By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Editor’s note: This article is the third in a series of articles about damaged portraits at the Beaufort County Courthouse.
When one enters the Superior Courtroom in the Beaufort County Courthouse, there’s almost a feeling that the notables depicted in the paintings are looking down and making sure everything is being handled the way it should be.
The courtroom, lined with portraits of generations of Beaufort County’s movers and shakers, is a virtual “who’s who” of leading citizens of the area.
Included are prominent attorneys, District and Superior Court judges and even chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, all with at least one thing in common — strong ties to Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina.
“When you visit the courtroom, it’s like a museum,” said Beaufort County Clerk of Court Marty Paramore. “Not only do you have the portraits, but underneath each one is a biography about who the person was and their accomplishments. You realize we have a very rich history and some very important people came from Beaufort County who had a role not just in the county but in Raleigh and our nation’s capital, too.”
Presently, several portraits uncovered in a storage closet are being restored. They were victims of a gavel-wielding youngster in the old Beaufort County Courthouse, according to former Superior Court Judge Jim Vosburgh.
With a $3,000 budget approved unanimously by the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners nearly two years ago, Paramore set out to find a professional to repair the damaged portraits. He didn’t have to look far; Washington artist and art conservator Nancy Scoble had the talent, knowledge and experience to take on the exacting project.
Although the Washington Daily News’ Web site has been inundated with comments from out-of-towners who are questioning the restoration project, Paramore said local residents are pleased.
“The local response to this project, and to Nancy’s work, has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “It’s truly a wonderful thing to have these portraits done and rehung after being in a closet for over 40 years.”
The five portraits included in the current restoration project depict several early leaders. With biographical information taken from plaques that accompany the portraits, they are:
• Stephen Bragaw — A lifelong resident of Washington, Bragaw was educated at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Captain of the university’s football team, Bragaw was famous as a scholar of more than usual brilliance. He was city attorney in New Bern for a period of time before returning to Washington where he was mayor, city attorney, superintendent of schools and state senator. He briefly served as a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court before returning once again to Washington, where he practiced law until his death.
• Edward Warren — A Vermont native, he moved to Washington at the age of 20. First a school teacher, he became a lawyer and leader of the Whig political party in eastern North Carolina. His most famous case involved an accused murderer who pulled out a gun in the old courtroom and fired at Warren; the attorney was not injured, but the prisoner committed suicide.
• James Edward Shepherd — Born in Virginia, he came to North Carolina after the Civil War and made his way to Washington in 1871. He studied law at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and later formed a partnership with Thomas Sparrow. In 1882 he became a Superior Court judge, and in 1889 he was made a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He served two years as chief justice before retiring from the bench.
• George H. Brown — A native of Washington, he was descended on his mother’s side from the city’s founder, James Bonner. He studied law under the guidance of his brother-in-law, James E. Sheppard, and formed a partnership with John H. Small. In 1889, Brown was appointed Superior Court judge and was elected a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1904. He retired from the bench after serving for 16 years. He and his wife, Laura Ellison Brown, were the donors of Washington’s Brown Library.
*William Blount Rodman II — A graduate of the University of North Carolina, he was active in farming and local politics. He became a noted attorney and served as division counsel for Southern Railway. Rodman was active in the development of the Norfolk-Southern Railway and achieved the rank of colonel in the National Guard.
Along with the aforementioned notables, the courtroom is home to portraits of more than a dozen other prominent citizens.
Pictured are W.B. Rodman, W.B. Rodman III, Malcolm Paul, Leroy Scott, Junius Grimes, Hallett S. Ward Sr., William B. Cherry, Angus D. MacLean, Charles Warren, Harry McMullan, William B. Carter, Lindsay C. Warren, John H. Bonner, Henry C. Carter, Bryan Grimes and Herbert C. Bonner.
Paramore hopes Beaufort County citizens interested in the area’s history will visit the courtroom to view the portrait collection.
“You don’t have to be on the docket to come to the courtroom,” he said with a laugh. “Anyone is welcome to come by the clerk of court’s office and ask to see them.”