HALIFAX—Celebrate 232 years of American independence from Great Britain Saturday, April 12, at the annual Halifax Day festivities held in Halifax. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors may join in a colorful remembrance at Historic Halifax State Historic Site of the April 12, 1776, vote by North Carolina’s Provincial Congress to separate from the British Crown. The program will feature colonial-costumed interpreters, living history demonstrations, “hands-on” activities and demonstrations for young and old, historic building tours and patriotic ceremonies. It is sponsored by the Historical Halifax Restoration Association, Inc. All activities are free and open to the public.
The 1776 Halifax Resolves resolution was the first official move for independence made by any of the 13 original American colonies. Recognized on the North Carolina flag with the date, April 12, 1776, this revolutionary step was one of the most important events in the state’s history. Though the resolves document itself was signed by only the Fourth Provincial Congress Secretary James Green Jr., it was passed unanimously by the 83 delegates present.
Officials will honor the Halifax Resolves’ adoption in a commemoration ceremony at 2 p.m. The highlight of this year’s celebration will be the grand opening of the newly restored interior of the site’s original 1838 Jail. East Carolina University retired professor of English Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives will deliver the keynote address, during which he will highlight the history of the jail and reflect on its restoration. Following the ceremony, a reception will take place in the Tap Room.
Reenactors from the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line will also fire musket and swivel guns every hour from their “camp” on Market Square. Besides these 18th century weapons demonstrations, the “soldiers” will drill and show visitors how colonial troops lived while fighting for America’s freedom.
At 11 a.m., a local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) will solemnly mark Halifax Day with a wreath-laying ceremony held at the site of the old courthouse. SAR national President General Bruce Wilcox will be on hand to present the wreath and bring greetings.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 3-5 p.m., colonial costumed guides will welcome folks to the site’s historic buildings. Visitors may also learn about the Halifax area’s history through a self-guided museum tour and a 13-minute audiovisual presentation in the Historic Halifax Visitor Center, open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. If visitors get hungry or long to hear some old-style music, they can stroll down King St. to a Brunswick Stew cook-off and bluegrass music concert, which Preservation Halifax will present from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be available for purchase.
The first 85 years of the town of Halifax’s life are recalled in the historic site’s preservation. The Owens House—with a gambrel roof and furnished as the home of a prosperous Halifax merchant—is the oldest building and dates from about 1760. Eagle Tavern and the Tap Room are also 18th century.
The Roanoke River Valley’s prosperity during the 18th and 19th centuries is reflected in the many Federal-style plantation homes built here from the 1790s to the 1820s. A particularly elegant example is the 1808 Sally-Billy House. The two public buildings within the historic district—the Clerk’s Office and the Jail—were built by the same contractor.
Other site features reflect bygone days in Halifax: Magazine Spring, long a town water source; the cemetery; Market Square, which served as the town park, pasture, and marketplace; and the river outlook, near the site of an early ferry landing.
The site’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Halifax, where North Carolina first declared independence from Great Britain.
Historic Halifax is located in Halifax County, a little over five miles east of Interstate 95. Take exit 168 onto State Route 903 and follow brown historic site signs to the Historic Halifax Visitor Center. For more information call (252) 583-7191 or visit www.halifax.nchistoricsites.org. It is an agency of the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites, Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history, and culture. Join the Cultural Resources 2008 theme observance of “Telling Our Stories”. For more information, visit www.ncculture.com or call (919) 807-7385.