THE AURORA HISTORY MUSEUM
Once Was the Old Jail
Now The Aurora History Museum
Before There Was A Ferry Boat; Here's How You Crossed A River
Aurora Was Once The Largest Grower Of Potatoes In America
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Settlers first came into the region in 1856 and moved into an area around South Dividing Creek that was later renamed Aurora. It is the youngest town in Beaufort County and was incorporated in 1880
Around 1900 the Irish potato was introduced into the area and did quite well in our fertile dark soil. It wasn't long before Aurora became known as the potato capital of the country.
Beaufort County (named for Henry, Duke of Beaufort), is one of the oldest 7 of North Carolina's counties. It originally held in its jurisdiction much more land. In 1760, the western portion of Beaufort was cut off with the establishment of Pitt County.The town of Bath, which had been the seat of the older county, became a small, sleepy town in the newer county, and the courthouse was eventually moved to the new town of Washington, established in 1771. The new seat remains the largest town in the county, and is perched on the Pamlico River at the point of its narrowing into the Tar River.
Aurora enjoys a moderate climate. June's average temperature is usually around 75 degrees, while the January average is 44 degrees. Conditions here vary based on elevation, and temperatures can change dramatically. Temperatures tend to be lower in the mountains. The annual precipitation (mostly in the spring and summer) averages nearly 50 inches, with higher amounts in the mountains.
Among the area attractions is the Aurora Fossil Museum. It presents a wide range of fossils found in the process of mining phosphate in eastern Beaufort County. Shark teeth and other fossils reveal many facts about the formation of this area.
The Beaufort Historic Site includes the 1767 Joseph Bell House, the 1825 Josiah Bell House, the 1796 Carteret County Courthouse, the 1829 county jail, the 1859 apothecary shop and doctor's office, and the 1778 Samuel Leffers House, home of the town's first schoolmaster. Another place to visit is the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
Public schools in Aurora include S.W. Snowden Elementary and the Aurora Middle School. Colleges and universities near Aurora include East Carolina University, Pitt Community College, Coastal Carolina Community College, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Tidewater Community College, Cape Fear Community College and Norfolk State University.
Hospitals and medical centers near Aurora include Pungo District Hospital, Beaufort County Hospital and Craven Regional Medical Center.
Beaufort County is a recreational paradise! The Pamlico Sound and Pamlico-Tar River system serve as a recreational playground for fishermen, boaters and water-skiers.
The 7,000-acre Goose Creek Gameland is a series of 200-acre waterfowl impoundments on a peninsula on the south side of the Pamlico River. Goose Creek State Park offers the mysterious wonders of marsh and swamp along the borders of the Pamlico River and Goose Creek. Visitors can canoe the creeks, fish on the shores of the Pamlico River or learn more about wetlands at the Environmental Education Visitor Center.
Birders and hikers are also welcome. There are over 8 miles of hiking trails. Bible Shore is also an outstanding place for recreation that offers a stunning coast with a delightful vista.
The county is also served by 3 lakes: the T.G. Clay Pond, T.G. Clay Pond Number Three and T.G. Slimes Pond Number One. There are also 2 golf courses in the area: the Cypress Landing Golf Club and Washington Yacht and Country Club._______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The Early Days
In 1945 with his mustering-out pay from the U.S. Army, George Ensley, Sr. established Ensley's Radio Company. The original location, a small room above the grocery store in downtown Aurora, N.C., was rented for $12 a month. Armed with his training from the Army as a radio operator and telephone lineman, he set about selling and servicing electronics.
In those early days house radios were the primary equipment sold and serviced by Ensley's, but as the electronics industry evolved so did his business. It wasn't long before local yachtsmen and fishermen began to request communication and navigation equipment for their vessels. As a result the marine electronics business was born in eastern North Carolina. Eventually house radios faded into the past and marine electronics became Ensley's primary focus. The company changed locations several times as opportunities dictated. From Aurora, it moved to Morehead City, N.C., Key West, Fla., Savannah, Ga., Bayboro, N.C., and finally to New Bern, N.C., where it is today. (At the start of the Korean War, Ensley was called on to keep the McKay office in Savannah open.) Ensley's Radio Co. has been at its present location between the Neuse and Trent rivers since the mid-60's. The area has grown considerably in terms of both commercial and recreational business. Sincethe early 60's Ensley's has been closely aligned with boat builders in the area, providing marine electronics equipment, consultation, service and installation, as needed.
