The Boy Scout Hut, on Park Avenue in Edenton, will not be ready for use until the full John A. Holmes campus is complete with parking and tennis courts, possibly after the current academic year ends in June 2026.
In June 2024, the 96-year-old log structure was relocated from its prominent Broad Street location to Park Avenue behind the Edenton Fire Department building to accommodate construction of the new high school. The school’s driveway along Broad Street was reconfigured. New geothermal pipes are located where the cabin and the school’s tennis court were.
“The relocation of the Boy Scout Hut adds history and future development of our community leaders to the John A. Holmes campus,” said Superintendent Tammi Ward. “Preserving the historical appearance and relocation had to be carefully planned and executed, but as you can see as you drive by Park Avenue, it has been successful.”
The new high school and Boy Scout Hut relocation were funded with a combination of grants and local funds.
The move was introduced in March 2021, after the new construction project was approved by the Edenton-Chowan School Board. The hut’s relocation was not a reality until the Edenton-Chowan Schools Board of Education voted on it in 2023.
The January 2023 decision by the BOE came amid significant community objections.
Five speakers addressed the board during public comments, expressing concerns about relocating the oldest continuously used Boy Scout structure in America. Critics warned that relocation would invalidate the building’s historic designation and questioned the estimated $150,000 to $175,000 cost.
The board voted 6-1 to move the cabin to its new location, with current board chair George Lewis casting the lone dissenting vote.
The hut’s restoration has included accessible bathrooms, new HVAC system, and structural repairs. Once construction on the John A. Holmes campus is complete, the hut will continue its nearly century-long tradition as a gathering place for scouts and community leaders.
Editor’s note: This story is sidebar to the a series on the new John A. Holmes High School facility.
The series includes:
- A New Chapter Begins: John A. Holmes High School Opens Doors to Campus in January
- New Athletic and Arts Facilities to Transform Student Experience at John A. Holmes High School
- Learning Reimagined: New John A. Holmes Facilities Blend Career Training with Academic Excellence