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132 South Market Street Washington NC 27889 Museum Winter Hours Saturdays Only 9:30- 1:30 & Special Events TBA

C O N T E N T S

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WELCOME FROM HPOW’s CHAIRMAN RAY MIDGETTE

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OUR HPOW GOALS

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BECOME A FRIEND OF THE MUSEUM -

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A FEW EXHIBITS AND PHOTOS

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NEW LECTURE SERIES

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RECENT STATE CONFERENCE, CASTLE ISLAND SHIPS GRAVEYARD

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TIMELINE OF PORT OF WASHINGTON

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www.hpow.org

FROM HPOW 2015 CHAIRMAN RAY MIDGETTE

FROM THE

Welcome to the new Historic Port of Washington Project (HPOW) newsletter. We hope through this publication we can share news of happenings and events regularly. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN….

. This month we are looking forward to our first ever lecture to be held on November 20 at 7:00 pm at the HPOW Center. It is our hope that this will be an evening of learning sharing as a pair of our community historians contributes their knowledge of local history. Dr. Michael McClure, scientist and historian, tells the story of the early naval stores industry in North Carolina in his lecture: “Treasures of the Long Leaf Pine: Naval Stores in Eastern North Carolina.” A second talk by Douglas Alvord, a well known maritime artist, author, and historian tells us about the Sharpie, one of the most common work boats of eastern NC around the turn of the 20

th century. The second lecture

is titled “Sharpies of the Pamlico, the Little Boat that Could.” Along with the lectures, HPOW is working on planning future projects and fund raising. Being discussed are projects such as creating new exhibits, updating the historic walking tour of

Washington. == for the HPOW center, collecting

and archiving oral histories, as

well as collaborating with the

historic walking tour of

Washington. We need volunteers,

individuals, students, corporate

sponsors and ongoing donations.

Loans and scans of photos,

memorabilia and artifacts are

much welcomed. If you have a

desire to help preserve the history

of Washington, email us at

contact@hpow.org.

We do hope to see you at one of

our upcoming Thursday meetings

in the S. Market location. We

usually have biweekly planning

sessions at 10am. Ray M.

Our HPOW Goals:

Sharing the story of the

Port of Washington and

the Pamlico as a center

of commerce and

transportation.

Engaging the

community with

exhibits and living

history projects.

Promoting Washington

as a destination for

heritage tourism.

Helping our city move

forward through its

knowledge of its past.

Bringing the Maritime History of Washington to life!

HISTORIC PORT OF WASHINGTON PROJECT November 2015 Vol. I.

November 2015 Vol. I

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit us on FaceBook www.facebook.com/ historicportofwashington

BECOME A FRIEND

OF HISTORIC PORT

OF WASHINGTON –

Receive a signed print of the historic

waterfront mural…. Perfect for

Christmas and Birthday gifts. The

purchase of a signed print of the

historic mural of the Washington

waterfront, painted circa 1880-1920

by HPOW artist Douglas Alvord,

will entitle you to be a member. You

also will receive the newsletter,

information updates, and get

involved in a project we hope you

may help develop. The cost of each

signed print is $25.00. Extra copies

are for sale at the Pamlico Arts

Council gift shop at the Turnage

Theatre on Main. Contributions to

HPOW are tax deductible under the

501c-3 status. Send your Checks

payable to:

Arts of the Pamlico/HPOW

150 Main Street,

Washington NC 27889

Please show your support for the

HPOW Museum Project Today. --------------------------------------------

DID YOU KNOW?

Because Washington was an

important shipbuilding center prior

to the Civil War, the Confederate

government contracted to have three

wooden gunboats of the Macon

class built in Washington. When

Union naval forces steamed up the

Pamlico River to capture

Washingon, two were under

construction. To prevent capture,

one was burned on the stocks and

the other towed up the Tar River and

scuttled in Chicod Creek near

Grimesland, where it remains today.

_________________________

HPOW PHOTOS &

EXHIBITS FEATURE

WASHINGTON

HISTORIC

WATERFRONT AND

THE PAMLICO

This vibrant Civil War era

watercolor shows the occupation of

Pamlico river port of Washington.

