Day 65 - North Carolina

Day 65

December 15

Roanoke Island, South Carolina

My Dear Miss Smith,
    Here we are having spent our second day in North Carolina. I am greatly enjoying the time with Katelyn and Kristina though I can’t tell them. The first question I have to ask each morning is who is who and then I’m sure to get them mixed up at least a dozen times a day. I suppose this is what comes when you travel with twins who look so much alike. However, they have both assured me that even their family gets them mixed up now and then. That news has made me feel somewhat better, but still, one likes to know for sure who one is addressing when one speaks.  Perhaps by the time our week of travels in this state are over I will be able to tell them apart. I don’t know if the dogs can tell them apart or not, but Timber and Penelope both adore the girls, and both girls are entirely willing to take the dogs out any time.
    But I must get on with this letter or I will never get it finished. Right now we are parked and supper is just over. Katelyn is washing the dishes and Kristina is drying and putting them away. Or is it the other way around? Oh dear, I can’t tell!
    This morning was quite lovely. Our drive to our first stop wasn’t very long and the sun was shining and the prospect of driving along the Outer Banks once more made us all the more eager to get up early.

    Our first stop of the day was at Kill Devil Hills, otherwise known as Kitty Hawk. Imagine being in the very same place, Miss Smith, as the first people who actually flew! There we were able to walk and see what Orville and Wilbur saw when they came to Kitty Hawk to try their experiment in flight. Of course, there wasn’t any visitor’s center or the Centennial Pavilion back then, and certainly not a full scale bronze replica of the 1903 flier, but still it was the same place. There are several sculptures of people who played an important part in documenting and assisting in that first flight.

John Daniels

Did you know that John Daniels, the man who took the famous photo of the first flight, had never taken a photo before in his life? He worked at the Life-Saving Station on Kill Devil Hills, but his willingness to take a photo has earned him a bronze replica of his action at the park.

1903 Flyer

    The exhibits in the Centennial Pavilion were interesting, showing life size replicas of the first plane, glider and even the Wright brother’s wind tunnel. As much as I enjoy adventure, Miss Smith, I’m not sure I’d have been willing to commit myself to such a flimsy looking contraption. But we enjoyed walking around the 1903 flyer sculpture out on the sandy hill.
    We learned some fascinating facts as we explored the area. Here is one of them. Neil Armstrong carried a piece of cloth and wood from the original 1903 Wright Flyer when he went to the moon. Ah, the far reaching results of that first flight. I’m sure Orville and Wilbur never dreamed of reaching the moon when they were first attempting to fly.

    But, alas, our time at Kitty Hawk had to end after only a few hours and Katelyn, Kristina and I set off for the Roanoke Island Festival Park.

    We were overwhelmed by all the things to do at the park and weren’t sure where to begin. At last, after some talk, we agreed to head first to the Elizabeth II. This ship is a replica of a 1585 English merchant ship. There were seven of them in the voyage to Roanoke that year. I always picture old ships as dull in color, but the Elizabeth II was anything but drab and dull. From the green and white Tudor flag and the red and white Cross of St. George flag on the masts, to the blue, red, white and brown of the ship itself, everything was bright.
We got to try our hand at setting the sails, swabbing the deck and raised the anchor. I even played a game of checkers with a sailor, but I was defeated. Perhaps I should have taken Cousin Zelfred up on his offer to teach me to play checkers when I was ten. Oh, a misspent youth is hard to retrieve.

    Our next stop was the settlement site of the first English settlers on North American soil. A fascinating place it was with the added thought of wonder about what really happened to the colony. The speculations must run riot if one thinks about it too long. Did they all die out? Did they move in with some friendly Indians, inter-marry and forget their English roots? Did they perish in a storm? What ever became of Virginia Dare?

    Moving on (We tried not to spend too much time in any one place as there was so much to see.), we headed over to the Indian Town. There we were able to see two longhouses and actually step inside to see what it would have been like. It was all very fascinating, though our house on wheels suites me more than a longhouse would.

    Miss Smith, you must visit the Roanoke Adventure Museum yourself for it would take me hours to tell you about it. I thought it would just be about the first settlement—the Lost Colony, but it was much more. We learned more about “the graveyard of the Atlantic,” what happened during the Civil War; there were also hands-on experiences (We could even dress up!), displays displays . . . we could have spent hours there had it not been closing time.

Alas, night comes sooner in winter months than summer. Since it was winter they weren’t having their “music in the park” as they do in warmer weather. And we didn’t have time to see the lighthouse, or build a boat in a day or . . . You can be sure that this place is already written down in my file of places to visit again.

