State

PLACES YOU CAN- VISIT SOON A Historic Gem Is Preserved Kinston people have restored Har¬ mony Hall, where North Carolina's first constitutional governor lived. Hi / JAki: MltOTIIIIt Harmony Hall, ihc 1772 dwelling erected by Jesse and Elizabeth Heri¬ tage Cobb on East King Street. Kinston's only 18th Century structure still standing, has been restored as an historic landmark and soon will be opened to the general public. Since it was owned by North Caro¬ lina's first constitutional governor. Richard Caswell and his family and served as the seat of state government in the American Revolution, a dedica¬ tion is being planned for early Fall. Caswell's birthday falls on August 3 and will be utilized to begin final prepa¬ rations for the dedication in early Oc¬ tober. according to leaders of the Lenoir County Historical Association. The dwelling was owned for many years by the late John and Harriett Peebles and their heirs, and was known as the Peebles House prior to World War II. It changed hands in the I930’s and was headed for extinction. But. dedicated efforts by leaders of the Kinston Woman’s Club, including Mrs. Lucy Hood. Mrs. Helen Dail. Mrs. J. A. Jones. Mrs. Ann Hood Capps. District President Kathleen Saunders Pollock and many more, en¬ abled the structure to be held for resto¬ ration. Courthouse records show the club purchased it from Calvin and Rose Adams Howerin. who had ac¬ quired it in 1937. The club raised $5,000. w ith aid of a $3,000 loan, to purchase the building and preserve it for posterity. Support came from scores of individuals and groups throughout the community. One club member loaned it $600. The club converted the first floor into space for the Public Library. This required another $5,000 loan. An upstairs apartment was rented along with the library space and all indebtedness was erased by 1964. Club members con¬ ducted various types of sales and other fund-raising events to pay off the debt. The club was organized in 1935. bought the Peebles House in 1937 and turned it over to the Historical Associ¬ Rschord Coiwell bought Harmony Holt from the builder, Jesse Cobb, in 1 877, the some ycor he wos chosen by the General Assembly to become the first Governor ot independent North Corolino This copy ot Coswell'» portrait ii token trom an old locket mimoture held by his descendants. Another copy is on tile ot the N.C. Div. ot Archives ond History. ation with a $1,000 contribution to¬ ward adaptive restoration in 1971. Adaptive Restoration In 1975 a Preservation For Harmony Hall Committee was authorized with Reginald Stroud as chairman by the Lenoir County Historical Association. It was necessary for the Preservation of Harmony Hall, which is listed in the National Register. The committee members include Mrs. Harry Lang. Mrs. Helen Dail. Mrs. Isabelle Fletcher. Mrs. Fleming Fuller. Mrs. John Jenkins. Bill Hatcher. Mrs. Douglas McDaniel. Sam Mcwborn. Allen Parrott. Mrs. Junius Rose. Mrs. Ed Cooper. W. I. (Bill) Belk (now of Winston Salem). Wilbur Tyndall. Mrs. H. J. Landauer, Billy Cobb. Harry Civils. Mrs. Everette Wooten. Mrs. A. K. Barrus. Jr.. Mrs. Leone Hines Stallings and Chairman Stroud. A contract between local architect Warren Hargett and the Preservation Committee was signed for an "adap¬ tive restoration" of Harmony Hall. The structure was preserved partially as originally built, but with adaptations to provide for historical exhibit and museum display areas, as well as for meetings, social and public events. Before the architect could proceed, however, the N.C. Department of Archives and History in 1979 required that "Record Drawings" be prepared and approved. On March 18. 1979 the restoration contract was let to L. R. Thomas and Sons of New Bern, a firm that has done Du.mg the Revolution, the seot ol government »os tronsferred from New 8ern to Hormony Holt, in Kinston, tor sofety s soke, moking this — in effect — the Copitol of North Corolino for thot period Kinston's oldest nouse, Hormony Hall stonds ocross the street from Richard Coswell's monument (Photo by Richard L. Johnson for Lenoir Community College.) THE STATE. AUGUST 1983 13