Visiting The
Historic Hope Plantation
(To see the earlier Blogs, Page Down)
This restored house was once the busy home of North Carolina Governor, David Stone, his wife and eleven children. He was a member of the NC House seven times, the State Senate once, two terms each as Superior Court Judge, State Governor, US senator, and one term as a US Representative; 22 years of public service to NC. An archival photo shows the home had fallen into disrepair, as old houses do, and how the residents of Bertie County, and throughout the state, raised funds to restore it.
An archaeological dig continues to uncover more about the lives of the slaves on this plantation. Historic Hope Plantation is one of the finest restorations on the east coast. It is furnished with valuable period pieces, much from Stone’s original estate. The home is elaborate, built to accommodate his large family and the lifestyle of the Federal era.
There are several ancillary buildings here including original slave homes, kitchen, smokehouse, infirmary, dairy, school, and so on. It was completely self-sustaining. Two other buildings that needed “saving” were moved to this site and restored. There is also an assembly room, 60-seat theater and conference room available for events on the estate. A gift shop and small visitor center provides information on the plantation life of the slaves and Stone family. Many of the buildings and the plantation are on the National Register of Historic Plantations.
The 1,400-volume-library, one of the largest in the state, is dizzying! Along with the drawing room, it’s on the second floor, while the parlor, dining room and all the bedrooms are the maze of the first floor. One feature I’ve never seen in historic homes was the use of the “privacy room.” Built as one would build a closet, which of course they didn’t have, these tiny enclosures in the bedrooms hide the chamber-pot chair, a small table with a looking glass, pitcher and bowl, soap, and shaving implements. It was an idea before its time, a private “bathroom.”
Above-ground basements are common in coastal low lands. Entirely of brick it houses a garnishing room, several work rooms, such as spinning or weaving, wine-making and storing. A detached kitchen has ovens so deep they are capable of baking hundreds of biscuits at once. That, of course, requires a wooden dough bowl the size of a kayak! The hearths have swinging rotisserie bars and spits so the Cook doesn’t get her skirts near the flames. This docent obviously enjoys cooking and educating.
The gardens are dormant in December, but the footprint’s there. It’s not a botanical garden, but a garden that supported many people, and livestock, with cuttings for the house. The caretaker’s cottage is positioned to oversee any garden thievery!
It was easy to imagine the pianoforte and a harp playing ancient Christmas carols, the rustle of petticoats, the smell of baking bread and venison roasting, children running and playing. Riding back to the plantation house in a wagon drawn by a pair of black percherons, their bells jingling, was a ride into Christmas past.