Return to Currituck Co.
THE COASTLAND TIMES
(published continuously in Manteo, N.C.
since July 4, 1935)
Contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard
Friday, February 2, 1951; pg. 8
Mr. and Mrs. John E. FEREBEE of Manteo have announced the approaching marriage of their niece, Miss Wilma Joyce JONES, to Irvin LeRoy CRAIN of Coinjock. The wedding is to take place February 11. Miss JONES, who is employed in Norfolk, is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clarence JONES of Manteo.Friday, February 9, 1951; pg. 2
COAST GUARDSMAN RECALLS PROHIBITION ERA CRIME by Aycock Brown – Sligo--this little Currituck hamlet a few miles west of the county's Courthouse at the edge of the Sound is situated at the intersection of Highways 170 and 34. Its location is about 8 miles south of the Cavalier Kennel Club's racetrack at Moyock and 15 miles northeasterly from Elizabeth City. It's a busy little hamlet because the service station is a frequent change over point fro bus travelers coming from down in Dare or enroute from Norfolk or from the southwest.
Sligo was the home address of Boatswain Sidney C. SANDERLIN, a victim of the internal war this country had back in the 20's between rum-runners and enforcement officers. Boatswain SANDERLIN was one of the enforcement officers who, with Robert WEBSTER, a secret service agent, and Machinist Mate, Victor A. LAMBY, was murdered in the Gulf Stream between Fort Lauderdale and Bimini on a Sunday afternoon in August 1927.
Captain Frank TUTEN, a resident of Morehead City, was in SANDERLIN's crew at the time of the massacre, which in addition to 3 enforcement officers being killed, resulted in the conviction and hanging of James Horace ALDERMAN, the Miami rum-runner and murderer. Captain TUTEN told me the story a few years ago following his retirement from the Coast Guard.
WEBSTER had orders from his department to proceed to Bimini for a conference with certain schooner owners who were supposed to have important information concerning a recent flood of counterfeit money which had been issuing from the Bahama Island and he made arrangements with the Fort Lauderdale base of the Coast Guard to provide transportation aboard the CG-249, a 75-footer.
In addition to SANDERLIN, the officer in charge, other members of the crew included John A. ROBINSON, Frank LEHMAN, Victor LAMBY, H.M. CAUDLE, Jodie L. HOLLINGSWORTH and TUTEN. The eighth man aboard was WEBSTER, the secret service agent. The trip to Bimini started as a routine assignment but it developed into a rendezvous with death for three members of the party.
Reaching a point about 40 miles off the Florida coast Boatswain SANDERLIN sighted a suspicious schooner. It was immediately assumed that the vessel was a "rummy", as the runners were called in those days. The schooner was ordered to stand by for search but it did not do so immediately. A blank shot was fired across the bow of the schooner from the one-pounder on deck of the patrol craft. Twice this was done without results. Then a shot was fired across her bow and the schooner hove to instantly, and after circling the vessel the patrol craft was lashed to the schooner.
ALDERMAN, skipper of the schooner, claimed to be a fisherman and said that he had only some fish aboard. A search was made and 20 cases of liquor in burlap bags were found. ALDERMAN and his one man crew, a character named WEECH, were taken aboard the patrol craft. As Boatswain SANDERLIN picked up the radio telephone to report the capture of the rummies to the base back in Ft. Lauderdale, ALDERMAN with a queer expression on his face stood by. Then without warning and quick as a flash ALDERMAN picked up a .45 automatic lying in the pilot house and shot SANDERLIN, killing him instantly with a bullet in his back before he could transmit the message. ALDERMAN then told his accomplice WEECH to go down into the engine room and break all the gasoline lines and then set fire to the boat. In the meantime LAMBY was shot in the side and, although he lived for several days, he was paralyzed as a result of the shot. He had fallen into the engine room when struck by the bullett. WEECH told LAMBY to get up and go out on deck, that he was going to set fire to the boat. As LAMBY could not move, ALDERMAN gave WEECH orders to fire the boat and burn the man alive.
In the meantime Joe ROBINSON, who had jumped overboard to avoid being shot, pulled himself over the rail. ALDERMAN had ordered the engines started on the patrol craft and as it started there was a backfire. This attracted his attention for a second. As he turned his head ROBINSON lunged at him with an ice pick. Taken off-guard, ALDERMAN dropped the automatic and then the surviving members of the crew rushed him and it was only a matter of moments until they had beaten him into unconsciousness. WEECH in the meantime was captured down in the engine room.
WEBSTER was killed instantly a few seconds after SANDERLIN was murdered. With the criminals overpowered, a radio report of the incident was transmitted to the base and the craft now under the command of TUTEN, returned to port.
