The Gateway, Fall/Winter 2021 | Vol.43

Exhibitions

NELL AND JIM, circa 1900s

This graphic provides the atmosphere to the upcoming exhibit on the 120-year mysterious disappearance and death of nineteen-year-old Elizabeth City resident Nell Cropsey.

Courtesy of Museum of the Albemarle

Our Story: Life in the Albemarle

The Albemarle represents a unique place— half land, half water. The story of this place comes alive in Our Story, a tale of how our communities have adapted to the challenges and opportunities of our unusual home.

Our Story: Audio Tour

Virtual tour provides in-depth overview of the region and its progression through various eras of transportation.

North Carolina Shad Boat

The official State Historical Boat of North Carolina was first built in the early 1880s by George Washington Creef of Roanoke Island. The shad boat on display here at MOA was constructed in 1904 by renowned boat builder and decoy carver Alvirah Wright.

River Bridge: Sunken Secrets

Excavations at a site along the Pasquotank River have yielded more than 10,000 artifacts, dating from the middle of the 18th century to the early 20th century.

High on the Hog

Hogs have found their way into our lives and culture, playing a significant role for families in northeastern North Carolina. Th is exhibit will look at how pigs have become a part of our family, home, and livelihood.

Joshua, Judges, and Jesus: An Archaeological Journey Through the Bible

(closes 11/13/2021)

Traveling exhibit highlighting artifacts found during archaeological work at the site of Khirbet el-Maqatir, the Biblical city of Ai, which is mentioned in Joshua 7–8. On display are artifacts dating from the

Museum of the Albemarle

501 South Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 252-335-1453 • museumofthealbemarle.com facebook.com/museumoftheablemarle • Free admission

Middle Bronze Age (2200–1500 BC) to the Byzantine Period (AD 324–638).

Reliving the 1960s

Small case exhibit focusing on the 1960s, the decade that gave the world changes in science, civil rights, fashion, art, health, technology, and entertainment. Advances, movements, wars, politics, and the environment all played a role in shaping this decade.

Women Breaking Barriers in Northeastern North Carolina

Highlights women from across northeastern North Carolina who broke barriers in areas such as women’s rights, activism, public service, journalism, literature, entertainment, medicine, academics, and entrepreneurship.

Nell Cropsey: 120 Years of Mystery (Opens 10/1/2021; closes 11/20/2021)

Across the country, every small town has its secrets. Explore this lobby exhibit to try and solve the 120-year mysterious disappearance and death of nineteen-yearold Elizabeth City resident Nell Cropsey.

Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina (opens 9/7/2021; closes 10/27/2021)

Eight vibrant panels form the traveling exhibit, showcasing images of business owners, travelers, and historic and presentday images of North Carolina Green Book sites.

Museum Hours

Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Starting Sept. 11, Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

State of North Carolina

Roy A. Cooper, Governor

Mark Robinson, Lieutenant Governor

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Reid Wilson, Secretary

O ce of Archives and History

Darin Waters, Deputy Secretary

Division of State History Museums

North Carolina Museum of History

Kenneth B. Howard, Director

The Museum of the Albemarle is a part of the Division of State History Museums.

FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM OF THE ALBEMARLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda Hofler, President

Johnson Biggs, Vice President

Douglas Gardner, Treasurer

Penny Leary-Smith, Secretary

Harriett Hornthal, Kim Castle, Dr. Melissa Stuckey, Will Norrell, Whitney Young, Bernetta Brown, Kim Baumbaugh, Corrina Ru eux, M. Sgt. William Ho man, Katherine Wassink, David Clegg, George Thomas, Josh Bass, Joyce Bu aloe, Brian Forehand, Sheila Tyler, Geraldine Langford, David Harris

Don Pendergraft, Ex-O cio

Barbara Putnam, Ex-O cio

MUSEUM OF THE ALBEMARLE STAFF

Don Pendergraft, Director of Regional Museums

Barbara Putnam, Operations Manager

Wayne Mathews, Facilities Manager

Wanda Lassiter, Curator

Charlotte Patterson, Education Curator

Carrie Barker, Collections Assistant

Marjorie Berry, Public Information Specialist

Kelly Boyd, Security

Rosana Castilho, Event Rental Coordinator

Matt Ferrell, Carpenter

Lori Meads, Museum Educator

Andrew Nelson-Redondo, Exhibit/Graphic

Designer

Lynette Sawyer, Museum Specialist/AV

Technician

William Seymore, Facilities Maintenance

Rebecca Stiles, Administrative Assistant

Mary Temple, Museum Gift Shop

Paul Vincent, Facilities Maintenance

The Gateway

Cathy East, Copy Editor

Andrew Nelson-Redondo, Exhibit/Graphic

Designer

Contributors

Rebecca Stiles, Dr. William E. Dunstan, Alex Christopher Meekins, Andrew Nelson-Redondo, Dr. Melissa N. Stuckey, Carrie Barker, Paul Vincent, Charlotte Patterson, Don Pendergraft, Linda Hofler

The Gateway is published two times per year by the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle. Published articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources or any other state agency.

