lakelife 2021
Lake Gaston
BORN TO BE ‘WILD’
Looking for adventure with the Aqua Chicks
JENNY CAKES
10 THINGS TO KNOW
Building a bakery About Historic Halifax from scratch
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inside Lakelife Lake Gaston | Vol. 2 | 2021
4 How we can learn from history in Halifax
22 The lake’s new bakery
6 I love being a WACky Chick!
28 Design a dream outdoor entertaining space
14 The Day the WACs saved my life
30 Summer flashback
18 Photos by Nancy Clayton Moorefield
35 10 things to know about Historic Halifax
20 Snapshot of nature by Nancy Clayton Moorefield
Lakelife Lake Gaston is published quarterly by Womack Publishing Company and Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer. Ad Executive: Heather Abbott ads@lakegastongazette-observer.com 252-213-3520 Graphic Design: Amanda Meadows LakeLife Design: Hope Callahan LakeGastonGazetteObserver
Photographers: Kellen Holtzman, Nancy Clayton Moorefield, Hope Callahan, Lea Beazley, Brenda Spragins, Mary-Rose Woodward, Paige Stanton and Kennedy Buechner Writers: Lea Beazley and Kellen Holtzman @lakegastongo
Cover Photo: Kellen Holtzman Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer 378 Lizard Creek Road Littleton, NC 27850 252-586-2700 lakegastongazette-observer.com © 2021 Womack Publishing Co.
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How we can learn from history in Halifax By KELLEN HOLTZMAN Twice in recent months, I listened to the oft-repeated phrase “Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Both times, I heard it in Halifax County; once at the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum, and again at Historic Halifax. Halifax is the focus of one of our stories in this edition of Lakelife. I made my first trip there on March 31 and took an abbreviated walking tour of the town with historical interpreter Kristal Murphy. Bottom line: If you enjoy history, Halifax is a place you should make time for. And if you don’t appreciate history? Well, that points to what may be a fundamental problem in our society. History, as the aforementioned tagline indicates, is not just a subject in school. It is imperative that we learn about the past. It shouldn’t just be a hobby; it’s essential to understand who we are and how we got here, in both the literal and figurative senses. Many chapters in American history are not worth celebrating, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be examined and remembered. Historic Halifax is shining a light on that idea by hosting events like “Seeking Liberty in Halifax,” which recounted the experience for colonial slaves during the time of the Revolution. Freedom from England wasn’t extended to everyone equally and there’s no sense in ignoring that fact. What good is history if it’s not objective? This shouldn’t mean denigrating American colonial life. It means understanding it. And there aren’t many better places to do that in this country than Halifax. Instead of reading about history and having to picture what happened in your head, you can feel it in Halifax. You can see it in the buildings and you can hear it in your footsteps as you walk along old wooden floors. You can stand where George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette and William R. Davie once did. The U.S. population is about 130 times larger than it was at the time when the Halifax Resolves declared independence for North Carolina. Our astoundingly vast and globally influential nation now stretches past the Appalachians, through the plains and Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. You can take a leisurely stroll around Halifax, visit the old jail or tavern, and be reminded that this is one of the places where the ethos of independence from the British crown was born. This mood, which almost seems tangible in Halifax, eventually led to modern democracy. School field trips to Halifax aren’t as commonplace as they once were. They aren’t in the budget in every district. And that’s a shame because there are lessons to be learned there that are much greater than remembering dates and names for a test. I discussed with Murphy how our current culture of politics compared to the era of the Revolution. It seems today there is left and right, and little in between. Back then, Murphy posited, the statesmen of Halifax had their differences, too. Davie was a Federalist while fellow Halifax resident and revolutionary Willie (pronounced Wylie) Jones did not favor a strong central government. Jones, who owned dozens of slaves on a large plantation, was instrumental in the ultimate passage of the Bill of Rights. “And that was something that was important in the Revolutionary period,” Murphy said, “is that they were able to work together and come together.” There’s a lesson we should hang on to.
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Having fun at Tanglewood Shores during the summer of 2020. Pictured front to back: Lea Beazley, MaryRose Woodward, Michele Orff, and Kelley Hall. Photo by Brenda Spragins. 6
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The WACs “Founding Four” at WatersView Restaurant. L-R: Gin Lang, Loretta Patton, Sheila Taylor, and Paige Stanton. Photo by a WatersView server.
By LEA BEAZLEY About the WACs (Wild Aqua Chicks) wonderful, friendly group of ladies known as the Wild Aqua Chicks (WACs), explore the lake together on their personal watercrafts (PWCs) through the summer months. Typically beginning in late May, they meet for lunch every week and then ride on the waters of Lake Gaston. WACs are similar to another Lake Gaston jet ski group called the Flying Aqua Babes, or FABS. The difference is there is no waiting list to be a WAC because the group is too small to need one. That could change, however, if WAC fever keeps spreading! I have been a WACs member since July 2019 when I emailed the “unofficial” group leader, Paige Stanton, and asked her if I could join. Paige enthusiastically welcomed me to the group, and that Thursday I took my inaugural ride with them. We met at The Pointe for lunch first. I nervously docked my Sea-Doo at the boat slip and then walked into the restaurant where I enjoyed a surprisingly relaxed, pleasant lunch with 10 lovely women. They were all so open and genuine! I remember thinking, “I could seriously hang out with these ladies.” After lunch, we went for a fun ride into Pea Hill Creek. The ladies slowed down before approaching bridges and culverts so their PWCs didn’t create a wake, raised their hands high in the air to let those behind them know they
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were slowing, and checked to be sure all riders had caught up with the group before taking off again. They even had one rider designated stay in the back of the group and one in front at all times to make sure everyone was okay. “These ladies really look out for each other,” I thought. The History of the WACs … It All Started in 2015 The WACs began in the summer of 2015 as the result of a few women taking water aerobics at Tanglewood Shores. “This was my first summer at Lake Gaston,” said Paige. “I had bought a used Polaris PWC and wanted to learn to ride it well in the company of other ladies. I had only rented one before.” Paige overheard Sheila Taylor talking to two other members of the water aerobics group, Iris Fisher and Loretta Patton, about going jet skiing, and Paige asked if she and Virginia “Gin” Lang could join them. The rest is history, as they say. Although Iris was only able to ride with the ladies a couple of times that summer, the other four, who called themselves “The Founding Four,” rode their PWCs together every week. Weather permitting, every Thursday afternoon they met at a previously chosen restaurant on Lake Gaston where they enjoyed a lovely meal with lots of laughter, and then decided which creek they would explore that day.
