Indications are that the celebration of th 339th birthday anniversary of Virginia Dare tomorrow on Roanoke Island, the crowning day in an entire homecoming week for the Dare countians, will be bigger than was at first anticipated. The day has somehow seemed to grip the imagination of people all over the state and dozens of automobiles have passed through Raleigh yesterday and today bound for Elizabeth City and Manteo in order to be preset for the big day tomorrow, when Sir Esme Howard, British ambassador to the United States, will be the principal speaker of the day. Sir Esme will make the trip direct to Roanoke Island from Washington, aboard a cutter supplied by the United States Navy. His address—the only one of the day—is scheduled to begin at 11 o’clock. Music will be furished by the naval base band from Norfolk.
Thousands of reservations have been made at Elizabeth City, and indications are that the fleet of sound boats and harbor craft that has been mobilized there to transport the crowds of people across the sound to Roanoke Island will be taxed to capacity. Rail accommodations to Elizabeth City are also at a premium. The Chamber of Commerce in Elizabeth City is doing everything possible to contribute to the comfort and convenience of the thousands of visitors expected Wednesday and throughout the week.
The imagination and romance of the entire state and nation have been gripped by this celebration of the birthday anniversary of the first white child born on the shores of North America 399 years ago, and who so mysteriously disappeared shortly after her birth, along with the members of what is know to history as the “Lost Colony.” Just what became of the “Lost Colony” is still one of the unsolved riddles of history. It was more than 70 years after the birth of Virginia Dare before another attempt to colonize Roanoke Island was made.
Tomorrow’s celebration is to be on the site of old Fort Raleigh, where Sir Walter Raleigh founded the ”Lost Colony” and where Virginia Dare was born.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-08-17/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment