The Great Dismal Swamp Gazette

Great Dismal Fiction Book has a Book Stand

2008-08-17T18:44:00.006-04:00

The Caiman Edition of the Cletus Book - The Stand - made from authentic Dismal Swamp deer horns and genuine tree wood - is complete.

You are really REALLY getting near to not having a chance to read and buy this book. It is sold out at the publishers. The book is being printed. There are a VERY few copies left at THE HORROR MALL AT THIS LINK. Just to entice you further, you are also still not too late (though you could be at any moment when I hear the books are in and ready to ship) to pre-order the title and be in the drawing for THIS amazing, one-of-a-kind literary marvel…

How can you not want it on your bookshelf?

Read more at: www.macabreink.com

DNW

New Posts on Writing & Characterization

2008-07-16T10:09:00.003-04:00

Just a note ... over at my personal journal, Macabre Ink I have been posting articles on characterization in writing, among many other things. Trish has created a font you can download and use to create crochet patterns on your computer Patricia Lee Macomber's Site

More book news to follow soon, as well as some pictures of the Hertford Fireworks. Also over at Macabre Ink you can find the continuation of the story of our Perquimans River turtle, Tommy / Thomasina - who we returned to the wild last weekend down at Missing Mill Park.

I've been running again. If you live in or around Hertford and see a tall bald guy with tattoos running about 6:15 in the morning, that's me. I head out through the graveyard on King St., around the high school, out toward 17 and then back again, rounding the corner down at Grubb St. and heading back up through town. This morning I did about 3 miles.

Enough for now.

-DNW

Happenings on Market Street

2008-07-11T10:41:00.004-04:00

There's been "things afoot" in the Great Dismal homestead. The garage roof, which has rotted steadily for years due to the fact that no local contractor would give us a reasonable cost for the repair of that roof - and the round front porch roof - because the latter confuses people, is being replaced. It will have a nice waterproof rubber coating as soon as the rain allows, and the front porch has new lumber, a modified design, and hopes of watertight integrity of its own!

On another note - Trish has her own blog now. It follows Breyer Horses, Crocheting, cooking, home decorating, and whatever else comes to her in the moment...check her out at:

Patricia Lee Macomber

My own main blog, covering news, writing, and more is:
David Niall Wilson

She and I will be writing a Stargate: Atlantis tie-in novel soon.

If you hurry, you can still get one of the last four or five copies of "The Not Quiter Right Reverend Cletus J. Diggs & The Currently Accepted Habits of Nature," my horror novella set in "Old Mill" NC - which I figure (if it existed) would be somewhere between Old Mill and Hertford.

You can get the book (and all of my other books that are currently available) online at The Horror Mall - and many of my titles are available in Hertford at Carolina Moon Books, or in Elizabeth City at Pager After Page Books on Water St.

You can Register as a customer at The Horror Mall by clicking - well - the word register. You'll find some amazing, rare, and hard to find books, t-shirts, videos and more.

Until next time,

Dave & Family

Three New Books by Local Author - Three Contests

2008-05-31T13:06:00.002-04:00

I just finished up a prize yesterday that I do NOT want to give up at the end of a contest I'm running, and I thought I'd share it here.

I have three books due this year (well, more than that, but this post deals with three).

The first is a new Collection of short stories. ENNUI & Other States of Madness will be out from Dark Regions Press in August. It is over 300 pages of fiction, includes my Bram Stoker Award Winning story "The Gentle Brush of Wings," as well as a brand new 35,000 word novella set near Old Mill, NC - the fictional town I've set somewhere near Hertford and Winfall. It takes place just after the Civil War.

For people who pre-order the limited or lettered signed editions, there is a promotional contest. One lucky buyer will win a hand-bound hardcover edition of the book - made by the author (me) - bound lin leather, and presented in an odd little box I made with a transcription of one of Jack-the-Ripper's Letters to the police on the outside of the box - since ENNUI - the title story - deals with Jack the Ripper.

The second book - actually out first, in July - should be popular around here. Someday I hope there will be a paperback edition - but for those who pre-order this book - there are a VERY few copies left over at the Horror Mall. You can click the cover to order.

