NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1961 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1009

HOUSE BILL 978

 

 

AN ACT TO CREATE THE EDENTON HISTORIC COMMISSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF HISTORIC SITES IN THE TOWN OF EDENTON AND CHOWAN COUNTY.

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Edenton in Chowan County was named in honor of Governor Charles Eden and incorporated in 1722; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Edenton was the unofficial capital of the Colony for nearly 40 years; and

WHEREAS, the Edenton Tea Party of 1774 was the first known political activity of women in the American colonies; and

WHEREAS, there remains standing in 1961 in this historic town and county such well‑known homes and buildings, which nurtured the cradle of the Colony, as: The Barker House, 1782; Edmund Hatch House, 1744; Chowan County Courthouse, 1767; James Iredell House, 1778; Blair House, 1775; The Cupola House, 1758; Joseph Hewes House, 1725; and many other historic plantation homes in the town and county; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that these historic and ancient buildings in the Town of Edenton and throughout Chowan County be preserved and maintained as existing monuments to our colonial period: Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  The Governor is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to appoint a commission of not less than fifteen members, to be known as the Edenton Historic Commission. In addition to the members to be appointed by the Governor, the Mayor of the Town of Edenton, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Chowan County, and the Director of the State Department of Archives and History shall serve on the said commission as ex officio members. The Governor is authorized to fill any vacancies on the commission occasioned by the members appointed by him.

Sec. 2.  The aforesaid commission is authorized and empowered to acquire title to historic properties in the Town of Edenton and Chowan County, and to repair, restore or otherwise improve such properties, and to maintain them until the work of the commission shall be terminated.

Sec. 3.  Any appropriations voted by the General Assembly that may be for the purposes stated above shall be made to the State Department of Archives and History.

Sec. 4.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 17th day of June, 1961.