The incident resulted in one of the biggest trials of the prohibition era. TUTEN recalls that much pressure was brought by crooked politicians and others in behalf of ALDERMAN and WEECH. Finally the trial was over. Both men were found guilty. ALDERMAN was sentenced to death by hanging and WEECH, his accomplice, was let off with a year and a day in the federal penitentiary at Atlanta.
ALDERMAN, who had come to be known as the "lone wolf of the sea" was hanged in August 1929. The execution took place in the air base hangar at Fort Lauderdale. It was the only time the Coast Guard ever carried out a death sentence. The story of the ALDERMAN murder trial that made front page news during the late 20's is just about forgotten today--even here in Sligo where one of the murdered men lived.
[NOTE: The LDS records online indicate that Sidney Cantwell SANDERLIN was born to Solomon Baum SANDERLIN and Fannie Hill Tillett SANDERLIN in Corolla in January 1897 and died August 7, 1927. My own personal records indicate that Sidney married Olive Rebecca DOUGH in Pasquotank County, NC on June 20, 1920. In 1930 Olive is living with her parents, Otis and Adelia "Addie" Willis DOUGH in Virginia Beach. She is listed as a widow with two small children named Mildred V. and Sidney M. SANDERLIN.]Friday, February 16, 1951; pg. 1
DARE NATIVE BURIED AT POWELLS POINT - A Dare County native, Calvin M. MONTAGUE, 65, died in the Albemarle Hospital at Elizabeth City February 7 after a short illness. He had been a resident of Currituck County and Powells Point for the last 46 years of his life. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. W.J. FREEMAN of Grandy, assisted by Rev. D.W. DAVIS of Powells Point, at the Powells Point Christian Church in Harbinger on Friday, February 9. Burial was in the church cemetery. Calvin M. MONTAGUE was the son of the late Calvin N. and Paragon Shannon MONTAGUE. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nolie Hall MONTAGUE of Powells Point; a son, Arnold MONTAGUE of the Life Boat Station at Fort Macon, Morehead City; three daughters: Miss Marjorie MONTAGUE of Powells Point, Mrs. Charlie SUTTON of Aydlett and Mrs. St. Clair SUTTON of Jarvisburg; a brother, Paul MONTAGUE of Powells Point; four sisters: Mrs. Dail HUBBARD and Mrs. Donnie FORBES of Powells Point, Mrs. Flora GALLOP and Mrs. Bertie GALLOP of Harbinger; and 6 grandchildren.Friday, June 8, 1951; pg. 1 & 5
BUSINESS MEN IN CURRITUCK KNOW TOURIST VALUES - Many leading businessmen advertising in The Coastland Times call attention to their facilities for serving the fishing trade and the people of the Coastland and pledge cooperation in working for progress of the whole region. A dozen of them point out their facilities for giving service and to help the traveler enjoy his visit.
Many new businesses have sprung up in Currituck during the past few years and have enjoyed great success. One of the most popular and successful businesses anywhere on the coast is operated by Mr. and Mrs. Walton GRIGGS, their cafe at Point Harbor. It has more than statewide fame for its food.
Smaller places have sprung up and are proving successful. Take for example the lunchroom business established by Mr. and Mrs. T.M. SOWERS, called the Minjomar near Harbinger. Mrs. SOWERS for some time had been successfully raising canaries for the wholesale market. She thought she might do better with them during the tourist season by setting up a roadside stand. About the time the stand was completed, a tent show opened up across the road and it developed that there was a need for lunches and drinks, This new business proved a success and now the birds are still handled in the residence.
Further up the road near Grandy, Lloyd GILDEN has stocked up a fine lunch place and is putting a lot of enthusiasm in the job of serving the public. He has a service station, sells lunches, and accommodates fishermen by making all arrangement for them. He is young and full of energy and goodwill.
Famed far and wide is "Uncle Graham" WOODHOUSE who has not the appearance of being old enough to be called uncle by anybody but himself. He is a well established landmark of Currituck, a long time in business. He operates a fine store, filling station, had modern rooms for tourists, arranges for fishing parties, and is so busy and helpful that no one should miss seeing him when in Currituck.
Orville WOODHOUSE is Grandy's postmaster. He is one of the most successful young businessmen produced in the grand old county of Currituck. As a farm produce broker, he is busy marketing the big share of Currituck's half-million dollar bean crop and will hardly get a breathing spell during the next month while he plunges into the potato deal. Orville WOODHOUSE is well aware of the value of the tourist dollar to his county and he enjoys quite a bit of fishing himself.
Currituck has a superior boatbuilder in Allen H. HAYMAN whose work is known the entire Atlantic seaboard. He operates a shop at Point Harbor where two yachts are now under construction, and a marine railway at Point Harbor shore. He also is considering establishing a marine railway at Roanoke Island. Mr. HAYMAN has been in the boatbuilding business since boyhood and is the son of the late boatbuilder, Tom HAYMAN of Elizabeth City.
One of the best stocked country stores in Currituck is operated in the delightful community of Poplar Branch by John Willis TILLETT who is a native of Nags Head but has been business in Currituck nearly 40 years. It is always a delight to have friends of his native county come visit him.
One of the most unique and interesting places in Currituck is the furniture and antique store operated near the courthouse by the veteran legislator, E.R. JOHNSON. Mr. JOHNSON, not only helps to furnish a lot of beach homes but he is sought out by tourists from everywhere in America in search of rare and valuable antiques which he combs the eastern seaboard to bring to his store.
One of the biggest saw mills and produce businesses in the state is operated by Grady GRIGGS and his son, Edward, at Point Harbor. With the business is a store and garage. The GRIGGS' are noted for their sterling business qualities and their lumber business has grown until it now supplies much timber for cottages on the beach as well as elsewhere.
H. Blanton SAUNDERS of Poplar Branch is an active deputy Sheriff seemingly required to do all the night work, but by day he is a busy contractor and is so booked up that he doesn't need to look much for business. He advises his customers to take their time and they will save money by planning well and getting all their materials ready first. He has done many fine jobs in this are and says none are too large or too small.
One mile north of Grandy is J.L. BROWN with his courteous and friendly service, operating a Texaco station and selling lunch goods and groceries. He is also a large distributor of feeds, seeds and fertilizers.
A splendid, friendly self-service community store is operated at Moyock by J.W. POYNER and son, Walter M. POYNER. It has been in business since 1906 although it is now larger and more modern. It is the kind of store where the whole family feels at home and where everything may be bought for the home or farm.
There is a general appearance of thrift and progress all along the way through Currituck. Beautiful modern homes are springing up everywhere and growing attention is paid to beautification of premises. Currituck has long been famed for its superior schools and splendid rural churches. It is blessed with magnificent scenery, good fishing and hunting, and its fertile soil has made it famous for the high quality of its quick growing truck crops and melons. There is no dark picture facing Currituck, situated as it is on a principal tourist route, and with plenty of fine recreational features of its own to appeal to visitors.
pg. 5
SAM B. BEASLEY DIES AT KITTY HAWK HOME - Sam B. BEASLEY, prominent Kitty Hawk citizen, Dare County native and retired Coast Guardsman, died Wednesday night at his home in Kitty Hawk Beach after an illness of several weeks. He had been in poor health for several years. He was 72 years old and was a popular citizen and member of a prominent family of the Atlantic Township section of the county. He was the son of the late Jerome and Sarah Guard BEASLEY of Manns Harbor, and husband of Mrs. Virginia Dare Tillett BEASLEY. He is survived by three sons: L.W. and E.V. BEASLEY of Norfolk and M.B. BEASLEY of Cape May, N.J.; two daughters: Mrs. L.J. HENLEY of Corolla and Mrs. T.M. DOWDY of Norfolk; two half-brothers: Marvin and Calvin BEASLEY of Manns Harbor; two half-sisters: Mrs. W.F. TILLETT of Nags head and Mrs. J.V. MANN of Elizabeth City. He was a 30-year veteran of the Coast Guard and of the World War. Funeral services are incomplete pending arrival of relatives.
pg. 8
POPLAR BRANCH NATIVE, WILLIAM POYNER, KILLED - Williams Griggs POYNER, 47, native of Poplar Branch and former Navy flier and automobile executive of Norfolk, was killed Wednesday morning when a new car he was driving near Northwest, Va. went off the road about 1 a.m. He was the son of John W. POYNER and the late Maude W. POYNER, a prominent family of Poplar Branch. In 1942 he was commissioned a full Lieutenant in the Navy. He became a flight instructor and was made Lieutenant Commander before leaving the service. He had been in the automobile business several years and was a frequent flier into the Manteo airport and a visitor at Nags Head. He is survived by his father; his wife, Mrs. Margaret Jarvis POYNER; a brother, Winton POYNER of Inglewood, California; and one sister, Mrs. J.E. GLINES of Lemon Grove, California. The funeral was conducted Friday and burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery.Friday, June 15, 1951; pg. 1
ENJOYS ARMY LIFE - Daily WILLIAMS, 21, Wanchese born and Currituck reared, son of Mrs. H.B. SAUNDERS of Poplar Branch and the late A.T. WILLIAMS of Wanchese, is enjoying army life and looking fine at Cape Ricker, Ala. His birthday was June 13; he entered the army in February. He is the grandson of the late T.J. WILLIAMS of Wanchese and has several relatives there. He is a graduate of Poplar Branch High School. [A photo accompanied this article but was too dark to scan.]Friday, June 22, 1951; pg. 4
BROTHER OF KITTY HAWK MAN DIED ON JUNE 17 - William R. BEASLEY, 68, died Sunday afternoon in an Elizabeth City hospital after an illness of seven weeks. A native of Currituck County, he was a resident of Coinjock and a son of the late Solomon and Sena O'Neal BEASLEY. He was a member of the AF&AM Masonic Lodge #463 of Coinjock. Survivors are his wife, Julia R. BEASLEY; one daughter, Mrs. Thomas CAHOON of Corolla; one son, William R. Jr. of Coinjock; two sisters: Mrs. Mary WHITSON and Mrs. Maggie POWERS of Waterlily; five brothers: Jim of Kitty Hawk, Elwood of Waterlily, Carl of Poplar Branch, Sol and Seth BEASLEY of Corolla; 2 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.Friday, July 27, 1951; pg. 1
A romance between a Point Harbor man and a Cape Hatteras girl, both of whom were living in Florida at the time, and who met at Manteo for the first time while the town was burning up on September 11, 1939, resulted in a partnership that has given the Coastland one of its finest and most widely known restaurants. The Point Harbor Grill, overlooking Currituck Sound at the Western terminus of the Wright Memorial Bridge, is operated by Walton and Ruth Midgett GRIGGS and in four years has maintained a steadily increasing patronage won by its fine foods and friendly atmosphere.