This one is THE NOT QUITE RIGHT REVEREND CLETUS J. DIGGS & THE CURRENTLY ACCEPTED HABITS OF NATURE - also based in Old Mill, NC - folks around here will love this one - I guarantee it...and you could win another hand-made one-of-a-kind - but this one...well, you'll never see another like it. I sewed and bound the HC book, and then attached it to an antique CAIMAN purse...the purse is nearly 100 years old...here are a couple of pictures and a link to more:

The third and last book is a novel. It is due late summer or early fall from Full Moon Press - and is titled MAELSTROM. This is a full length HC novel, and again - there is a contest. The winner will get a bound copy of the manuscript of the novel, signed by the author - and can win an electric guitar! The guitar will be air-brushed by cover artist Alex McVey and comes with a gig bag, a small 10 watt amplifier, and will be signed by my hand in the names of all the fictional members of the group from the novel - Maelstrom. Again, you can click the cover art to pre-order!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORS!

DNW
Macabre Ink

My New Book is due in July of 2008 LOOK!

2008-03-17T11:20:00.002-04:00

“Whatever grows, must decompose” — Cletus Jehoshaphat Diggs

When Cletus J. Diggs gets a visit from his buddy Jasper and learns about the dead man sticking boot-first out of the fishing hole, he has no idea what it will lead to.

How could he? Old Mill is famous for a lot of things, good fishing, barbecue, over-sized satellite dishes and disappearing beer; it is not known for genetic research, ancient rituals, or alien abduction.

From the moment Cletus and Sheriff Bob drag the corpse from the fishing hole to the final moments of terror, the action is non-stop, tense, and filled with surprises.

Between the Reverend Dozier and his church, the swamp witch, the albino twins, and the local lodge’s well-hidden secrets, the strange events in Old Mill, NC are pretty much out of control. Only Cletus, ordained minister, common law attorney, journalist, private investigator and jack of all trades can draw together the people and resources necessary to set things right. The question is, can he do it before it’s too late?

Click on the cover art to pre-order your copy today!

Old Mill, NC, by the way, is a fictional town that would (in theory) sit between Hertford, and Winfall, if there wasn't a river in the way...

-DNW

Author Interviews, Elizabeth Bear, Thomas Sullivan, More

2008-03-11T11:15:00.002-04:00

I've been busy over at MACABRE INK with posts, interviews, book reviews, and more. I have several new books due this year, one of particular local interest. That would be...

"The Not Quite Right Reverend Cletus J. Diggs & The Currently Accepted Habits of Nature," who lives in the fictional town of Old Mill, NC (I figure it should be near Winfall and Hertford). Cletus runs afoul of some folks far back in the swamp, and it's up to him, Sheriff Bob, Jasper, and a rag-tag band of others to save the day. There are aliens; there is genetic tampering, there are albino twins and a lot more.

I'll keep you posted as more information becomes available. Also due out this year are my novel MAELSTROM - and my short story collectoin "Ennui & Other States of Madness," both of which should hit by summer. As always, you can find my work down at Carolina Moon Books

I'll even sign them for you...

DNW

Just a quick Update Post

2008-02-27T16:06:00.001-05:00

I have several new books coming out this year, and my collection "Defining Moments," which contained the first story set in fictional "Old Mill, NC" is nominated for the HWA's Bram Stoker Award - as is my short story "The Gentle Brush of Wings," and the writing site I'm part admin of Storytellers Unplugged

I'm doing a lot of updates and posts over at my main blog, Macabre Ink - if you are so inclined, stop by. I'll try to get through here more often and do some local updates! One update is that my novella "The Not Quite Right Reverend Cletus J. Diggs & The Currently Accepted Habits of Nature" is due this spring from Bad Moon Books - and it's ALSO set in "Old Mill," which is loosely based on a mix of Hertford and a few even smaller towns.

More info when it's available.

David

November Book Signing in Elizabeth City

2007-10-31T09:29:00.001-04:00

If you aren't too busy Veteran's Day weekend, here's your chance to meet me and pick up one of my books: This signing is at Page After Page Bookstore on South Water Street in Elizabeth City:

Celebrate Veterans Day with THREE Author signings !!
Saturday, November 10th from 12pm-3pm,

Bill Ferguson will discuss and sign his new book, Laughter on the Rivers of Death - humorous look at experiences in the war in Vietnam -

David Naill Wilson established sci-fi writer will discuss and sign his newest books Defining Moments and the novel Ancient Eyes -

Mark Rainey - Will discuss and sign his latest book -Blue Devil Island a WWII historical dark fantasy - We will have his other books available as well –

We hope to see you there!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

TrailblazersNC 5k Run: Running in the Rain!

