Harmony
Hall
II is one of the most famous
landmarks in IVorth Carolina
and is slill in an excellent
state of preservation, despite
the fact that it was built in
pre-Ilevolutionary days.
By HARRY Z. TICKER
Including the basement, Harmony Hall was four
stories high; one of the few four-story residences
in the South during the Colonial period.
ITTATKD in the White Oak
section of Bladen County, al¬
most within a stone’s throw of the
Cape Fear River, stands an old home
that history ealls. “One of the most
famous landmarks of North Caro¬
lina." The home, historic “Harmony
Hall," was built by Colonel James
Richardson before the Revolutionary
War.
Beautiful for lines and execution,
and rare for reason of it' Nantucket
roof, this colonial home should bv all
means
1ю
preserved. There is an air
of great antiquity about this proud
and ancient Carolina mansion, and
about the fine old sentinel trees.
Harmony Hall embraces points of
elegance in early American architec¬
ture that are seldom found in the
South today.
Although the house is surrounded
by a wealth of magnolias and other
trees peculiar to the Cape Fear region,
visitors here are forcibly struck with
the cedar-bordered lane that once
led to the old river landing. Many
of these beautiful cedar trees have
been cut down, while large numbers
have died.
Four Stories High
Including the basement, Harmony
Hall is four stories high. The very
interesting woodwork, different in
each room, is still in a splendid state
of preservation, although the home is
often unoccupied. The small colonial
windows, the fine wainscoting, the
lovely old mantels, the sturdy, six-
paneled doors, with their antique brass
locks and 11 L hinges — used in colonial
homes of the better class to keep the
Witches away — are
я
few of the things
embodied in Harmony Hull.
Strange as it may seem, group, of
North Carolinian* drive all the wav
to Williamsburg. Virginia, every
month in the year, to see these identi¬
cal architectural relics of a past and
romantic age.
Harmony Hall should be
ргеч
Colonel James Richardson was a
man of prominence along the Cape
Fear before and after the Revolution.
He had been with Wolf at IJuelM-e.
and was an ardent American patriot,
though his Kngli.h ties were never
completely severed. A native of Stou-
ingtou, Connecticut, Colonel Richard¬
son was the owner of several vessel*
with which he carried ou trade la-
tween the Colonies and the West
Indies.
On one of his many voyage- to the
West Indies with a cargo of Hour, he
was ship-wrecked off stormy Cape
Hattcras. Colonel Richardson made
his way to New Bern, from whence
he made a trip to the Cape Fear region
to buy a plantation. lie was pleased
with the country adjacent to the slow-
moving Cape Fear, and purchased
fifteen thousand acre- on tin* east
bunk of the river.
During the Revolutionary War
Harmony Hall was the scene of an
interesting historical incident when
Cornwallis made the great planta¬
tion house hi- headquarters. It was
during the latter part of the war. and
Cornwallis had come into North Caro¬
lina with the intention of making
a quick march to South Carolina,
toward Bennettsville. there to destroy
General Greene's army.
Since Colonel Richardson was in
South Carolina with the American
forces, one can easily imagine with
what fears and forebodings the mis¬
tress of Harmony Hall beheld the
arrival at her home of the great
Fnglish general. Cornwallis demanded
quarters, and was given the two front
rooms upstairs.
Plenty of Secrecy
For several days Cornwallis had
been quartered at Harmony Hall,
living on the best the place afforded,
holding secret conference-, drawing
map-, and formulating plans against
the American people. The mistress of
the house was kept busy, answering
calls, carrying lights, and supplying
more and more stationery. She felt
that there was something radically
wrong.
At a conference of unusual secrecy,
held at night, the perplexed ami die-
turbed Indy of the house, alone with
only her overseer, her slaves, and two
small children, felt that more people
than one could resort to -eerocy and
intrigue.
Her suspicions unduly aroused,
Mrs. Richardson slipped off her -Inn-,
and climbed cautiously into the attic,
where, crawling on her knees, -he came
to a small o]«ning in tin1 ceiling. Sin-
looked down and saw the conclave
heard the great English lord give hi-
orders.
Awed and frightened by what -In-
heard. the plantation lady went
quickly down the back stair* to her
room. There by her sleeping babies
-In* wrote it all to her husband in
South Carolina. Calling her over-
•eor. and -tressing care and caution.
-In- despatched tin- momentous message
to the ragged Americans serving
under her husband, furnishing them
in one of the dnrke-t hours of the
nation information of vital impor¬
tance. From the news sent by the
brave little woman of Harmony Hall.
(Continued on f»4je tirenly-tu'o)
13