I have always had the fever for treasure hunts and great discoveries. In fact, when I was told in 1969 at age 11 that Native Americans (referred to at that time as Indians) lived right outside my backdoor in Edenton, North Carolina, I immediately began to search for the evidence.
Four years later with the discovery of four ancient villages and a complete two-thousand year old pottery vessel, I became a believer; and it set the course for my future.
In my twenties, I became the Program Director of North Carolina’s Oldest brick house, The Newbold-White House in nearby Hertford, North Carolina--home of baseball legend Jimmy “Catfish” Hunter and the roots of current Red Sox star, Trot Nixon.
Great discoveries continued with that line of work. Archaeological treasure in nearby fields and research into Colonial living brought back to life those early years in eastern North Carolina--in fact, an understanding of the birth of early American life in a region that was known as “The Cradle of the Colony.”
In my thirties, I took a right turn and utilized my investigative spirit by serving ten years as a Child Abuse Investigator and writing a book called, “Crimes Against Children.”
Now, in my forties, I have come full circle, built my home on one of the village sites and found myself in a profession not unlike the Historical Marker on a nearby highway. On that marker, it names my eighth great grandfather, George Durant, as one of the earliest settlers to buy land from the Native Americans in this region in the 1600’s. Soon after that, thousands of Virginians and others from the northeast began to heavily populate this northeastern corner of North Carolina.
And many of the treasures that those earliest settlers found or even brought to the region are the same treasures being discovered again by the same migration that took place 300 years ago.
It really is true. History does “repeat itself.” Northeastern North Carolina land (especially waterfront) has suddenly begun to appreciate at astronomical rates. The increase in population moves from a little north in Virginia has started to accelerate. And the tax burdened North is realizing $100K in the North is like $1M in eastern North Carolina.
And what about my newest profession--well, I’ve joined the ranks of Real Estate Sales and learned that lost treasures are still discoverable. While I thought the cat was out of the bag and prices were already driven up, I recently engaged in the sale of a piece of property that appraisers and bankers and even the Broker-in-charge remained clueless on the real value of the property.
This was an 1830 farmhouse located on six acres of cleared farmland backed up to a row of 2000-2500 sq. ft. brick homes along the Perquimans River in an area near Durant’s Neck--that’s right the original piece of land Grandpa bought from the Native Americans.
While all of these parties felt the value of $140,000 was just barely there, I had to contain myself over the real value of this lost treasure. Yes, the home needed lots of renovation. But inside the home was a treasure house of Federal Period mantles with sunburst design, wainscoting, hand-wrought strap, H, and H & L hinges and extra wide heart pine flooring that would make any sawmill manager weep with joy at seeing.
In my opinion, one could gut the house for 140 K and still have six pristine acres 100 yards from the waterfront.
As the Virginians march south, they like to bring their horses. For short term income, the new client will easily earn enough boarding fees to more than make the payment. Then, the new owner will soon be applying to set up a much needed cell phone tower where about $250 per provider on the tower can be collected as monthly rental.
In the end, as the waterfronts disappear and the waterviews become diminished, that six acres will sit there and grow in value way beyond the 140 K that few professionals were able to see. Lost treasures like this are actually easy to find. Realizing their value is the difficult task.
A new community is being created near Edenton--which is a town of only 5800 residents. That community has planned 2000 new units near the water with a complete downtown for it’s residents.
As it develops, such a community will be larger than Edenton has ever been in its 300 year history. Soon, lost treasures may indeed finally be lost, but it has been fun finding them and for better or for worse, progress and development of the “Cradle of the Colony” will continue to proliferate throughout eastern North Carolina.
Check out my website at:
www.all-seasonsrealty.com.