Just how the fire built up this romance between a young couple who met that day amid the smoke of Manteo, is like something you read about in books. Ruth MIDGETT of Florida was visiting relatives in Manteo, spending most of her time with her cousin Belva (Mrs. M.L. DANIELS). Both were down at the fire where Mr. DANIELS' store burnt up. Walton GRIGGS was home visiting relatives at Point Harbor. Seeing the big smoke in Manteo, he took off for the fire and one of his sisters-in-law jumped in the care and went along too.
Miss Ruth MIDGETT, the very pretty graduate nurse, was interested in seeing a car with a Florida tag and was looking it over. Mr. GRIGGS was pleased with the interest shown by this pretty girl in his nice looking roadster and he introduced himself. Conversation developed the information that both parties were planning to return to Florida about the same time. Mr. GRIGGS invited the nurse to share a ride home the next week. "What do you know about these people?" she asked her cousin, Belva. "Oh sure, it will be all right, everybody knows the GRIGGS' are tops in Currituck. Tell him you'll go with them."
Miss MIDGETT got one of her boy friends to drive her over to Point Harbor the day of the embarkation for Florida. When she got out at the home of Mr. Albert GRIGGS and found Walton waiting for her in his flashy car, she didn't see the Mrs. GRIGGS she had met in Manteo. "Where's your wife?" she asked him. "Oh, I'm not married," he said. "That was my brother's wife who went along to see the fire."
Ruth said nothing more so off she went with him to Florida and asked no more questions. It must have been a case of love at first sight. Courtship developed which lasted 15 months and Walton captured the nurse and set her down in a bungalow in New Smyrna. But the call of Carolina became too strong for them both to resist and Walton quit the Coast Guard and he and Ruth returned home.
In 1944 his older brother, Jarvis GRIGGS, the man who pioneered the bus line down the Currituck peninsula which later was acquired by the present line operating into Manteo, figured it would be a good place to build a restaurant. Ruth and Walton thought so too. They liked meeting with people and it didn't take Jarvis long to talk them into operating the cafe. They leased Jarvis' building and went to work.
It's been long hours and hard work, but man and wife working together have made good in a business that is among our growing institutions of the Coastland. The business they operate builds a lot of good will for this section, and deserves a lot of boosting on our part because it commands the entrance to Dare County and because of the GRIGGS' love for Dare County it is a true ambassador of good will for our beaches.Friday, October 19, 1951; pg. 1
Capt. Herman Cornelius SMITH, 71, retired Coast Guard warrant officer and beloved citizen of Manteo, died Friday morning at the family residence in Manteo following an illness of two days. Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Manteo Methodist Church. Rev. D.W. WILLIS, pastor of the church, officiated. He was assisted by Rev. H.V. NAPIER, pastor of the Manteo Baptist Church. The church choir sang "The Lord's My Shepherd" and Jesus, Savior Pilot Me". The casket was draped with the American flag. Masonic rites were conducted at the graveside in the Manteo Cemetery by Lodge #521 of which Capt. SMITH was a member. Military rites were also conducted at the graveside. "Capt." SMITH, as he was known to his friends, served in the Coast Guard for 30 years and retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer while in command of Core Banks Station. He was for many years in command of Bodie Island Station. He was presented with a gold watch by the King of Sweden following his courageous action at the time of the wreck of the Carl Gerhardt off the North Carolina Coast in 1922. He was a member of Mount Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo, the Masonic Lodge #521 of Wanchese, and the Wanchese Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of the Dare County Draft Board and for a number of years served on the Manteo School Board. He was a native of Currituck County but had been living in Manteo for the past 30 years. He was the son of the late Lovie Cowell and Cornelius SMITH and the husband of Mrs. Polly O'Neal SMITH. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Mrs. Nick SAPONE of Manteo and Mrs. J.L. NEWMAN of Nags Head; three sons: Walter SMITH of Avon, Marshall SMITH of Norfolk and Herman SMITH, JR. of Manteo; two sisters: Mrs. Mary CRAWLEY of Miami, Florida and Mrs. Trix SAVAGE of Norfolk; one brother, Ivey SMITH of Philadelphia, Pa; 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Friday, November 30, 1951; pg. 1
WASH WOODS C.G. STATION SOON TO BE ABANDONED - Currituck County officials were notified Monday that the Coast Guard is planning to abandon the Wash Woods life boat station. The station is located on the Currituck beach east of Knotts Island. A plot of 10 acres was given to to the Coast Guard for the station by James and Martha JOHNSON of Brunswick, N.J. in 1914.