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A July 2019 WACs ride. Front: Anna Stephenson; Right: Vonnie Rasnick; Back: unknown. Photo by Lea Beazley.
“Since my first jet ski was old and prone to stall, Sheila and Gin would always look out for me,” said Paige. “We had so much fun!” T he Sum m er of 2016 Throughout the summer of 2016, “The Founding Four” rode together while Sheila and Paige waited to make it to the top of the FABS two-year waiting list. “We joked about how we would start our own, friendly rival group,” said Paige. (The FABS ride together every Tuesday. The waiting list came to exist out of necessity; the group needed to limit its numbers for courtesy and safety reasons. I made it to the top of the FABS list in 2019 and enjoy that group very much as well.)
Sev eral WACs at G aston P ointe af ter riding nearb y on August 28 , 2020. O n the picnic tab le, M ary Brennan and L ea Beazl ey; Standing, L -R: Cindy Booth, L ori D ob son, M elanie Watkins, Sheila T aylor, N ancy Veeck, D eb b ie T ripp, G in L ang, N ancy K elley-Cram , and N ancy D elb ridge. Photo by MaryRose Woodward. 8
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T he Sum m ers of 2017 and 2018 “Because the WACs ride on a different day than the FABS, some of the FABS found out about us and either joined in on our rides or referred their friends who were on the FABS waiting list to us,” said Paige. The WACs were beginning to grow! “Our only rules were: 1) Have fun, and 2) Be safe,” said Paige. “We also instituted many of the rules the FABS have such as having one leader in front and one follower to help those who can’t keep up, and riding with partners to watch out for each other, which came naturally to most.”
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These gals are having way too much fun! L-R, clockwise: Mary Brennan, Gin Lang, Michele Orff, Paige Stanton, and Nancy Veeck. Photo by Mary-Rose Woodward.
The Summer of 2019 The WACs membership “really bloomed in 2019 when my name and contact were incorrectly put on the newly-formed Lake Gaston Community Information Facebook page as the FABS representative. As each person contacted me, I gave them the name of the correct contact person for FABS, but I also told them about the WACs,” said Paige. “Anna Stephenson, who lives in Macon, North Carolina, was also was a great recruiter for the south side of the lake.” The Summer of 2020 By the summer of 2020, the WACs had grown from the “Founding Four” to over 35 members. “We didn’t go out to eat because of COVID, but we brought our own lunch and safely distanced ourselves,” said Paige. “It was great just being outdoors with our friends enjoying the lake and socializing.” “I somehow volunteered for sending out the emails and making a contact list, but I don’t consider myself the leader,” said Paige. “Gin, Sheila and I are the remaining original members because Loretta injured her back. I guess you could call us ‘The Thriving Three,’” she joked. About the WAC’s Color, Name, and Logo Regarding the WAC’s “official color,” Paige said, “The color of our shirts couldn’t be pink since the FABS already use that color, so we agreed on aqua blue.” In regard to the name, Paige added, “I didn’t know it at the time, but our water aerobics group called itself the ‘Aqua Chicks’ and that name fit the color we chose. Trying to think of a cute acronym that tied into that, I came up with WACs or ‘Wild Aqua Chicks,’ since we all liked to have fun like wild and crazy women.”
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The original WAC logo as designed by Paige Stanton in 2015. She tweaked the design in 2019 because people kept asking her what W.A.C. stood for.
Mary-Rose Woodward sporting her new, redesigned WACs tank top while riding with Lea Beazley after a gathering near Holly Grove on July 16, 2020. Photo by Paige Stanton. LAKELIFE 2021
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Paige then got busy creating a logo that would combine the two meanings of the word “chick,” a baby chicken and a young girl, and also embody what the group is about: riding jet skis. She came up with a design that depicts a Wild Aqua Chick bursting out of its shell while riding a jet ski. Paige got her inspiration for the WACs logo from the logo of a group of World War II female pilots called the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP for short. She had learned of the group from her husband Jeff, who is into all things aviation. “These women had moxie!” exclaimed Paige. The ladies loved Paige’s design, so she had tank tops made with the unique WAC design on them. Every new member can purchase a shirt with the WAC logo on the
back and her name embroidered on the front. The WACs have another similarity to the FABS. While the FABS have members that no longer ride that are called “Land FABS,” the WACs have members who don’t ride but meet on Thursdays for lunch. “We call them the ‘Dirt WACs,’” joked Paige. The Summer of 2021 I am really looking forward to many fun, safe rides with the WACs in 2021. With any luck, the COVID restrictions will be totally lifted, and the Dirt WACs will feel comfortable joining us for lunches at area restaurants again. Everyone is excited about that possibility!
