Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1149920
JULY 31-AUGUST 6, 2019 UCW 5 Best of Fayetteville Best Local Landmark Market House Roundabout of Person, Hay, Green and Gillespie Streets One thing that's remained con- stant through all of downtown's growth is the Market House, planted squarely at the round- about of Person, Hay, Green and Gillespie Streets. Driving down Hay Street into the prime down- town shopping area, the Market House is the first thing you see. It's on the city seal. It's an ever- popular subject for local photog- raphers and painters. And, it's one of only 50 national landmarks in North Carolina — and the only one in Cumberland County. Fayetteville hosted the North Carolina Constitutional Convention here. And at this site, which was then a state- house, delegates ratified the U.S. Constitution on Nov. 21, 1789. The statehouse burned in a fire in 1831, and the Market House in its current form was built in its place in 1832. The ground level of the building was used as a marketplace until 1907, and up until 1906, the upper level served as the town hall. The Market House is one of only a few structures in the U.S. to use this town hall-market architectural setup, which is common in England. Today, the iconic building hosts local history exhibits and is open the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Its permanent exhibit, "A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville," provides essential perusing for visitors and newly arrived families. Best Little-Known Attraction Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex 801 Arsenal Ave. 910-500-4240 or https://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov A solid community asset for 31 years, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is owned by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. One can hope this win will permanently remove the "little-known" aspect of its reputation. The Museum of the Cape Fear boasts three attractions in one place. First, the museum itself has two stories of exhibits that tell 400 years of southeastern North Carolina history — from the lives of Native Americans to the turmoil of the Civil War to the workings of an early 20th-century general store. Bonus: You can rent out the museum to wed your beloved in a historic setting. Right next to the museum are the 1897 Poe House and Arsenal Park. The Poe House is named for Fayetteville native Edgar Allan Poe. Unlike the famous macabre writer who shares his moniker, Fayetteville's Poe was a local business- man, politician and civic leader. His house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Arsenal Park, with roots that go back to the early 1800s, contains extant ruins with explanation signs, a steel semblance of the Northwest tower, also known as the "ghost tower," and two Civil War Trail markers. Annual educational events such as Festival of Yesteryear, Hallowe'en Revels Night Tours of the 1897 Poe House, and Holiday Jubilee keep locals coming back. The backyard of the Poe House serves as the summer performance site for local theater troupe Sweet Tea Shakespeare. The Museum of the Cape Fear grounds will also be the site of the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center when and if it gets built. "Helping you get the most from your business for your family" 572 Executive Place, Fayetteville NC • 910-323-3100 www.mscpas.com • facebook.com/mcfadyensumner Best CPA Firm We can't thank you enough! 3 years in a row!