On Your Side In Your Hometown
By Phillip Williams
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
How do you like the On Your Side In Your Hometown series we’ve been doing in July? I can tell you it has fun and informative for me. I grew in Eastern North Carolina, born and raised in Rocky Mount and then came to Greenville after graduating from NC State in the late 1980’s. While I’ve travelled all around the area over the years, I still learned a lot about the towns and cities I went live from in July. I just wrapped up my last city, Greenville, tonight with Allan Hoffman.
The places I was assigned included Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Hamilton, Swansboro, Oriental, and Greenville. Here are some things I learned along the way.
Atlantic Beach began to thrive when they built a bridge from Morehead City. It was first a toll bridge with a wooden pagoda collection house on the bridge. The circle at Atlantic Beach got it’s name because people had to keep circling around to find an open parking space. The circle is actually shaped like a triangle.
Morehead City flourished when the railroad terminus was put there in the 1800’s. The train from Raleigh would bring visitors to enjoy the water. The large Atlantic Hotel was a bring draw until it burned down in a blaze of glory. Morehead City was named after Governor Morehead. You can learn much more from the friendly people at the History Place on Arendell Street in downtown Morehead City.
Hamilton had its most prominent period during the Civil War. A confederate fort was just down the Roanoke River from the town. Boat traffic was big here with steamers coming in from the Albemarle Sound. Many old homesites continue in Hamilton and the historic preservation of the town is keeping it a history buff’s destination.
Swansboro is a beautiful town along the White Oak River near where it emptys into the Atlantic Ocean. This Onslow County town boasts many quant shops and restaurants and is a destination for beach goers who want to shop and stroll the streets. Ship building put Swansboro on the map and the first steamer built in North Carolina was built in Swansboro by Otway Burns.
Oriental is known as the sailing capital of North Carolina. While the town has less than 1000 people it has about 3000 boats. Oriental is located along the Intracoastal Waterway and is a favorite stop for boaters going up and down the East Coast. Sailors from all over the world are familar with Oriental. Sailing regatas are frequent happenings here. The Neuse River joins the Pamlico Sound just down from Oriental. The Neuse is the widest river in the United States here.
Greenville is the hub of business, culture, science, medicine, and education for Eastern North Carolina. Greenville is the 10th largest city in North Carolina with more than 76,000 people calling this city home. East Carolina University, the third largest in the state, is continuing to grow with nearly 30,000 students. University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina is booming with $600 million expansion underway. The ECU Medical School and Pitt County Memorial Hospital are known worldwide as a place for cutting edge surgical technology including the DaVinci Robot and the Gamma Knife.
There is so much more to mention, but my fingers are getting tired now. Feel free to add comments on other tidbits you are aware of or tell me why your town would make a good future destination for On Your Side In Your Hometown.
Sincerely,
Phillip Williams
COMMENTS