Several of the WACs at the Shady Shack Grill and Flip Flops Bar after a ride into Poplar Creek on August 6, 2020. Clockwise, beginning front left: Gayle Kennard, Mary-Rose Woodward, Nancy Veeck, Joyce Heller, Patty Talley, and Sheila Taylor. Photo by Shady Shack server. LAKELIFE 2021
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The Day the WACs Saved My Life
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By LEA BEAZLEY
almost lost my life one day last summer. It was a perfect, sunny Thursday in early September when my WACs jet ski friends jumped into action to save me from drowning. Literally! I remember nothing of the incident (which I find kind of creepy, but for which I am also grateful), so I asked Virginia “Gin,” Lang, the amazing woman who was the first to come to my rescue, to tell me exactly what happened on that day. In her exact words, this is how Gin explained it: I am almost not sure where to begin in sharing my story about this beautiful, but terrifying, Thursday in early September. Twelve WACs met at MM 16 [north of Six Pound Creek], planning to ride to the Kerr Lake Dam, with a return to Corona Beach [located near MM 16 east of Great Creek near Holly Grove Estates] for a COVID-safe picnic lunch. Usually on our rides, you are the picture taker and I ride in the back to make sure no one has a problem. We rode to the dam, then floated downstream resting and talking. Upon starting up again, Nancy Kelley-Cram’s machine wouldn’t start, so Joyce Heller towed her ski to Steel Bridge Boat Landing [located on the uppermost end of Lake Gaston], and Paige Stanton gave Nancy a ride on her PWC to the boat landing, where Nancy’s husband arrived with a trailer to haul the broken PWC home. Meanwhile, the rest of the group had taken off, planning to stop again at the I-85 bridge to allow everyone to catch up before heading downstream for lunch at Corona Beach. For whatever reason, I was not in the back, like I normally am. There were three riders behind me. I kept checking my mirrors for the three riders behind me. Always three. Then I looked again and saw two. Checked again and saw two. Turned my head around and saw two! I turned my machine around and still saw only two! Debbie Tripp stopped with me, and we proceeded to ride back upstream. Upon heading upstream, I noticed a Sea-Doo so we headed toward it. I realized it was you and figured you had stopped to take a picture (or go pee)! As I got to your ski, I saw you in the water face down. You were not moving. I jumped off my ski, let it float away, swam to you and turned you over, yelling to Debbie for help. I started CPR in the water. With a terrific current, it was more like the Heimlich maneuver. Your face and lips were blue, and you were not responding. I continued CPR until I physically had to stop. Debbie took over and continued CPR until you began to groan. At that point, Kelley Hall reached us on her ski and began yelling at the closest home to try to get help. Homeowner Kim Smiley, who was on her deck, heard her yelling, came out and called 911 as instructed by Kelley. Kelley
The final ride of the WACs 2020 season on September 24, 2020. Picture L-R: Gin Lang, Anna Stephenson, Paige Stanton, Debbie Tripp, Nancy Veeck, and Nancy Kelley-Cram. Photo by Lea Beazley.
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My hero and friend, Virginia “Gin” Lang, who was the first one to come to my rescue on September 3, 2020. Photo by Lea Beazley. then jumped off of her ski to help us. Since you were groaning, the three of us started to swim you back to Kim’s dock. The current was stronger than us though. At this point, Sheila Taylor arrived on her ski, threw us a tow rope, and began to pull us to Kim’s dock. I was exhausted at this point and realized I was hindering progress to the dock, so I said “I’m letting go of the rope. I have my life jacket on. I will float. Just send someone to get me later and GO!” They got you to Kim’s dock. Michele Orff, another rider that day, then got to us. She saw me floating by and thought there were two emergencies. She grabbed my lifejacket as I floated by her. We were struggling to get to shore when Sheila got to us with the rope and towed us to Kim’s dock. At that point, you were breathing but not conscious. We continued to keep you cool and tried to get you to respond to us. First responders from SHVFD arrived and got you up the hill to the waiting Southside Rescue Squad ambulance. You never fully came to … just flaying arms and groaning. Meanwhile, Paige and Joyce [who had rescued Nancy], were
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headed back upstream to catch up with the group. They noticed several jet skis floating and thought the ladies had stopped to swim but then saw several WACs on Kim’s dock waving them over. One of them asked Paige to locate Brenda Spragins to call my husband Bert. (Some of them knew Bert was Brenda’s cousin so she would have his phone number.) Paige found Brenda, Diane Dreikorn, and Nancy Veeck near the I-85 bridge totally unaware of what was happening because they had decided to stay with Diane who was running low on gas. Paige let them know what was happening to you and the four of them started heading back to Kim’s dock. Along the way, they [with the help of a boat full of helpful gentlemen who had seen them drifting], collected five loose jet skis and towed them back to Kim’s dock. The ambulance driver asked Brenda which hospital she wanted you taken to: the one in South Hill or a different one. Knowing about your pre-existing health condition, Brenda asked them to fly you to Duke Hospital in Durham. The emergency crew drove you to Bracey to meet the helicopter which medivacked you to Duke.
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The photo taken by the South Hill Volunteer Department that appeared on their Facebook page on September 3, 2020, the day of my rescue. The post read: “At 13:15 PM, Company 7 was dispatched to the Bracey Slip-In to assist Southside Rescue Squad and Lake Gaston First Responders with setting up a Landing Zone for an inbound Duke Life Flight Helicopter. Thanks for the quick response Duke Life Flight, always a pleasure working with you all.” Photo courtesy of the South Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Gin finished her story by saying: MANY things [miraculously] fell into place to help in your rescue. • My F/A medical training. (Gin is a retired American Airlines flight attendant who was CPR certified for 35 years.) • Debbie’s medical training. (Debbie is a recently-retired nurse practitioner, and this was her first ride with the WACs.) • Kim [the homeowner with the dock] happened to be home and was very capable. Also, Kim’s dock had a “doggie” ramp to slide you out of the water. What dock has a slimy ramp? Almost NONE! • Sheila, who had never carried an attached stern rope before, had one with her that day. • Kim’s boathouse was the last one before a LONG houseless [and dockless] distance before the I-85 bridge. • The cold water (it is always colder upstream) was also a positive. • Your strong physical condition. What a Miracle Wow! What a crazy story! So much happening during ONE ride yet these ladies worked together to help everyone! I am so impressed and totally grateful! I remember nothing after Nancy Kelley-Cram’s PWC wouldn’t start, except for waking up briefly in the Duke Life Flight helicopter, turning my head and seeing Lake Gaston below me. Apparently I will go to some REALLY EXTREME measures to get a free ride in a helicopter! Hee hee. I spent one night at Duke University Hospital and was sent home the next day. The doctors weren’t sure why I passed out. Initially they thought I may have had a seizure, but they couldn’t find any evidence of that, so they officially diagnosed me with