Wheelock the artist was a luminist

like Missouri frontier painter

George Caleb Bingham, similar to

artists from the Hudson River

School. Above Image “Little

Washington” by Merrill G

Wheelock 1863 Courtesy of NC

Collection Wilson Library UNC

CH.

DID YOU KNOW? Built

in colonial Washington was

Diligence, a revenue Cutter

authorized by the Continental

Congress in 1790. She was built in

Washington and was launched

sometime June or July of 1792. Her

first master was William Cook. And

she was sold in 1798.The revenue

cutter’s displacement was 35-55

tons, length: 50 feet, beam: 25 ft,

draft: 6ft 6 inches. Armament:

Muskets, Pistols, Swivel Cannon.

NEW LECTURE SERIES

by HPOW – 2 Talks For 1 Dr. Michael McClure, Scientist, and

Historian, to speak on “Treasures of

the Long Leaf Pine: Naval Stores in

Eastern North Carolina.” Douglas

Alvord, Maritime Artist will inform

and enlighten us on “Sharpies of the

Pamlico, the Little Boat That Could.”

Our winter Lecture Series are being

planned, 2016 upcoming dates will

be announced soon.

Steamboats of the Pamlico

Railroads and The Maritime

Underground

Oyster schooners of

Washington and on the

Pamlico

Maritime Trade in the Age of

Sail on the Pamlico

Customs Houses and Port

Customs officials of early

Washington & Beaufort Co

LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS…WITH

THE HARBOR WALK OF LIGHTS.

Sign up for the First Annual Downtown

Waterfront Docks Lighted Boat Contest.

Prizes. Free Slip on the Stewart Parkway

Docks Dec 3-Jan 4th

. Reserve your boat

slip today.

http://www.washingtononthewater.com

For Contest details Call (252) 940 1241

NEWSLETTER

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RECENT N.C.

MARITIME HISTORY

COUNCIL

CONFERENCE IN

ELIZABETH CITY

Two regional history enthusiasts recently

gave talks featuring Beaufort County,

Bath, Washington and the Pamlico River

and its Colonial and Civil War era

maritime heritage at the November

conference of the NC Maritime History

Council. This year’s event was held at

the Museum of the Albemarle in

Elizabeth City. In anticipation of next

year’s 300th anniversary of Port Bath,

Ms. G Hookway-Jones spoke on the

colonial customs service operation in

Beaufort County 1716-1790. Ms.

Wanda McLean gave a talk on eastern

North Carolina’s maritime Underground

Railroad operating out of eastern North

Carolina waterways.

Our national parks system in September

2014 designated the Washington

waterfront and the Stewart Parkway as a

Network to Freedom site and a

permanent pictorial exhibit is soon to

open at the Washington train car by the

civic center.

For more details on the Network to

Freedom site see the National Parks

Service Network to Freedom web

site or look up the Washington

newspaper archives article date

Monday, September 22, 2014.

The state NC Heritage Library last

month launched a new site on early

Beaufort County maritime history

explaining where, when, and how

Port Washington and predecessor

Port Bath fit into the British

American Colonial Customs Service

organization. Find new article here:

http://www.ncpedia.org/port-bath .

CASTLE ISLAND SHIP’s

1863 Leslie’s Illustrated Civil War map

Washington town plan and defenses.

CASTLE ISLAND SHIPS GRAVEYARD….DID YOU KNOW?

Before Hurricane Floyd shifted the

harbor channel sands, East Carolina

University conducted nautical

archeology fieldwork underwater off

Washington’s Castle Island. Over

fifteen years ago numerous old 19th

and 20th c sunken hulls were

identified including a stern paddle

wheel steamer, oyster schooners, a

barge, even a river ferry.

Access the 2006 ECU Research

report online with details of the

1998=2000 Castle Island Field work

investigation results, click this link:

https://www.google.com/#q=ecu+pd

f+castle+ship+graveyard+washingto

n+nc

The Castle Island north shore image

below shows last known locations of

submerged vessel remains: the 2006

report describes other Pamlico River

abandonments and shipwrecks as

well.

