Edenton, NC

It’s the strangest thing to arrive somewhere, fall into bed, and wake during the night wondering, “Where am I?” And the truth is, at that hour – I don’t know. I haven’t been to shore yet to have any idea where “here” is.

Today’s goal was to answer that question.

A good place to start, it seemed, was the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center.

Penelope Barker is credited with organizing the first political action by women in western cultures, when 51 women signed a petition resolving not to buy or use British goods on which they had to pay taxes. We walked through the house’s rooms and collections, Dobbs bought a book – “Give Me a Fast Ship” by Tim McGrath, and we picked up a brochure for a self-guided tour of the town.

We scootered over to the Cotton Mill Museum, which is open only on Saturdays from 11am-2pm. The original cotton mill has been converted into condos…

…and the former office, across the street, houses the museum. We learned about the mill and especially about the mill village, a rural-styled plot of about 70 tract cottages, built to entice farmers to cast off the plow and create new lives as mill workers.

We scootered each of the five blocks in order to see all of the cottages.

The hour was nearing lunchtime as we headed back to Grace via East Queen Street, with a stop at the oldest house in NC. On the outside it looks no different than other unrestored houses in the neighborhood.

Only when repair work began did craftsmen note heavy hand-hewn beams fastened with wooden pegs. Scientists were brought in to date the structure and begin archaeological exploration. Peering in through the glass panes in the front door, we could see that the interior was stripped back to the framing. Notes regarding the ages and shapes of the house’s various additions were tacked to studs.

We continued on, turning left on Court Street and pausing at the Old Jail so Dobbs could try on the stocks.

Rather than pelt him with vegetables as was the custom, I finally got around to making lunch.

While we ate, we discussed the weather and a plan for upcoming days. We’ll stay here through Sunday and then sail 15nm across the sound to Plymouth, on Monday morning.

After lunch, we completed the remainder of the tour.