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“orthostatic hypotension” and sent me home on an anti-seizure medication just in case I did have a seizure. I didn’t know what orthostatic hypotension was, so I Googled it. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Orthostatic hypotension – also called postural hypotension – is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Orthostatic hypotension can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even cause you to faint.” Perhaps I stood up too quickly to take a photo of my fellow WACs enjoying themselves or to take a photo of something awesome in nature. I don’t know. Getting Back on the Horse Before venturing out on my Sea Doo again, I needed to reassure myself and the other WACs that I could safely ride. In addition to taking my anti-seizure pill twice daily, I purchased a “self-righting” life jacket. The jacket will turn me face-up should I ever fall face-first into the water again. It has a buoyant headrest and is a type V lifejacket intended for whitewater rafting. It looks like the type you might buy for a baby, only in adult size. I think this type of PFD is a good idea for any rider that is “getting up there in the years,” or struggles with health issues. You never know what could happen. This information seemed to satisfy both me and my fellow WACs, so I joined on our final ride of the season on September 24, 2020. I felt like I had to “get back on that horse” before I lost my nerve. I’m glad I did, but I will admit, I was a nervous wreck the whole time. Lessons Learned Later, when I asked Paige to reflect on that day and what we
all learned from it, aside from the normal PWC operating safety information, she replied: • NEVER RIDE ALONE! (Can you imagine what would have happened if I had been alone that day?) • Thankfully, Kim had also posted the new 911 Task Force Location Card on her dock. If we would have had to call 911 on our own, this card would have provided the correct location information for first responders. (To get a Location Card of your own, enter “LKG 911 Community Task Force” on Facebook or go to their website at rural911taskforce.com to request one. Their website also provides informative information about their mission and latest initiatives.) • Get certified in CPR. You never know when you might need it. The LKG 911 Community Task Force will be coordinating CPR classes (or contact your local fire department as many area fire departments are already offering CPR classes). • Carry your driver’s license with you, as well as any essential medical information, and an emergency contact name and number in case someone needs it. • Have your cell phone on your person at all times and in a waterproof case. Those who jumped off their PWCs that day to help had left them in their jet skis which floated away. Had Kim not been home, it would have taken much longer for us to call
911. • Download the free “what3words” app to your iPhone or Android cell phone. The app will help others pinpoint your location so they can relay this information to the 911 dispatcher you call 911. • Have a rope tied to the back of your PWC that is ready to go – not just inside the front hatch – as well as one tied to the front. (I was worried about this recommendation because I was afraid I might suck the rope into my impeller until a friend told me about a product that will keep this from happening. It is called Command™ Cord Bundler, item number 17304, and it keeps your rope organized and safely out of the way. The cord bundler attaches to your PWC with a piece of double-sided 3M foam tape. Check it out at Amazon, Staples, and Home Depot websites). • In case of an emergency, have someone go to the road to flag down EMS responders the way Kelley did, just in case they have difficulty finding you. So many things came together so perfectly that day, I believe a modern-day miracle occurred. I truly believe it just wasn’t “my time to go” and that Divine Providence placed all that was needed in my path that day. I will be forever grateful to God and these ladies for saving my life and giving me more summers to ride!
Posing with my own personal angels in front of Lake Gaston Pizza on April 15, 2021. I figured the least I could do was treat them to lunch after all they did for me. I will be forever grateful to them all! L-R: Lea Beazley, Nancy Kelley-Cram (who would have gladly helped me her ski hadn’t broken down that day), Brenda Spragins, Gin Lang, Diane Dreikorn, Paige Stanton, Nancy Wehrman (who gave me a free massage after I came home from the hospital), Sheila Taylor, Nancy Veeck, Joyce Heller, Debbie Tripp, and Kim Smiley (the homeowner who happened to be on her deck that day). Not pictured but who also helped saved my life that day are Kelley Hall and Michele Orff. Photo by Kennedy Buechner. LAKELIFE 2021
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Snapshots Nancy Clayton Moorefield of Tanglewood Shores captured the perfect shot of spring: a cardinal soaked from the rain, drying in the sunshine.
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Bake it to the limit By KELLEN HOLTZMAN
Jenny Cakes making mark around the lake
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n a weekday afternoon in April, Jennifer Harlow pipes aqua-colored royal icing onto a batch of sugar cookies for the birthday of fellow small business owner Steve Milligan. The cookies have been cut into the shape of Milligan’s 1965 Zipper camper, the centerpiece of the Steve’s Sno Kone Kups experience. Soon, Jennifer’s father Marty Harlow will deliver to patrons a pair of key lime pies that his wife and Jennifer’s mother Annemarie helped bake, deploying his black pickup truck emblazoned with white Jenny Cakes at the Lake Bakery insignia. Jenny Cakes, which celebrated its groundbreaking April 24, is about family. It’s about community. And it’s about a 30-yearsyoung - yet seasoned - pastry chef fulfilling her dream of owning a bakery at Lake Gaston. Jenny Cakes at the Lake isn’t scheduled to open until the fall, but Jennifer and her family, who became full-time Lake Gaston residents in 2020 after 15 years of regular visits to their beloved Littleton lake home, have already won the hearts of many around the lake by filling special orders as they wait for the farmhouse-style bakeshop on Lizard Creek Road to open its doors. Progress on the building has been swift since the groundbreaking. And those orders have been steadily flowing in, as have the “likes” on the Jenny Cakes Facebook and Instagram accounts. That means birthdays, baptisms and even the bohemian-themed wedding of Jennifer Coomer and Brandon Nagle in Halifax.
