Warren County Manager Robert Davie told a group of stakeholders today in Halifax the program will receive a Main Street award for promotions and Murfreesboro is taking the initial steps to join.
Passports, which are a key element in the program, will be delivered to homeschools in the state and the History Worth Repeating slogan has been trademarked.
Carol Shields, executive director of Roanoke River Partners, told the group how the History Worth Repeating effort mirrors the work the partners are doing to promote the river with its own passport program, of which the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is a partner.
“We should work together,” Davie told her.
The Roanoke River is part of the National Parks Service Network to Freedom, recognizing its importance in the Underground Railroad.
Halifax also played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, said Carl Burke, site manager of the state historic site in Halifax. “Halifax had a large percentage of free blacks.”
Davie said Edenton has got off to a good start in the program.
Burke believes the inclusion of Halifax will be good for the historic site as well as the town. “It will mean increased visitors and interest.”
Halifax Mayor John White said, “It all fits in with what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to build the town up.”
Patterson Wilson, who hosted the event at her Hen and the Hog restaurant, said, “Most people who walk in here have no idea of the history here.”
Halifax County Librarian Ginny Orvedahl said she is interested in the program and wants to reach out to the school system “to gets kids interested.”
Edenton with its Tea Party was a political protest organized by women in response to the Tea Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1773.
Halifax with its Resolves was the first official action by an American Colony calling for independence from Great Britain.
Warrenton, home of the first architect of North Carolina, blended architectural styles while sending his work force of sixty craftsmen to build colleges in Raleigh, Oxford and Randolph County.
The passport tour leads visitors through the participating towns.
Passports are stamped at each historic, merchant, or artisan location.
Hands-on activities in each town are tailored for children and adults: Resigning the resolves in Halifax, building architectural elements in Warrenton and cruising the bay where the Tea Party occurred in Edenton.
Passport holders share their experiences online and register for giveaways and prizes.
For more information or to print a passport visit www.historyworthrepeating.org.
While more preprinted passports will be available at additional locations they are currently available at any of the following places:
Edenton:
- Historic Visitors Center – 108 N. Broad Street
- Penelope Barker House – 505 S. Broad Street
- Edenton Bay Cruises – S. Broad Street on the water
- 309 Bistro & Spirits – 309 S. Broad Street
- Downtown Café and Soda Shoppe – 301 S. Broad Street
- Edenton Coffee House – 302 S. Broad Street
- Waterman’s Grill – 417 S. Broad Street
- Edenton Bay Trading – 407 S. Broad Street
- Chowan Arts Council and Gallery Shop – 504 S. Broad Street
Warrenton:
- Jacob Holt House – 122 S. Bragg Street
- Quilt Lizzy – 117 E. Market Street
- Town Hall – 133 S. Main Street
- Hardware Café – 106 S. Main Street
- Robinson Ferry Restaurant – 111 N. Bragg Street
- Scarlet Rooster – 117 N. Main Street
- Friends Two – 126 S. Main Street
Halifax:
- State Historic Site – 25 Saint David Street
- Halifax Town Hall – 24 S. King Street
- The Hen and the Hog Restaurant – 16 S. King Street
- Bass House Antiques – 13 N. King Street
