Nags Head Hotel Account Books and Day Books, PC.5026
Abstract
The Nags Head Hotel was the second hotel built in Nags Head following the Civil War.
It was built partially over the sound in the vicinity of Jockey's Ridge. Ownership
and proprietorship changed hands many times. Proprietors of the hotel include C.W.
Hollowell, A.E. Jacobs, J.C. Perry and John Z. Lowe. During the 1890s, the Nags Head
Hotel Company was formed and stock certificates issued. The hotel caught fire and
was destroyed in 1903. Mrs. John Z. Lowe, wife of the proprietor, died during the
fire from an apparent heart attack.
The Nags Head Hotel Account Books and Daybooks consist of seven account and day books
from the Nags Head Hotel Company. The collection also includes a freight book for
the steamer , and stock certificates issued to C. W. Hollowell.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Nags Head Hotel Account Books and Day Books
- Call Number
- PC.5026
- Creator
- Nags Head Hotel (Nags Head, N.C.)
- Date
- 1873-1892
- Extent
- 0.800 cubic feet
- Language
- English
- Repository
- Outer Banks History Center
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], PC.5026, Nags Head Hotel Account Books and Day Books, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.
Collection Overview
The Nags Head Hotel Account Books and Daybooks consist of seven account and day books from the Nags Head Hotel Company. The collection also includes a freight book for the steamer , and stock certificatees issued to C. W. Hollowell.
Arrangement Note
This collection is divided into two main series: Account Books and Day Books.
Historical Note
Nags Head, North Carolina has been a summer gathering spot since prior to the Civil War. Planters and merchants from the Albemarle region of North Carolina and south eastern Virginia summered at Nags Head to take advantage of its ocean breezes and generally healthy seaside climate. Visitors arrived by sloops and steamers and often spent the entire summer.
The original resort was located on the sound side south of Nags Head Woods in the vicinity of Jockey's Ridge and Engagement Hill. A number of cottages were built, as well as a hotel that included a large ballroom. Confederate General Henry A. Wise used this hotel as his headquarters during the Civil War, and set it afire before retreating after the Battle of Roanoke Island in February 1862. It is shown on early maps of the area.
In 1866, another hotel, the Alexina, was built over the Roanoke Sound. It was owned by A. E. Jacobs, and named for his children. This hotel was fashionable for a number of years before it succumbed to encroaching sand and was torn down while a new hotel was built.
The new hotel, also built (in part) over the sound, was a three-story, wooden T-shaped structure. According to an 1881 advertisement, the hotel underwent substantial improvements and a wing was added. Later accounts give the total number of rooms as 100.
Ownership and proprietorship changed hands many times. A. E. Jacobs and his wife Eliza acquired the hotel and related buildings in 1886 from C. W. Hollowell, who was listed as grantee in later hotel transactions. Proprietors of the hotel include C. W. Hollowell, A. E. Jacobs, J. C. Perry and John Z. Lowe. During the 1890s, the Nags Head Hotel Company was formed and stock certificates issued.
The hotel caught fire and was destroyed in 1903. Mrs. John Z. Lowe, wife of the proprietor, died during the fire from an apparent heart attack.
Contents of the Collection
1. Freight Book, Steamer Clarence, 1 July 1892-30 August 1892
2. Account Books, 1873-1881
3. Day Books, 1873-1892
4. Nags Head Hotel Stock Certificates
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
Purchased from the Bibliobarn in New York in 1997.