President’s Report

by the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle’s President, Harriett Hornthal

My name is Harriett Hornthal, and I was elected President of Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle in September of 2019. The museum was founded thanks to the efforts of local residents and the Pasquotank Historical Society. The work to preserve our area’s history ultimately earned $43,000 from the NC General Assembly to renovate a building on US Highway 17 South. In 1999, work began to build the current 50,000 sq. ft. new facility at the present location on South Water Street. The new facility was officially opened to the public in 2006.

I have quite a history with the museum from its inception in 1967. I was a docent at the old museum. This is my third time serving as President of FOMOA. My husband, Tony, and I chaired the capital campaign to move to the museum’s present location, together with the help of LOTS of other folks and we raised $400,000 prior to the public campaign. The goal was $850,000.00, we raised approximately $2.25 million.

The year 2020 got off to a bang-up start at the museum! First, the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle was nominated by the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce for consideration as nonprofit of the year. Early programming for the year included a History for Lunch topic by local attorney Tom Nash on Nixonton: Mother of the Old North State. We had one of the largest crowds ever!

PROJECT ZEBRA DAY, January 11, 2020

Wreath Ceremony recognizing the 75th anniversary of a Project Zebra PBN-Nomad plane crash into the Pasquotank River that claimed the lives of five aviators during WWII.

January 11 was an exciting day for Elizabeth City, too, as MOA and the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association (ECHNA) hosted Project Zebra Day, to recognize the 75th anniversary of a Project Zebra PBNNomad plane crash into the Pasquotank River that claimed the lives of five aviators. Members of the William Clarence Jackson VFW Post 6060 and Seth B. Perry American Legion Post 84, a US Navy chaplain, as well as Elizabeth City government officials, and His Excellency, Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador, were in attendance. In addition, Mayor Bettie Parker gave opening remarks as declared January 11, 2020 Project Zebra Day in Elizabeth City, NC

As part of the commemoration, local actors performed skits from ECHNA's 2019 Project Zebra-themed Elizabeth City Historic Ghost Walk. A round of “ TAPS” accompanied a wreath-laying ceremony. More than 1,000 people attended, a standing-room-only crowd in both aisles of Gaither Auditorium and a closed-circuit livestream to a classroom for those unable to be seated.

We are looking forward to an exciting year. Stay tuned via social media to learn each month about our educational programming and upcoming exhibitions!