Unless noted otherwise, images used are courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle.

© 2021 by the Museum of the Albemarle

For information on making a contribution to the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle or to sponsor an issue of The Gateway, call 252-335-1453.

Museum Gift Shop

Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Starting Sept. 11,

Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Annual Report to the Members 2021

BY: DON PENDERGRAFT, DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL MUSEUMS

The museum staff would like to thank you for your continued support. During the last 18 months, we have endured, and to quote an old North Carolina saying, “Bad weather makes good timber.”

We are members of Count On Me NC, with a healthy and safe environment waiting for your visit.

The museum is emerging from the long pause, and through the journey, we made progress in understanding the needs of schoolchildren and lifelong learners. We adapted our interpretive methods to provide distance learning. We purchased new video equipment to send virtual presentations into your homes and around the world. The museum held virtual and real presentations to accommodate reduced audience sizes in the auditorium, with broadcasting over the internet. The museum has become a part of the international forum of historical offerings. We want to provide you, as members, with new experiences of the past to help find answers from lost histories. I hope you’ll enjoy and be part of these new ways to promote culture and history.

Exhibit staff members have constructed and compiled a large body of traveling exhibits. These exhibits are traveling throughout the state, and some are even being shared with historic sites in Virginia and Florida. They are free and available for groups in the Albemarle region. Please let us know if you’d like a list of the exhibits for use in your libraries, schools, and public spaces. The exhibits are designed to travel, helping schools to easily display, learn local histories, and save travel expenses.

The visitation numbers throughout 2020-2021 dropped drastically as COVID-19 limited the number of people allowed in the museum's enclosed spaces. In an attempt to encourage more visitors to return to the museum, we have produced three videos to promote supporting the museum by donations, volunteering, or serving on the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle board. Please view our new videos on YouTube on the Museum of the Albemarle channel. We are also currently placing public service announcements on WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio; these are heard across the state.

One of the newest improvements is the sign for the museum on the front atrium glass windows.

This year we celebrate new beginnings as we embrace the past! Please join us.

18 Months of Endurance

The Museum of the Albemarle works hard to maintain an active social media presence, and according to our numbers for the year, that has certainly paid off! Our visitors far and wide can easily find us on Facebook @MuseumoftheAlbemarle, Twitter @moaecity, and Instagram @moaelizcity. We encourage anyone to check out our website for more extensive information as well if you’re looking for it! In the midst of so much happening over this past year, we started incorporating the hashtag #MuseumMomentofZen, sharing a daily photo of local sites and a few sunrises and sunsets for you to enjoy a small, calming moment. We want to share your photos, too, so send them our way, and maybe you’ll see them featured!

1,157 Instagram Followers

As always, we extend a huge thank you for your continued support, liking, and sharing that has been able to make our social media presence grow even more.

7,252 Facebook Followers

700,000+ Post Engagements

181 YouTube Subscribers

10.7K YouTube Views

272,833+

Total Audience Served by MOA

Mobile

1,629 Users

11+ International Countries

Through our doors over the last 18 months, our visitors represented over 11+ countries registered via the APP platform, MOA Mobile.

Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox

BY: DR. WILLIAM E. DUNSTAN, AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN

In 1898 young Jim Wilcox, son of a privileged family in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, begins courting Nell Cropsey, a newcomer from Brooklyn, New York. Her father, William Cropsey, a potato farmer, rents both land and living quarters. The young lovers eventually drift into spats and disagreements. People whisper that Nell is involved romantically with a married man.

Twenty-year-old Nell Cropsey, who claims to be 19, has angry words with Jim Wilcox on her front porch on the raw night of November 20, 1901, and disappears from her rented riverside home. Within days her mysterious disappearance becomes a national sensation. Local mobs point angry fingers at Jim, but has another person covered up an unthinkable sin?