pg. 8
NORRIS BAUM SAWYER, COMMUNITY LEADER, DEAD - Norris Baum SAWYER, 68, died Thursday morning, Nov. 22 at the family residence in Powells Point following an illness of five months. He was a retired farmer and merchant, son of the late Sallie Baum and J.B. SAWYER, a member of the Powells Point Christian Church and an elder of the church. He had been active in public life in his community many years and had served as county and state game warden. He had many relatives in Dare County and was a frequent visitor to them. Mrs. SAWYER is a sister of Mrs. Daisy H. MIDGETT of Nags Head. Mr. SAWYER is survived by his wife, Mrs. Selma Owens SAWYER; one son, Melburn E. SAWYER of Powells Point; two daughters: Mrs. Ernest GALLOP of Norfolk and Mrs. Garner PRITCHARD of Elizabeth City; one step-daughter, Mrs. Hilda Owens GALLOP of Harbinger; one sister, Mrs. Cola Mae ETHERIDGE of Spot; two brothers: J.B. SAWYER and A.V. SAWYER, both of Spot; 3 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Powells Point Christian Church. The Rev. Preston E. CLAYTON, former pastor, officiated, assisted by the Rev. D.W. DAVIS, pastor. The body lay in state one hour prior to funeral services after being carried from the Twiford Funeral Home Friday to the residence in Powells Point. Burial was in the Powells Point Christian Church Cemetery.
THEODORE D. BEALS - Theodore D. BEALS, 63, a popular citizen, died Sunday evening about 5 o'clock in the Kecoughton Veterans Hospital after a lingering illness. He was a native and life long resident of Dare County of the Duck community, son of the late Martha Perry and Paul BEALS and husband of Mrs. Holland Bunch BEALS. He was a member of the Poplar Branch Baptist Church and a retired Coast Guardsman after 25 years of service. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons: Charlie BEALS of New Jersey, Jack and St. Clair BEALS of Duck; one sister, Mrs. Maggie TWIFORD of Elizabeth City; one brother, Reston C. BEALS of Duck; and 3 grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at the graveside in Austin Cemetery at Kitty Hawk Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 by the Rev. W.J. FREEMAN, pastor of Kitty Hawk Methodist Church.Friday, December 21, 1951; pg. 6
PETER G. GALLOP - Peter G. GALLOP, 76, a man well-known in Dare County, died last week at his home in Harbinger, Currituck County, following a long illness. He was a native and life-long resident of Currituck County, a retired boat builder and son of the late L.M. and Martha Merrell GALLOP and husband of Mrs. Flora Montague GALLOP. He was a member of the Powells Point Christian Church. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Mrs. K.H. WATERFIELD of Mamie and Mrs. George LUMBER of Portsmouth; two sons: Paul GALLOP of the U.S. Navy stationed in Washington, and Mitchell GALLOP of Manteo; and two brothers: I.M. and Edgar M. GALLOP, both of Harbinger.Friday, February 29, 1952; pg. 8
MORRIS BEASLEY - Morris BEASLEY, 77, died Wednesday morning at 4:50 o'clock at the family residence in Colington following an illness of three years. He was a native of Currituck County and a resident of Colington for 40 years. He was the husband of Elizabeth J. BEASLEY and the son of the late Weighman and Lettie BEASLEY. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons: Ernest B. BEASLEY of Lynnhavem, Va., Lloyd and John BEASLEY of Colington; one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth LANNIKAN of Palm Beach, Florida; one step-son, Ivey JOHNSON of Norfolk; one step-daughter, Mrs. Melford SCARBOROUGH of Washwoods; two sisters: Mrs. Polly MORSE of Elizabeth City and Mrs. Ann HINES of Kitty Hawk; and 8 grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the chapel of Twiford's Funeral Home in Manteo with the Rev. Frank DINWIDDIE officiating. Burial followed in Nags Head Cemetery.Friday, March 7, 1952; pg. 3
Funeral services for Mrs. Carrie Owens GIBBS, who died Saturday morning early, were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home at Point Harbor by the rev. J. BYERLY, pastor of the Powells Point Baptist Church, assisted by the Rev. G. C. BLAND, pastor of the Powells Point Christian Church. Mrs. GIBBS was the wife of Carlton Gibbs, a native of Hyde County now residing at Point Harbor. Members of the Powells Point Baptist Church choir sang "Kneel at the Cross", "Lead Me On" and "He'll Understand and Say Well Done", accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Virginia PARKER. The casket was covered by a pall of red and white carnations and fern. Pallbearers were T.G. GRIGGS, Edward GRIGGS, J.G. TWIFORD, Rudolph TWIFORD, Walton GRIGGS and Lloyd HARRIS. Interment was made in the family cemetery at Point Harbor. The Coastland Times - Friday, March 7, 1952; pg. 1)Friday, April 4, 1952; pg. 1
