Another piece of the puzzle ....

Another vague handwritten reference to the African-American school in Murfreesboro (see previous entry)....

"The Elizabeth City North Carolinian for August 12, 1869 has an article on commencement exercises at Murfreesboro for Lincoln Institute, taught by Miss Lydia Warrick. Must be same school previously known as O.O. Howard School. Had 60 or more students, orations by Master James J. Reynolds and Master George Raynolds, both students. Remarks by Rev. L. Washington Boone, Joseph P. Waever, Simon Collins, Esq. and the Hons. William Reid and J.T. Reynolds. Next issue, that of August 19, 1869, contains column-length address delivered on above occasion by J.T. Reynolds. of Northampton."

It seems that the school was larger than I imagined - 60 students ! But whoever wrote this note appears to have made a mistake about the name of the school. He/she mentions that it was "previously known as O.O. Howard", but that seems backwards because the reference in 1870 refers to it as O.O. Howard, while this reference in 1869 calls it the Lincoln Institute. It was probably originally called Lincoln Institute and then became the O.O. Howard School.

"O.O. Howard" is for Union Civil War General Oliver O. Howard. From May 1865 to July 1874, General Howard was commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.

And "Lincoln Institute" ... well, I think we can assume that was named for Abraham Lincoln.

We have citations for exact dates - anyone want to try to track down the microfilm for the Elizabeth City North Carolinian for 1869 and send the complete articles?

If we all add to the pieces we'll quickly solve this historic puzzle.

Nineteenth Century African-American Education in Murfreesboro

(I'm not even going to try to apologize for my long-term neglect of this blog - but I am going to try once again to start adding entries on a regular basis. Stay tuned.)


I recently came across a historical reference in a note written decades ago. I found it very exciting and want to share:

"See Raleigh Daily Standard, Feb 23, 1870, for letter from "Joannes" at Murfreesboro re O.O. Howard School for colored youths there, taught by Miss Lydia Warrick, in operation then for three years. Taught orthography, math, geography, grammar and science. Had rented school heretofore but now in process of buying a lot and hope to build on it. Plan to add a Female Industrial Department. (A Hertford County Deed of 1869 shows Eley Carter selling lot on north side of Broad Street, to William Reid, Phillip Weaver and Andrew Reynolds as a place for a Negro school house and church.)"

I don't have access to the Raleigh Daily Standard, but I would greatly appreciate it if someone in NC could try to get a copy of that article. I imagine the newspaper is on microfilm and available through some of the larger research libraries. Maybe try Whitaker Library at Chowan?

Only two years after the Civil War, and Murfreesboro's African-American community had an established school for it's youth. What an amazing achievement, and a great topic for the Murfreesboro Historical Association to be researching and promoting through educational programs with the local schools.

MHA this is a gift from the past ---- now let's see what you can do with it.

HELLO long lost blogging friend .....

Forgive my extremely long absence. I could come up with all sorts of excuses about why I've been away - but what good would that do?

The important thing is that I'm back and ready to add some more posts to this blog !!!

I'm Back .... (almost)

Finally, everything (minus three and a half storage units full of furniture still in Murfreesboro) is in the new house in Petersburg.

Now I'm just looking forward to the day when the boxes are empty and things have found a proper place in the house. But much of that involves having bookshelves constructed, etc.

I ask the readers of this blog to please extend a tiny bit more patience with my lack of posts, and I promise there will be lots of Murfreesboro news in the near future.

Historic Petersburg Virginia Building # 29 ...

Excuse my sparse blogging over the past few weeks.

It's been a busy summer. Not the "busy" summers of my youth - spent each year on Chincoteague Island - when summer days stretched out before me and the light didn't fade until almost bedtime. No, this has been a "busy" adult summer, mainly spent driving back and forth between Richmond and Murfreesboro. It's been a summer of vacation days spent packing boxes, renting storage units, and looking for a new places to live. The good news is that the effort has paid off - and a new house has been found !

Historic Petersburg Building Number 29, cited by the VA Historic Landmarks Commission as "a rare Italianate Double House of outstanding significance and of great importance to the neighborhood" will soon be called home. The new house is half of a double house that was completed in December 1861. (Gee .... in hindsight, 1861 probably wasn't the best year to be building a new house in Petersburg VA !)

My favorite part about the new house is that it has been completely restored by an award winning contractor. He just finished the restoration last month. For once I'll be moving into a historic house without having to try to explain to my friends and family "what it will look like when it's done." .

Two complete house restoration's (New York and North Carolina) have worn me out. It can be very rewarding to restore a house, but at this point in my life I'm really glad not to have to !

Give me a little time - and then you will all be invited over for a tour of the new house !

