My Dear Children and Each and Every
Childe in Windsor Towne,
It is with deep humility that I undertake to write about ENTERTAINMENT
IN WINDSOR FROM 1768-1968. I can remember from early childhood in Pasquotank
my nurse, Carleigh Speller (who was raised on Wesson Farm, near Windsor),
telling me of the picnics, of the sugar stews and spinning times, of making
"lasses" and playing "Button-Button," of their corn-husk dolls and of
making acorn necklaces. Windsor reminded me of a fairy land and how I would
beg for more stories of houseboats on the Roanoke R.iver and news of the
famous parties, dances and fiddlers which she had heard about happening at
Liberty Hall.
Certainly a most interesting fact about social life in Windsor is that this charming town was set apart geographically; 'that is, cut off by the Chowan and Roanoke Rivers. Most of the early entertainment was homemade but just as much enjoyed as though it had happened in Edenton or Williamsburg!
Pretend you were living in the 1700's and 1800's. What fun games of soldiers, of pitching pennies, called "huzzlecup," of blind man's buff and tag you would have played. While you boys would have played "stoolball," "Bowls" and "top whipping," you little girls would have made clothes for your china-head dolls or more likely, at that time, your corn-husks dolls. Fathers and mothers would have dressed in their very best to dance the minuet and the Virginia Reel either at one of the fine old homes or later in the ballroom of the Tavern. The early houseboat which took our ancestors up and down the Cashie and perhaps out on the Roanoke were called "fall boats." Much picnicing, visiting and going to church meetings took place on these quaint boats with homespun sails. Horse racing took place and many years later this sport was one of the annual social events. Every fall at Avoca, Dr. Capehart's half mile enclosed ring attracted horses, sulkies and riders from miles around. His horse, a state winner, was named "Chapel Hill," Fred Dunstan's horse was "Lillian Miller," and Cad Capehart's horse was "Lucy." Mr. Dunstan had a sulky race track at the Walt Miller Farm. They also raced between Speller's Ferry and Williamston at a place called "Conoho," on a track where Ghent is below the curved bridge. Much later they raced bicycles on this latter track. Also, carriage riding was a Sunday entertainment for the young and old.
It was during the first half of the eighteenth century that Windsor vicinity acquired a mansion, "Hope," and as Governor Stone's elegant country home, "Hope's" doors were flung open to Windsor gentry. "Hope's" house guests could enjoy the hospitality and warmth while Windsorites danced the horpipe, the jig and minuet. All night dances in "Hope's" ballroom were most exciting occasions.
During this same period of time, your third great-grandmother Jordan was an attendant in the fashionable wedding of Prudence and Jonathan Tayloe. Weddings were splendid affairs although most of them took place at home. The wedding feasts were real community affairs. Some brought roses, flowers, flat silver, table linen and many of the intimate friends came to stay to assist with decorating and planning the wedding feast. Wine, turkey, ham, chicken salad, jellies, pickles and such cakes were prepared. The bride's cake had hidden in its interior a gold ring. Each attendant tried to cut the piece of cake containing the ring.
Some years later after another wedding, Miss Prudence's son, David Tayloe, and his wife, Betty, had a house servant named Cymbry, who looked like an Indian girl. Cymbry could play by ear the popular music of the day, and many a gathering sang to the accompaniment of Cymbry such songs as "Molly Darling," "The Mocking Bird," "Juanita," Tom Moore's "Love Song," and "Ben Bolt."
Many years later, Mrs. Sessoms became famous for decorating for elaborate weddings, using garden scenes complete with gates and trellises as props. an one such wedding, her little granddaughter, Jennette, took the part of Cupid, pointing the bow and arrow toward the bride and groom. In the 1900's there was a depot (located where the FCX is now), and the weddings were held very early in the morning in order to catch the nine o'clock train to parts unknown.
In those days when Christmas came, love abounded and much secrecy prevailed as the grown folks and children made gifts for each other. On Christmas morning amidst hugs and kisses and holly and bamboo decorating every old portrait and clock hanging from the cornices and wrapping around the bannisters, turkey and ham steaming in the outside kitchens, families gave their treasured gifts of love and labor. Your great-great aunt, Kate Wheeler Cooper, was well known for her precious little gifts which she sewed and tatted all year 'round. Running to the house were the children calling "Christmas gift, ----; Christmas gift, ----." Oranges, never dreamed of except at Christmas, were treasured, sometimes for months before being eaten. As one Victorian custom of decorating a tree became more popular after the Civil War, families then placed a small tree in the center of the table and lighted it just before the blessing, thanking the Lord for food bountiful - beaten biscuits, hot rolls, Lady Baltimore cakes and fresh oranges!
