Mike Parker: September 30 marks dual anniversary in our history
On Friday, September 30, the Lenoir County Historical Association will hold a grand birthday celebration to serve a dual purpose. This year, 2022, marks the 250th anniversary of the construction of Harmony Hall – and it also marks the 51st anniversary of the founding of the Lenoir County Historical Association. The construction of Harmony Hall began in 1772, and the association held its organizational meeting in 1971.
The celebration will place at the Kinston Country Club, beginning with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. North Carolina’s Secretary of State Elaine Marshall will be the guest of honor. Acceptable dress is business or cocktail attire.
Harmony Hall, also known as the Peebles House, stands on land Elizabeth Herritage inherited from her father, William Herritage. When I first moved to Kinston, I wondered by Herritage Street seemed misspelled since it had two “R’s.”
Later I discovered the street is named for William Herritage, who donated the first 100 acres to found Kingston. That name was a respectful nod to King George III of England. If you want a sense of how much land Herritage donated, the original borders of the land grant are marked by North, South, and East streets. The Neuse River served as the western boundary. By the way, the citizens of Kingston dropped the “g” in 1784.
Elizabeth and her husband, Jesse Cobb, began building their home in 1772 when they were married. By 1776, the initial construction of the house was complete. That same year, Cobb left to fight in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge near Wilmington with his brother-in-law Richard Caswell. Caswell served as a colonel, and Cobb served as captain of Company A, the Dobbs County Minutemen.
Historian Hugh Lefler wrote in The History of North Carolina, “The victory at Moore’s Creek Bridge saved North Carolina from conquest and probably postponed the conquest of South Carolina and Georgia for three or more years. … It has been said that this battle was the Rubicon over which North Carolina passed to independence and constitutional self-government.”
By the time Cobb returned home from this early campaign, Elizabeth had given birth to their son, John. Later that year, Cobb left again to fight in the war, serving in the Continental Army with George Washington during the New York and New Jersey campaign. He spent the winter at Valley Forge.
Harmony Hall essentially served as the state capitol during the war from 1777 to 1781. Harmony Hall housed many state records. The State Board of War and other government groups met in Harmony Hall.
Following the war, Richard Caswell purchased the home from Jesse and Elizabeth, though he continued living at his Newington estate. The house underwent its first extensive renovation during the 1790s.
On August 26, 1971, Harmony Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1977, the Lenoir County Historical Association received the building and its historical furnishings as a donation. The association immediately began a restoration project. The LCHA raised more than $170,000 by 1981, and the North Carolina General Assembly authorized additional funding of $50,000. In 1985, the LCHA completed the restoration of the building.
Harmony Hall, the oldest building in Kinston, is still owned and maintained by the LCHA.
A few seats remain for this celebration, so if you would like to attend, you need to call 252-522-0421 by 4 p.m. today. Individual tickets are $60 each. Remember: In addition to being a celebration, this event is also a fundraiser for the LCHA.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
