“This informative and exciting site brings history alive for visitors and citizens of Halifax County, inviting them to become a part of history in the making through the restoration of the Bradford Denton House in Halifax,” said Lori Medlin, president of the HCVB.
Tina Gregory, board member of the HCVB, and member of the Historic Halifax Restoration Association, explains: "The Bradford Denton House Restoration is Historic Halifax Restoration Association's newest historic preservation project. This modest, simply constructed, 1760s house, tells an extraordinary tale of the beginnings of American Democracy through the Halifax Resolves in 1776 and onward — where ordinary people did, and still do, extraordinary things."
Jeff Dickens, the project’s historian, said, “Colonel John Bradford, presumably having built and lived in this house, was an important figure in the shaping of our county and state. Having served in many capacities in local government he found himself as a delegate from Halifax County to the 4th Provincial Congress meeting at Halifax in the spring of 1776.”
Screenshot of the website.
Here, Dickens said, Bradford, along with all the other delegates took a unanimous stand to instruct North Carolina's delegates to the Continental Congress to support a separation from British rule. “This brave and patriotic stance was the first such action in any of the colonies. This structure is our connection back to that time when men risked all for an idea that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were our God given rights to possess as a free and independent nation.”
Susanne Mahaffey, a descendant of Colonel John and the Reverend Henry Bradford said, “It was an unbelievable thrill to learn several years ago, this house had survived into the 21st Century. When I shared the news with other Bradford family members, they were just as happy as I was. We were excited to be a part of helping to save this historic home and having it moved from near Enfield to Halifax.”
The website features insights into 18th century life through images of the original Halifax Resolves from the North Carolina State Archives; rare currency signed by John Bradford; a video developed by Les Atkins that scripts the Bradfords service to a young America and an original musical score and dramatic readings from the journals of Francis Asbury performed by Dwight Berry.
The website is set up to take donations that support the restoration of the house, which will be accomplished using 18th Century techniques and handmade materials. “Your gift will make real history come alive in Historic Halifax County,” said Medlin.
Curry Roberts, of the Computer Guy & Company in Roanoke Rapids, designed the website with contributions from Joyce Tillery, Jeff Dickens, Patterson Wilson, Bob Anthony, Glenn Dickens, Monica Moody, Fletcher Carter and Gregory.
Roberts said it was a privilege creating the website. “Creating this website has helped me better understand the role Halifax County played in our quest for independence from tyrannical British rule.
It gives me an idea of how rich Halifax County is in history and how much history is just beyond our backdoor. It certifies that Halifax County is the birthplace of independence.”
Said Medlin: “Websites like this serve to bring the world to Halifax County. The history in Halifax County is so important and so much of it has been preserved. We hope this website will help raise awareness of Halifax County, this project and the funds to restore this important piece of American History.”
