It’s time, once again, for your annual dose of Elizabeth City, North Carolina history! The Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association presents its 20th annual Historic Ghost Walk, October 14 and 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For those of you who can’t attend the full ghost walk, a preview of the show and reception will be held on October 13 starting at 7:00 p.m. (reception) / 7:30 p.m. (show) at the Arts of the Albemarle; tickets are $5 at the door. This year’s combination house tour, history lesson, and live theater is a ghostly reunion of star characters from past walks. The ghosts’ performances will appear at eight different sites around the Elizabeth City downtown area, including a Vaudeville musical at the Arts of the Albemarle. Local otherworldly residents you will meet include: The beautiful 19-year-old Ella Cropsey, otherwise known as “Nell,” who is at the center of Elizabeth City’s most famous unsolved murder. On the night of November 20, 1901, Nell disappeared from her home and was found floating in the Pasquotank River thirty-seven days later. Some say her uneasy spirit still haunts her home. Moses Grandy, 1800s African-American author and slave turned abolitionist. Moses helped build the Great Dismal Swamp Canal and used that knowledge to become commander of several boats. This knowledge allowed him to earn enough money to buy his freedom not once but three times – having been cheated of it twice by his master. Before they taught the world to fly at Kitty Hawk, Wilbur and Orville Wright visited Elizabeth City, often purchasing supplies for their trips. Meet the brothers and Captain Israel Perry, who gave the famous passengers a ride on his fishing boat, Curlicue. Luther “Wimpy” Lassiter, international billiards champion and lifelong Elizabeth City resident. Lassiter is most well-known for his wizardry in the game of nine-ball at which he is widely considered one of the greatest players in history. Otherworldly visitors making appearances are Robert Frost, the famous American poet, and Tamsen Donner, who perished in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Donner tragedy. If you want to see all eight ghostly performances around the downtown area, it will take approximately two to three hours. Spend the night in one of our hotels, motels or B&Bs, your Ghost Walk ticket is good for both nights! Complimentary transportation is available for those who do not wish to walk from site to site. Ghost Walk Headquarters are located at the Arts of the Albemarle, 516 E. Main Street, where you can purchase tickets, as well as Ghost Walk souvenirs, 252-338-6455. Tickets are $12; $10 with military ID. Ghost Walk is the main fundraiser for the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association. All proceeds go toward historic preservation. While you are here, be sure to take one of our self-guided historic district tours. Guide books are available at the Visitors Center and Arts of the Albemarle.
t’s time, once again, for your annual dose of Elizabeth City, North Carolina history! The Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association presents its 20th annual Historic Ghost Walk, October 14 and 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
