THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508240409
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
When ``The Lost Colony'' opened in 1937, Dare County had been abuzz
for three years over the 350th anniversary of the Raleigh colonies.
In 1934, two of Franklin D. Roosevelt's alphabet-soup agencies, the
WPA and the CCC, built a museum and other log structures at Fort
Raleigh. The electric company ran lines to the site, and the
governor and other dignitaries spoke to a huge crowd at the
``homecoming.'' Excitement mounted as both federal agencies pitched
in once again to stage Paul Green's commemorative drama. On Virginia
Dare's birthday, Aug. 18, Roosevelt himself made a climactic entry
into Manteo and proceeded to Waterside Theatre to watch the play.
Roosevelt's visit caused an unprecedented stir, but he was, at best,
the second president to set foot on the island. In 1819, Edenton
boosters persuaded James Monroe to inspect the former site of
Roanoke Inlet, which they hoped to have reopened at public expense.
En route back to Edenton, the party stopped to see the 16th century
ruins on the island's north end. FDR may even have been the third
presidential visitor to Roanoke Island: Some evidence exists that
his immediate predecessor, Herbert Hoover, called on Alpheus
Drinkwater in Manteo. But Roosevelt is the only president known to
have made a speech here. In a more direct manner than the playwright
whose work he had come to see, Roosevelt pointed out similarities
between the brave pioneers of the 1580s and Americans struggling
against the Depression and against ``those who have no faith in
democracy.'' As presidential addresses go, this one, printed in The
Virginian-Pilot the next day, was a barn-burner.
by CNB