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“It’s really rewarding,” Jennifer Harlow said. “It makes all the long hours and hiccups worth it. So worth it. It’s why I do it every day. It doesn’t feel like a job. And you’re making someone’s special occasion that much sweeter with a really pretty cake or greattasting cupcakes.” (Almost) too pretty to eat Jennifer Harlow and Jennifer Coomer had never met before collaborating on the wedding, which was held in the John Brown House that Coomer and Nagle have renovated into a vacation rental and curated event space. Actually, Jennifer Harlow only had one wedding under her belt before taking on the project that wowed the wedding guests. She’s a quick study. “I mentioned that I was having a bohemian wedding and wanted succulent cupcakes and cake,” Coomer said. “(Jennifer Harlow) sent over inspiration images and I was sold immediately on the look. They say you should choose a cake that is compatible with the style of venue, your dress, the flower ar-
rangements, and the menu. (Jennifer Harlow) nailed all four. All our guests raved about the cupcakes all night. My fiancé has the sweet tooth, and he absolutely loved the flavor. He was the one that requested the flavor of cake/cupcakes.” The final product: a combination of dark chocolate cake and vanilla buttercream topped with buttercream succulents. The greenery draped along the cake added an organic touch, complementing the boho vibe. “The cake was embellished with succulents,” as Coomer described it. “It was almost too pretty to eat.” Of course, looks aren’t everything in baking. “The decorating part is nice and it’s pretty,” Marty said, “but if it doesn’t taste good, it’s not going to do well.” So far? No complaints. Especially not from the children whose special occasions have been brightened by a Jenny Cakes creation. Jenny Hagen and husband Hart live in Richmond, Va. but are regular visitors to the lake. They’ve already become serial Jenny Cakes customers; for Thanksgiving and Little Hart’s baptism and first birthday. On
Nagle wedding photos by The Golden Collective Photography
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their Thanksgiving menu: pecan and apple pies. For the baptism: carrot and lemon blueberry cakes. And for the big birthday: a vanilla Little Blue Truck-themed smash cake for Hart and red velvet for the adults. “Jennifer (Harlow) takes time to get to know her customers,” Jenny Hagen said, “and her cakes are truly delicious works of art.” In the early goings of Jenny Cakes, the startup has formed close professional and personal ties with local businesses like Steve’s Sno Kone Kups, Once Upon a County Line Emporium, WatersView Restaurant, and AF Wake. Jennifer Harlow credited those area enterprises with rolling out the welcome mat for and her family. “(Jennifer Harlow) gets five stars from me in customer service,” said Kate Fields, whose husband Adam founded AF Wake. “She goes above and beyond to make everyone feel like a VIP.” “The community has been wonderful and so accepting so far,” Jennifer Harlow said. “Just everyone I’ve met has been really supportive, very nice and understanding and willing to give us a chance, which is wonderful. We’ve been really lucky with how supportive local business owners have been and everyone’s been really helpful.”
to Jennifer. “It’s a big part of our family,” Jennifer Harlow said. “Every event is revolved around food and it’s a big production.” Both Marty and Annemarie will lend helping hands when the bakery opens. But the bakery is the vision of Jennifer Harlow, who has dreamed of opening a small business at Lake Gaston for much of her life. Her parents are concluding careers in the pharmaceutical industry and her younger sister Tori is an optometrist. Jennifer eventually found her own calling in the baking world, but her underlying passion goes deeper than fine-tuning her fondant icing or selecting the right shade of blue for Steve’s camper cookies. “I always wanted to do something that would make an impact,” she said, “and bring joy to people’s lives.”
“I want it to look perfect for them. We don’t do anything halfway in this family.” — Jennifer Harlow
Driven Getting those orders just right comes with pressure. Little Hart won’t have another baptism or first birthday. The special moments Jenny Cakes helps create are uniquely personal, and Jennifer Harlow can’t afford to cut corners. Not that shortcuts are an option in this family. “If she does something and it doesn’t turn out,” Marty said, “- it looks fine to us - but she’ll throw it out and start over, until she gets it right.” “I want it to look perfect for them,” Jennifer Harlow said. “We don’t do anything halfway in this family.” The artistic gene is strong on her dad’s side - Jennifer’s Emmy Award-winning uncle Mike Harlow was an audio engineer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-band Eagles. But the Italian side of her mom’s family inspired her love of baking that eventually led to a culinary school degree and multiple management positions in prominent North and South Carolina resorts and bakeries. Jennifer earned the nickname Jenny Cakes at a young age on trips to visit her maternal grandparents in New York’s Hudson Valley. Annemarie learned how to cook from her grandmother before passing on the Imperati family skill
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Photo by Jenny Hagen
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LakeGaston-RealEstate.com LAKELIFE 2021
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U
Design a dream outdoor entertaining space
pon the arrival of warm weather, many individuals prefer to spend their free time outside, relishing the fresh air and sunshine and evenings spent under the stars. But cracked patios and makeshift chairs and tables may not establish the desired ambiance. An outdoor entertaining area that offers the same amenities found inside a home can make outdoor retreats both comfortable and functional. Creative planning can help homeowners design dream areas perfect for hosting friends or family.
Establish goals As with any project, the first step when coordinating outdoor living areas is to determine what you hope to achieve with the space. Will it be a location for lounging? Will people be cooking meals outside? Is the pool the central focus of the yard? Answering these
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questions and more can help homeowners decide how to design their entertaining spaces. Remember, however, that goals may evolve as landscape designers and even architects make their own suggestions for the space or present limitations. Evaluate the space Look at the lot and decide what will go where, such as where to place the party space, where to create a quiet hideaway and where to locate a poolhouse or outdoor shower. A large, flat yard can be divided into a series of patios that serve different purposes. Yards that are built on a hill or a slope can still be utilized with creative design elements, such as multi-tiered decking. By working with qualified designers, homeowners can bring their ideas to life. Easy food and drink access Traipsing in and out of the house for refreshments can become tiresome when entertaining outside. In such situations, people also can track dirt inside of the home or leave a trail of pool water in their wake. Outdoor kitchens allow easy access to food and drink that makes outdoor entertaining much easier. The experts at Angie’s List suggest outdoor kitchens be built close to the house to make it easier to run electricity and plumbing to the outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchens should include a sink, small refrigerator, built-in grill, and bar area. Creature comforts Homeowners should think about the things that make the inside of their homes so comfortable and then replicate that outside. Sofas and loveseats covered in fabric suited for outdoors and plenty of pillows can make for great lounging. Lighting that can be adjusted for day or night, or even to set the mood, is another consideration. Shade structures, like a trellis or retractable awning, will keep the area comfortable and can also define outdoor “rooms” and establish privacy. Fire it up Many homeowners enjoy having fire elements in their yards. Lanterns and candles may create a romantic feel, but a fire pit or outdoor fireplace may help extend use of the outdoor entertaining area beyond summer. Entertaining outdoors is made that much more enticing with a dream outdoor living space full of amenities.
