Mark and Vicki Hills Great Loop Adventure Blog: Elizabeth City

Blue Willow in the Early Morning
In Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City is a dying community. It has a wonderful waterfront, the farmers market was in progress when we arrived. To greet us was a city advocate and 'Rose Buddy' named Gus. What a character. A joke every minute, and willing to help anyone at anytime. I tried to keep him going with my setups and slamming him with a joke when I could, but he was quick to the challenge.

Elizabeth City's waterfront has a well tended rose garden.

From Pilot OnLine:

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.

One Sunday after church, Fred Fearing and Joe Kramer decided to host an impromptu wine and cheese party for boaters visiting the recently completed docks at Mariners' Wharf.

Kramer clipped roses from his yard, and Fearing collected wine, cheese, chips and cups. That reception at the Pasquotank River waterfront in 1983 for 17 boats was the start of a popular local tradition that continues today.

The men were dubbed the "Rose Buddies" and eventually attracted national attention, leading NBC weatherman Willard Scott to donate a golf cart to help them schlep party supplies to the waterfront.

Kramer died in March 1987. His family transferred his rose bushes to Mariners' Wharf, and Fearing continued to host the parties for another 20 years.

He was given a new golf cart in 1996 and was often seen zipping around the downtown area.

If there were more than five boats, he would host the party at the waterfront - fewer than five, and he would invite the boaters to his house on Fearing Street.

Even outside of the boating seasons, Fearing could often be seen holding court from his golf cart with anyone who could spare a few minutes.

The retired mail carrier died near the end of the fall boating season in 2007. He was 93.

Despite bursts of heavy rain, an impromptu memorial was held at the waterfront under a tent outside Grouper's Waterfront Restaurant that same afternoon. A small group of boaters and locals clinked their plastic glasses in his honor.

The Rose Buddy golf carts were retired - they're with the Museum of the Albemarle, said Charlotte Underwood, director of the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

But that wasn't the end of their tradition.

Volunteers continue to greet boaters through a program administered by the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A marker honoring the original buddies was dedicated on the 25th anniversary of their first party.

In keeping with Fearing's tradition, parties are held if there are at least five boats docked at the waterfront.

Rose Buddy parties will soon be more frequent as many pull into the "Harbor of Hospitality."

In that spirit, (with permission from Gus) I took several roses from the transplanted rose bushes from Joes farm and took them to a few of the ladies that we were traveling with. As I gave them the roses I said......"Here is a beautiful Rose for you, but, It is not as beautiful as you" Yikes, man, the ladies sure liked that expression. I then explained the Rose Buddy story and concept to them.

Someone say 'Treat?'

Elizabeth City is a dying city, in terms of the downtown. I have never seen so many buildings, and storefronts empty, and up for sale. Sad for these struggling cities. The big box stores and WalMart type of businesses have created this void to a large extent. Like many other similar cities, Elizabeth City is attracting the youth to take up residence downtown for a modest cost.