POPLAR BRANCH MERCHANT WAS NATIVE OF NAGS HEAD - John Willis TILLETT, 65, died Wednesday morning at his home at Poplar Branch at 5:10 o'clock after a short illness. He was a beloved citizen and well-known throughout northeastern North Carolina. He was a native of Nags Head but had been living at Poplar Branch for the past 41 years. He was the son of the late Easter Holly and John W. TILLETT, husband of Mrs. Kathryn Kent TILLETT; a member of the Ebenezer Methodist Church at Aydlett; a member of the Coinjock Masonic Lodge #463 AF&AM and a well-known merchant. Besides his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Mrs. S.L. DENNIS of Brigantine, N.J.; one son, Paul V. TILLETT of Boston, Mass.; one sister, Mrs. R.S. CHAPMAN of Smithfield, Va.; two half-brothers: Will TWIFORD of Norfolk, Va. and Lewis TWIFORD of Coinjock; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
MRS. ADA MANN DOXEY - Mrs. Ada Mann DOXEY, wife of Henry G. DOXEY and daughter of Augustus O. and Laura Ann Midgett MANN, died that the residence at 301 Avon Rd., Norfolk, Va. on Monday. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Ralph H. OATES of Norfolk; four sisters: Mrs. Arthur DOWDY of Princess Anne County, Mrs. R.L. CARTWRIGHT of Norfolk, Mrs. P.W. HOLLINGSWORTH of Newport News and Mrs. H.S. BARNHAM of Virginia Beach; two brothers: E.B. MANN of Ocean Park and J.E. MANN of Norfolk; and two grandchildren. Mrs. DOXEY was a native of Manns Harbor and had been a resident of Norfolk for 12 years. She was a member of the Temple Baptist Church and Coinjock Chapter of OES.Friday, May 1, 1952; pg. 2
CARTWRIGHT-WARREN - Mrs. Eloise Mann WARREN of Manteo became the bride of Harold CARTWRIGHT of Grandy at 5:00 Saturday afternoon, May 3, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Allen MANN in Manteo. The ring ceremony was performed by Rev. H.R. ASHEMORE before an arrangement of mock orange, roses and snowballs. The bride, who is the daughter of Mrs. D.E. MANN and the late D.E. MANN of Manteo, wore a costume of navy blue crepe with navy and white accessories and a shoulder corsage of red roses. Mrs. Herbert GARD of Manns Harbor, niece of the bride, was matron of honor. Mrs. MANN presided at the reception where punch and cake were served by Mrs. CARTWRIGHT's sister, Mrs. C.R. EVANS. Mr. and Mrs. CARTWRIGHT are making their home for the present on the Airport Road near Manteo.Friday, May 16, 1952; pg. 1
CAPT. DANIEL HAYMAN BURIED IN FOREST LAWN - Funeral services for Capt. Daniel W. HAYMAN, 66, master mariner who died Thursday morning of last week in the Marine Hospital in Norfolk, were conducted Saturday at noon from the Oliver Funeral Chapel in Norfolk and burial was in a beautiful new section of Forest Lawn Cemetery. Members of the Norfolk Masonic Lodge #1 concluded the service at the grave. Rev. A. Irvin ORNDOFF, pastor of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, officiated. Pallbearers were: J.E. HUDGINS, Lynton R. DANIELS, Eddridge R. O'NEAL, A.C. COX, JR. W.S. HAYMAN and E.C. KEENER. Capt. HAYMAN was born at Kitty Hawk but his mother died at an early age and he grew up with relatives at Wanchese and Manns Harbor. He was well-known on the sounds and rivers of the state where he began his steamboat career. He was the son of the late Daniel W. and Mary Perry HAYMAN. He was a member of the Masons, the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Laura Midgett HAYMAN; one daughter, Mrs. Mary H. ELLIOTT; one brother: Rev. L.D. HAYMAN of Carolina Beach; eight sisters: Mrs. W.S. PENN and Mrs. Cynthia GUERRY [should be AGUIRRE] of Clayton, Mrs. Charles CORBELL of Norfolk, Mrs. Rosaline SWAIN of Kitty Hawk, Mrs. Southgate LOHMAN, Mrs. Howard A. JORDAN, Mrs. Bessie EILAND and Miss Mary Dan HAYMAN; and his step-mother, Mrs. D.W. HAYMAN, all of Great Bridge, Va.Friday, May 23, 1952; pg. 1
CAPT. DAN HAYMAN'S CAREER REVIEWED BY HIS BROTHER, REVEREND LOUIS HAYMAN - (Note: the following article has been prepared by Rev. Louis D. HAYMAN, Methodist minister of Carolina Beach, and will be included in the files of the HAYMAN Clan which will hold its annual reunion in Manns Harbor in July. It concerns his only brother, Capt. Daniel W. HAYMAN, whose death was recently reported in these columns.)