2007-10-29T12:37:00.000-04:00

Despite the light rain on Saturday morning, the Trailblazers NC 5k race was, in my opinion, a success. The general attitude was very cheerful and the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of either volunteers or those participating in the race; clothing did not fare as well in the dampening department, but hey -- it was RAINING!

We took off from Missing Mill park and turned down Old Edenton road toward the high school. We passed a "water stop" just before entering the King Street Cemetery, but as you can imagine, few of us stopped to take advantage of it. We raced through the central lane of the cemetery to Market Street, ran past my house (where the family, believing we were smart enough to come in from the rain) didn't even notice us passing.

The next turn was left through downtown, and then out Church St. to the "S" bridge, which we crossed, rounded a traffic cone, and recrossed before taking the last turn on Grubb St.

There were some exceptional times turned in - the winner was in under 17 minutes. I finished with a 26:20 - my best time this year by more than five minutes! My son Billy finsihed in a little over 22:00 - also his best recorded time (though I've seen him do it quicker).

Trophies were handed out to enthusiastic applause, and prize packets of Hertford-made goodies were door prizes...including some books by local authors, a hand-stitched wall hanging, and a very cool hand-carved walking stick.

Participants came from all age groups, and from all over Hertford, as well as from as far away as Charlotte. If I can convince them to do it again next year, we'll help get the world out and see if we can't bring in a few hundred runners to join the fun!

In the meantime, here are pictures of the very cool medal each participant received as they crossed the finish line:

Hopefully there will be a story in the Perquiman's Weekly - we'll be watching. If the photos I saw someone taking become available (or if that person reads this and will contact me) I'll try to get them here to share.

Until next time,

DNW

Break-ins on Market Street Continue

2007-10-24T08:44:00.001-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to mention an on-going problem that we need a solution for in Hertford. That problem is almost nightly ransacking of private property and vehicles up and down the three or four main streets in town.

Recently someone broke into our garage. The idiots stole a broken chain saw, took my weed whacker and a rusty old battery charger - in other words, they didn't take a lot of money worth of things, but they took things that were mine. I've needed every one of those things since then, and some kid, or drunk, ran off with them, leaving me high and dry. None of that stuff was going to bring them enough money to buy anything...but I'll promise this. I have new alarms on the garage. Cameras are going in. Trip wires may even be set. In case any of those who think that Market Street driveways are a shopping mall read this, you're going on camera, and you're going to court. If I catch you at it in the middle of the night, you should keep in mind that I won't hesitate to "detain" you for the police by whatever means works.

This morning I got the lovely surprise of finding my car door open. I'm pretty careful about locking up, but this one time I got out and had to mess around in the back seat, and I left the door open. My $15 (brand new price)CD/Tape deck that I use to listen to audio books? Gone. Probably had the last tape of one of my audio books in it too, which was worth more than the tape deck, since it makes the entire book worthless.

Same morons once stole a big, cassette tape audio book from me (a library book) I'm one hundred percent certain they didn't rush back to enrich themselves with a best-selling literary masterpiece...probably tossed it in the trash when they figured out they couldn't do anything with it. That cost me, and it cost the library, and in that manner cost all the other folks who might have enjoyed that book after me.

Here's the point. Robbing my car, garage, and house is not worth the trouble it's about to become. We, as citizens in Hertford, need to stand up and stop this - I'd say before it gets out of hand, but it happens so often that I'd have to say it already IS out of hand. Maybe that corner down at the end of Market St. where they stand and have dubious dealings every day needs to be reached by an Internet webcam. I guarantee you boys, I can make that happen. I also guarantee that one house-worth of Market Street is going to become the biggest mistake of your thieving lives if you come back again.

I live here, you know? The stuff isn't great stuff, but it's MY stuff.

As a warning to other concerned citizens, my mom saw a sort of gray sedan - lights all turned off and motor running - on the street very early the morning our garage was broken into (I forgot to mention that they stole my kids' bikes again). When they saw her they took off (being the cowardly sort they are) but I'm guessing they were watching the road and playing "get-away" car for the five dollars and change worth of crap these guys usually get away with. If you happen to be up late, or get up early, and you see a car with primer on it, or any car, for that matter, engine running and lights off, parked on the street...keep in mind they might be there for the wrong reasons.

