Cupola House - 1758

Edenton, North Carolina

While visiting Edenton late one afternoon during my recent trip to North Carolina, I took this snapshot as I walked down the street on my way to the lighthouse. I had no idea what I was photographing, but it turns out that the Cupola House, built in 1758, is a significant historic and architectural landmark.

Cupola House is an outstanding example of a Jacobean house and is considered North Carolina's most significant early dwelling.

Around back

Bunn's Barbecue - Windsor, North Carolina 

Bunn's Barbecue

Windsor, North Carolina 

 We launched the boat in the Cashie River in Windsor, North Carolina one morning, and after spending an hour or so winding around in the swamp, we came to a landing. We stopped, got out of the boat and walked for about 100 yards to find ourselves right back in the town of Windsor. Since it was lunchtime by then, we looked for a restaurant and found Bunn's Barbecue. The barbeque sandwiches were wonderful and the cole slaw was the best I have ever eaten.

Bunn's has been in business in this old gas station since 1938 and is still owned and operated by the Russelll family. The restaurant has been flooded by the nearby Cashie River six times over the years, most recently during hurricane Irene, but the sturdy old filling station survives, and so does Bunn's Barbecue.

Swamp light #5

Washington County, North Carolina 

Today is the last of the swamp pictures for now, in case you are getting tired of being in the swamp. Next week we will be looking at some more pictures from North Carolina's coastal plains. I hope to get back to this area soon to photograph in the small towns and surrounding farmland.

Take a look at the video below for a quick (40 second) trip on the Cashie River near Windsor, North Carolina.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Swamp light #4

Washington County, North Carolina 

The coastal plains of North Carolina are far removed from the crowds and commercial development of the Outer Banks. There are no tee-shirt shops or upscale restaurants; only miles of flat farmland along the coastal rivers and bays.

These pictures are from a day spent earlier this month on Conaby Creek, just a few miles north of Plymouth, North Carolina.

Swamp light #3

Washington County, North Carolina 

Swamp light #2

Bertie County, North Carolina

Swamp light #1

Bertie County, North Carolina

The cypress swamps of North Carolina are lovely in the early spring. We were in the swamp the second week of April and gentle spring colors, sunlight and black water came together for a couple of perfect days. This week we will be looking at some of the photographs from the time I spent there, messing about in a small boat.

"There is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats. . . Look here! If you've really nothing else on hand this morning, supposing we drop down the river together and have a long day of it?"

Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows

Blackwater reflections

Conaby Creek - Washington County, North Carolina

Our first day on the water we launched the boat in Conaby Creek and headed upstream into the blackwater swamp. The tannins that leach into the swamp from decaying vegetation turn the water a deep coffee color which reflects the sky and surrounding trees with extraordinary clarity and depth.

No, this picture is not upside down. It was taking looking down from the bow of the boat into the reflection in the water.

Waterman's Grill

Edenton, North Carolina 

Roanoke River Maritime Museum

Plymouth, North Carolina

After rain last Monday delayed the start of our trip, we headed inland early Tuesday morning for a campground in Williamston, North Carolina, which was to be our home base for several days of exploring the black water swamps of that region in our inflatable boat.

The Roanoke River Maritime Museum was closed on Wednesday when we visited Plymouth, North Carolina. This small sailboat was displayed on the grounds of the Museum. Notice the cross planked bottom. After a hard working life, this boat rests on the bank of the Roanoke River, perhaps awaiting restoration.

Back Alley Mural

Manteo, North Carolina 

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

Manteo, North Carolina 

Last week I traveled to North Carolina with the travel trailer, inflatable boat and camera. Our destination this trip was the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge near Williamston. I arrived on the Outer Banks on Sunday evening but our departure from there to the mainland was delayed for a day by bad weather so Monday we drove down to Manteo for lunch and a walk around.

The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse originally stood on Croatan Sound in Wanchese, Norrth Carolina. The light was built in 1877, decommissioned in 1955 and subsequently lost in the sound during an attempt to move it to private property.

This replica was completed in 2004 on the Manteo waterfront overlooking the Roanoke Sounda. The 19th century fourth order Fresnell lens in the lantern room was loaned to the lighthouse by the US Coast Guard.

"Standin' Up"

Wanchese, North Carolina 

"Old Pilgrim"

Wanchese, North Carolina 

Across the river

Shenandoah River State Park

Botanical #9

Warren County, Virginia 

Compton Praise Temple

Page County, Virginia

This church is next door to the old country store we pictured last week (see here) in the small northern Shenandoah Valley community of Compton, Virginia. Until recently the church and store were on the edge of Route 340 but the road has been rebuilt a couple of hundred feed to the west and the old roadbed now serves as the driveway to the church. Services are still held in here.

Train Station

Luray, Virginia 

The last steam powered passenger train stopped in Luray in 1952. The depot was used for freight service until 1980 when it was no longer needed by the railroad and used only for storage. Purchased by the Town of Luray, the station has been restored and now houses the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce.

The brick station was built in 1906 to replace an 1880 wooden station that was destroyed by fire.

Have a pleasant weekend, and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Side entrance

Luray, Virginia 

Country Store

Page County, Virginia 

March snows

Greene County, Virginia

March snow is not unusual in central Virginia, but this March was the snowiest I can remember.

Last week's snow is gone. On the edge of the woods, a faint red blush of new buds is starting to appear. Daffodils are up and in the front yard an advance party of wild onions is scattered about in the brown grass.

I look forward to sunshine and the smell wild onions when I mow for the first time. It has been a long winter.