On December 27, 1901, the river surrenders Nell in almost perfect preservation. The authorities charge Jim with murder. William Cropsey hurls angry words at Jim. Elizabeth City teeters on hysteria. Jim’s bizarre trial unfolds in the Pasquotank County Courthouse in March 1902. Rope-wielding mobs lurk in nighttime shadows around the courthouse and vow to lynch

hysteria.

guilty stamp courthouse,

Jim as well as the entire jury, unless the men return a unanimous guilty verdict. Jim’s determined enemies arrange for his trial to be disrupted. Hundreds of spectators stamp from the courthouse, and then a horse-drawn fire engine clangs and races up and down the street.

The prosecution presents no convincing evidence against Jim. The jury returns with a guilty verdict, and the seemingly surprised judge sentences him to be hanged until dead. The Supreme Court of North Carolina grants Jim a new trial. The second trial, at Hertford, results in a prison sentence of 30 years.

with a seemingly until Jim at innocence

Jim proves a model prisoner. In 1918 Governor Thomas Bickett becomes convinced of Jim’s innocence and frees him. Jim returns to an icy reception in Elizabeth City. In 1934 Jim Wilcox, destitute, broken in body and soul, commits suicide with a shotgun blast, professing his innocence to the very end.

ELLA MAUD “NELL” CROPSEY, ca . 1901

JAMES “JIM” WILCOX, ca . 1900

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Wilcox-Cropsey: Some Sources to Consider

BY: ALEX CHRISTOPHER MEEKINS, HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS OFFICE, NC OFFICE OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY

Jim Wilcox was first tried for the murder of Ella Maud “Nell” Cropsey in March 1902. While there is no known collection of private papers for either Wilcox or Cropsey, the county and state court records are numerous. In addition to the public records, the newspapers of the day carried extensive coverage.

Twice the case was tried in superior court (once in Pasquotank County and once in Perquimans County) and twice appealed to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. This yields a wealth of material not only the actual trial transcripts but also all the material surrounding a trial (jury pools, witnesses, indictments, coroner’s inquest, rulings, etc.). There are subtle differences in the trial transcripts; so much so that the reader can decide if the prosecution made their case or not.

Newspapers offer a wealth of context the highs and lows of searching for Nell until her body is found. The local investment in finding her (the Citizens’ Committee, for example) is shown, and you can trace the arc of hope to despair for the Cropseys.

The ultimate mystery of Nell’s death is not revealed in these documents. They do, however, paint a rich milieu of the events surrounding her death and its aftermath.

NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT DOCUMENT AWARDING A NEW TRIAL, STATE v. JAMES WILCOX , AUGUST 1902

Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina

“ THE BODY OF MISS NELLIE CROPSEY FOUND ”

Courtesy of the Oregon Daily Journal , December 27, 1901.

Behind the Red String of Time

BY: ANDREW M. NELSON-REDONDO, EXHIBITION/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Visitors prize MOA for its compelling exhibitions over the years. But do you ever wonder who produces them—and how?

MOA possesses an in-house team of designer and craftspeople who weave creativity within evidence and artifacts brought to them by the curator, composed during the first two and a half years of the three-year exhibit creation process. An assumption among locals is that our exhibits are state funded, as MOA serves beneath the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources division of museums. But you might be surprised to learn that our exhibitions are funded

TOP-DOWN VIEW OF A SCALE MODEL OF THE EXHIBIT DONE IN FOAM

DIGITAL RENDERING OF EXHIBIT LAYOUT IN MUSEUM LOBBY

To illustrate an upcoming exhibitionʼs overall design to other departments, boards, etc., 3D models via computer or traditional means are developed as educational and troubleshooting tools during the design phase.

via FOMOA memberships, sponsors, and charitable donations by visitors. As always, we thank you for your philanthropy supporting exhibits, including educational programming.

Currently, the exhibition team guides you behind the scenes into our anticipated fall exhibit, Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery. This upcoming exhibit features one of our city's most mesmerizing murder mysteries around the disappearance of Ella Maud “Nell” Cropsey and her death 120 years ago. Nineteen-year-old Nell was last seen alive on her front porch the night of November 20, 1901. She was found in the Pasquotank River a month later. This exhibit showcases her boyfriend, suspect at large, James “Jim” Wilcox, Nell, and artifacts related to both individuals. Additional suspects appear in a model detective-noir crime board. Follow the news clippings and bring your conclusion to what led to this dreadful night.