Hatteras Yachts and Ensley's Radio Co. have worked in concert since the early 60's when the boats were trucked from High Point, N.C., and assembled in Morehead City. Hatteras was just starting out and relied heavily on our 20 years of experience in the marine electronics field. We have outfitted hundreds, if not thousands, of Hatteras Yachts and are widely recognized as the expert on marine electronics and applications involving Hatteras Yachts. Ensley's is the company Hatteras calls on when experience and expertise are needed.
Over the years we have served many boat builders, shipyards and consumers, and we continue to do so. It is not uncommon for us to be called in for consultation when new designs are on the drawing board. Our expertise is considered to be among the best in the industry and our longevity proves it. We literally have customers all over the world who continually rely on our services year after year.
George and Jackie
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Wright Brothers
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USS North Carolina
Duck and Cover
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School Days
Aurora School Picture 1925
I do not yet know the name of the school, but my father lived in the Small/ Edward area I think they attended the Aurora school, but I'm not sure. Yes, my father is in the picture. He is the third from the left, top row (the good looking blonde guy!!). I am guessing again, but I think this must be maybe a combination class picture because of the number of students. I know that my daddy only went to school through the ninth grade, so I feel like this is a picture of jr. high aged students, or maybe it's the high school. My daddy was born in 1912, so if he was 13 or 14, then the photo would be dated 1925 or 1926. I hope this helps. Wish I knew more. Hopefully I will get some info from a few people I have sent it to.
Cheryl
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Hello Diana,
Go to the top of the picture where the boys are. Go all the way to the left. You will see a boy with a shirt and tie and jacket. Go straight down from him and you will see Annie Glenn Tuten. Part of her face is covered by the girl directly in front of her. The girl in front of her cannot be identify. Because her face is smeared.
Annie Glenn Tuten was born September 12, 1908. Most likely she would have been 16 years old going on to her 17th birthday in 1925. Her story is a sad story. She and her six brothers and sisters lived in Edward, NC. On December 15, 1913, her father Leslie M. Tuten was killed when he fell out of a tree on Edward Mills Pond. Her mother most likely had a nervous breakdown for she left the children and moved in with her sister Swandora Buck Berry.
Annie Glenn Tuten's grandmother Amanda Toler Tuten took all 7 children in to raise. After she completed her education she deported from Edward, NC and nevermore to look back on her childhood memories. She had one sister who went to FL never to return. There were very little contact in any of the children once they became adults.
Annie Glenn Tuten kept her maiden name while married until the 1940s. She had 3 sons and one daughter. She passed away July 31, 1990. People that I have met who knew my grandmother states that she was one of the most beautiful girls in Beaufort County. She had dark wavy hair and was a very kind hearted girl. I have come to admire both the Tuten's and the Buck's of Beaufort County. I recently visited the resting place of Swandora Buck Berry and her husband N.E. Berry. And it is believed that Mary Buck Tuten my grandmother's mother is buried next to her sister Swandora Buck Berry in an unmarked grave. Last of all my father was shocked to see an earlier rare picture of his mother. He is 100% sure that is it his mother. He compared a picture taken about 1953 and you can see the picture of 1925 is the same person.
After talking to my cousin Elizabeth Tuten Walker, I have now the right location of the school. The school was located near Cuthrell Cemetery. According to Elizabeth - my grandmother Annie Glenn Tuten lived with her aunt Maude Bland. Which was a short walk to the school. Cousin Elizabeth stated the school was tore down about 1942. Elizabeth Tuten Walker also attended the same school.
My father just got off the phone with Elizabeth Tuten Walker. She confirmed that the name of the school is Small. It was located about a half of a mile from where she now lives. The area where the school was located was also called Small.
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PUSH ABOVE
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These Tires Still Have Some Life In Them!!!
Remember Service Stations with Service?
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WW 1
Battling the Red Baron
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WW 2
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Clearing the Land
Daniel Boone
Typical Old North Carolina Buildings
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Pecans
Mule Drawn Bar and Cycle Mower
The Milk Wagon
Harvest Time
Hardware
Hardware and Silverware
Tortoise Shell Combs, etc..
Old Hardware
Old Tools
GO TO
1860s
More Storms Brewing
GO TO
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Old Weaving Loom
Old Dovetailed Bench Vice
Old Hand Plane
Old Turkish Flintlock Pistol
Trenton, NC
Magnolia In Bloom
Belhaven Home
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Seeds for Planting
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Battle for New Bern March 14, 1862
NEW BERN 1864
Pre-Civil War crank handcar
THE BATTLE FOR NEW BERN: 1862
THE BATTLE FOR NEW BERN: TODAY
New Bern Landmark: newly restored slave quarters now
on grounds of Craven Regional Airport, not far from
New Bern battleground. Originally at the location of current
Taco Bell, New BernGO TO
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