If we work together, we can stop this...if not, well, they won't be getting away with it at my house any more, so next they may rob you.

End of rant, and I'm sorry. It isn't my intent to give a wrong impression of Hertford, but truth is truth. We've been robbed three times just this year. I think it's about time we got together and did something about it.

See you all at the 5K race this Saturday, 8:00 AM at Missing Mill Park.

DNW

Quick Notes...

2007-10-10T09:07:00.001-04:00

The "S" bridge has a new sign up that states the causeway will remain closed through the second week in November. Not sure yet what this means for the Trailblazers NC 5k, but I've sent a note to the race coordinator to ask.

Meanwhile, I'm a bit disappointed that no one has entered anything at the new site. If you are from Hertford, and you know about your town, here's your chance to help preserve its history..

http://www.historic-hertford.com

Also, if you want to write a note, or article about Hertford, any subject, send it along to us via the e-mail contact link on the page. We'll get it into the Dismal Swamp Gazette.

David

The "S" Bridge Causeway Repairs

2007-10-03T19:05:00.000-04:00

Most of you who live in or around Hertford know that the business leg of Highway 17 is closed coming in and out of Hertford. The causeway leading up to the bridge dropped about eight inches a week or two ago, and they closed it for repairs. Apparently the road coming in is concrete built on a metal framework with pavement over the top of all of it. Efforts are underway to reinforce the lower structure - I know this first hand because while out running in preparation for the upcoming 5K, I crossed the bridge and came face to face with a hole in the road...a big one...with river water at its base.

Anyway, I took some pictures. One is just the gorgeous old bridge - which has a cornerstone dated 1928 - and the other two are showing the depth and seriousness of the causeway repair. I'm glad to see the work being done, because bar none, that bridge is the finest, most beautiful bit of Old Hertford left, and it's important that it be preserved. I've said it before, and it's still true...driving in across that bridge and thinking of the Andy Griffith Show was the first thing to make me fall in love with Hertford. First impressions are important, and that bridge always makes a good one.

Pictures from the Waterway 5k

2007-09-28T21:13:00.001-04:00

I wanted to post these while the race wasn't too far in the past. I'm planning on posting more house pictures on the www.historic-hertford.com site in the next day or so...and possibly beginning the three next phases. I'm going to list people by surnames so they can be tied together with the homes and businesses, and I'm going to post inputs for local churches, and graveyards. I know that having accurate records of a graveyard can be of great help to folks who do genealogy. We will accompany both with pictures and as much information as possible...

Soon I'll be getting more people involved, also, and things will start growing with greater speed. Anyway...here are the pictures. Me first, then Billy, and then Stephanie...I came in last in my age group - but I expect to do better in the Hertford race on the 27th of October.

Onward!

The Waterway 5k and Early Morning Fog

2007-09-24T09:55:00.000-04:00

Well, Billy, Steph and I made it through the 5k on Saturday - not in the championship form we hoped for, but hey...for Billy it was the first race ever, and Steph only intended to walk...fun was had by all. I got a 31:27 and Billy came in somewhere around 27 minutes. Next race? Hertford, 27 October. If you haven't signed up, and you are at all inclined to do so, you should sign up now. You can do so at the Trailblazers website: Trailblazersnc.org. They have an online registration system, as well as contact info. Billy and I signed up already, so we'll see you there - the race starts at the tennis court right around the corner from our house.

This morning I had a good run, two miles in 18:26 - which makes me wonder what happened on Saturday. The fog was so thick you couldn't see half a block ahead of you, but it was great weather for running.

The web site - Historic-Hertford.com - is coming along well. I've added the functions to allow local organizations to put up their contact information, local events to be recorded and presented, and an announcement board. More to follow. Today I begin the tedious task of making the pages of the site pretty and uniform - adding that professional touch. Hope to see you on the site where we can watch the history of our little town come to life.

DNW

Elizabeth City Waterway 5k Run/Walk

2007-09-19T19:01:00.001-04:00

This seems to be the season for road racing. Two of our household will be running in both the Elizabeth City Waterway 5K and the upcoming 5k in Hertford in October. In the first one we'll be representing my company, VectorCSP - wearing our company colors proudly. In Hertford, we'll be racing only a few blocks from our house, and will likely be a bit more casual. I also expect to announce the Historic-Hertford.com site at that race and hand out some flyers, hoping to get people involved in filling in Historic data, making suggestions, and improving the site.