Extending the display is a modernized reel of historical scenes from 1900s Elizabeth City. The overall picture is an artistic interpretation of time itself. Connecting the two zones will be a series of red metal wires strung to represent Nell, Jim, and 120 years of a mystery still unsolved. This feature thus arches overhead of visitors from modern day at the crime board to 1901 on the front porch of Nell’s house and entry foyer that night. Enjoy a sneak peek into the exhibit through the concepts rendered by the team.

Mark your calendars for October 1, 2021, for when Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery opens!

INSPECTING HEIGHT CONSTRAINTS IN STAGING

Our staff has a sense of humor with foam models when scale interpretation comes into play. We hope those troopers give us a good review. In the backdrop, a glimpse of the crime board useds as a prototype during this staging.

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Exhibits

THE NEGRO MOTORIST GREEN-BOOK COVER, 1940 EDITION

Courtesy of the New York Public Library

Beyond the Green Book:

Recovering Elizabeth City’s Historic African American Businesses through Project-Based Learning

BY: DR. MELISSA N. STUCKEY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, HISTORY PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY

The Negro Motorist Green-Book , a segregation-era travel directory, was an important tool for African American travelers. Created by Victor Hugo Green in 1936, the Green-Book guided African Americans to safe and dignified accommodations across the United States and beyond. Between 2017 and 2020, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) identified and mapped the locations of the 327 North Carolina businesses listed in the Green-Book . Only two Albemarle–region businesses, the Blue Duck Inn and Small’s Service Station (both located in Elizabeth City) were ever listed in the guide.

Inspired by the AAHC’s research and the fact that many northeastern North Carolina African American businesses were not included in the Green-Book , I have been working with Elizabeth City State University students to identify the names and locations of Elizabeth City’s Green-Book –era African American–owned businesses and business owners. An upcoming presentation in October will share their preliminary findings. This is an ongoing project, and anyone with photographs, objects, or memories associated with African American businesses in Elizabeth City from the 1930s through the 1960s is encouraged to connect with me at Elizabeth City State University.

INTERIOR OF THE NEGRO MOTORIST GREEN-BOOK SHOWING THE BLUE DUCK INN ENTRY, 1940 EDITION

Courtesy of the New York Public Library

Erasing the Dirt of History

BY: CARRIE BARKER, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT

This dirty story starts with the Hampton History Museum and artifacts from Chowan Beach, the river beach resort owned by and operated for African Americans during segregation in the 20th century. Loaning artifacts to institutions such as the Hampton History Museum is an important way MOA extends our educational reach. Artifacts must be assessed and cleaned before leaving MOA, and two requested Chowan Beach artifacts left me seeking additional input: two signs that had been displayed outdoors at the Chowan Beach resort. These wooden, handpainted signs were dirty with deeply ingrained dust, and I was concerned about damaging the paint. Do you know what the conservator from the North Carolina Museum of History suggested? Erasers! Using light pressure, I was able to use vinyl erasers to remove a level of dirt—without damaging the paint.

WHO KNEW ERASERS WERE SUCH USEFUL TOOLS FOR CLEANING ARTIFACTS?

In preparation for MOA’s Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery exhibit opening in October, the same conservator advised using erasers again on the painted Cropsey house doors to remove caked grime. And when I researched cleaning leather items for the Cropsey exhibit, I discovered—you guessed it!—leather items can be cleaned lightly with erasers!

CHOWAN BEACH 10¢ SIGN

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

CHOWAN BEACH 10¢ SIGN, Before and after treatment.

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Elizabeth City, 1901

BY: PAUL VINCENT, CONTRIBUTING RESEARCHER

The Elizabeth City that Nell Cropsey knew at the time of her disappearance in 1901 was a place at once on the go and on the rise. Coincidentally, a local newspaper had extensively advertised the town’s growing social and commercial activity just two days following the nineteen-yearold’s vanishing. On November 22, 1901, The Economist published a 48-page “Industrial Edition” issue, touting Elizabeth City as a prominent center of industry and culture in the Albemarle region.

POPULATION: 8,000+

TOTAL REAL ESTATE & PERSONAL PROPERTY (VALUE): $1.5+ MILLION

NUMBER OF MERCHANTS

(WITH STOCKS OVER $1,000):

RETAIL GROCERS: 25

DRUGGISTS: 5

JEWELERS: 2

Inside, readers could expect to find brief write-ups promoting several of the city’s leading merchants and industrialists, including those businesses from surrounding towns and counties. All sorts of enterprises and institutions, from W. H. Zoeller’s photography studio to Dudley & Co.’s oyster house, from the Elizabeth City Brick Co. to the State Normal School (present-day Elizabeth City State University), were described in detail within this special issue. The paper included an additional table of statistics (selections displayed below) that further aimed at highlighting the town’s upward progress at the turn of the 20th century.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY OCCUPATION:

CLERKS & BOOKKEEPERS: 150

SHIP CARPENTERS & MACHINISTS: 75

TRAVELING SALESMEN: 9

CHURCHES: 13

SCHOOLS: 20

MILLS & FACTORIES, INCLUDING OYSTER HOUSES: 35

FISH AND OYSTER CATCH, 1901

Statistic estimating the average figures for various seafoods processed in Elizabeth City between 1900 and 1901.