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FLASHBACK TO SUMMER Jane and Scott Akom submited this photo of their grandsons living the tube life on Pea Hill Creek. If you would like to submit a photo for consideration for Lakelife Lake Gaston, please email a high resolution photo to office@ lakegastongazetteobserver.com
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B-3 Alma Lynch....................................................... 1 B-2 Americamps ..................................................... 2 B-2 Anchorage ........................................................ 3 B-2 Ancor Cove ...................................................... 4 B-6 Arcadia ............................................................. 5 A-1 Baird-Martin ..................................................... 6 B-5 Bairds Point...................................................... 7 A-3 Barker .............................................................. 8 B-6 Beaver Creek ................................................... 9 B-4 Beach Ridge .................................................. 10 B-3 Beechwood .................................................... 11 A-1 Beechwood Estates ....................................... 12 C-6 Bluebird Point .................................................. 3 B-5 Blue Heron Park............................................. 14 A-2 Boyds Mill....................................................... 15 A-6 Bradley Acres ................................................. 16 A-2 Brandon Grove............................................... 17 A-4 Braswell ......................................................... 18 A-1 Breezy Acres .................................................. 19 B-6 Bridgewater Cove .......................................... 20 B-6 Buccaneer Point............................................. 22 A-2 Buckhead ....................................................... 23
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C-3 Buck Springs.................................................. 24 B-4 Buggs Point.................................................... 25 B-3 Burwell Acres ................................................. 26 C-4 Canaan Shores .............................................. 27 A-1 Cannons Ferry ............................................... 28 B-5 Carolina Pines................................................ 29 B-5 Cedar Hill ....................................................... 30 B-5 Cedar Point .................................................... 31 A-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 32 B-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 33 A-2 Champion Forest ........................................... 34 B-5 Chamelon Heights ......................................... 35 B-6 Chestnut Hills ............................................... 36 B-6 Clear Water .................................................... 37 A-1 Cliffs on the Roanoke..................................... 38 A-5 Clyde’s Retreat .............................................. 39 A-1 Cold Spring Shores ........................................ 40 A-3 Colonial Estates ............................................. 41 A-6 Colony Club ................................................... 42 C-4 Cornerstone ................................................... 43 A-5 Country Clue Shores...................................... 44 B-6 Cover Manor .................................................. 45
B-3 Coventry......................................................... 46 B-5 Creekside Shore ............................................ 47 B-6 Crescent Beach ............................................. 48 B-6 Cross Creek ................................................... 49 B-6 Cross Cut ....................................................... 50 C-4 Deacon’s Point............................................... 51 C-4 Deercreek ...................................................... 52 B-6 Deer Haven .................................................... 53 A-6 Delbridge Estates........................................... 54 B-6 Dividing Line .................................................. 55 B-5 Dogwood Branch ........................................... 56 B-4 Dorothy Ellis Estates ...................................... 57 B-5 Dove Manor .................................................. 58 B-4 Eagle’s Cove .................................................. 59 B-5 Eagle Point..................................................... 60 C-6 Eastern Shores .............................................. 61 B-4 East Fork Plantation....................................... 62 B-4 Eaton’s Ferry Estates..................................... 63 B-6 Edwards Beach .............................................. 64 B-4 Elams Place ................................................... 65 C-5 Ellis Development .......................................... 66 A-6 Ellis Estates ................................................... 67
A-3 Eugene Clary ................................................. 68 B-5 Evergreen ...................................................... 69 B-6 Faulcon Dev ................................................... 70 B-5 Ferncliff .......................................................... 71 B-4 Fernwood Estates .......................................... 72 C-5 Forest Cove ................................................... 73 B-6 Four Season .................................................. 74 B-6 Fox Hollow ..................................................... 75 B-6 Fox Point ........................................................ 76 B-2 Fox Run ......................................................... 77 A-1 Friendly Acres ................................................ 78 B-3 Gaston Heights .............................................. 79 A-1 Granite Hall .................................................... 80 B-2 Great Creek Landing...................................... 81 B-6 Green Park..................................................... 82 B-2 Grover C. Baird Estates ................................. 83 A-4 Hammack ....................................................... 84 B-4 Happy Valley .................................................. 85 B-3 Harbor Landing .............................................. 86 B-5 Harrison ........................................................ 87 A-1 Hawks Nest Point........................................... 88 B-5 Heather Glen ................................................. 89
B-6 Heritage Pointe .............................................. 90 A-1 Hicks Hill ........................................................ 91 A-6 Hidden Acres.................................................. 92 B-3 Hillcrest Point ................................................. 93 A-1 Hinton Mills .................................................... 94 B-2 Holly Grove Estates ....................................... 95 A-6 Holly Hill Shores............................................. 96 B-3 Holly Trail ...................................................... 97 C-5 Hoot Owl Run ................................................ 98 B-4 Hunter’s Creek ............................................... 99 B-5 Indian Run.................................................... 100 B-4 Jack’s Landing ............................................. 101 A-1 Johnson ....................................................... 102 B-2 Joyceville ..................................................... 103 B-6 King Soloman’s Cove................................... 104 B-6 King’s Estates .............................................. 105 C-3 Lake Gaston Estates ................................... 106 A-6 Lake Gaston Estates.................................... 107 B-5 Lake Shores-N ............................................. 108 B-6 Lake Shores-S ............................................. 109 B-4 Lakeside....................................................... 110 B-3 Lakeview .......................................................111
B-5 Lakeview Estates (old) .......... B-2 Lakewoods ............................ B-4 Laura Woods......................... B-3 Lazy Point ............................. C-6 Lee’s Point ............................ B-5 Little Emporia ........................ B-2 Little Ponderosa .................... A-5 Lizard Creek.......................... B-2 Long Branch Shores ............. B-6 Lookout Point ........................ A-6 Lost Cove .............................. A-1 Lucy M. Shaw ....................... B-3 Lyons Creek East .................. B-3 Lyons Creek Estates ............. B-6 Mallard Bay ........................... C-5 Mallard Point ......................... B-4 Maple Point ........................... A-1 Maratuck ............................... B-3 Mariners Cove....................... A-1 Martindale ............................. B-2 Matthews Manorwoods ......... A-1 Merrymount ...........................
