Another windy cold day. They rain stopped this morning as we headed up to see the Chicamacomico. US Lifesaving Station that goes back to 1874 and then see a movie. Not an outside day al all! The museum was closed so we took a left turn to Roanoke Island to see what was there. We drove out to Fort Raleigh National Historic Park to learn more about the Lost Colony. This is the site where Sir Walter Raleigh sponsored England’s first try at colonization in the New World. In 1584 they landed on Roanoke Island and found the Algonquians to be friendly. A year later Raleigh sent seven ships with 600 people to return to the New World to the land he called Virginia. They hoped to occupy the land for England, find precious metals and establish a base to be able to raid Spanish ships. They built an earthen fort. John White painted many pictures of the plants and animal life. His paintings of the Algonquians provided the first glimpse of the native culture to England. Things began to go poorly. Food was in short supply. The Indians suffered from European diseases. Then Ralph Lane made a big mistake and killed the chief when he suspected a conspiracy. All but 15 left when Drake came by and offered to take them back to England. In 1587, John White led a group back with the idea of going further up along the Chesapeake. They tried to find the 15 left behind without any luck and were forced to stay on Roanoke. Things didn’t get off on the right foot. The Indians remembered the killing of their chief and were hostile killing one of the settlers before realizing they were a friendly group. With supplies were running low, White returned to England promising to return as soon as possible. He left behind his daughter and son in law with their new baby, Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World. It was three years before he was able to return and found the fort deserted never finding any of the colonists. The fate of the colonists remains a mystery. Now during the summer season they put on a play at a theater near the fort retelling the story.
 |
| Earthen Fort Raleigh Roanoke Island |
My memory of the Lost colony was refreshed with a film and displays but I had never heard of this area being known as Freedman’s Colony during the Civil War. The Union forces took Roanoke in 1862. Word spread among runaway slaves that Roanoke was a safe haven. With hundreds of refuges pouring in, the army established Freedman’s Colony headed by an army chaplain. By 1865, there were over 3,500 freedmen living in 560 log cabins with a church, a hospital, schools with seven teachers and a sawmill. They did have to disperse when the land was returned to the former owners but they left with some education, skills and a sense of what it is like to be part of a community. There is no shortage of interesting history in these parts!
“Mirror Mirror” was at a local theater and with the cold weather it made a perfect afternoon destination. We loved the movie. Julia Roberts is fabulous. She and Nathan Lang must have had a good time with the filming.
Stopped at Bodie Lighthouse. It is getting refurbished. Enjoyed talking to a volunteer there. He was full of information.
 |
| Bodie Lighthouse |
 |
| The beach is just steps from the Manor. The sun finally came out but it's still cold! |
 |
| Here I am up in the "loft" doing the blog. |
 |
| Chris and Norm are in the kitchen making chili and cornbread for dinner. |
No comments:
Post a Comment