Anyway, you can visit the site for the Waterway 5k (this Saturday) by clicking the picture below - it's linked to the race site. It's an image of last year's race. Just imagine a really fast runner in there and plaster my face on him ...

In reality, it's my son Billy that has the best shot. He's run miles as fast as 6:05 in preparation...

You can read about the Perquimans / Hertford race at Trailblazers NC's Website

See you on race day. And if you run across this and have time - please check out the growing site over at: The Historic-Hertford Home Page

Dave & Family

Burning HIstory - The Thomas B. Walters Home Gone

2007-09-13T21:08:00.000-04:00

The Thomas B. Walters home, a tall, worn old Colonial Revival home that has guarded the mouth to Skinner's Creek since the 1800s, was burned tonight. It didn't catch fire from careless kids, or catch a stray bolt of lighting after all the years. It was burned on purpose by the local fire department with several local luminaries looking on.

This saddens me in ways I can't describe. Sometimes it seems as if the only people interested in preserving the history of our town, our state, and even our country, are people who have moved in way after the fact. This house needed a lot of work. It had some issue with fiberglass, I'm told, that made renovation expensive and difficult...but let's be serious. The land it stands on was bought by developers from out of town. They intend to plaster the bank of the river with million dollar waterfront houses, and the old Walters house was just in the way. They had the money, time, resources, and everything else necessary to fix it - and they chose to tear it down. It's the way things work. It's the way we forget the lessons we should remember, and disappoint generation after generation of our forefathers.

This home belonged to a prominent farmer near the end of the nineteenth century. It was two stories with tall square columns out front. It had a smokehouse and was backed up against the river. I think the developers missed the boat. At whatever cost, the best thing they could have made of that old home was a gateway - the offices, whatever -- the first thing people saw on the way into the new waterfront houses. People come to live in places like Hertford because they are quaint, historic, and filled with history. The more of that history they bulldoze and burn, the faster this whole town will shrivel up and become a memory.

I intend to do what I can to prevent it from happening. The new site is semi-live at:
Historic Hertford

Check it out...drops us a line, or a comment. Help us fill in the data and make it something to be proud of. Help us remember our past before that's all it is. Before it's too late, and there's nothing to save.

Here's to you, Thomas B. Walters. I'll be researching you, and I'll be writing more on this soon.

Until then...keep the memories alive.

If you know anything about Thomas B. Walters, or that house, I'd love to hear from you.

--David

An Exciting New Hertford Site is Underway

2007-09-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

I've begun piecing together the website I hope will begin collecting the history, stories, memories, and facts about Hertford, NC and recording them so they are never forgotten. To keep the explanation simple, I'm using skills learned at my day job to create an interactive history. Currently, all that exists is a database and a couple of pages that link to it. There is a form where you can input certain information about Hertford Houses. This data is stored and presented on another page, along with a link. We will build the links one at a time - each to another house in Hertford, with historical information, a place for people to enter photos, stories, and comments, and links to the people who lived there, designed the building, and interacted with it. Next will be a database for people, but I want to start by getting the city in place.

When I'm done, I expect to put up a map of the area, broken up into lots. There will be links on the side, and you'll be able to enter a year - press a button, and only the houses that existed in that year will populate the map. It's ambitious, but I think history is important...so there you go.

Interested readers can check out my progress by watching here - and by checking the following link: The Hertford Houses Web Page

Onward!

DNW

What's in a Name? A few from Hertford

2007-08-24T15:08:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to memorize the names from the historic homes along my run in the morning, and a few have stuck. George Major. Hattie Darden. Dr. Thomas S. McMullan. Guy Newby. The historic district in town seems to break off into distinct periods of growth. There are a few very, very old homes, but the majority of historic homes seem to have happened late 1800s - then another burst in the 1920s - and then a burst around 1940/50 that still got signs...some of those are businesses.

When my database begins to grow, I think I'll create a map. With the information from the database, I should be able to break the map up into plots, and then - using the dates homes were built or destroyed - the hope is that you'll be able to choose a decade, or even a year, and the map will populate with Hertford as it was at that time. It's only an idea at this point, but my way-too-active mind tells me that from a programming sense, it's not outside my ability to create...

In any case, still running every morning, and looking forward to both the Waterway 5k in Elizabeth City - 22 September - and the race being sponsored by www.trailblazersnc.org - in Hertford - a 5k being held on the 27th of October, a day before my birthday.