Courtesy of The Economist

Fall and Winter Programming

BY: CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, EDUCATION CURATOR

Fall and winter programming begins September 7 with History for Lunch when Alex Gottschalk will present Making His Mark: The Basnight Legacy in Northeast North Carolina . Other topics for the fall include The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks: Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland by John Railey on September 3, The Woeful Story of Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox by William E. Dunstan on October 6, Beyond the Green Book: Recovering Elizabeth City’s Historic African American Businesses through Project-Based Learning by Melissa E. Stucky on October 20, The Coast Guard Rescue of the SeaBreeze off the Outer Banks: On the Wings of Angels by Rear Admiral Carlton Moore on November 3 and Buffalo City and the Blount Patent: A History of Logging the Dare Mainland by Bill Barber on November 17. A new popup panel display, Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina , will open on September 7. Small children will enjoy Tot Time presented each second Thursday. The first in line on September 9 will be Colonial Play! During this program, children will learn all about toys that are not electronic! Fall topics include INEZ to the Rescue! and The Poppy Flower . The film The Secret of Corolla: The Gift from the Outer Banks , produced by Jerry Thompson, will premiere on September 11 at the museum. A new children’s book will be available: Sebi the Colt: A New Life by Brandi L. McMahan in collaboration with Kelley Grider Horton. Also, a pony from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund will make an appearance. Don’t miss BOO! At the Museum! Bring your trickin’-and-treatin’ youngsters for a movie, games, activities, and ghostly, yet historical, experiences—presented by Junior Docents. The museum is the headquarters of the Ghost Walk on October 30 and 31st. the theme is The Murder of Beautiful Nell Cropsey.

Experience sights and sounds of the holiday season during the Holiday Open House: Christmas at Who-Seumville on December 4, when the museum will be decorated with a Grinch-like theme. The Albemarle Express O-scale train will travel its last season through eastern North Carolina, making stops

of historical interest. Watch one of three showings of The Grinch . Take a carriage ride with Carolina Carriages, visit with Santa, and search the Museum Gift Shop for that special gift. School groups with reservations may visit Who-Seumville for a day of magical fun beginning December 1. Register your family for the tasty and fun Gingerbread Workshop on December 3. Kids of all ages are welcome.

As we look forward to changes the new year will bring, the education staff wishes you and yours a very Happy New Year. Make sure you include the museum as one of your favorite places to visit and support in 2022.

CHRISTMAS AT WHO-SEUMVILLE

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

We Love Museums!

BY: CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, EDUCATION CURATOR

My nephew, Kevin, and his family, who live in West Virginia, visited Elizabeth City a few years ago. His then four-year-old son, Caleb, was all about trains. He knew that we had a Discovery Room at the museum featuring trains— Discover the Railroad: Ride the Time Train

It was an interactive space for children and families. As soon as Caleb saw me, he asked when the museum was going to be open. I was surprised to go to the Discovery Room early Tuesday morning to find him and his dad busy reconstructing the train set. He even brought his own set of Thomas trains in a carrying case to play with in the room. Caleb certainly knows his trains. He was using train language: calling trains back to the yard, repairing trains, and transporting goods to the farms and towns. His dad remarked, “We love museums!” Caleb readily agreed. At such a young age, he is already understanding the excitement and pleasure of interacting in the museum setting. This experience showed me the importance of having a safe, exciting, and interactive space in the museum for families to relax and enjoy the learning experience.

So different was the museum experience for my generation. A trip to a museum meant walking in a line to just look at artifacts on display. The impression was of an old, solemn building, often dark and damp, that housed things that were unfamiliar. The connection to everyday life was somehow lost.