Windsor, with the nearest railroad being sixty miles away, didn't play host to a circus until eight or ten years after the Civil War. Robinson's circus played the town with the usual attractions shown under tent between the Webb's (about where Cousin Mary Cooper lives now) and the Cashie. One of the clowns tried to find his "stolen" mare in Mr. Tom Heckstall's "thick white whiskers." Jokes like this and more about a murder at the circus can be found in Judge Winston's It's a Far Cry. All of you boys and girls must read this book! It tells about Jim Freeman bringing in a full-grown racoon bear to fight any two dogs, betting ten dollars on the winner. You will enjoy Judge Winston's story about shooting the gobbler, a favorite sport then and now. The catch was that no one succeeded in those days as an old gypsy woman played magic on the shooting.
A minstrel troupe was organized called the "Cashie Phunny Phellows" with Frank Winston and Charlie Gurley as end men; Charlie Shepherd, the banjo picker and Pat Winston clogged. This troupe also sang spirituals and gave plays. More often Confederate scenes were presented. Tournaments were another attraction, the knights bearing high sounding names, "Wilfred of Ivan hoe," etc. They, of course, had lances and dashed at a metal ring encased in cloth, suspended from poles. Tne knight securing the greatest number of rings won the honor of crowning the Oueen of Love and Beauty and of directing the ball, leading the first couple in the old Virginia Reel. Being elected queen was very much of an honor and brings to mind your Cousin Mary Askew Cooper who, when the town's people decided to have their own Carnival - fair, was elected queen. With this honor, she received a lovely diamond ring, but because of her Uncle Wilbert Askew's death, she had to choose a substitute to take her place in the ceremony. Miss Ruth Mardre (Lyon) was chosen and the festivities were continued.
The dances which were held between post civil war days and on into the early nineteen hundreds were lovely. There were card dances and everyone dressed in their best before going to the ballroom in the Tavern located on the corner of Dundee and King Streets. Your great-grandmother Lizzie attended as a spectator when she was nine years old in the early days. Then later on, the dances were held at Parker's Hall where they danced the minuet and performed the Quadrill to the music of the Naval Reserve Orchestra every Friday evening. "Winter Germans" were splendid dances attended by towns people and their house guests.
Time passed and Parker's Hall played host to the "Big Bazaar" put on by the ladies from St. Thomas Church. The Doll Wedding, featuring lavishly dressed brides, attendants and grooms, was the greatest attraction. The decorations were fascinating to the children of early l900's. Parker's Hall closed and Mr. R. C. Bazemore built an opera house. Mrs. Will King, town artist, painted the theatre curtains. Mrs. Rosa Winston, director and producer of outstanding drama using home talent, was referred to as "Queen of the opera." Everyone attended Mrs. Winston's benefit shows. In one of the plays, thirteen ballerinas performed, colorfully dressed in twos except for the thirteenth and center dancers dressed in white, who was your Aunt Lou Rascoe. As Mrs. Winston grew older and the plays were presented less often, silent moving pictures became the rage. Cousin Alice Outlaw accompanied the plays followed by Ethel Pierce and Betty Ferry accompanying the silent movies. Talkies then came in and Claude Pierce operated the movies where Edgar Harris' shop is now.
Across the street and upstairs was the old Armory where the Naval Reserve drilled and when they weren't drilling, it was used for a skating rink and dance hall for "the Germans." Dr.Pugh, "Peg-Leg-Boy Jones," and Captain James Wynns played for dances and wedding receptions. Cousin David Outlaw used to pick the banjo, and it is said that after one of his friends died, he would go stand over his grave at night and "pick" a few old favorites. (Perhaps Cousins Sam and Margie Worthington inherited his talent!)
Old Aunt Belie Pugh, who was a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church, managed a restaurant on Granville Street. Your great-great grandfather Rascoe, together with all the other planters, would meet there to eat and entertain each other. As Aunt Belie's food was considered delicious, it was quite a point of teasing for your Grandfather, as he always brought his lunch in a paper bag. After all the teasing he could endure, he would send them into roars of laughter when explaining that he was saving up to buy them out! Many of the men then 'stopped off at Jacock's well to get water and gossip and joke a little more before engaging in a little poker or chess.
Picnics, outingsand excursions were perhaps the most widely attended enjoyable family entertainment of all. There were week long boat excursions beginning at Quitsna on the "Haven Bell" and continuing to Mrs. Duncan Winston's cottage at Nags Head. Elegant seafood and hot rolls, the surf, fishing and climbing the dunes were enjoyed for several days before the return trip. (Your Cousins Mary Askew and John Cooper were engaged on Engagement Hill at Nags Head.) There were excursions from Speller's Ferry up the Roanoke, on the "Chowan" to the Albemarle Sound, on "the Mayflower" to Plymouth, and back on the "Myrtle," "the Bertie," and other private yachts. Folks packed delightful picnic lunches and after the eating was done and the boat had landed, wonderful games took place--"Hide and Seek," "Fox-in-the-War," "Rise Sheep and Fly," "Fruit Basket Change" and dancing and playing the "Shoe-Duck," your Aunt Lew Sutton tells.
Picnics were not just limited to boat excursions, but many all-day affairs were held on land too. There were church groups and family groups having all-day picnics at "Rosefield," at "Windsor Castle," at "Scotch Hall," at Tayloe Farm, at Cooper's Hill, at Speller Farm, at the George Coopers', at the Cherrys', at "Cedar Hill," at "Liberty Hall,'l at "Avoca," at "Elmwood," at Blanchard's, at "Thunderbolt," Capehart's Fishery, at Stoney Creek and at Woodville and Roxobel! Mrs. Maggie Askew Darden organized a music club naming it ''Shamanade" in honor of a composer. Every April when the fish ran, Mrs. Darden would engage a large wagon and two mules to transport the music club members to Capehart's Fishery, leaving no later than six a.m. to spend the day. This excursion was the high light of the season for Windsor's young people. Dr. Capehart was such an elegant host and made everyone welcome. Other annual affairs in the early nineteen hundreds were the Mason's and Cashie Baptist picnics at Stoney Creek, the Easter Egg Rolls and Hunts at "Rosefield" and Winston Hill, and Old Soldier's Day which was always celebrated on August 5th. Big bands came and out-of-town guests entertained as the Governor came all the way down from Raleigh for the occasion.
Children, how you would have jumped up and down when the Showboat came to anchor where Todd's Bait Shop now stands. Such a splendid old riverboat she was with music and talent swelling her decks. Another favorite which all your grandparents enjoyed was the "Chatauqua," an outstanding talent show which traveled out of Lake Chatauqua, New York. This was first-class entertainment, running a week with matinee and evening performances. Folks bought seasonal tickets and everyone attended who could possibly arrange to be present.
Fish fries were an all-time favorite, and if you will close your eyes, I'11 wager you can picture a crowd of your ancestors gathered at Quitsna Landing, at Capehart's, etc. The fish were fried and spread out along with picnic baskets from home. In present day, the fries and barbecues at Siloam Church, at Green's Cross, at Uncle Lewis Rascoe's, at Thompson's, at Eden House and at Bal Grey can be compared.
Keeping your eyes closed, watch Dr. Will Jacocks managing Charlie Lyon, Dr. Henry Lyon, Peter Gillam, Rhinehart Freeman, Pat White, Tom Gillam, Clyde Freeman and others in championship baseball. In later years, Rurgess Whitehead played for the St. Louis Cardinals (and squired Talulah Bankhead to parties!)· Baseball has remained the favorite team sport in Windsor. The Albemarle League games drew great crowds but none so great as the Windsor Tar Heel Little League with its own Davis Park, named for your friend and coach, Tom Davis. How proud Windsor is of this park which provides enter- tainment for hundreds of girls and boys. You must also be very proud of your most excellent Bertie High band under the direction of Ronald Hess, truly the best music Windsor has every had of its very owni
Hunting and fishing were, are and will be the very most popular entertainment of all. Every one of your grandfathers have adored these sports and little has changed in this area in two hundred years. Some families (as is still done) raised quail as they would chickens and ducks.
