Washington, North Carolina

Louis Van Camp

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2000
• ISBN:
  9781439627617
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Washington, North Carolina is a city marked by its rich industrial heritage the beauty of the Pamlico River, and the fertile farmlands of Beaufort County.

Washington, the county seat and original namesake of President Washington, grew during the 1800s to become one of the prominent shipping ports for lumber and a variety of agricultural produce. With the arrival of the railroads and the following economic hard times of Depression -era America, Washington's character changed dramatically, forcing many of the local mills and businesses to close. However, today, the city is experiencing a remarkable resurgence of business and opportunity and has again become a significant contributor in the economy of the state.

Washington, North Carolina, consisting of over 200 stunning black-and-white photographs and postcards, allows readers a unique opportunity to explore their hometown as never before. As if stepping back in time, readers will experience the Washington of yesteryear, when the masts of commercial ships, like slender church steeples, dominated the waterfront, when the piercing whistles of trains entering and leaving the many lumber mills punctuated the city's daily activities, and when the sounds of horse-drawn wagons and early automobiles echoed throughout Main and Market Streets.

This book also captures scenes of daily life: farmers laboring in the field and also meeting at Brooks Store to swap stories, gossip, and advice; people gathered on Main Street enjoying colorful parades; and children swimming at Whichard's Beach Campground and Marina in nearby Chocowinity.

Three

THE HISTORIC BUSINESS DISTRICT 1900–1999

This is Market Street looking south about 1900. Note the wooden sidewalks and the crushed oyster shell street. The building at the end of Market Street was called the “Market.” Designed and built of wood by Charles Hartge around 1895, the Market was the home of the Armory, which burned in 1900, when a fire gutted Water Street and both sides of Market Street up to Main Street. As a result of this fire, the city building code for commercial structures was changed from wood to brick. The Market was rebuilt of brick in 1901. Jack’s Furniture was on the left, with Leonard’s Hardware across the street on the northeast corner. Behind the Market was the Meyers warehouse and dock, where the Old Dominion Steamship Line operated. (PC OS.)

The Crystal Ice Co., which sold block ice, was located on Water Street near Dudley’s Market in 1912. Maola Ice Cream, a Sunday favorite of many Washington families, was next door. Crystal Ice Co. later became Colonial Ice Co., which was demolished in 1960 after flood inundation. (AF.)

The Spencer Bros. Co., c. 1895, was located at 101 Market Street. George A. Spencer, proprietor, sold dry goods, notions, clothes, and shoes. They were complete outfitters for the whole family. Whatever the fashion was in New York, you were soon to find it at Spencer Bros. Wachovia Bank built on this corner in 1968. (IN.)

White’s Store occupied the Spencer building from about 1920 to 1930. Then, Guarantee Bank used it for many years. The Spencer building was demolished in 1968, when Wachovia Bank built on this corner. (VC.)

Powell & Ellsworth constructed this building, with a basement, at 120 South Market Street in 1913. The owners were Messrs. W.T. Powell and W.H. Ellsworth. They specialized in “quality groceries.” A horse-drawn wagon was used for home deliveries, and two delivery boys with bicycles served local addresses.

The Ellsworth building has been renovated and painted white. Late-1990s tenants are Nobles & Keech, P.A., and Hoell Inc. (VC.)

This is Main Street looking east in 1909. Main Street is now paved with brick. On the left side was the Brown building, where Brown’s Drugstore (first floor) and Brown’s Opera House (second floor) were located. The next building was the Fulford Hardware Co., situated there from 1885 to 1907, when the Ellison Brothers Co. moved in. Next door (which is now a parking lot) was the Dimock house, where pioneer Susan Dimock, M.D., was born. Ms. Dimock was the first North Carolina woman to become a doctor in 1871. Dimock drowned while returning home when the steamship Shiller sank in 1875; she was only 26 years of age. Then came the Patrician Inn. On the right corner was Spencer’s Grocery Store. (PC OS.)

The Savings & Trust Co. building, built c. 1904, is located on the northwest corner of Market and Main Streets. This handsome three-story brick commercial building has wide arched openings, corbeled trim, an ornamental parapet, and various classical details. Beverly Moss was president of the Savings & Trust Bank, and J.B. Sparrow was cashier. Two years later, the Home Building and Loan also had offices here, and J.B. Sparrow served as the secretary. First Citizen’s Bank was located here until late 1999. (VC.)

Stewart’s Jewelry Store, located at 121 North Market Street, first opened in 1910. “Every week for 75 years, one of the family members climbed the narrow courthouse stairs (now BHM Library) to the garret to undertake the tedious process of winding the town clock’s heavy striking and running weights that struck every hour and half hour,” said Thomas Stewart. Stewart Parkway, on the Pamlico River waterfront, was named after former Mayor Thomas A. Stewart on Jun...