Encyclopedia Britannica states that museums are “institutions that preserve and interpret the material evidence of the human race, human activity, and the natural world.” People began to collect, interpret, and display items long before museum institutions were

established. The Greek mouseion meant “seat of the Muses,” or a place of contemplation. In Roman times, the Latin term museum referred mainly to places of philosophical discussion. Eventually, museum became a word to describe a collection of curiosities. In the 17th century, Oxford University received a collection on the condition that a building be erected to house it. The Ashmolean Museum, as it became known, opened in 1683. By the 18th and 19th centuries, a museum was generally known as a building, accessible to the public, that holds cultural material. As society changed, the meaning began to encompass more than the building housing the cultural material. Historic buildings were restored and preserved as well as outdoor environments. The late 20th century brought inventions and growth of technology that expanded the reach of museums.

Today’s museums are happy, colorful, and active places where families can gather and enjoy the experience. The word museum now encompasses all the historic meanings. It includes the early meaning of the word—a place of contemplations—as well as the later meanings of a collection, the building, and now the experiences. Museums have life!

CHILDREN AT PLAY

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

What’s Happening with Affiliate Museums

“SHADES OF OUR PAST”

“Shades of our Past,” a living history group from Williamsburg, Virginia, will perform a “19th Century Medicine Show” at “Pastimes and Professions of the 19th Century”

September 18, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

What’s Happening at...

History Live! comprises the complex’s fall cultural event series. The four events include:

Pastimes and Professions of the 19th Century

SEPTEMBER 18, 10:00 A.M.—4:00 P.M.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in Fayetteville is preparing a busy schedule of exhibits and events for the remainder of 2021.

Look Again: Discovering Historical Photos , opens Saturday, September 4. This traveling exhibit, originally produced by the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, is on loan from the Museum of the Albemarle.“This exhibition discusses how the introduction of photographs in the mid-1800s forever changed the way we record and remember our personal lives, as well as our community’s, state’s, and nation’s history.”(MOA website.) The exhibit will be on display through January 2, 2022.

Hallowe’en Revels: Night Tours of the 1897 Poe House

OCTOBER 21—23 AND 27—29

Trick or Treat at the 1897 Poe House

OCTOBER 30, 11:00 A.M.— 3:00 P.M.

Holiday Jubilee at the 1897 Poe House

DECEMBER 5, 1:00—3:00 P.M.

Please note that events may change or be canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions and/or availability of artists. Visit the complex’s website or Facebook pages for up-to-date information.

The complex will once again participate in Heroes Homecoming events surrounding Veterans Day, sponsored and promoted by the Fayetteville Area Convention and

Courtesy of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex

Visitors Bureau. The MCFHC will feature a lecture, shown virtually on YouTube and Facebook. In a Critical Condition: The Fight to Save Lives at Bentonville will be presented by Colby Lipscomb, education coordinator at Bentonville Battlefield. The lecture will air on November 11 at 2:00 p.m. and will remain visible after.

For more information about events and exhibits at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, visit museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov

What’s Happening at...

Railroad is slated to open at the museum in late September . And two other exhibits— Udderly Intriguing: Dairy Farming in Western North Carolina and Waking Rip Van Winkle , which examines mining’s economic impact on the Mountain region— will run through February 2022 .

For more information about events and exhibits at the Mountain Gateway Museum, visit mgmnc.org

Mountain Gateway Museum and the Old Fort Ruritan Club will cohost the combined Octoberfest–Pioneer Day Festival on Saturday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , on the museum’s grounds. This free event—MGM’s largest of the year—will feature traditional mountain arts and crafts, live music, food trucks, the award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers, vintage farm tools and equipment, children’s activities, and much more.

Also, MGM’s staff will assist DNCR’s marketing team at MerleFest in Wilkesboro September 17–18 ; man a booth at Marion’s Mountain Glory Festival on October 9 ; and help the museum’s Friends group with a Fall Yard Sale on October 30 . The annual Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop is set for November 20 , and the Christmas Open House and Luminaries’ Lighting will be held on December 4

Meanwhile, the MGM Farmers’ Market will continue every Thursday afternoon through October 7 . The newly refreshed and expanded exhibit Working on the

2019 PIONEER DAY FESTIVAL

Old-timey chores, such as pumping water and scrubbing laundry on a washboard, provided lots of fun for children at Mountain Gateway Museum’s 2019 Pioneer Day Festival in Old Fort.

Courtesy of the Mountain Gateway Museum

Donor Profile: C.O. Robinson Family Trust

BY: DON PENDERGRAFT, DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL MUSEUMS

In 1968, with the passing of C.O., Charles O. Robinson Jr. assumed the family businesses. He and his wife, Flora, moved into the Robinson home, which was built in 1914. The house was a wedding gift from the bride’s parents. It is one of the architectural jewels on Main Street in Elizabeth City. Flora Johnson Robinson was a great friend to the museum. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 106.

