WHAT WE DO:

The Chowan Discovery Group(CDG) undertakes projects designed to foster increased understanding within and among cultural groups through photo and video documentation, written publications, and the preservation of cultural history and traditions. The CDG often works in collaboration with individuals and organizations with related missions, and also facilitates communication and increased collaborative activities among them.

Specific CDG programs support and involve individuals, community groups and institutions. Strong emphasis is placed on collaborative program design and development, with local participants playing a major role in specifying project objectives and strategies.
More specifically, the Chowan Discovery Group is searching through books, family reunion booklets, newspaper and magazine articles, public records and censuses; documenting cemeteries; scanning photographs and documents; interviewing people; and photographing artifacts and buildings.
These activities afford us a broad view of the vibrant landowning community of the Winton Triangle located in the heart of Hertford County. In addition, CDG studies also include the neighboring North Carolina counties of Gates, Bertie and Northampton as well southeastern Virginia.

The goals of the CDG include making presentations, publishing articles and books, creating exhibits, replicating the inventions patented by Parker D. Robbins, insuring that valuable historical materials are properly archived and presenting the Winton Triangle story in a stage production.

Scanning: Gregg Adams of Marvin T. Jones Associates has scanned most of photographs and documents that comprise the 4000+ digital images collection available for research. While he is based in Washington, DC, Adams has performed on-site scanning at the C. S. Brown Museum and Cultural Arts Center and at Pleasant Plains Church in Hertford County. He is gifted in photography and information technology, which includes the design of this website. Much thanks is given to Gregg and those who share their heritage for documentation.
MTJ Photo

Businesses: Many Winton Triangle businesses sprouted after World War II. Talmadge Reid, a veteran returning from the war, opened his combination grocery store, gargage, gas station and barber shop. Until his death in the early 1980's, his store served both Cofield and Winton, earning the respect of customers and wholesalers.

Ashtray and photograph courtesy of Marvin T. Jones.