with seaports thousands of miles away, its 

 geography kept it isolated from the interior of 

 the state. 



Railroad service began in 1907, and the 

 first bridge for cars and trucks was built in 

 1926, according to Suggs. 



This remoteness helped the town retain 

 its traditional appearance. Today, the historic 

 district has a large concentration of 18th- and 

 19th-century homes. 



Porches are a dominant feature 

 — from traditional cottages to elaborate 

 Queen Anne and Greek revival 

 residences. For example, the Langdon 

 House, which was built in 1733 by a 

 shipbuilder and is now used a as bed and 

 breakfast, has front porches on the first 

 and second level. 



Many homes also have a second 

 story "widow's walk" used by sea 

 captains' wives to watch their husbands 

 sail in and out of the port. 



"There has been a surge in 

 preservation and renovation efforts not 

 only at the historic site but in the whole 

 town," says Suggs. 



Bus Tour 



The holiday tour begins with a ride 

 around the historic district in a red 1948 

 English double-decker bus. 



"It is really blowing today," says the 

 tour guide Carol Willis, dressed in a white 

 cap, long maroon dress and gray cape. 

 "Since there is no power steering on the 

 bus, the driver has to use a lot of muscle." 



As the bus turns from Turner Street 

 onto Front Street, she points out the N.C. 

 Maritime Museum and the Watercraft Center 

 across from it on Beaufort Sound. 



Next to the museum is Cedars-by-the-Sea, 

 now used as an inn. The home was built around 

 1768 by William Borden, the son of a Rhode 

 Island shipwright and gracious host to visiting 

 sea captains. 



Although Borden was an important figure 

 in the town, he never held public office because 

 he was a Quaker and could not take an oath, 

 Willis adds with a chuckle. 



Next to the inn is the Easton 

 home that was built in 1771 and 

 still has its original ballast stone 

 foundation. 



"The eastern North Carolina- 

 style home was used as a prison 

 and hospital during the Civil War," 

 says Willis. "Researchers dug up a 

 cannonball from the home." 



CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Visitors can tour downtown Beaufort in a 1948 English double- 

 decker bus. ♦ Young girls sit at a table in the simple kitchen at the Leffers House. ♦ Apothecary guide 

 Jackie Hubbard shows how tonics were made in past centuries. ♦ The front porches on the Langdon 

 House feature festive greenery. ♦ Furniture in the living room of the Leffers House reflects the late 1700s. 



Sea Captain's Home 



One of the street's famous residences is 

 the Sloo house, where a ship captain lived with 

 his young daughter who later died at sea after 

 she contracted yellow fever. To preserve the 

 girl's body and bring it home, she was placed in 

 a rum keg and later buried in the Old Burying 

 Ground. To continue honoring the 13-year-old, 

 people today put toys on her grave. 



Near the end of Front Street is the 

 Duncan home that was built in a Bahamian- 

 style, with double porches, turned columns 



and three chimneys. 



"It is on the lowest ground on Front 

 Street," says Willis. "For many years, the own- 

 ers opened the front door when a storm came 

 and let water run through the house," she says. 



As the bus turns onto the comer of Ann 

 and Orange streets, the guide points out the 

 Hatsell House with its two bright red doors. 



Emeline Pigott, a Confederate spy and 

 nurse for wounded troops during the Civil War, 

 lived in the home, according to Willis. When 

 collecting intelligence information for the 



8 HOLIDAY 2005 