Today, the Robinson family is continuing the legacy of contributing to “the greater good” to advance the people in the Albemarle region and state.

ON THE PORCH OF THE ROBINSON HOUSE

The Museum of the Albemarle is grateful for the community visionaries who believed in our museum and acknowledges the contributions of the many donors who have made a difference in the museum’s establishment.

In this edition of The Gateway , we feature the family of Charles Oakley (C.O.) Robinson Jr. for their support of the early museum and its transformation to the present site, which overlooks the Pasquotank River.

The family’s bequest honors Charles Hall Robinson, a business innovator and giant in the Albemarle region with his many contributions to the local economy. Robinson was originally from Jefferson County, New York, and relocated to Elizabeth City in 1868 to oversee his father’s lumber interests in Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties. The museum’s lobby is named in his honor.

Charles O. Robinson took the reins after his father’s death in 1930 and become a titan of industry. C.O. was an astute businessman and community leader, especially in the advancement of the Albemarle region.

The museum operates as an educational institution to promote the history and culture of the region. We are the northeastern branch of the North Carolina Museum of History Division under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The museum is owned and operated by the State of North Carolina, which provides funding for the facility and staff.

The Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle is a 501(c)(3), a not-for-profit organization. They raise funds to sponsor and provide museum programs, including speakers’ forums, public events, educational programs, biannual magazines, exhibitions, outreach with new virtual programs, and promotional efforts.

The museum’s partnerships with other nonprofit organizations are vital to subsidize the educational opportunities for students, lifelong learners of the humanities, as well as providing a major attraction to bring tourist to the region. We follow the North Carolina Public Schools curriculum guidelines to reinforce North Carolina history and culture by incorporating teaching points into our programs and exhibits.

The Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle are a very important part of the museum and have been since the museum began in 1967.

We thank you for your continued support to keep the torches lit for future generations.

Left to right: Harry Robinson, (standing); Julie Robinson, (seated); Flora Johnson Robinson, (in middle, seated); Charlie Robinson III, (standing); Tapp Robinson, (seated).

Tapp is currently serving on the North Carolina Museum of History Associates Board.

Courtesy of Barbara Putnam

President’s Report

BY: LINDA HOFLER, FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM OF THE ALBEMARLE’S PRESIDENT

Iam happy to report that the Museum of the Albemarle is continuing to work toward pre-COVID normalcy. It is nice to report that currently, the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle (FOMOA) are meeting in person, as well as on Zoom.

FOMOA membership has remained strong. In fact, it has increased slightly. I encourage everyone to renew their memberships and to invite family and friends to join.

Visitation has increased to the Museum of the Albemarle during the summer months. The Museum Gift Shop has noted an increase in family groups. Individuals have visited from all across the United States, as well as North Carolina, expressing a desire to learn more about the history of our region.

Mark your calendars for the annual meeting on October 1, 2021. Our new officers for FOMOA for 2021–2022 will be installed. In conjunction with the annual meeting, the new exhibit Nell Cropsey: 120 Years of Mystery will open. The evening will feature music from the 1890s and light refreshments. MOA will also be serving as the headquarters for the annual Ghost Walk this year.

Staff members continue to do an outstanding job. As the MOA opens for on-site visitation, they continue to use social media as well. Programs such as History for Lunch are being held again on-site, as well as virtually.

FOMOA continues to promote the Museum of the Albemarle. This summer a radio marketing campaign was launched on WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio, to attract visitors from the metro areas of the Piedmont region of our state. We want to share the rich history of the Albemarle region with all.