Until next time,

DNW

The Guardian of the Yard...Rocky the Magnificent

2007-08-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

I thought, since there was no morning run to comment on, that I'd bring you an image of our Malty-Poo (I hate that name) Rocky - Rocket Man - Rock-Star - whatever. He's about ten pounds of fluff and bone and thinks he's a T-Rex. He considers himself the guardian of our yard. Keep in mind, that he is not too bright. He guards us from such things as the neighbor's trash cans when they've been rolled to the street. He can't see most of the time above the level of the ground, so any sound makes him hop in circles and whuff. Trish has determined that he keeps himself in the dark on purpose, because when it comes time to beg at the dinner table he has no trouble at all tossing his head back to show his feed-me eyes. (It's his one super power, and as super powers go, it's not much).

He chases leaves and garbage because they make noise - not because he can see them.

His nemesis is a Mocking Bird that dive-bombs him constantly to get him away from the tree where its nest resides. He never sees the bird. He hears it ... occasionally it comes close enough to ruffle his fur with its wings...but he usually ends up hopping in circles and barking at the air where it used to be...funny stuff, but as a guardian he's no great shakes.

If you happen to wander down Market Street, odds are you'll run into him eventually, pacing up and down his post and looking ridiculous.

DNW

The Morning Run

2007-08-16T09:55:00.000-04:00

I've been running lately, every morning just after 6:00. It's funny how much of a town you notice at different times of day. In the morning you see the branches that are down, the houses for sale...you notice the animals. Huge V-shaped squadrons of Canadian Geese were honking overhead this morning. A couple of folks were out with their dogs...early in the morning dogs show little interest in runners...I've yet to be chased, except by Rocky - our Maltese, who THINKS he could run two miles but is probably good for about two blocks before I'd have to carry him (which I'd gladly do, he's a fuzzy white warrior) but it's not in the morning plan.

Down by Missing Mile Park I take a turn past the water on a wooden walkway that runs parallel to the river. Sometimes there are turtles or snakes on the walk, but not today. Today, there were spider's webs stretched across, catching night bugs, I suppose. I broke through, but I know they'll be back again tomorrow.

I'm going to start posting regularly here again - notes from the morning run will be big on the list.

One thing to point out. I have a new book out, and another due by the end of the month. Both can be purchased at Carolina Moon Books - which I pass every time I run. The first is "Defining Moments," my new collection, which features two stories set in the fictional town of OLD MILL, NC - which is loosely based on Hertford and Winfall. This is a collectible edition - only 167 were ever printed by the World Fantasy Award Winning SAROB PRESS in the UK. It's a bit pricey at $50, but is gorgeous. "Ancient Eyes," my new novel, will be in stock soon - it's $45, but an absolutely GORGEOUS signed limited edition book. There are 300 copies of it in existence. Several of those reside at Carolina Moon - and I'd be happy to run by and personalize them.

Checking in from the outskirts of the Great Dismal Swamp...

David Niall Wilson

PS - Welcome to Steve & Family - Go Chargers!

The "S" Bridge is in danger...

2006-11-16T14:05:00.000-05:00

If you're familiar with the town of Hertford, you know that one of the most scenic, quaint, and memorable things about the town is the curving little bridge that you cross coming in on Business 17 from the Elizabeth City side. If you don't hear the Andy Griffith theme song in your head when you see that road, you never saw the Andy Griffith show, and I'm a lot older than you are.

Anyway, the road leading to this has been repaired, resurfaced, and worked on for a long time now, and it's being studied again. The study isn't expected to end for several more years, but sadly it seems like they intend for it to end in some new method of acces, skipping that little section of road and likely spelling the end for the longest remaining "S" bridge in the United States.

I don't know if there is something that can be done, or even how to go about finding out, but I'd truly hate to see this landmark pass away from us...I love the town, even though we've only been there five or six years...and I love that bridge.

If I don't update here often enough, you can always find more comments on what is up in Hertford, my life, or my work over at my Live Journal...

http://deep-bluze.livejournal.com

David

The Fourth of July...Fireworks and Fun

2006-07-12T08:16:00.000-04:00

Last year we attended the Fourth of July celebration in Hertford, down at Missing Mill Park (there was once a mill there - now it's missing). We had a great time despite a tired old band and a lot of goose droppings. The Fireworks were spectacular. This year, however, the folks who usually do this weren't around - and so we packed up our car and drove in to Elizabeth City. They had a special $25,000 fireworks display, and we managed to find a free bit of grass with a good view.

