Two long-time residents of Elizabeth City, Fred Fearing and Joe Kramer, decided one Sunday after church in 1983, shortly after completion of the docks, to have an impromptu wine and cheese party for the visiting boaters. Joe, who raised roses as a hobby, stopped by his house and clipped 17 buds for the visiting "First Mates" while Fred rounded up wine, cheese, chips, dip, and cups. Meeting at the dock, Fred and Joe hosted the first party for those 17 boats and crew.  From that point on they were referred to as the Rose Buddies."   Fred and Joe have passed on but not the tradition.  Local residents stepped in and have continued the tradition helping to make Elizabeth City the friendliest city on the Intracoastal Waterway. The city is also home to the largest US Coast Guard command complex in the nation.



This 1000 foot long hangar is home to nearly all manufacturing and testing for TCOM aerostat balloons which are used for surveillance.  Their shapes resemble those of a blimp. 



River homes


River scene


                                
                
My sister, Maureen, drove 3.5 hours from Chapel Hill to join us for the afternoon.  We gave her the tour of the boat which lasted all of 30 seconds.  Afterwards, we headed out for a bite to eat and do a little boutique shopping where we found a few timeless treasures. We thoroughly enjoyed our short visit with her before she had to head back home. 
 

Our boat neighbor's friendly cat, Skipper, who came over to welcome us.


Another one of our boat neighbor's cats is Bengal which is also the hybrid breed name.  He is a cross between an Asian Leopard Cat (a wild animal) and a domestic feline cat (who thinks of this breeding combo?).  The stripes are amazing and he has this interesting strip down his back similar to that of a Rhodesian Ridgeback.  This little guy is not so friendly and has these amazingly long fangs...
 

Say "hey" to Ms. Sandra Jeanne.  She's a cute little tug.
 

Elizabeth City has 6 nationally registered historical districts.  There has been a resurgence over the last 40 years especially in smaller communities to preserve and restore these treasures so they can be shared with generations to come.  Pictures are great but in person, priceless.....

                                   

This Gothic style Christ Episcopal Church was erected in 1856 and is the city's oldest church.  It is located in the Main Street historic district.  The church was locked so we couldn't get in.  How sad that the churches have to be locked in order to stave off vandalism.  Is nothing sacred anymore?


                     

This is a gated alley which connects the church to the parish.



Christ Episcopal Church Parish house was completed in 1925.  It actually has a slate roof!



Another impressive historic building.  
 

The Citizen's Bank was built in 1898 and is a "rare example of a Chateauesque-style commercial style".  Love the roof cresting as well as

 
the "foliated corbel-like sanstone bracket" over the entrance door which is just stunning!
 
                            

And the arched stained glass window above the front entrance and




the arched side windows - beautiful!


                                          

This is the McMullan Building built in 1885.  The storefront is made out of cast iron and tin metal.  So ornate and unique from the other buildings in the city!


                 

The store was built in 3 stages.  The top floor and back addition were completed in 1908.



Grabbing an ice cold beer at Thumpers on a very hot day.  Another old building that has retained its character and made for an interesting interior.  It was here where a woman patron sitting at the bar was trying to carry on a conversation with another patron who was sitting 4 stools away.  Finally she told him in her southern drawl, to come on over here and "visit" with her, to which he did.  The southern accent and their choice of words is just so charming.  I wonder if they have any southern charm schools around here that I could attend!













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