Wayne County, NC - Wiggins House in Waynesborough Park ¤¤¤¤¤¤ WIGGINS HOUSE Originally located at "Cliffs of the Neuse State Park" where there is also a small cemetery, the cabin has been RESTORED and put on permanent display at the Wayne County Visitor Center "Waynesboro Park" in Goldsboro, NC. Samuel E. Wiggins sent photos of the document Sept. 2002 from which I have tried to read the article. Some descendants who had visited the house before moving say part of the article is not correct, but it is given here as I was able to read it. The Wiggins House is a one room structure with a hearth for heating. Originally it had an attached outside kitchen connected to the house by a covered walkway and was enclosed by a picket fence to keep farm animals from destroying the flower gardens and entering the house. It had no inside plumbing nor electricity. Water for drinking and cooking was brought from the creek in the lowlands almost one half mile away, or was gathered in the rain barrels set under the eaves of the house. The door to the house was handmade and had wooden latches. The window openings were wooden shutters secured in place by leather hinges, closed at night and in inclement weather by loosening the wood secured leather hinges and wood latches. Inside the furnishings were simple and handmade table and simple stools for seating. The original bed in the room had corn husk mattress and was supported by wooden post and a wood platform. Later these were replaced by feather beds. Handmade cotton quilts were used for warmth. Pri_____, the little _____ was aquired_____wall in the corner. Cooking was done in the outside kitchen where most of the food was kept. None______ grain, fruits, vegetables, and beans having been preserved by all ____ ______ ______canning in mason jars filled the kitchen's open shelves. The fireplace was later replaced by a wood burning stove. In the yard were various storage buildings and animal shelters including a corncrib, chicken house, a milk house, where milk and butter were stored and a small smokehouse where their meat and pork was cured and stored. Additional food was often provided by hunting, fishing and gathering of wild berries. The exact age of the house is unknown but parts of it probably dates back to mid 1800's. Records indicate that in 1874 (?) James William Wiggins (1855-1939) oldest son of John Wiggins (1823- 1905) and Caroline Wiggins, and his wife Louisa Casey left his place of birth in the Providence Methodist Church area along the Neuse River at a place ______ locals call Hog Falls to start his new home on land he had recently purchased. This land was part of the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park today. This afforded the young couple what they needed, cheap farm land, woodland for fuel, food and animal forage, lowlands where their cows could feed on grass and the river for additional food supply. Near the river in a beautiful setting James and Carolina_______ built parts of the house_____ ______and moved to their property from an adjoining farm. This couple _______ reared four children, Willie, Lucy, George and Addi. James and Caroline lived at the house_______ until their daughter_____. James who died in 1938 was the last family member to be buried at the family cemetery, the land having been purchased by the State of NC for a State Park. Of their___________children. Addi and George continued to live at the house until their deaths. The historical significance of this house is that it provides a peep hole into the past and allows us to glimpse the simple life of a rural family which gives us pride and envy _____ _______ _______fortitude and perseverance, qualities that make ______ ______ _______ ________. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Rose Parks ___________________________________________________________________