By Miles Layton

EDENTON — The Edenton Town Council voted Tuesday night to formally request ownership of the historic Swain Auditorium building from Chowan County, a move town leaders described as the first step toward preserving the structure and eventually determining how it might serve the community again.

The council unanimously approved sending a letter to the Chowan County Board of Commissioners asking that the property at 200 E. Church St. be transferred to the town. If the county agrees, the transfer would place the town in charge of the portion of the building that includes the historic auditorium, while other parts of the structure would remain privately owned. See our previous story here.

Town officials emphasized that accepting the building would not immediately commit the town to spending public money on major renovations. Instead, they said the goal is to preserve the property while exploring partnerships, grants and private investment to determine its long-term use.

Mayor Hackney High said the proposal grew out of discussions between the town and county about how best to protect the building and support the Chowan County Senior Center, which has operated in the facility for decades.

“I think it’s really a two-step process,” High told the council. “The first being the preservation and protection of that building as a historic site, and then after that’s completed, the second portion of that is, now what do we want to do with the community with that space.”

Tuesday’s vote does not immediately transfer ownership of Swain Auditorium. Instead, it authorizes the mayor to formally request that the Chowan County Board of Commissioners convey the property to the town.

High said he believes the opportunity could ultimately benefit the entire community.

“We have a very long and successful history of taking projects like this and turning them into something that we can all be very proud of,” he said. “And I think that opportunity exists in this one.”

The photo accompanying the story shows John Mitchener making a suggestion about how best to use a vacant field in the Cotton Mill District — more on that below.

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Senior center expected to remain

One question raised during the meeting was the future of the Chowan County Senior Center, which occupies the building’s lower level.

High said the intent is for the senior center to remain where it is for the foreseeable future.

“The intent is to keep that for an extended period of time in its current location,” he said. “If the county gives us this property, if we approve the gift, the county will enter into a lease with the town to continue it there.”

The long-term future of the senior center would be evaluated later, he said, but stabilizing its location was one of the motivations behind the proposed transfer.

High also said municipal ownership would open additional funding opportunities for restoration or programming.

“What it allows us to do is now instead of having one municipal entity that’s making attempts to go afterwards, now that the senior center is there and it was run by the county, we can talk about grant funding for that space and its organization’s mission,” High said.

He added that the town’s relationships with local nonprofits could help pursue funding that may not otherwise be available.

“Between that and the relationships we have with the existing nonprofits that are here in town, then we’ve got the ability to go after a lot more funding than the county just may not be.”

Council members see opportunity

Several council members said they viewed the proposed transfer as a chance to protect an important historic structure while giving the town time to consider potential uses.

Councilman Sambo Dixon said the town should accept the building now and determine the details later.

“My vision of this is for us not to do anything right now — we just become the committee that then tries to figure out what to do,” Dixon said.

Dixon noted that Edenton has previously missed opportunities when it declined to acquire properties that later became challenges for the community. He added that the town would likely look for outside partners or nonprofit involvement to redevelop the building.

“We find funding or let a private group take it over,” Dixon said. “Raise some money or a 501(c)(3) or something like that.”

Councilman Bob Turner agreed that the building could attract outside interest.

“I would love to put it out there for some groups to consider what to do with it,” Turner said.

Minimal spending anticipated

Council members also discussed concerns about the cost of maintaining the building if the town becomes the owner.

High said the town would avoid major expenditures while seeking partnerships or grants.

“It’s not our intent to put taxpayer money into the building,” he said. “We would only do things that were absolutely necessary.”

High said the town would focus on preventing deterioration while exploring future options.

“We’re certainly not going to allow that building to become an eyesore or to become in a huge state of disrepair,” he said. “I would anticipate that there would be a holding period where we would do about the same thing that the county has done.”

That approach would involve basic maintenance while officials determine how best to use the property.

Councilman Aaron Coston said his main concern was ensuring taxpayers are not burdened with major repair costs.

“My biggest thing is I don’t want it to be a thing where it’s going to cost taxpayers money for major upkeep and any type of major renovations,” Coston said.

Chowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Kirby attended the meeting and said the county has already undertaken some repairs. He said maintaining the facility has been an ongoing challenge.

Historic role in community life

Council members also reflected on the building’s long history as a community gathering place.

High noted that the auditorium once hosted concerts, school events and performances.

“Back in the nineties, that auditorium was very, very active,” he said.

Councilman Craig Miller recalled large musical performances there.

“We had the big bands come in concerts,” Miller said.

Councilman Dixon said the facility hosted community celebrations as well.

“We had every MLK Day (celebration) there,” he said.

Coston added that local students also used the building.

“We got several assemblies from school,” he said.

Miller said the events often drew lively crowds.

“We had people dancing in the aisle,” he said.

The building’s history as a performance venue was one reason town leaders said they want to explore restoring the space.

Public comment 

During the public comment period, Karen Murray asked about the future of the senior center and urged officials to keep staff and participants informed.

“Please keep the senior center staff in the loop through the planning and development of this,” she said. “And remember that the senior center participants wanted to stay where it is.”

Another speaker, Lorrie Dablow, addressed the council on behalf of the Fourth of July planning committee.

Dablow said organizers expect large crowds this year as Edenton celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as part of the nationwide America250 observance.

“I really believe with all my heart that we are going to see just a number of visitors this year who want to experience the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the first colonial capital of North Carolina,” she said.

Dablow said last year’s Fourth of July celebration drew thousands of visitors.

“According to Downtown Edenton, it was 8,400 people on the Fourth of July,” she said. “For that week we had 28,100.”

Attendance could increase significantly this year, she added.

“I think we could potentially double that amount of people.”

Dablow said the event requires many volunteers, but organizers are struggling to find enough help.

“The Optimist Club is sorely short on volunteers,” she said. “As is the police department, as I understand it.”

She asked council members and community groups to help recruit volunteers.

“We should turn ourselves inside out this year to show the hospitality, the warmth, the planning, the preparation and readiness for this big event,” Dablow said.

High said the town could help promote volunteer opportunities.

“Maybe we can get something going on our own social media platform,” he said.

John Mitchener urged the town to consider housing development on a vacant lot near the old cotton mill.

“There is a huge vacant lot there,” he said. “All the conversations I hear, there’s a great need for housing.”

Mitchener said the property could potentially accommodate homes similar to those in the surrounding neighborhood.

“How much longer is it going to kiss sunshine before we bring it on task to help this community grow?” he asked.

Another speaker, Wayne Gaskey, addressed the council about his personal reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights issues.

“When I was sharing a story with some others and other things with a group of people last year, I made the statement, ‘I didnt’t realize how smart a man Martin Luther King Jr. was.’ Someone asked me and said, “Why? Because he was a Black man?” I couldn’t believe my ears what I had heard. That’s some thinking, some stinking thinking in my mind. This is the kind of thinking I find prevalent at times in this town, and I hope one day it will disappear.”

Grant funding approved

In other business, the council formally accepted an $850,000 grant from the North Carolina Rural Downtown Economic Development program to upgrade lighting in the downtown area.

The funding will support the installation of period-appropriate street lamps intended to improve safety and enhance the historic district.

Council members also approved two budget amendments prepared by Finance Director Virginia Smith.

One amendment recognized $91,698.48 in interest earned on funds associated with the town’s USDA wastewater treatment plant project.

“The project, as all of you know, has been finalized with the USDA,” High said. “That investment account has been closed at their request.”

The amendment transfers the funds into the appropriate account for the town’s water and sewer department.