Elizabeth City Historic
Neighborhood Association

In 1985, interested homeowners in the Main Street area of Elizabeth City organized the West Main Street Historic Association as a direct result of another homeowner wanting to remove his house from the locally designated historic district.  The neighborhood group saw a “domino effect” on the district as a whole.  From that one action, the organization has grown into a community association.  In 1986, the West Main Street Historic Association became the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association (ECHNA) since it served not only one district, but also all six historic districts within Elizabeth City.  Although the preservation efforts have focused on the historic districts, ECHNA membership is open to all.
ECHNA’s early years were spent raising funds through membership, yard sales, home tours, etc.  Funds were used to help save the Pendleton House and the Jackson-Jennings House, as well as contributing toward the establishment of Moth Boat Park, the Episcopal Cemetery restoration, the Antioch Presbyterian Church renovation and many other causes

ECHNA is now involved with projects to save historic buildings and maintain the integrity of historic homes and buildings.  The annual GHOST Walk, begun in 1996, invites locals and out-of-towners to visit area historic homes and meet ghosts connected with our history.  Recently, ECHNA attained visibility through their efforts and contributions that saved the Elizabeth City Opera House (former Chesson’s Department Store Building).  This building will one day be the home of the Pasquotank Arts council and the Encore Theater.  Most tragically, ECHNA’s vage Storelast salvage project, the intended preservation of the historic Haycock-Spellman home, ended in a blasé set by an arsonist.

ECHNA also runs an architectural salvage store and actively spearhead efforts to salvage architectural items from buildings that cannot be preserved. In 2004 ECHNA purchased a commercially designated house located at 504 Hughes Boulevard as the new site for the store front operations.  Members made repairs and cosmetic restoration of the house I the summer of 2004.  The Salvage Store is open 10-4 Saturdays throughout the year.  In 2005, ECHNA put its salvage team to work in preserving and recycling architectural pieces of three historic homes demolished to make way for the new library and municipal building.