Dancing continued to be a most popular pastime before and during the second World War. The armory now became "over Hampton's" (Hampton Brett's store) and he himself was a source of fun as John Lewis Ferry, C. J. Rhea, Jr,, and Cooper Ferry had been the fun boys before him, and preceding this trio had been the Speller boys who had a band and played for dances at Indian Woods School.
Later many big name bands came to town and many fine dances were held up over Rhea's garage. Both of your grandmothers danced at these dances and the early 19?0's was the time for the popular "storm parties." A crowd of young folks would "storm" one of the crowd's house and have a big sugar stew. Oh, sugar stews have been a delightful entertainment for generations! A popular gathering place was Claude Pierce's mother's. A young gentleman would choose his lady friend and away they'd pull stewed sugar until it was white as snow and ready to harden, be cut and eaten! Dancing almost always followed sugar stews.
An event of more than state-wide importance was held in Windsor January, 1927, when a Peanut Exposition was held at which the exhibit of Dr. George Washington Carver, noted Negro chemist, was placed on display. He had invented more than two hundred fifty products ranging from fine perfume to shoe polish from the lowly peanut or goober. There was also featured at the Peanut Exposition a beauty pageant presenting beauty queens from many Eastern North Carolina counties and Suffolk, Virginia.
Also during the late twenties and thirties Eden House Beach was the gathering and partying place for Windsor folks. Each year the Masons had a tremendous picnic, elected a beauty queen and had a swell affair. Of course, there was bathing, sailing and dancing to bands twice a week up over the bath house. Several families rented cottages from Mr. John Bell and much fun was had by all. Liles and Dick Gatling, Betty and Phillip Ferry, Shepherd Mizelle (ancestor of the banjo picker, Charlie Shepherd) and Harold White had a grand band which played every Monday night.
After the war, the swinging spot was the Veteran's Club called "the
Pines" on Highway 17. Especially memorable were the Costume Balls at
Holloween. Since that time, Windsor has proudly built its own Cashie Golf
and Country Club. The most widely attended affairs in the '60's have been
the annual Hospital Charity Balls and the "Hope Ball," a formal gala affair
recently given as a benefit to restore "Hope" mansion. House guests came
from far and near as they will for the Bicentennial Ball this year. The
ladies will wear lovely copies of two hundred year old gowns and the
gentlemen will wear tails, and you, my delights in life, will be at home
dreaming of all of the old stories of fun which you have read of in this
sketch of entertainment. Don't ever grow too old to dream, and have your-
selves extraordinary good times so that you can grow up to add so much more
to this incomplete work. You must know that without Aunt Lou Rascoe Fearing,
Aunt Lew Bond Sutton, Cousin Mary Askew Cooper, "Miss" Kate Bell, Cousin
"T" Bell, Fred Dunstan, Cousin Virginia Gillam, Uncle Lewis and Aunt Rachel
Ferry, Aunt Sally Davenport, Cousin Ethel Cherry and Judge Winston's, It's
A Far Cry, this couldn't have been put down for you to read and to keep
in your memories.
In His Love for Each One of You,
Nancy Dawson Rascoe
The steamboat Bertie leaves Widsor for Plymouth every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon and return on the same day.
The mayor of Windsor should if necessary employ 100 policemen to keep order at our public speakings. The day has passed for rowdyism and disorder at public gatherings
We think that Christians should try to deny themselves, the use of tobacco while at church. Remove the spitoons from your churches, or put more.
Mitchell: This township gives evidence of material prosperity. Messrs. Dunning and Matthews are erecting a handsome store at Harmons X Roads. Also a steam mill and cotten gin to be run by steam.
The corn crop is unusually good in our county, especially about Lewiston and Roxobel.
Soon the steamer Bertie leaves for Nags Head. The trip will consume three days. Fare for the round trip is $5.
C. T. Harden - This enterprising citizen is rebuilding his Coach Shop. If we had fifty men in Windsor like Mr. Harden, the old town would hum like a top, we would go ahead so fast.
The boys around Roxobel know exactly how to treat a man. We are glad to notice many signs of thrift and improvement in the little village.
Frank Winston - This gentleman has a good school at Lewiston. You cannot do better than to send your children to him.
All honor to Pell Mell. May every man in it live a hundred years, and may every year be full of happiness and prosperity.
Mr. W. A. Barbour is getting up a petition to establish a post office at Burden's Mill in Bertie Conty. We trust that he may be successful in the undertaking. The people around the mill are a hard working, honest and intelligent people and ought by all means to have a post office.
