Community mourns Cameron, NC's Miss Belle’s Collectibles, Antiques & Tea Room
Today, June 20, 2023, Cameron, North Carolina, is known as
the town where that historic house was demolished by a church on Juneteenth. It is on the web, the radio, and TV.
 |
| The demolition began at 7:30 a.m. on Juneteenth and ended when rain poured that afternoon. This photo is from June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. |
According to Data USA, in 2020, the Town of Cameron is 46.4% white and 43.9% Black.
In the late 1800s, Cameron, North Carolina was known as the
Dewberry Capital. From the 1970s through 2019, it was known as the Antique
Capital of the world.
What will Cameron will be known as next?
 |
| Miss Belle's June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. |
Murdock McLeod McKeithen built the home for his bride, Isabelle
Ferguson "Belle" McKeithen in 1892. This was 27 years after slavery
was abolished in America.
Harold Dowd shares his thoughts about the demolition on video.
Miss. Belle's Antiques and Collectibles & Tea Room popularized
the property, and it operated for decades under Isabelle McKeithen’s ownership.
 |
| Miss Belle's June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. |
Merrie Thomas, the daughter of Isabelle (McKeithen) and Tupee
Thomas, lives across the street from the property where Miss Belle’s stood.
Prayers follow her now as the future use of the property is
not clear.
Carolyn Marsh shares her thoughts on the demolition on video.
 |
| Miss Belle's June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. Tons of lumber that could have been used for historic preservation of other homes is trashed. |
In Sept. 2022, The Town of Cameron formed Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc, (CHP) and applied for a nonprofit status, which has yet to be official. CHP invited the townspeople to be members of the Town's Historic Preservation Committee (HPC). Both work to save Cameron’s historic structures, its primary charm, and began a campaign, ‘Save Miss Belle’s’.
CHP holds closed meetings as needed. HPC attends the public meetings and they are not closed meetings.
With a verbal agreement between property owners and the couple who agreed to move the property across the street to their property, CHP and HPC raised nearly $145,000. Gary and Lori Oldham planned to restore Miss Belle’s into a bed-and-breakfast inn.
CHP published a notice on June 19 of refunds by mail for those who made
cash donations and to grantors.
Property owners, Walk
by Faith Christian Center, Inc, Apostle James Prince and Beverly Prince,
verbally agreed to gift Miss Belle’s to Gary and Lori Oldham. But after the
funds were raised, the owners and the gifted could not reach a contractual
agreement, according to Gary Oldham at an CHP and HPC meeting on May 31, 2023.
 |
| Miss Belle's June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. Unique trim and gingerbread trim soon to be lost to demolition. |
The town attorney, Jim Van Camp, said the Princes’ attorney said
there was no compromising on a lengthy list of the Princes' requirements, including making
the gifted couple liable for any and all damages.
On WRAL TV 5, Beverly Prince said that the church had met all
its deadlines, and the church had to protect itself
and move on.
Yesterday, June 19, 2023, sidewalks and neighboring
properties filled with shocked citizens as cranes loaded walls into a dump
truck.
 |
| Miss Belle's June 20, 2023 at 7 a.m. |
“It’s such a shame,” citizens repeated as a dozer crushed heart pine into a pile and loads of usable lumber and gingerbread trim was trashed.
Others gawked; jaw dropped.
Accusations whacked, and tempers flared between white
citizens and Black. The blame passed back and forth as the dump truck’s engine
revved away with another load of history, usable lumber and gingerbread trim.
Cameron struggles with water infrastructure nearing capacity
for its 450 residents. It is concerned about subdivision developers buying property on
the town’s outskirts and does not even have a law enforcement officer.
What will Cameron be known for next?
Will Cameron "move on" and build the proposed Dewberry Barn and Vineyard next to Phillips Memorial Park with the $400,000 State grant awarded this month?
The Bible gives guidance. Ephesians 4:26-27 reads, “Be angry
and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no
opportunity to the devil.”
Anger is a God-given emotion. It is purposeful, and when used
for the greater good, overcomes evil.
Today, June 20, the work crew returned to complete the demolition.
Kenneth Chad Martindale shared his thoughts on video.
Stephanie M. Sellers
gaumedup@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome!