Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City


Book Description

Elizabeth City is rich in legend and lore. The pirate Blackbeard was a frequent visitor to the area, selling his ill-gotten goods to a willing populace. The Wright brothers made Elizabeth City the first leg of their trips to Kitty Hawk, and they bought materials to build their flying machine from Kramer Brothers, a local lumberyard. Champion nine-ball player Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter was born and died here. Young "Beautiful Nell" Cropsey was murdered in 1901; her death is the town's most enduring mystery. Newspaperman W.O. Saunders, editor of the Independent, was known nationally after he walked down New York's Fifth Avenue in pajamas to protest uncomfortable work attire. Young Tamsen Donner, a member of the ill-fated Donner Party, was a teacher here in the 1830s. Fred Fearing's Rose Buddies welcomed boaters to Elizabeth City with homegrown roses and wine and cheese parties. He has entertained Walter Cronkite and Willard Scott, among other luminaries. These are just a few of the stories, mysteries, and legends of Elizabeth City's past and present.




Elizabeth City


Book Description

Located in Eastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City exists today as a favorite stop among boaters and travelers, while remaining a beloved community for its residents. The city possesses a distinct character, flavored by warm weather, friendly residents, a revitalized waterfront, and historic architecture. With the many waterways that surround the area, such as the Pasquotank River, the Albemarle Sound, and various other creeks and streams, it is not surprising that the city's history has been greatly shaped by such canals. With the completion of the Dismal Swamp Canal in 1805, which connected these waterways with Norfolk's port, Elizabeth City residents were able to offer their agricultural and lumber goods to the world. Elizabeth City is a volume that shares with readers keepsakes from the town's defining years. Vintage photographs, many taken by well-known Elizabeth City photographer William Henry Zoeller, come alive through descriptive text. Spotlighted are the many residents who contributed to the city's heritage, whether publicly or in a smaller, more personal fashion, including Dr. A.L. Pendleton and his family in the city's first automobile and the Wright Brothers who stayed in the city for a while before making their way to Kitty Hawk. Other images offer glimpses of the ever-changing streets and waterfront, as well as the various forms of architecture that have lined both over the years.




The 100 Best Small Towns in America


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Provides information on growth rate, per capita income, economic base, media, health care, schools, churches, and housing costs




Aloft at Last


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Walkable City


Book Description

Presents a plan for American cities that focuses on making downtowns walkable and less attractive to drivers through smart growth and sustainable design




Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox


Book Description

An absorbing tapestry, this true story brims with romance, murder, and intrigue. The illustrated narrative pulls readers into the complex, dark secrets of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This bustling town overlooks the breathtaking Pasquotank River but lurches dangerously from political and racial hatreds in the decades after the Civil War. Jim Wilcox, born 1876, reaches manhood in this fractured world. In 1898 he begins courting Nell Cropsey, after she arrives in Elizabeth City from Brooklyn, but the young lovers eventually drift into heavy-laden turmoil and strife. Then the autumn of 1901 brings ruin. Nell disappears from her riverside house one cold November night, and her strange, unnatural story becomes a national sensation. Hysterical accusers point angry fingers at Jim, but has another person covered an unthinkable sin? William E. Dunstan's painstaking sleuthing peels back the fa�ade of Southern gentility to reveal a secret-ridden town teetering on storm and frenzy at the turn of the twentieth century.




Civil Aeronautics Board Reports


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Maritime Elizabeth City


Book Description

Situated on the Pasquotank River in northeastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City is known as the "Gateway to the Albemarle." Since its founding in 1793, this small yet industrious river port has relied firmly upon the water as a source of prosperity as well as gratification. During the modern era, the rise of both prominent maritime-based enterprises and notable leisurely pursuits took hold and flourished. From its harbor, Jennette Brothers Wholesalers, Texas Oil, Norfolk & Southern Railroad, and the Globe Fish Company plied the rivers and sounds, bringing their goods and services. By its shores, the Elizabeth City Shipyard constructed and launched dozens of rescue and combat vessels in support of national defense. At the foot of Water Street, the James Adams Floating Theater regularly entertained audiences, and sailing enthusiasts flocked from across the country to compete in and watch the Moth Boat Regattas. Today, along Mariners' Wharf, the Rose Buddies welcome arriving boaters, and near the riverfront, the Museum of the Albemarle continues to promote and interpret the region's history and culture.




The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey


Book Description

As compelling as fiction, The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey tells the dramatic story of the disappearance of nineteen-year-old Nell Cropsey from her riverside home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in November 1901. Bloodhounds, detectives, divers, and even a psychic were brought in to search for her, and the case immediately became a national sensation. Bland Simpson, who first heard the tale as an Elizabeth City schoolboy, weaves this true story into a colorful nonfiction account, told in three first-person voices: Nell's sister Ollie; famous newspaper editor W. O. Saunders, who covered the case as a young reporter; and Jim Wilcox, Nell's beau, who was implicated in the case. Nell and Jim's romance, her disappearance, the great search, the trials, and their aftermath are artfully reconstructed from interviews, court records, and newspaper accounts.




Downtown Chic


Book Description

Robert and Cortney Novogratz, starts of the hit Bravo series 9 BY DESIGN, have been renovating and designing unique and hip homes for families for over ten years. Describing their signature style as a sophisticated but bohemian mix of high and low, new and old, they offer their realistic advice on how to create original, warm interiors with ease. One part practical guide, one part inspirational volume on creating a look for the home, the book pairs humorous anecdotes about the pitfalls and pleasures of renovation with a treasure trove of decorating tips: how to use both boutique and flea-market finds; how to inject lots of personality into a room affordably; how to decorate kids’ rooms so they appeal to children and adults; how to easily rehabilitate outdated furnishings; and many more. In each of the ten projects featured—which include a townhouse in New York City, a country house in Massachusetts, and a beach house in Brazil—before and after shots document the agony and ecstasy of any renovation project, as well as revealing the design duo’s vision and remarkable ability to see through the most awful of spaces to the amazing home that lies within.