HPOW NEEDS

Y O U ! GET

INVOLVED

TODAY Hosts and Hostesses and organizers are

needed to greet visitors and help in

planning lectures and special events

throughout the year. You can sign up for

either two or four hour segments or

Contribute behind the scenes with gifts

of time or a contribution. Help us

promote knowledge about our maritime

heritage by volunteering and being a

Friend of the project. We are also

seeking experienced grant writers.

Image above: Engraving, Slaves building

drawbridge across the Tar-Pamlico River.

Visit us on the Web www.hpow.org

www.

November 2015 Vol. I

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit us on FaceBook www.facebook.com/ historicportofwashington

PORT OF

WASHINGTON

TIMELINE

The 1700’s:

1769 The 70 ton brig

Acorn is built in

Washington

1770’s Washington is

one of few colonial

Atlantic ports not

blockaded by the

British, Washington

mercantile fleet

supplies ships and

provisions to

Continental army and

ports blockaded by

the British. Forks of

the Tar is renamed Town of Washington

1782 General Assembly incorporates

Washington. 30 houses in 1783.

1785. Port of Bath Customs Service

operations, customs collectors and naval

officers move from town of Bath

upstream to Washington, the new

county seat

1787 a new Federal Courthouse is built

on Market Street, the second oldest

surviving in North Carolina

1776-1790 Port of Bath Customs

Collectors and Port officials operate out

of Respess St. Customs House,

Nathan Keias Port Collector builds

house on Water Street next door to John

Gray Blount Port of Bath District

Commissioner. They are both buried

with their wives at St. Peter’s Episcopal

Cemetery.

1790 Port Bath Customs and Impost

District seated in Washington renamed

Continental Port of Washington

1791 Revenue Cutter Diligence built in

Washington

The 1800’s

1810 the Young Eagle a 100 ton

schooner built in Washington

1811 Two brigs the George Washington

and the Edwin built in Washington

1812 War of 1812 Hawk built here

1815-1830 Shipbuilding declines

1830 Shipbuilding rebounds, Builders

included Cap Hezekiah Farrow and his

son Joseph Burton Shipp, William

Tannehill and Hull Anderson.

1825 John Meyers shipyard & marine

railway

1838 Corp of Engineers installed locks

and dams, 3.5 feet channel up to

Tarboro. Steamboats appear on the Tar.

1845 Washington recognized as a major

shipbuilding center in the Southeast

1847 The first locally operated

steamship the Oregon arrived in from

ship yards in Baltimore

1849 John Meyers and Sons operated

two stern paddlewheel steamships

Amidas and Governor Morehead towing

cargo flats and delivering mail service.

Departs 6am arriving Greenville 12noon

1850 Washington ranked as No 1

shipbuilding center of NC, 23

shipbuilders in Beaufort Co, large

tonnage ships built: the GR Dixon a

209 ton schooner, Queen of the South a

305 ton schooner, and Pathfinder a 428

ton schooner.

1855-56 A productive period, much port

activity, many runaway slaves find their

way to Washington to escape by water

on Union ships, Castle Island sawmill

1862 Union forces occupy Washington,

Confederate Navy planned for

Washington shipbuilders to construct 3

gunboats

1865 -84 following the Civil War fire

which burned half the town, only one

shipyard Joseph Farrow remains

1885 shipbuilding rebounds due to

Railroads system making Washington a

regional hub and Washington harbor

dredged 9 ft channel to Pamlico Sound

1890 Twenty seven known vessels (7 of

them steamers) moored in Washington

1876-1891 annual revenue for the Port

of Washington increases from $500,000

to $4, 800,000.

1880’s to 1900 Port of Washington

known for shipping and commerce and

boatbuilding. Along the docks were

lumber, grain and cotton mills, freight

and passenger terminals, oyster

canneries and fish houses.

The 1900’s:

1900-1920 Zenith of Port of

Washington maritime commerce. The

Atlantic coastline railroad had a station

on Gladden Street, flat bottom

steamboats carried goods inland up the

Tar as far as Rocky Mount. By 1918

there were 50 wharves. Many schooners

were home ported here for trade to the

Outer Banks north to Boston and south

to the West Indies.

1950 Federal Port closed.

1960 Coast Guard Station Closed

Fowle merchant ships in Barbados,

Image courtesy of Brown Library.

HISTORIC PORT O 5