MARTIN COUNTY
Updated 12/31/99
North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office assistance includes underwater archaeological site work at Fort Branch and recovery of Civil War artillery pieces from the Roanoke River; excavation of the wreck of the Ranger, a river steamer that sank in 1898; and excavation at Hogtown Landing, a colonial river landing. In addition, the Historic Preservation Office statewide inventory contains information on over 165 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in Martin County.
A municipal survey of Hamilton was completed in 1978. A comprehensive survey of the county's rural areas and smaller municipalities was undertaken 1991-1993, and a municipal survey of Williamston was completed in 1994. Surveys are cooperative local-state projects accomplished with grants and staff assistance from the Historic Preservation Office.
State grants of $301,100 have been awarded for such projects as the restoration of the Asa Biggs House and the Martin County Courthouse and for publication of the county architectural survey. Federal grants of $34,800 assisted surveys in the county and Williamston and restoration of the Conoho Lodge.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National Register listings include historic districts in Hamilton and Williamston, the rural Conoho Creek Historic District, and eleven individual listings across the county.
Rehabilitations of the Branch Bank and Trust Building in Williamston and the Sherrod House near Hamilton, two income-producing tax credit projects, have been completed at a total construction investment of $82,300. The Historic Preservation Office reviews and provides restoration technical services for all preservation tax credit projects.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICATIONS
The Historic Preservation Office assisted the Historic Hamilton Commission in the publication of the results of the local architectural survey in The Historic Architecture of Hamilton, North Carolina in 1979. The Historic Preservation Office assisted with the 1999 publication of the Martin County historic resources inventory, Martin Architectural Heritage, based on the survey and manuscript by Donna Dodenhof and edited by Thomas R. Butchko.
The Historic Preservation Office has provided technical restoration assistance to the Asa Biggs House, commercial properties in downtown Williamston, the Burras House, the Darden Hotel, Conoho Masonic Lodge, the Old Martin County Courthouse, Tar Heel Apartments, the Old Roanoke Hotel, Farm Life School, the Lunsford Brown House, the Briley-Purvis-Green House, the Purvis Slave House, Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church, and Spring Green Primitive Baptist Church.