"SWAMPROOTS" A Timeless Gift

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JIMMY FLEMING'S

THE TYRRELL COUNTY "ENQUIRER"
"SWAMPROOTS" A Timeless Gift

SINCE JANUARY 31, 1999

This page is dedicated to "SWAMPROOTS", a 12th grade English project that escalated into probably the most widely known publications about Tyrrell County. This series of 12 magazines has been read and enjoyed by thousands of people from North Carolina to California and is just as popular today as they were when the last issue was published in 1984. The students of Columbia High who worked on the magazine during the 10 years that it was published learned a great deal about Tyrrell County and the great people who have lived here over the years. These students also left a great collection of lore, history, and stories for many more generations of Tyrrell County citizens to enjoy in the future.

I would like to say thanks to all the students who over the years made a contribution to "SWAMPROOTS". I especially want to recognize and thank the originators of this great treasure. In the spring of 1974, "SWAMPROOTS" was created through the efforts of BOBBY ALBANESE, APRIL CLOUGH VAUGHN, GRADY SPENCER, JANICE PLEDGER BRUNAIR, and TERRI SPENCER KREBS who were students in MRS. MADGE VANHORNE's 11th grade English class at Columbia High School. From that time until 1984, a new issue was published each spring, with a special issue commemorating Tyrrell County's 250th Anniversary in the fall of 1979.

The 1983 Volume 10 issue of "SWAMPROOTS" was the winner of the North Carolina Society of County and Local Historians' prestigous "Hodges Award". This award was one of only four presented for the best published article on local history by high school students in grades 9-12 in North Carolina. Another tribute was paid to "SWAMPROOTS" in 1993 when Tyrrell transplant, Mrs Fiona Finch, published a compilation of her favorite "SWAMPROOT" articles in a publication she called "HEART'S DELIGHT" in celebration of Columbia's bicentenary. Mrs. Finch allowed Mrs. Madge VanHorne to write the introduction to "HEART'S DELIGHT" which was a fitting tribute to the lady who was the faculty leader of the "SWAMPROOT" staff over the 10 years of publishing.

Each month I will feature an original article from one of the 12 issues of "SWAMPROOTS". I do this as a tribute to a fine magazine and some wonderful people who made it all happen. If I find that there are copies of the magazines available for purchase I will make an announcement on this page as to who, where, and how much.

Now sit back and enjoy this months featured article:
This article was taken from SWAMPROOTS Volume III, Spring 1976
TYRRELL POTPOURRI
...Court was held in private homes. Stephen Lee's house in Cabin Neck was one house often used for this purpose.
...Columbia was once a trading post.
...Tyrrell County commissioners in 1879 were E. Leigh, Chairman; Tully Davenport; Samuel Norman; and R.O. Woodley. These men also acted as the County Board of Education.
...Joseph Spruill was a major of the Minute Men of Tyrrell County during the Revolutionary War. His brother, Hesekiah, was appointed Commissioner, along with Stephen Lee on April 9, 1776. He was to receive, procure, and purchase firearms for the use of the troops. It was his duty to maintain and repair all swords, dikes, and other implements of war which had been taken from the Tories.
...An early name for Columbia was "Heart's Delight".
...In 1711 along the Alligator River, there was an Indian massacre in which from 16 to 20 people were killed.
...Joseph Spruill, Jr. was the Sheriff of Tyrrell County in 1773.
...Tyrrell County sent the first Revolutionary volunteers to the Continental Army.
...Mathew Midgette may be known as the father of the Midgette family in Tyrrell County. The Midgettes settled in Little Alligator along the Albemarle Sound.
...Molasses can was once raised in Tyrrell County. Horses were used to operate the machinery for grinding the cane and extracting the juice. The juice was cooked in huge vats over an open fire and stirred constantly. When it had reached the proper consistency, it was cooled somewhat and drained into big jars. And, the winter's supply of molasses was ready.

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