(old) ................................. 112 ........................................ 113 ........................................ 115 ........................................ 116 ........................................ 117 ........................................ 117 ........................................ 118 ........................................ 119 es .................................... 120 ........................................ 121 ........................................ 122 ........................................ 123 ........................................ 124 es .................................... 125 ........................................ 126 ........................................ 127 ........................................ 128 ........................................ 129 ........................................ 130 ........................................ 131 oods ................................ 132 ........................................ 133
B-4 Mill Creek Landing ....................................... 134 C-6 Mistipines ..................................................... 135 B-3 Moratuck Manor ........................................... 136 B-2 Morristown ................................................... 137 B-2 Moseley........................................................ 138 B-6 Myrick Estates.............................................. 139 B-2 Nocarva........................................................ 140 B-6 Nollwoods ................................................... 141 B-6 Northampton Heights ................................... 142 B-5 Northern Cove.............................................. 143 B-5 Northern Point .............................................. 144 B-4 North Shore Acres (1) .................................. 145 B-4 North Shore Acres (2) .................................. 146 B-5 Oak Grove.................................................... 147 B-4 Oak Ridge .................................................... 148 B-3 Old Bridge Point ........................................... 149 B-3 Olde Ferry Estates ....................................... 150 B-5 Osprey Point ................................................ 151 A-6 Paradise Point.............................................. 152 B-3 Pasture Gate ................................................ 153 A-6 Pea Hill Estates............................................ 154 A-6 Pea Hill Shores ............................................ 155
B-4 Pigeon Path ................................................. 156 B-4 Pigeon Roost .............................................. 157 B-3 Pine Bluff...................................................... 158 B-5 Pine Ridge Shores ....................................... 159 B-6 Pine View ..................................................... 160 B-6 Pinewood Acres ........................................... 161 B-5 Piney Point ................................................... 162 A-3 Piney Point ................................................... 163 A-3 Poplar Creek Estates ................................... 164 A-1 Portside ........................................................ 165 B-6 Powell’s Mill Point ........................................ 166 A-6 Poythress Estates ........................................ 167 B-5 Quail Ridge .................................................. 168 B-5 Red Bug ....................................................... 169 B-3 River Bend ................................................... 170 B-4 River Forest ................................................. 171 A-1 River Ridge .................................................. 172 B-5 Riverview ..................................................... 173 B-6 Roanoke Shores .......................................... 174 B-4 Roanoke Reserve ........................................ 235 B-3 Robinson Ferry Estates ............................... 175 B-5 Rochelle Cove.............................................. 176
A-6 Rock Island Cove ......................................... 177 B-4 Ross ............................................................ 178 C-4 Salmons Point.............................................. 179 B-5 Sandy Shores .............................................. 180 B-5 Sandy Trace ................................................. 181 C-4 Settlers Cove ............................................... 182 B-4 Shadowbrook Shores................................... 183 A-3 Slouan Shores ............................................. 184 B-2 Six on Sixpound ........................................... 185 B-4 Songbird View .............................................. 186 A-6 Southside Shores......................................... 187 B-6 Speckle Cove ............................................... 188 B-4 Spinnaker Point............................................ 189 B-6 Spring Garden Estates................................. 190 B-5 Springwood .................................................. 191 B-5 Stanleystone Estates ................................... 192 B-5 Starboard Point ............................................ 193 B-4 Sillwater ....................................................... 194 C-4 Stonehouse Acres........................................ 195 A-2 St. Tammy Landing ...................................... 196 B-2 Summer Place ............................................. 197 B-5 Summerwood ............................................... 198
B-5 Sunny Acres ................................................. 199 B-5 Sunset Point................................................. 200 C-5 Tangle Oakes ............................................... 201 A-2 Tanglewood Shores ..................................... 202 C-5 Thomfield Medlin ......................................... 203 B-2 Thornton Place............................................. 204 B-5 Timber Creek ............................................... 205 B-6 Timberline Shores ........................................ 206 B-2 Timbuctu ...................................................... 207 C-5 Triton Point................................................... 208 A-2 Tudor Estates ............................................... 209 B-3 Turkey Run .................................................. 210 B-5 Turtle Point ................................................... 211 B-4 Twin Oak Shores.......................................... 212 B-5 Two Creeks .................................................. 213 B-5 Walker Hill .................................................... 214 B-3 Warren Co. Acres ......................................... 215 B-6 Waterford ..................................................... 216 B-6 Watermans Point.......................................... 217 B-6 Webbs Gate ................................................. 218 B-3 West Winds .................................................. 219 B-6 Whippoorwill Hills ......................................... 220
B-4 Whispering Pines ......................................... 221 B-4 Whitby Cove................................................. 222 C-4 Whit-Locke Point.......................................... 223 B-5 Wildwood Point ............................................ 224 B-6 Wilkins Court ................................................ 225 B-2 Will’s Landing ............................................... 226 B-4 Wilsor Oak ................................................... 227 B-4 Wilsor Pines ................................................. 228 B-6 Windy Pointe ................................................ 229 B-6 Windward Shores......................................... 230 B-3 Woodhaven .................................................. 231 B-6 Woodlake Point ............................................ 232 B-6 Woodlanndhurt............................................. 233 B-4 Woodland Shores ........................................ 234
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434-212-1260 34
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10 things
to know about Historic Halifax
Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
By KELLEN HOLTZMAN
Where American independence originated
L
ess than 30 miles from the Eaton Ferry Bridge on Lake Gaston rests one of the most significant towns in the history of the American Revolution. That’s Historic Halifax, the town, which is located southeast of the more modern hub of Roanoke Rapids, but still in the northern sector of Halifax County on the south bank of the Roanoke River. Current popula-
tion: a couple hundred. There’s no substitute for actually visiting and touring this charming and remote locale, where history comes to life through costumed interpreters, special events and self-guided museums. This is merely a sampling of what Halifax has to offer. Plan a trip, organize a walking tour with Kristal Murphy of Historic Halifax and experience the rest for yourself.