Editorial - Our exchanges sometime copy our editorials without giving us credit. Brothers we don' make any money, give us credit for our brains.
Money is scarce in Windsor when we left here last week. There was one dollar and seventy cents in town by actual count. We are happy to say however that we brought back enough to increase the pile to two dollars.
We learn that Peter Holder has ginned eight bales of cotton and by the end of this week will run up to 10 or 12 bales. He took the lead and is keeping it. His motto is "clear the track, the cars are in motion."
Sentimental - A varety of flowers, gerraniums, a speciality, sweet odorous and fishy, out of, and in season, carefully handled and in good keeping, the property of an absent - oh! - friend, al will soon be disposed of at auction if the owner don't return soon and claim property. For further information apply at the Windsor Harness establishment.
An effort is being made to rebuild the enclosure of the Episcopal Church yard in this place. The area of space used for a cemetery is very large, consequently the cost will be heavy. All those who feel an interest in the memory of the loved ones resting there, should contribute liberally. For so commendable an object bespeak the cheerful and liberal contributions of a christian people. D. C. Winston, Esq., is authorized to receive contibutions for the purposes named above, the work of which is much needed.
The senior and his lady left today, the latter on a visit to her family in Pittsburg, Pa., and the former accompanyig her as far as Norfolk. The Junior and - and - no not exactly, left also, for his fall stock of goods - so we editors left behind will have a good time for a few days.
A horse, standing hitched to a cart in front of our office, run away on Tuesday last, cleaning the streets generally of pedestrians with no lives lost and no cart broken which sad catastrophe we have to chronicle.
Capt. John H. Hall is making every preparation to secure the comfort of his guests during Court week. Good beds and square meals will be the order of the day. Stop with him.
Mose Muggins of Woodville is not an irritable man; very far from it. But when he found the next morning, that the rabbit which his thoughtful heir little Muggins had put into one of his new 10 dollar boots the night before, had eaten his way out at the foot, the naturally placid and serene temperament of Mr. Muggis was considerably disturbed. So was Tommy in a very few minutes thereafter.
Little Johnny Scoggins of Roxobel is not naturally and iquisitive boy, he does not even possess what adoring parents call an inquiring mind. And yet the temptation which came upon him the other day while inspecting a mud turtle to feel and see in what part of that unique animal the head is located, was too natural to be resisted. Johnny was greatly assisted in his laudable enterprise by the surprising action of the turtle which seemed to be able to locate the precise position of Johnny's finger without the slightest difficulty.
The people in Bertie who always have money are those who work hard and do not come to town every Saturday.
It has been so long since the town authorities met that we are disposed to think that they are almost lost. Or is it possible that there is nothing for them to do. That's it we'll bet.
We hear people frequently say that they wish there was more people living in Windsor. Where would they live is the question? There is not a house in the town for rent. We are sure that there would be at least ten more families in town next year, than it is could they get houses.
What we need is more houses let those who own vacant lots build. Our enterprising townsman Charlie Harden owns one good lot to build on, Dr. Gillan, Dr. Dunstan and Mr. Geo. Gray, each have a good building lot. Now gentleman, if you want people to come, build houses and rhe people will not be wanting many days.
Married at the Hermitage the residenc of Dr. A. W. Mebane in this county, on the 24th by Edward Hardy, Esq., Mr. David Gaskins Jr. to Miss Ellen Cook.
Some fellow stole two dozen boxes of matches from the shop of our townsman John S. Shepherd on Monday last. That thief is in a hurry to get his brimstone.
R.R.R. - Radway's Ready Rekuef cures the worst pains in from one to 20 minutes. Not one hour after reading this advertisement need any one suffer with pain radway's ready relief is a cure for every pain, It was the first and is the only pain remedy.
Barber Saloon - Shaving, hair cutting, shampooing, and all other work pertaining to the tonsorial art done in the latest style and most comfortable manner at Issac Lee's Barber Shop on main Street WIndsor, next door to J. W. Hal's Hotel. To the public - I have opened a first class barber shop at Windsor. I learned my trade in Philadelphia and can do my work as well as any man. My terms are shaving 10 cents, shampooing 25 cents and hair cutting 25 cents. Try me. I guarantee satisfaction. Issac Lee.
Who are the friends of progress? Let them come to the railroad meeting.
