Hertford

Small Town Charm

Hertford, founded in 1758, is a scenic historic river town. The town evokes the small town charm of yesteryear. Many historic riverfront homes are just a block or two off the main thoroughfare through town, Church Street. Located on the shores of the Perquimans River, it is one of the oldest towns in the state.

While there are several shops and restaurants, a locals’ favorite is Woodard’s Pharmacy. The pharmacy has a lunch counter and serves ice cream and shakes. While not technically in Hertford, but in the nearby community of Belvidere, Layden’s Country Store is worth the short trip. This is the type of old-fashioned country store rarely seen today. While Layden’s stocks many staples, it is known for its meats and still does its own on-site butchering.

Just outside downtown Hertford is the historic Newbold White House. This is the oldest brick house in North Carolina, open to the public and available for tours. On this site too is a replica of a colonial boat design called a periauger. The approximately 30-foot boat is the only known example of its design in the world. It was designed to ply the shallow waters of North Carolina sounds and rivers. Located in downtown Hertford and inside the Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce is the Catfish Hunter Museum. This museum focuses on the life of the professional baseball pitcher Catfish Hunter, who was a Hertford native.