DATE: Sunday, March 9, 1997                 TAG: 9703090162

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PHILLIP PURYEAR, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   91 lines

GROUP SEEKING TO SALVAGE BITS OF OLD HOMES, CITY'S HERITAGE

With all the advances in technology and science, such as cloned sheep, it's hard to believe the old adage ``there's nothing new under the sun'' has stood the test of time.

However, under the shady grove of aging oaks in the historical residential district of Main, Church and Selden streets, there's nothing new.

And the Elizabeth City Historical Neighborhood Association wants to keep it that way.

That's the reason that ECHNA, with the city's permission, raced through three historic homes on Pearl Street to get what they could before the homes were destroyed to make way for a new fire station.

A garageful of windows, doors and columns was collected in the effort, according to Gayle Durham, vice president of ECHNA.

Gayle Durham and her husband, ECHNA President Peter Durham, have used salvaged pieces in their own historic home on West Main Street.

``These are some things that aren't made anymore,'' said Gayle Durham, as her husband points to a couple of light fixtures and brackets along the wall.

The lack of such artifacts is the reason why the Durhams and ECHNA want to collect pieces from condemned homes about to be demolished and establish a salvaging co-op.

The nonprofit organization hopes to sell salvageable pieces to people interested in restoring their homes and maintaining the integrity of homes built as far back as the 1800s.

The idea to start the co-op was inspired by a Greensboro program, according to Gayle Durham. She shared the idea with John Middleton, and he took it from there.

Middleton serves as salvaging coordinator of ECHNA and sees the mission very clearly.

``We want to restore pride and interest in the community,'' Middleton said. He feels that can be obtained through restoring the homes to their original architectural exterior.

``We feel that we can do that by raising funds from the salvaged materials in order to help people, who may not have the money to do so, repair their homes so they can be saved and lived in.

``If people are willing to work - and to clean up their homes - we are willing to help and offer them paint or whatever we can, so they can keep architectural history alive.''

Middleton adds that the salvage group is only in its infancy, having begun in January. The primary focus now is to find storage space for the salvaged materials.

Middleton also encourages people to donate antiques or materials they can't use.

In addition to restoring the exterior integrity to the historic homes, future plans include replanting dogwoods along the streets and adding pedestrian lights to increase safety.

This interest in safety is a reason why Elizabeth City Mayor Pro Tem Anita Hummer has offered her support to ECHNA.

``There is a lot of history in this neighborhood. This is our heritage, and we should do our best to preserve that,'' said Hummer.

According to Gene Baker, executive of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce's Board of Development and Tourism, heritage is an important draw in North Carolina's booming tourism industry.

``There's a big trend in tourism where people are more interested in what to see, rather than what to do,'' said Baker.

According to Baker, the efforts to preserve the past for the future will bring people into the area and allow Elizabeth City to compete with Edenton's historic district for tourist dollars.

For ECHNA, the salvaging co-op is an opportunity to do more than ``have meetings and serve food,'' said Gayle Durham.

This also marks the 12-year-old group's first foray into an independent project. Recently, it has helped in the restoration of the Elisha Overton house on the corner of Road and Speed streets.

The historic home was headed for the wrecking ball because of its substandard condition. But its current occupants have begun a communitywide effort to bring it up to code.

Cynthia Griffin, who is leading the Overton House renovations, credits a letter written by ECHNA as a big help in receiving an extension on the project.

In the past, ECHNA has participated in the restoration of the Pendleton House in Nixonton by donating $5,000.

In addition to the salvaging co-op, ECHNA raises funds through its annual Historic Homes Tours in the spring and a yard sale in May. Membership is open to anyone interested in preserving the historic neighborhoods in Elizabeth City.

``If we don't preserve these homes, they'll deteriorate. And if they deteriorate, people will not want to live here,'' said Peter Durham. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Gayle Durham and her husband, Peter, president of the Elizabeth City

Historical Neighborhood Association, have salvaged a garageful of

windows, doors and columns from historic homes slated to be torn

down.

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