Katie saw the fireworks last year and seemed to have a good time, but this year she REMEMBERS seeing them...and had an even better time. Here are a few photos our daughter Stephanie took (she is actually becoming quite the giftted photographer).

I intend to start updating this a lot more regularly...stay tuned!

From the Historic William R. White House - DNW

Book Signing at Caronlina Moon Books

2006-06-14T07:19:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know I'm an author, as well as a chronicler of the oddities of Hertford, NC, I thought I'd mention that I have an upcoming book signing here locally. Melanie James has a bookstore about three blocks from my house - Carolina Moon Books - and she has graciously scheduled me to sign copies of my just-released Hurricane, Bermuda Triangle thriller "The Mote in Andrea's Eye" on the 24th of June. In cae you want to know how to find the signing...

Drive down Highway 17, turn into Hertford. The center of the three lights in town is Market Street. From that corner, if you look down Market Street, you'll see THIS:

That's it (lol). If you know where my house is, you can go there...and you've gone three blocks too far. Really, Hertford IS that small.

Hope to see you all there...

David

Tommy the Hertle ..um...Hertford Turtle

2006-05-27T14:53:00.000-04:00

I posted these over at my personal journal site as well, but since Tommy IS a Hertford turtle, found in the cemetery over on King Street - obviously descended from the courageous turtles who guard the tributary off of the Perquimans River that slides under the old "S" bridge winding into town, I thought it was fitting if he had his day in the sun -- so to speak -- here at The Great Dismal Swamp Gazette.

Click here and you can see Tommy's great "escape" move -- performed when he runs across humans

And finally I wanted to mention that on Saturday, 24 June, I'll be signing copies of my novel, "The Mote in Andrea's Eye," at M. James Booksellers on Market Street in Hertford, right across the street (basically) from the drugstore. Come on down and mett us.

DNW

Eerie Haste's Hardware Store

2006-05-04T13:29:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been a while since I posted anything here...been a hectic spring, including my first real bout with allergies. Pollen and I, apparently, don't mix well...and if there is one thing Hertford North Carolina has in abundance (and at the oddest times of year) it's pollen. Anyway, I thought it was time I brought in one of Hertford's coolest attractions.

Once you drive in over the curved road and cross the ancient "S" bridge into Hertford, you pass by a few old homes, and roll into the short, one block "downtown" area. The first thing you'll see when you reach this point (There's a light there, and the speed limit is SLOW - if you break that speed limit, and don't have NC plates -- and maybe even then - they WILL pull you over).

When you reach that light Eerie Haste's "Hertford Hardware" store is on your left. The wall facing you sports a mural that has been, at times, controversial, but that seems loved by all members of Hertford society. It depicts many bits and pieces of Hertford history, the most controversial piece being the larger-than-life rebel flag.

Eerie keeps an interesting shop. He has a shelf around the top of the inside wall that sports memorabilia from the store's long history. There is a short, squat Coke machine near the counter where -- if you hand over your money to whoever is in charge, they will retrieve a small gree bottle of Co'cola for you to enjoy. It's one of the oldest working machines of its type I've ever seen.

Eerie sells everything from paint to power tools, big screen TVs to fishing licenses. He used to be the town's gun shop as well. If you need a lawn mower or have one that needs fixed, Eerie is your man. If you need tools, appliances, or a Christmas tree, he can hook you up.

It's a quaint little shop in a quaint little town, and Eerie Haste, the proprietor, has been more helpful to us since we moved into our big old house in need of LOTS of work than most others in town. We got our dishwasher from Eerie, and the paint that covers our walls and porch. I also got my fishing license there, and if I buy a boat - I'll get the license through the same window.

In Hertford, very little changes....

The Cemetery on King Street

2006-04-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

On King Street in Hertford, behind the high school, is the cemetery. This is a very old cemetery. It has a pump station in the center, which I suspect is being used to help keep the swampy ground dry and prevent the stones from falling, and the graves from sinking.

It’s not a huge, ostentatious place, but it is full of a sense of history. You’ll see from the included photo that the White Family (the same White family, I believe, who built our house, though what branch of it I have no idea) has been burying their dead in this same graveyard, side by side, for literally centuries.