Daniel Webster HAYMAN, better known to northeastern North Carolina, Norfolk and the Atlantic seaports from Boston to the Gulf of Mexico as "Captain Dan", has completed his last earthly voyage and tied up his ocean-going tug, the John E. McAllister, at her home port of New York, reported to the office of his company, the McAllister Brothers, Inc., and took leave of his friends there and his officers and crewmen, departing for his home in Norfolk, the first week of April 1952. His ship being called in for inspection and repairs, and he to await sailing on call of this company. His sailing days are over.
The first of last July, Capt. HAYMAN entered the Norfolk Marine Hospital for treatment of injury received in the line of duty on his vessel previously three weeks ago. The doctors found that he had a bulging arterial injury on his left side and decided on operating in order to save his life. The operation, while it proved to be immediately helpful, his people were told that at best he would hardly survive a year, as the history of such cases are generally fatal even though operations are resorted to, within a few weeks to within a few days. Dan outlived his illness by almost a year, However, after a short visit to his old home on Roanoke Island, and mingling with boyhood friends there, he returned to Norfolk and in a few days was compelled to return to the Marine Hospital where his doctors found his condition beyond the help of medical skill. He lingered but a few days, passing quietly and peacefully to his eternal home at 11:15 a.m. May 8, 1952.
Capt. HAYMAN's funeral was conducted at the Oliver Funeral Home on Colonial Avenue in Norfolk by Rev. A. Irvin ORNDOFF, pastor of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church of this city. At the Forest Lawn Cemetery, the final rites were said by a detail of Scottish Rite Masons with the Grand Honors of the Order. His body rests in this beautiful cemetery hard by the Harbor where for more than forty years his entry and departure were frequent occurrences. At the service, the musical selections (music only) were "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" from the hymn "Let the Lower Lights be Burning" and "The Old Rugged Cross". In closing, the minister read by special request Tennyson's "Crossing of the Bar"--a most fitting characterization of Dan's life as a Master Mariner since boyhood.Friday, May 23, 1952; pg. 1
ISAAC NORRIS BAUM, 71, DIES IN NORFOLK SUNDAY - Isaac Norris BAUM, 71, a native of the old settlement in the hills of Nags Head, member of a prominent family, and veteran of 30 years service in the Navy and Coast Guard, died Sunday afternoon in the Marine Hospital in Norfolk. He had been ill for 18 months. He was the husband of Mrs. Bertha Ward BAUM and the son of the late Jesse and Penelope Tillett BAUM of Nags Head. He is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Jesse E. BAUM of Kitty Hawk, LeRoy BAUM of Norfolk, Albert BAUM of Philadelphia, Mrs. Robert DARDEN of Miami, Florida and Mrs. H.J. LIVERMAN of Norfolk. He was a brother of the late Capt. Tom BAUM who established the Roanoke Island ferries. Prior to his entry in the Coast Guard before World War I, he had served in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy and had made trips around the world. He had lived most of his life in the Kitty Hawk vicinity, but had been stationed for short periods at other North Carolina Coast Guard stations. He had 30 years and eight months of service. He was a member of Wanchese Lodge #521 AF&AM. His funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Twiford's Funeral Home in Manteo and burial was made in the Manteo Cemetery. Rev. W.J. FREEMAN officiated.Friday, June 13, 1952; pg. 2
MRS. EFFIE D. OWENS - Mrs. Effie Dutcher OWENS, 55, of Powells Point, Currituck County, died Tuesday afternoon in Elizabeth City after an extended illness. A lifelong resident of Currituck County, she was the daughter of John and Olive Gallop DUTCHER and the wife of John E.C. OWENS and a member of Hebron Methodist Church at Powells Point. Surviving besides her husband are one son, Quinton OWENS of Powells Point; one brother, Seth DUTCHER of Jarvisburg; one sister, Mrs. Mae NEWBERN of Jarvisburg. The body was taken to Hebron Methodist Church at Powells Point one hour prior to funeral rites which were conducted at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon by the Rev. W.J. FREEMAN. Burial was in the family cemetery near the church.Friday, June 13, 1952; pg. 8
MATHIAS BEECHAM - Graveside rites for Mathias BEECHAM, 75, who died at his home at Poplar Branch Monday, were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Austin Cemetery at Kitty Hawk. Mr. BEECHAM was a native of Kitty Hawk but had been living at Poplar Branch for the past 37 years. He was the son of Decator and Letitia BEECHAM and husband of Mrs. Jennie West BEECHAM. Surviving besides his wife are three daughters: Mrs. Carl P. WHITE and Mrs. Nettie JONES, both of Poplar Branch, and Mrs. Sudie JONES of Aydlett; one brother, James BEECHAM of Berkley, Va.; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.Friday, July 25, 1952; pg. 2
NEGRO JUSTICE MARRIED WHITE COUPLE IN 1874 - Coming to Roanoke Island on January 24, 1874 and anxious to be married was one Solomon BEASLEY, 19, of Nags Head. His bride too, was anxious to get married and get back home across the wintry Roanoke Sound as bad weather was making up.
