Now, as you step outside the kitchen, head back toward the herb garden, but don’t leave just yet. Stop at the side of the Rock House, before you reach the side stairs. You’ll notice two windows—one large and one small. This wasn’t by accident.
We believe this window may have functioned as a kind of serving window—an 18th-century version of a "drive-thru." Enslaved cooks or servants would have passed meals prepared in the log kitchen through this window to the main dining area of the Rock House, keeping the process efficient and somewhat discreet.
This feature was not uncommon on larger estates or manor houses of the time, where servants were often expected to remain unseen during formal events or business gatherings. It’s possible that Hezekiah Alexander, who considered himself a man of status and influence, incorporated this design to reflect similar architectural features found in prominent homes like Tryon Palace, the Governor’s Mansion in New Bern.
Could this window be a sign of Hezekiah's desire to place himself among North Carolina’s colonial elite?