Membership Matters

May 21, 2021–August 21, 2021

RENEWALS Individual

Grafton Beaman

Margie Berry

Susan Blackmon

Earnell Brown

Sharon Burtner

Margene Curtice

Gary Dunstan

Dianne Fletcher

Wendy Flores

W. Brian Forehand

Mimi Galgano

Rhonda Gregory

Evelyn Henley

MSG William “Sarge” Hoffman

Delsie Jones

JoAnn Jasinski

Joyce Lassiter

Norma Laughmiller

Daniel McAuliffe

Mable Jean Moore

Barbara Snowden

David Seymour

Judy Stallings

Elizabeth Taylor

Phyllis Timmerman

Verna Austin Wall

Emily Jennings White

Family

Bill & Carol Allen

Bill & Chris Barber

Kim & Jack Baumbaugh

Ron & Mary Black

Dr. Glen Bowman

Archer & Janet Farmer

Brenda & Billy Felton

Bobby & Barbara Fitchett

Mark & Frances Gass

Norma Hatot-King

Harriett & Tony Hornthal

Carol Jennings

Eddie & Cindy Jennings

Penny Leary-Smith

Joyce & Justina Long

Rod & Barbara Mueller

Holly Phelps

Rebecca Phelps

Beverly & Reggie Riddick

Fred & Jan Riley

Bill & Patricia Sterritt

Charlotte Underwood

Faye Ellen Weatherly

Craig Winslow

Patron

Dewey & Pat Burgess

Lee Culpepper

Maureen & Ray Donnelly

Sharon Greene

Linda Hofler

Ken Howard

Alden & Patty Hoggard

David & Jane Harris

Becky Harrell

Doris Hawkins

Sam & Janet Jones

Mary Ann & Barry Keyes

Don & Mary Lee Kosik

Joyce Reitz

Julie & Harry Robinson

Corrina & Chris Ruffieux

Anne Sanders

Bren O’Sullivan & Joe Inqui

Ethen Sutton

Turner Sutton

Wayne & Dee Talley

George & Mary Thomas

Lee & Judy Vassar

Paul & Joyce Wheeler

Sponsor

Robert & Elana Muir

Herb & Annette Small

Lifetime Members

Hilton & Mary Leigh Barrett

Arthur & Patti Bergman

Anna & Bruce Biggs

Karl Brandspigel & Nita Coleman

Geoff & Penny Byrd

George Converse

Carol & Ed Cowell, Jr.

Brenda & Terry Daniels

Sam & Faye Davis

Col. Bill & Susan Davis

Oliver & Linda Etheridge

Joe & Judy Evans

Nancy Ferebee

Jo Ann Foreman

Dr. Linda Fusco

Doug & Diana Gardner

Dorsey Harris

Edwin & Diana D. Hardison

Flint & Janet Harding

James & Jackie Hathaway

Dr. Karen Ray & Dr. John Hill

Chad Hull

Russ & Courtney Hull

Maughan & Kay Hull

J. Wilson & Margaret Jones, Jr.

Mark & Lil Maland

Hunter Foreman Michael

Nancy Bailey Muller

Buddy & Beverly Madrin

Cynthia & Joe Mastro

Dr. Charles & Brenda Mahaffey

Michael & Sherri McDaniel

Ed & Claudia Merrell, Jr.

Kirk & Anita Oldham

William Parker, Jr.

Chris & Whitney Paullet

Dr. Anne Marie Radke

Tapp & Charlie Robinson

Matt & Breanne Scribner

Norman & Susan Scurria

Beverly Small

Mark & Stacy Small

Dr. Benjamin Speller, Jr.

Marvin Stokley

Jim & Jo Thomas

Bob & Judy Thorne

Mary Tirak

Byrum Charitable Trust

Barbara & Leo Wachter

Katherine Wassink

Jimmy & Mary Jo Westbrook

Dian Williams

NEW MEMBERS Patron

Janice McKenzie Cole

Sponsors & Ads.

Sponsor Recognition

The Museum of the Albemarle wishes to thank our sponsors and community partners. It is only through the generosity of businesses and individuals that the museum is able to continue to offer events that not only serve as fundraisers for the museum, but also allow the museum an opportunity to interpret a portion of our region’s history. All proceeds from benefit the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle and its educational programs, exhibits, and artifact conservation.

The Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle (FOMOA) is a nonprofit support group that seeks to raise awareness and provide funding for exhibits, educational programming, and artifact conservation throughout the 13-county region that we serve. The counties served are Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties. The Museum of the Albemarle is the recipient of all funds raised.

ELIZABETH CITY FOUNDATION

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The Museum Gift Shop features the work of local artisans with pottery, jewelry, glassware, and fiber arts. Choose the perfect gift from a great selection of books and souvenirs.

Museum Gift Shop

Hours

Monday Friday: 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

Starting Sept. 11, Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Special Event Rentals

With a variety of spaces available for rent and an attractive and convenient downtown Elizabeth City location, the museum is an ideal choice for almost any event; including business meetings, corporate dinners, community events, performances, wedding receptions, holiday parties, and family reunions.

©Melissa Dawn Photography

Engage with northeastern NC history on another level during your visit to the Museum of the Albemarle. Experience audio tours, highlights to current exhibits, scavenger games, guides, and so much more! Enjoy this offering from your home or on your next visit to us! Try us out and see the best we have to offer!