Bath is blooming with arrival of spring

Published 8:42 pm Friday, April 20, 2018

By Kevin Scott Cutler

SPRING HAS SPRUNG: New spring growth frames the circa 1744 Palmer-Marsh House. (Kevin Scott Cutler)

BATH — North Carolina’s first town is still first in the hearts of many Beaufort County residents.

Founded in 1705, Bath was not only the state’s first town but its first port as well. The town’s history is a rich one, with the infamous pirate Blackbeard a familiar face before his death off Ocracoke Island in 1718, three hundred years ago come this Nov. 22.

Beaufort County’s first courthouse was built in Bath in 1723, and the town was once considered for the capital of the colony.

Today, Bath offers a tranquil, picturesque way of life for its residents. Special events, including May’s Bath Fest and a Memorial Day celebration, showcase the town in grand style. Programs and other activities hosted by Historic Bath Site keep the history of the town alive.

PEACEFUL: A formal garden presently showcasing azaleas in full bloom is tucked away behind the circa-1835 Bonner House. (Kevin Scott Cutler)

STATE FLOWER: Flowering dogwoods, North Carolina’s official state flower, dot the Bath landscape. (Kevin Scott Cutler)

SIT A SPELL: A comfy bench on Bonner’s Point invites passersby to rest and enjoy the view. (Kevin Scott Cutler)

PRETTY IN PINK: Azaleas bloom prolifically throughout the town of Bath, including this hot pink variety near the Glebe House. (Kevin Scott Cutler)

HISTORIC CHURCH: Seasonal plantings surround Bath’s historic St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the state’s oldest church.(Kevin Scott Cutler)

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