Another family planted a small dogwood in a stone rectangle plot many years ago. That Dogwood is very large now, flowering brilliantly, and its roots bind the graves of the family almost certainly, having grown outward from the center of that plot to embrace them all. It is beautiful.

The Cemetery in Hertford isn’t laid out in any geometric pattern you can discern, and the markers and monuments are as varied, no doubt, as those whose memories are contained within them. Families are buried there, not individuals. Not just Dogwoods put down roots, it seems.

On our way out of the cemetery, we happened upon one of the Hertford Turtles – a very small one. I knew the weather would turn bad last night, so we brought him home, and he now resides in a turtle bowl in our kitchen. Life, from a place dedicated to the remembrance of other lives….

His name is Tom.

DNW

THE HERTFORD TURTLES...

2006-04-01T20:20:00.000-05:00

On the winding road into town, which is very reminiscent of the road on the Andy Griffith show where Andy and Opy skip stones at the beginning of the show, there is a lot to see. There are almost always Canadian Geese and ducks, sometimes walking across the road and holding up traffic. Now and then a deer crosses - or ten - all at once. There are snakes (Billy and I even found one on the bridge one day, where it had no business being). The most remarkable thing, though is a nondescript log sticking up at an angle away from the road.

Local legend (wholly unsubstantiated as far as I can tell) says that a pirate ship, trying to take a tributary off te Perquimans River, sank there, and the log is the broken off tip of the mast. I don't know what it is, but as long as we've been in town, it's been there. The thing about it is, it is always inhabited. Our town is guarded by sentinel turtles. They crawl up on the log, sometimes one, sometimes as many as four, the rear turtles crawling up on to the shells of those in front.

They stare out over the water toward the river, as if they are watching for something. Unless weather doesn't permit it, they are always there...and down the road is a flat log where smaller turtles seem to be in training...lined up as many as a dozen at a time...so that there will always be a guardian on the log.

I don't know what they are guarding us from, but being an author, worlds of possibility open up. I'm not sure how they'd warn us when the time comes, but every time I drive in over that bridge and see them there, noses to the river, I feel safer somehow. Here is a photo of two of our guardians...

The William R. White House - 1911 - 2005 (when the photo was taken)

2006-03-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

I’d like to take a few moments of appreciation to comment on the work that Trish has done over the past few years on our big ol’ historical house. Keep in mind, this is a small, slender woman with attitude – a mom who has suffered severe heart trouble in giving birth to our daughter Katie, and has been largely on her own for the greater part of the labor involved in repairing and preserving our home. Last year alone she nearly single-handedly painted the entire house. There are parts we can’t reach, of course – and some that I can reach, and she can’t, that I’ll be painting this year, but we are talking about a 6-7000 square foot, three story house. It has columns all around, a porch (also painted – and which we repaired last year) – shutters, leaks…you name it. She is one of the hardest working, most talented women I’ve ever met, and I present, without further ado, the fruit of her labor (so far). This is a photo of the Historic William R. White House as of 2005…this is the first of the Market St. Houses we’ll cover here. Eventually I’d like to have links to photo galleries covering each street, along with some stories about each of the older homes, the families who built and lived in them, and how they all fit together to form the basis of the town we live in. For now…here is the first picture of many.

David

Market Street in Hertford - Home Sweet Home

2006-03-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick, introductory post for those of you who happen by and find our little news-on-the-net site. We are a family transplanted from Florida and Virginia. Trish and the kids lived, formerly, in Ft. Myers Florida, and now we all call Hertford, NC home. From the first time we rolled in around the curve and saw the water, crossed the "S" bridge and drove into town, we've known, somehow, that this would be home.

Our home is in the historic district downtown. William R. White worked for the Carteret Lumber Company and built the house in the early 1900s. Stephanie has been researching the history of the house, the families who have lived here and the ghosts who might have lingered. Mr. White went on to own a peanut factory that burned to the ground. We've yet to find a picture of that factory, but we've met some wonderful people who lived in our home, or knew those who did, and every time we learn something new it feels as if we've branched out onto a new street, with more to find around the corner.

Eventually we'll be posting short articles here, photographs, historical points, and announcements of current events and happenings in the town and area. For now...Welcome to the very first post in the Dismal Swamp Gazette. Kick back, put your feet up, and stay a while.

David