The Cape Fear Mercury was developed in conjunction with Exile on Jones Street, a blog derived from a newspaper column of the same name about politics, policy and governance in the state of North Carolina. Exile was designed to handle the ebb and flow of things. The Mercury will range a little farther afield in style and substance. The concept is a 21st Century version of the late 18th Century newspaper—usually a one person operation with items and stories gathered from all kinds of sources. My name is Kirk Ross and you can reach me at editor@capefearmercury.com
The frequently asked question:
So, what is this?
Answer: As it says just below the flag the focus is on items of interest and current events. There is a very long-winded explanation of what that means featuring a tea kettle, a grandfalloon and a series of all-but-lost recordings from around the world, but, in short, the Mercury will feature more long-form posts, audio and visuals gather in travels both virtual and real around the state of North Carolina and beyond.
The other frequently asked question:
Why the Cape Fear Mercury?
Answer: Good question. For starters, the name wasn’t taken.
The original Cape Fear Mercury, which also featured items of interest from North Carolina, lasted about six years—from 1769 to 1775 (or 1776 depending on the reference). Based out of Wilmington (I’m on the other end of the Cape Fear basin in Orange County) the original Mercury reported on the stirrings of change in the southern colony.
According to some accounts, more than two centuries after its demise a forged copy of the Mercury contained a report on the Mecklenberg Declaration—what many say was the first declaration from a colony in favor of outright independence. Among historians and revolutionay scholars, it resulted in quite a brouhaha.
This revival of the Mercury should be so lucky. —The Editor