    Arriving back at the RV, we were met by two very delighted dogs whom Kristina and Katelyn promptly took for a walk while I prepared supper. Yes, Miss Smith, I did prepare it. Of course it was easy, as we had purchased a few frozen pizzas last week and all I had to do was put them in the oven and cut up some carrots. I do like quick and easy meals if I must prepare them.
    But now the kitchenette is spotless and we are all going to take the dogs for another walk and enjoy some Christmas lights. I find it difficult to believe Christmas is next week.

Farewell until another time,

~Priscilla

Day 31 - Mississippi

Day 31

Nov. 11

Gulfport, Mississippi

My Dearest Miss Smith,
    While I’m writing to you from Gulfport, we spent the day in Natchez.

It is a fascinating city established in 1716 as a French fort. Later, during the 1790s, the Spanish laid it out as a new town. The city was the site of the first Mississippi capital when, in 1817, Mississippi was admitted to the United States. One thing that I felt was quite interesting was that it was not a place of many battles during the Civil War thus leaving more than six hundred antebellum mansions and buildings for the enjoyment of many generations.

    In the morning, the four of us visited the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. Visiting the museum and the reconstructed home of a Natchez Indian was fascinating, but we didn’t linger long as there were other things to occupy our time.

    After stopping for lunch, we took the Antebellum Mansions tour. Though we were not able to visit all the houses that are in the Natchez Pilgrimage Tour, we were able to visit three of them. It was difficult to decide which ones, but at last we settled on Longwood, Rosalie, and House on Ellicott Hill. They were quite intriguing; each with a unique history of its own.

Longwood

    Can you imagine, Miss Smith, living in a six-story home where only the bottom floor was finished and decorated? That is Longwood. The reason it was never finished was the outbreak of the War Between the States which caused the workman to drop their tools and depart for home. Haller Nutt, the owner of Longwood, died a year before the War ended leaving his wife, Julia, to live in the finished first floor. The other floors, though completely finished on the outside, remain unfinished inside; a magnificent beginning, yet giving a glimpse of where time had stopped and stayed. Oh, Miss Smith, imagine a mansion six-stories high filled with rooms. Think of all the books it could have, the friends that could stay, the music rooms, the sewing rooms, the scrapbook rooms. Ah, it sounds delightful. Let me assure you though that I was not the only one thinking of uses for all those many unfinished rooms. Amy was just as imaginative and as for Lydia and Natalie, there was no limit to their ideas!

House on Ellicott Hill

    The House on Ellicott Hill, though not as unique on the outside as many of the other old homes in Natchez, had quite an interesting bit of history. It is named Ellicott Hill in honor of Andrew Ellicott who, under President George Washington’s orders, raised the American flag on that hill in defiance of the Spanish authorities. The architecture is of the West Indian Caribbean whose trade with Natchez no doubt influenced its building. It was during the Great Depression that the Garden Club of Natchez began restoring this old landmark.

Rosalie Mansion

    Our favorite home to visit was the Rosalie Mansion. It was the simple grandeur of the front, with its sweeping stairs leading up to the porch, the four white pillars, the balcony above and the red brick walls which drew us to the house. The house was named for the French Fort Rosalie that had stood on the site and had in turn, been named for the Duchess of Ponchatrain. Lydia informed me that she has told you the history of the mansion, therefore, it is up to me to tell you about the rest of it. Miss Smith, I would, if I were able to make my pen describe its loveliness; however, how does one describe rooms of such beauty and charm?

The red velvet curtains, the chandeliers, the furniture, the paintings, all speak of times long past, of those who have come and gone before us,

of meals enjoyed with the orphaned children Peter Little and his wife Eliza gathered about them,

the old fashioned beds where one might expect to sleep and dream of bygone days in the house; when children were loved and raised;

to hear their joyous laughter, their childish voices calling to one another. Ah, one can give full rein to their imagination in that wonderful old mansion.

    After our tour ended, we got out our bicycles and took the dogs for a run about the city. It was delightful though a bit chilly. After all, it is November even if we are down south.
    But I must not linger with this letter, for already darkness has settled and we are off for a new kind of adventure tomorrow. I do hope all is going well, Miss Smith, and that you are able to handle all the cares of the house. Give my love to Bekah the next time you see her, and tell Amy’s family that her wrist is like new.

Much love,

~Priscilla

Day 31 - Mississippi - Postcard

Day 31

Noon

Dear Miss Smith,
This morning we came to Natchez. While here we went to some trails and learned about the Natchez Indians. Along the trails we saw a grand village of the Natchez Indians. I think my favorite was the 128-acre village. The site futures a museum and a reconstructed Indian house. I can't wait till the next stop: Rosalie Mansion.

Your loving friend,

Lydia