A Mother's Love ....

Susan J. Myrick, or Murfreesboro, appears to have struggled when writing her will dated Novemeber 24, 1916. She had specific bequests to family and friends, but seemed frustrated by her desire to divide the estate evenly between her two sons.

Ultimately, common sense pervailed. Or perhaps her lawyer, B.B. Winborne, played the role of wise King Solomon and suggested a solution.

In Item 12 of her will, Myrick explained that although she loved them both equally, her sons were not equal. One son was financially successful and had grown children, while the other had young daughters and serious health problems. She felt that she had no choice but to provide more for the son that had less.

I'm not sure why I find comfort in reading Myrick's will .... unless perhaps it's because I'm younger and less successful than my brother.



North Carolina, Hertford County.

I, Susan J. Myrick, of sound mind and memory, but realizing the uncertainty of life do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me.

Item 1 – I bequeath to my son Walter Myrick, my silver sugar dish.
Item 2 – I bequeath to my niece Lizzie B. Hubbell, my mahogany table in my dining room in Murfreesboro.
Item 3 – I bequeath to Blanche Myrick, widow of my Step-Son C.E. Myrick, the painting over the mantel in my parlor in Murfreesboro.
Item 4 – I bequeath to Julia Myrick, wife of my son Walter, my breast pin and ear rings.
Item 5 – I bequeath to Susan Baker Myrick, daughter of my son Lawrence Baker Myrick, the portrait of my late husband Dr. Thomas N. Myrick.
Item 6 – I bequeath the portrait of Mrs. Julia Myrick, the first wife of my late husband, to her Grand-daughter Mary Myrick, daughter of Charles E. Myrick.
Item 7 – I bequeath the remainder of my silver ware to my two sons, Walter D. Myrick and Lawrence Baker Myrick.
Item 8 – I bequeath to Sophia Tyner, My faithful servant, twenty-five dollars in money.
Item 9 – I devise and bequeath to my son Walter Douglas Myrick of Texas my house and lot in the town of Murfreesboro, N.C. together with all furniture not herein otherwise disposed of, subject to the next item.
Item 10 – I bequeath to Miss Maggie Jeggitt all the furniture in the South bed room in my dwelling in Murfreesboro and all the bed clothes in said dwelling.
Item 11 – I devise to my son Lawrence Baker Myrick for life, my house and lot in the City of Norfolk, State of Virginia now occupied by him, and after his death I devise said house and lot to the children of my son Lawrence Baker Myrick, upon the condition that my son Lawrence Baker Myrick pays to my dear friend Maggie Jeggitts the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars per annum during her life.
Item 12 – I regret that I have to make a distinction in value of the property given to my two sons. It has always been my desire and purpose to make an equal division between them, but my son Lawrence has grown very deaf and his health is not good and he has a family of young girls to rear and care for, while my son Walter’s children are almost grown and he is in much better circumstances. I hope and believe that my son Walter will understand and appreciate my feelings and will approve of the division that I have made. There is no difference in my love and affection for them.
Item 13 – All other property which I own and have not herein disposed of, I give to my two sons, Walter and Lawrence, equally.
Item 14 – I nominate and appoint my son, Lawrence Baker Myrick, my sole Executor. This the 24 day of November 1916.

Susan J. Myrick
Signed, published and declared in the presence of Stanley Winborne, B.B. Winborne

North Carolina,
Hertford County.
I, Susan J. Myrick, desire to make the following codicil to my last Will and Testament above written.

Item 1 – I bequeath to my son Lawrence Baker Myrick my China dinner set.
Item 2 - I bequeath to my son Walter Douglas Myrick my piano and organ.

This November 24th 1916 Susan J. Myrick

Balancing Small Town Charm with Economic Viability

Murfreesboro faces significant challenges in the planned development of the land along the riverfront. Hopefully we'll know a little more about the site's future in the coming months.

A potential buyer and developer would have a prime piece of real estate, nestled in the heart of historic downtown Murfreesboro. But they'd also have a unique problem: building something that's cost effective while maintaining the historic integrity of the area. The location of the original King's Landing, the Murfree House, the Indian Queen Tavern, the Dr. Thomas O'Dwyer residence, and by some accounts a significant nineteenth century free-black community, fall within the area being considered for possible development.

The site needs structures that will enhance Historic Murfreesboro and that will last and get better over time. Understandably, the development needs to be economically viable for the private sector, but it also needs to be something that starts out good and ages even better. One cannot overstate the importance of crafting a development that enhances the historic district. From a visitor's standpoint, it is the one element that best sets Murfreesboro apart from other northeastern North Carolina towns.

(stay tuned ... more thoughts to come)