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10. ‘First in Freedom’ If you’re not a native North Carolinian, those “First in Freedom” license plates of ours might be a little confusing. What does it mean? Anyone, anywhere in the state can select the plate, but the phrase originates right here in Halifax. On April 12, 1776, the Halifax Resolves became official, resulting from a meeting of the Fourth Provincial Congress in which North Carolina became the first of the 13 American colonies to declare independence from the British Crown. “They were angry at the governor,” Murphy said of the people of Halifax. “They were angry at the king. And so that’s kind of what led them to declaring that we want to break apart from Great Britain. We were the first of all the colonies to put it on paper. It was treason. They could have been hanged, drawn and quartered. They put it on paper they wanted to be free.”
Photo by NC Museum of History
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Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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9. ‘Seeking Liberty’ Slavery wouldn’t be abolished for another 89 years following the Resolves, and the fight for comprehensive civil rights and social justice continues to this day. Clearly, not everyone in the colonial period was free. In a county that is now 53 percent Black, Historic Halifax is doing its part to present a more balanced and fair view of history. On April 10 of this year, in its first major event since COVID-19 struck, the town hosted “Seeking Liberty in Halifax.” “The Halifax Resolves was about us declaring independence from Great Britain,” Murphy said of “Seeking Liberty,” “but that really didn’t come down (in the same way) to African Americans. They experienced it very differently.” Historic Halifax also this year hosted a traveling, 9-foot-tall Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad statue, “The Journey of Freedom,” which brought visitors from around the state and beyond.
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8. The jail Some of those freedom seekers in the Underground Railroad network, following the Roanoke River south, ended up in prison here before being returned to the people that owned them or sold at auction. The first two Halifax jails were burned down by escaping prisoners, and this brick version has been here since 1838. This is quite a popular spot with children. The sound of the heavy, black, iron cell doors opening and slamming shut transport visitors to a different time. “So we had a lot of political prisoners,” Murphy said. “We had a lot of POWs from the Battle of Moores Creek. We have 26 of their officers. There were so many of them they had to put them out in little tents and they paroled some of them.”
Photos by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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7. Role within the colony
Understand that Halifax held great importance during the time of the Revolution. The Halifax Resolves were drawn up here for a reason. Then, Halifax was the thirdlargest town in North Carolina behind Wilmington and New Bern. “The river really is what made us,” Murphy said. “This was as far up as they could safely navigate in the colonial period because once you got up toward Weldon, you ran into the falls. Roanoke had several falls there between present-day Roanoke Rapids and present-day Weldon, so they couldn’t get up any farther on the Roanoke. That’s what made this such a big deal as a port town.” The road through town was also important for colonial transportation. And legislator and provincial grand master of Freemasons Joseph Montfort made his home here. According to northcarolinahistory.org, “By 1769, Halifax had nearly 60 houses and public buildings.”
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10 Reasons to Visit
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Snapshot by Nancy Clayton Moorefield
6. Father of UNC Among the most important residents of Halifax was William R. Davie, the founder of the University of North Carolina, and governor of North Carolina from 1798-1799. The Davie House still stands in Halifax, northwest up St. David Street from the central part of the historic town.
Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
Photo by Hope Callahan
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5. ‘Sleep tight’
Photos by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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The Davie House is in close proximity to the Owens House, where visitors can creak their way up a well-worn staircase to the Halifax historical interpreter’s favorite spot in the town: a cozy bedroom fitted with a canopied bed. No Tempur-Pedics back then. The bed was made of cornhusks, with ropes instead of boxsprings. “They would have to tighten up the ropes because after you slept on them on a little bit, they’d get stretched out and the bed might sag a little bit,” Murphy said. “So you had to tighten up the ropes. There was actually a little tool that you’d use. And that’s where the saying, ‘Sleep tight’ came from.”
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Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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Owens House Dining Room LAKELIFE 2021
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Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
4. The blue house If you’ve ever laid eyes on the Halifax County seal, you’ve seen the Burgess House (1808). It’s the blue house nestled in the back of the green space across King Street from the jail, and it borders the colonial cemetery near the woods. “The Burgess Law Office probably dates from the same period (as the Sally-Billy House),” northcarolinahistory.org writes, “although the roof line and other features of the structure follow the older Georgian style. Thomas Burgess owned the building in the early 1800s, and it is furnished as his law office and town house.”
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3. Washington was here 52
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George Washington came through town as part of his Southern Tour in 1791, following his presidency. “We don’t know which tavern he stayed at,” Murphy said from the colorful Eagle Tavern. “He says in his diary he met up with a couple of folks and went to dine at the Eagle Tavern. So he might have dined in one of these rooms. We don’t know.” Washington stayed for a couple of days, touring parts of the colonies he had never been before while advocating for improved canal systems. “He just kind of grumbled about the town and the muddy road,” Murphy said. “He didn’t like the carriage crossing coming from Northampton County - because this was the main road. - This was your I-95. Right out here.” You can’t please everyone.
Photos by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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Photos by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
Marquis de Lafayette’s visit is remembered as one of the most significant happenings in the history of Halifax. The sugar bowl that he used during one of the welcoming banquets is on display in the Eagle Tavern. Sweet.
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2. Hero’s welcome
Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of both the French and American revolutions, served under Washington in the colonies’ fight for independence from Britain. Lafayette toured colonial America to immense fanfare following the end of the Revolutionary War. One of his stops was Halifax, marking one of the most noteworthy events in the town’s history. “It was the highlight of the federal period here,” Murphy said. “Big excitement. They played songs. They waved banners.” A sugar bowl that was used during a banquet in his honor is on display at the Eagle Tavern, after it had been guarded for generations by a local family. The spirit of Lafayette lives on in Halifax.
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Photos by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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The cemetery at Halifax Photo by KELLEN HOLTZMAN
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Historic Halifax can’t provide service to its community, state and country without help. COVID-19 restrictions limited regular tours here for many months as staff numbers lessened to a few. Help preserve this historic gem by volunteering or donating to groups like the Historic Halifax Restoration Association or Friends of Halifax. And spread the word that Halifax needs support. “It’s going to take folks calling their state representatives,” Murphy said, “people being interested in us.”
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