This small quaint seaport has roots back to April 7, 1730 when Isaac and Jonathan Green Sr. purchased from Ebenezer Harker "a certain plantation and track of land containing by estimation 441 acres situate lying and being in ye Carterett in ye county of province of aforsaid being ye west side of ye mouth off White Oak River." By 1771 Theophilus Weeks started a town on his plantation, laying out a plat and selling lots. Formerly known as Bogue, Week's Point, The Wharf and New Town, the town was officially designated by the North Carolina General Assembly on May 6, 1783. Above photo (from North Carolina State Archives) courtesy Jack Dudley, as included in Swansboro - A Pictorial Tribute

Watson-Parkins Store 1910

According to Jack Dudley's book, Swansboro - A Pictorial Tribute, this building at the corner of Main and Front Streets housed Watson's store in the left half and Jim Parkin's store in the right half. Jeremiah Watson operated a general store and is remembered for his hot roasted peanuts. Jim Parkin sold dry good and groceries. Molasses and vinegar were drawn from barrels. Other goods were sold by weight and were measured with scales. Few items came individually packaged. J.T. Bartley operated his second store in the building at the far right which later became Rhue Hardware. JD
NATIONAL REGISTER of Historic Places noted: 201 Front Street - Double-store building with novelty, board-and-batten, and aluminum siding, original decorative shelving, one-story side wing; built as a William J. Moore (Tarrymore Hotel) speculation, the building was first occupied by merchants Jeremiah Watson and James Elijah Parkin.

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