Autumn is just around the corner and with it comes the Albemarle’s premier living history event: the Elizabeth City Historic Ghost Walk. Now in its 21st year, Ghost Walk is a history lesson, home tour, and live theater combined in one event. Eight different venues will host “ghosts” who will describe their lives in colonial times – in and around Elizabeth City. Among the characters featured this year is Blackbeard the pirate. A popular figure in history and folklore, Blackbeard will appear at Charles Creek Park to tell of his dastardly deeds on the high seas. George Washington—yes, the father of our country—visited Elizabeth City as a young man when he took part in surveying the Dismal Swamp. The first president will appear at the end of Main Street at Moth Boat Park. Nathaniel Batts will haunt the Dr. L. E. Sawyer house. Batts is believed to have been the first English settler in the region. The first land deed in North Carolina was recorded between Batts and the king of the Yausapin Indians. Main Street’s Culpepper Inn will host two historic figures. The inn’s bar will replicate Betsy Tooley’s Tavern, where Elizabeth “Betsy” Tooley will regale attendees with a colorful account of her life. Colonial femme fatale Frances Culpeper will appear in the main house to boast of her marriages to three colonial governors. Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe arrive by boat at Mariners’ Wharf. The first Englishmen to set foot in what is now Elizabeth City, they will describe their explorations in 1585 on behalf of Sir Walter Raleigh. Schoolmaster Charles Griffin will appear at St. Phillips Church. He’ll reveal how he established the first public school in North Carolina in 1705. Dr. William G. Pool, a descendant of one of North Carolina’s earliest families, will appear at Museum of the Albemarle’s portico. Dr. Pool will talk about his discovery of a mysterious portrait with ties to a famous colonial figure. Ghost Walk 2017 takes place the evenings of October 13 and 14, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm each night. Tickets are $12; $10 with military ID. They may be purchased at the Ghost Walk Headquarters at Arts of the Albemarle, located at 516 E. Main St. Other ticket outlets are Bryon’s Hot Dog Stand at 110 N. Poindexter St., Page After Page Bookstore at 111 S. Water St., and Muddy Waters Coffee House at 100 W. Main St. Visitors may start the walk at any venue and the entire walk will take approximately two hours to complete. Most of the sites are downtown and although the route is walkable, complimentary transportation is also available. Tickets are good for both nights so if you don’t finish the tour the first night you may go back the second night. Please note that you may only visit each house once on the tour. Don’t forget to enjoy a delicious Italian dinner with a side of nostalgia, ghosts, and history at Elizabeth City Downtown Inc.’s fundraising event. Dinner will be served on October 13 and 14 from 5:00 pm at 9:00 pm in the former Oxena Newsstand location in the historic Alkrama Theatre Building at 104 N. McMorrine Street (just around the corner from Ghost Walk Headquarters at Arts of the Albemarle). Dinner tickets are only $8.00 each and include, spaghetti, lasagna, salad, dessert, and drink. Beer and wine available for purchase. Tickets available for purchase at the door, Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. at 106 S. Water St., Bryon’s Hot Dog Stand at 110 N. Poindexter St., Page After Page Bookstore at 111 S. Water St., Muddy Waters Coffee House at 100 W. Main St. and MMT Printers at 605 E. Fearing St. Proceeds from the dinner go towards downtown revitalization efforts. Plan on making your ghostly adventure last the weekend by staying in one of our cozy B&Bs, Inns or hotels. Here are other ideas for your next trip to Elizabeth City. Marjorie Berry is a native of Pasquotank County, Graduated with a BA degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC for ten years. Have been researching and writing scripts for the Historic Elizabeth City Ghost Walk since 2003. Wrote the book, “Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City.” Serve as a board member for Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle. Love to travel and spend time at Nags Head.
Autumn is just around the corner, and with it comes the Albemarle’s premier living history event: the Elizabeth City Historic Ghost Walk. In its 21st year, Ghost Walk is a combination history lesson, home tour, and live theater. Eight different venues will host “ghosts” who will tell about their lives in Colonial times in and around Elizabeth City. Among the characters featured this year is Blackbeard the pirate. A popular figure of history and folklore, Blackbeard will appear at Charles Creek Park to tell of his dastardly deeds on the high seas.
