Perquimans County Restoration Association Newbold-White House

09/05/2026

Pick-Your-Own Muscadine Grapes now ready at the Newbold White House!

09/05/2026

The ca. 1791 Willis Riddick House didn't always look like it does today. Almost a century before Steve Casper moved it to the Onley Place for restoration it had already suffered a move and a severe demotion in use.

Originally built as a two room, hall and parlor plan house with two additional finished rooms in the attic story, it had been enlarged in the 19th century with the addition of a front porch and two rear shed rooms separated by a passageway. At some point one end of the porch was enclosed to create a small sleeping chamber, sometimes referred to as a preacher's or prophet's room, and possibly used to house visitors. In the early 20th century the house was moved back from its original location and replaced with a larger, "up to date" Queen Ann style house. After the move it was relegated to use as a barn and farm storage building. This move might have actually been it's saving grace, as it was never electrified, plumbed, or otherwise modernized, and the end walls were covered over in additional weatherboards, and later tin, to cover the gaps where the original chimneys had been. Other than the loss of its mantels (probably at the same time it was moved) and two upstairs floor boards (for reasons only known to whoever removed them) the remainder of its interior remained intact, including its original painted finishes. The porch protected the front door, windows, original beaded weatherboards attached with roseheaded nails, and an unusually deep molded cornice, all of which have been preserved at its new location.

Stay tuned to this page for more information on the Col. Willis Riddick House, and other structures included in the 2026 Jollification Tour of Historic Homes on September 26. Tickets for the tour and festive supper on the grounds of the Newbold White House are available online at perquimansrestoration.org.

09/04/2026

The pre-1788 Richard Pratt House, located in the Bethel community of Perquimans County, is the centerpiece of an amazing collection of 18th and early 19th century structures amassed by Benjamin Hobbs and his late wife Jacqueline over the past fifty years or more. Saved from destruction and moved to this site on the Hobbs family farm in the early 1970s, this remarkable survival from the 18th century has been fully restored, and has been home to Ben and his family ever since. With original woodwork and details - including a locally rare paneled overmantel - this house is beautifully furnished with both period antiques and fine reproductions made by Ben himself.

Check back in the days to come to learn more about Ben, his work, and the outstanding collection of structures with which he has surrounded his home, which will be featured on the September 26th Jollification Tour of Historic Homes.

09/03/2026

Jollification 2026 will feature a slightly different kind of tour from those of the past few years. For one thing, the route will literally take you from one end of Perquimans County to the other. For another those taking the tour will get to see an amazing group of 18th century buildings - both houses and outbuildings - with both completely finished and beautifully decorated interiors, and with completely exposed structural framing which you can examine up close and personal. So if you are a fan of hand crafted detail and 18th century construction techniques, or if you've always wondered what's behind the plaster and paneling, this tour is for you.

On one end of the county you will visit The Onley Place, home of Steve Casper. Steve has a passion for all things old, and has saved numerous early structures which would have otherwise succumbed to neglect, deterioration, or purposeful destruction. He began by constructing his own home from a one room early 20th century doctor's office which he moved to his property over thirty years ago, renovated, and slowly enlarged over the years. Since then he has added three small 18th century houses, and numerous later buildings. Two of these houses, the ca. 1760 Joel Hollowell House and the ca. 1765 White-Rountree House currently have open frames, allowing close inspection of the construction technigues used nearly three hundred years ago. The third, the ca. 1795 Col. Willis Riddick House, has a fully finished interior, with all of its beautiful woodwork (minus the two mantels which disappeared in the early 20th century) intact, including its original painted finishes.

Check back here for details - and more photographs! - of The Onley Place collection!

09/03/2026

When the crops in Perquimans are ready to be harvested, Jollification can't be far away! This load of corn stalks will be set aside for decorations for the event.

Mark your calendars for September 26, and join us for the annual tour of historic homes followed by supper on the lawn of the Newbold White House. This year's theme is "From Colony to State", and looks back to structures built in the 18th century, when North Carolina - along with the other twelve original colonies - declared themselves free and independent of Great Britain, and formed the United States. Tickets are now on sale at perquimansrestoration.org.

09/02/2026

Join us on October 24, 2026 as a buyer, browser, or vendor!

08/15/2026

When giving tours of the Newbold White House, we are often asked questions about Quakers, and give short lessons on Quaker faith, life, and history. One particular question, usually in the form of a statement, comes up when we mention Bess, Sambo, Lame Mingo, and Old Blind Mingo, the four enslaved people listed in Abraham Sanders' 1750 will and 1751 inventory: "But Quakers didn't own slaves!"
This often leads to questions about the changing attitudes of 18th and 19th century Friends to the "peculiar institution", the Underground Railroad, and what part Perquimans County Quakers played in working to first free their own slaves, and then to help others find a safe path to freedom.

Follow this link to the North Carolina Friends Historical Society webpage for information on an upcoming talk in Greensboro on Levi Coffin and the Underground Railroad.

The purpose of the North Carolina Friends Historical Society is to support the collection and preservation of and publish valuable information relative to the history of the Society of Friends in North Carolina and adjacent territories and to work in harmony and cooperation with the Quaker Archives....

08/15/2026

It's Jollification time already! Make ready to make merry with PCRA!
Save the date, and keep following this page to learn more about the tour, the supper, and all the fun and frolic that make Jollification special.
Hope to see you there!

08/05/2026

If you've ever visited the Newbold White House, you know that this branch (which some people refer to as a creek) is usually dry. On Monday of this week, the heavy rains caused it to rapidly fill with runoff from the fields to the west of the house, which it drains. Geoff Byrd happened to be there, and caught these photos of the rushing water.

During the restoration of the house, extensive archaeology was done, and one area investigated was the bank of this branch. Through the layers discovered in a test trench it was determined that this was much wider and deeper in the eighteenth century, but has since silted up as more land was cleared. Conjectures have been made as to whether it was possibly large enough to bring the periauger up from the Perquimans River (into which this feeds). Even if that were not possible, with water at this level Abraham Sanders could have easily paddled his two canoes from the river, possibly using them as lighters or tenders to load and unload cargo from the periauger anchored in the river.

06/30/2026

We were pleased to see so many friends of the Newbold White House - old and new - turn up to celebrate with us at the PCRA Garden Party! A wonderful surprise was to get to see Barbara Matthews, long time PCRA Board member, and organizer of the very popular (though now sadly discontinued) Summer Breeze Concert Series. Barbara came all the way from Winston Salem by herself to join us for this very special event. Great to see and catch up with you Barbara!