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Industrial Development (1.3.2)

The antebellum years from 1830 to 1861 were ones of unprecedented growth and prosperity for industry in Elizabeth City. Leading the way were those industries directly related to shipping and transportation. Unfortunately, no antebellum buildings associated with these industries remain.

Although shipyards had existed in Elizabeth City since the first decade of the nineteenth century, the industry expanded rapidly after improvement in the canal undertaken during the second quarter of the century. One of the local newspapers reported in 1831 that the riverfront was “a scene of bustle and activity such as we never witnessed before” (Griffin 1970, 74; Elizabeth City Star, June 3, 1831). The 1840 Census recorded twelve men employed in the navigation of canals, lakes, and rivers; manufacturers (including building) and trade employed 128 workers (Sixth Census 1841, 218). In 1849 it was reported that two vessels "of large size and intended for the West Indian trade" had been launched at the local shipyards (Griffin 1970, 78). The next year the census listed three shipbuilding and repairing businesses--those of Burgess and Lamb, Timothy Hunter^*, and Richard M. Ammon--that gave employment to forty-nine men (1850 Census). The prosperity of the waterfront shipyards was indicated by the boast in 1856 that 119 vessels were in commerce from the city's shipyards (Griffin 1970, 79). Other ship builders of the antebellum years included John Boushall, James Grice, R. G. Newman, and Charles M. Laverty^** (Griffin 1970, 74, 78-79). In addition to providing passenger service throughout the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, packets and schooners from Elizabeth City also provided passage during the summer to the fledgling but popular ocean retreat at Nags Head from the 1840s through the 1930s (Bishir 1983, 6-27).

A wide variety of other industries opened in Elizabeth City during the antebellum period. The 1840 census listed a brick and lime manufacturing plant that employed twelve men. Murray and Clark, Millwrights, Pattern, and Machine Makers, operated on Elizabeth City's waterfront and won the premium for the best and most improved corn sheller at the 1849 Baltimore Fair. While Murray moved to Baltimore in 1851, William H. Clark remained in business locally, changing the firm's name to the North Carolina Agriculture Store and Machine Manufactory. His waterfront workshops are clearly identified in views published in Harper's Weekly Magazine on March 15, 1862. In 1850 William R. Palmer marketed Palmer's proved Rotating Flail Threshing Machine. The 1850 census lists such industries as the tannery of banker John C. Ehringhaus (which was one of the largest in the state), the carriage and coach factories of Robert Watkins and John Day, and the harness and saddle shop of Robert Newbold. William Glover operated a fishing concern, employing sixteen men and shipping 1,000 barrels of herring and shad. A new steam grist mill was added to the town's industry in i854 by Griffin and Gaskins (Griffin 1970, 79-81; 1850 Census).

The Schedule of Industry for the 1860 Census reported further industrial expansion, including the output of each establishment. Among the manufactures were horse plows, wheat thrashers, corn shellers, roekaways, buggies, sulkies, shoes, boots, harnesses, saddles, and bridles. Most of the farm-related products found ready buyers among the region's farmers. Four makers of “furniture of all kinds”--Thomas Parr, John H. Ziegler, Caleb Sikes, and Rufus Madrin-employed eleven men. The materials they used reflect the refinement of taste and lifestyle that was enjoyed by their clients: $3,900 worth of mahogany and $1,500 worth of rosewood, in addition to locally obtained woods such as walnut, poplar and maple. While the county's three sawmills produced 570,000 feet of plank, it is not known where these mills were located. Shipbuilder Charles M. Lavetry had a lumber yard on the waterfront in the 1850s, but whether he also operated a sawmill is unknown (1860 Census; Griffin 1970, 80).

^*Originally attributed to Timothy Hinton in a previous edition of this page. Thanks to Jean Hiebert of the Joyner Library, East Carolina University, for the correction.

^**Originally attributed to Charles M. Laveny in a previous edition of this page. Thanks to Jean Hiebert of the Joyner Library, East Carolina University, for the correction.