Leaving Nags Head, NC on Sunday, we headed west to Edenton,
NC which is just a little over an hour's drive. We took US-64 / NC-94 to
NC-32 / NC-37, the scenic route. After checking out the Roanoke River
Lighthouse, we walked over to The Barker House before heading to the 'Nothin
Fancy Cafe & Market' restaurant - southern cooking at its best.
The Barker House was a cozy white frame house with porches
furnished with white wooden rockers off the first and second floors overlooking
Edenton Bay. I'm going to admit at this point that I do get confused over
when one body of water ends and another one begins so I am attaching a map of
the area from Nags Head to Edenton.
The Barker House was built in 1782 by Thomas & Penelope
Barker. After hearing of the Boston Tea Party, Penelope Barker, along
with 50 women held their own Edenton Tea Party and all signed a petition
promising to boycott British goods on October 25, 1774. This was one of
the first acts of political involvement of women in the New World. The petition
was published by a London newspaper along with a political cartoon supporting
the colonists in which women are pouring tea out of the tea caddies while the
British tax men stand in the doorway. Titled "The Patriotic Ladies
of Edenton," the original is in the British Museum. An enlargement
hangs in the Barker House.
"Taking Tea" is very important at the Barker House
and is served on the third Wednesday of every month. Party sandwiches,
breads and cakes, sweet treats and other appetizers are provided by the ladies
of Edenton. I had to buy the cookbook with some of these fabulous old
family recipes used for tea time. The recipes were compiled by the ladies
of the Edenton Historical Commission.
While the house has three floors, it is quite small, but is
actually larger than the initial home built in 1782. You can walk around
at your own pace, but was not able to go to the 3rd floor. There were several
volunteers offering tidbits of information on the history of the home, family
and town. Genuine friendly southern charm. I love to listen to
older ladies speaking with a beautiful southern accent.
The Barker House does have a facebook page if you would like to check Edenton out The Barker House Facebook Page
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