The following letter was sent by North Carolina State Committee Chairman for Constitution Week.
It accompanied published articles, information and the Constitution Scrapbook administered by Mrs. Walter Spaeth. The letter was forwarded to us by
Cindy Bordeaux with the news that we had won National third place with our efforts.
Outstanding Chapter Activity
The Betsy Dowdy Chapter is a chapter of 56 members in Elizabeth City, NC. Every
year the chapter has a Constitution Week Celebration at Waterfront Park. The invitation
and guest list of 450 includes individuals, civic and social clubs, mayor, council
members, college presidents and college students. This year due to a heat warning, the
program had to be moved indoors. Three parts of the program could not take place
indoors. There was to be a salute by Veterans of Foreign Wars, a fly over of USCG
helicopters and a re-enactment of Betsy Dowdy’s ride.
The program did have the presentation of colors by AF ROTC, invocation by minister,
pledge by chairman of Board of Commissioners, National Anthem by a college student,
Preamble led by the superintendent of schools, American’s Creed led by a Girl Scout
Gold Medal winner, welcome by city councilwoman and introduction of guests by
museum director.
An important part of the program would be when Mrs. Shirley Spaeth gave the history
of Constitution Week. Mrs. Spaeth was a contemporary of Miss Gertrude S. Carraway of
New Bern, NC, President General 1953-1956. I know for fact that Mrs. Spaeth is ready
to tell, at all times, that it was Miss Carraway who conceived the idea and started the
Observance of Constitution Week.
Next on the program was a parade of the 13 original colony flags by a Boy Scout troop
The regent gave the history of Betsy Dowdy’s Ride. In December 1775, Betsy, a sixteen-
year-old, rode her “banker pony” through the night for 51 miles from the coast to the
headquarters ( the closest Revolutionary troops) to warn General William Skinner in
Perquimans County. Lord Dunmore was planning to move down from Norfolk to attack
the area.
The re-enactment of the ride with a horse with a female rider could not take place in the
auditorium. At 4:00, members of the U. S. Coast Guard rang their bell 221 times. The
program ended with expressions of gratitude and benediction. The next day there was a
color picture on the front page of the local newspaper.
This chapter has a long history of co-operation with the community.
Lucinda Bordeaux
North Carolina