We want a railroad, if we can't get that let us have a telegraph.
Mr. B.H. Levy has moved his cigar factory to a larger building on Main Street. He is now turning out some first class cigarettes.
Bicycles for sale at Millers. Mr. Joseph Nichols of Avoka killed a large bear one day last week. We have been told it weight 180 pounds.
Bertie Has more pretty girls than any county in North Carolina. What would our country become without pretty women.
"Family medicine" well known and extensively used for 20 years as Worthington's cholea and diarrhea medicine.
We still lived on my dad's old homeplace in the heart of Pell Mell at that time. We moved into Windsor about two years later (lot #23 at end of street) and my dad opened a grocery store on King Street just a few doors from the Rascoe Store and the hospital and another few doors from the old Windsor Pharmacy. We lived on Dundee Street just a block from the courthouse. I guess since it was so convenient, the sheriff used to come to our house and take me to the courthouse to "draw the names for serving jury." This lasted until sometime while I was in the first grade. The Windsor Elementary School was just a block from the courthouse in the opposite direction of my home. They would come to school and get me out to go draw the jury. One day, I drew my dad's name and exclaimed: "That's my dad!" Well, that ended my jury drawing. They realized I could now read.
Just about the time I was getting of age to start to school, World War II was getting underway. King Street, which ran through the heart of Windsor, was US Highway 17 and was a main North/South artery. I can recall military convoys coming through town all day. And then there were the blackouts and the airplane watch tower over top of Hampton Britt's old grocery store. Buses, which were the main mode of public transportation in that area, were packed with soldiers and sailors. We even, at one point, had a POW camp at the edge of town. Italian and German prisoners were used for farm labor in the area.
Windsor had two pharmacies: The Windsor Pharmacy, operated by William P. Gurley, and Pugh's Pharmacy, operated by a Mr. Pugh. Everyone called them Dr. Gurley and Dr. Pugh, although they were just pharmacist. The Windsor Pharmacy had a great soda fountain and was one of the earliest places to have air conditioning. There was both a Roses 5 and 10 and a Whites 5 and 10 on King Street. Then, of course, there was the movie theater (Palace), where I used to sit in the cool on a hot Saturday afternoon and watch westerns all afternoon, at least until I started cooking and selling popcorn for the theater. Bicket Johnson ran "Bicket's," a local teen hangout for meeting and eating. And then there were the Western Auto, Goldstein's Department Store, Davis Jewelry Store, the Post Office, at least two barber shops, Bunn's Barbecue (which is still a great place to get barbecue, although Bunn has long been dead), Mr. Essie's Shoe Shop, the Bank of Windsor (lot 28), Pritchett's Law Office, Town Hall and volunteer firehouse (lot 30) all in one (with the library over the firehouse), and several grocery stores. Byrd and Walker had a furniture business, as well as Bruce Cobb. In the late 30's and at least through the 40's, there were two livery stables in town and one blacksmith shop. A Hessie Morris ran one of the livery stables and he and my dad used to find time to play checkers with each other. The blacksmith shop was run by a Mr. Aubrey Davis. As early as I can recall, Mr. Davis was deaf; and in later years he lost his voice box to cancer, yet he kept on working.
The schools were segregated in those days. The main black school was, I believe, named W.P. Etheridge. The whites first went to Windsor Elementary, located beside Cashie Baptist Church, and then to Windsor High, at the northern edge of town at the end of King Street. Neither is standing today. There were other elementary schools in the county that funneled students into Windsor at about the eight grade level.
Being the county seat, court week was always a big event. The town would be filled up with mules and carts (I can still recall hitching posts in the back alleys) and those early model cars. The town would be full of people practically all week.
The Cashie Baptist Church ended up at about Lot 134/135 and the Windsor Elementary School was right beside it at lot 136. The entire block, from 90 through 96 were Rascoe family homes. Across the street were a couple of Mardre dwellings.
It's funny how you can recall certain things so vividly. There were at least three artesian wells that I can remember. One was on the corner of Dundee and King right beside the courthouse. It ran cold water all the time and it was really good. Then there was one about three-fourths of the way from my home to the high school (about a mile from my home). It was great rest spot. None of these wells exist today.
There is so much more and I could go on, but this is enough. It was a great
town to grow up in and I have always felt pride at being from Bertie County,
although I have not lived there for 49 years.