As luck would have it there wasn't a preachers or justice on the place they could locate except the late George Riley MIDGETT, colored Justice of the Peace, and to him they went in their troubles. He performed the ceremony which is believed to be the only known instance of a negro officer marrying a white couple in Dare County.
Solomon BEASLEY was the son of S. BEASLEY and Lydia BEASLEY, and has been dead for many years. He married Senia O'NEAL who was the daughter of Isaac O'NEAL and Sylinda O'NEAL.
The record of this marriage may be seen in the office of Melvin R. Daniels, Register of Deeds of Dare County.
[This was a very lengthy article, mostly about George Riley Midgett.] NOTE: Solomon BEASLEY was born on April 25, 1850 in Nags Head, Currituck Co. He married Arsenia O'NEAL, who was also born at Nags Head in August 1858. "Senia" died July 1, 1930 and Solomon died 5 years later on August 1, 1935. Both are buried in Hampton Cemetery at Waterlily.Friday, September 5, 1952; pg. 1
MOYOCK - The joy of an afternoon water skiing party was turned into mourning Sunday with the drowning of a young Moyock High School graduated and senior at N.C. State College. The young man drowned was Bonnie Cole DAVIS whose body was recovered from the waters of Hannah's Landing off the Tull's Creek Road two miles from the center of Moyock's shopping district at 1:45 this morning. The drowning occurred when DAVIS, on skis, was in collision with an outboard motor boat being operated by Henry DOXEY. According to Currituck coroner, Bryan SMITH, DAVIS was being drawn by a boat occupied by other members of his party. Experiencing some difficulty with his skis and swinging from side to side in an effort to adjust one of them, he did not see the boat piloted by DOXEY, which was in the act of turning around when the collision occurred. According to eyewitnesses, both men were thrown into the air. When DAVIS hit the water he disappeared and was not seen again until his body was recovered nearly 10 hours later. DOXEY's boat after he went overboard, began running around in circles, and DOXEY managed to catch hold of it as it circled around him. Reaching into the boat he cut off the motor, scrambled aboard and then blacked out. He was taken to the Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City where he was treated and released. The body was recovered by two Coast Guardsmen from the Coast Guard depot at Coinjock, H. INGRAM and Kenneth ROBERTS, the latter a Currituck boy. Assisting in the effort to recover the body were crew from fire departments at Elizabeth City and Great Bridge and a number of neighbors and friends. DAVIS was the son of Mrs. Wiley Franklin BRINKLEY and the late Archie DAVIS, a lifelong resident of Moyock.Friday, September 26, 1952; pg. 8
PROMINENT CURRITUCK FARMER DIES SUDDENLY - William Thomas GRIGGS, age 42, died Friday night at 7:10 in the Norfolk General Hospital after having suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage early Friday morning at the family residence in Mamie. He was a native and lifelong resident of Currituck County and had been living at Mamie for the past several years. He was the son of James W. GRIGGS, SR. and Mrs. Ann Liza GRIGGS of Point Harbor. He was a prominent farmer of Currituck County and a member of the Powells Point Christian Church. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Beulah Doyle GRIGGS of Mamie; two sons: William "Billy" T. GRIGGS, JR. of the U.S. Navy (Atlantic Fleet) and Wilbur Ray GRIGGS of Mamie; his parents; one sister, Mrs. Elsie MALCO of Point Harbor; two brothers: Brantley GRIGGS and James W. GRIGGS, JR., both of Point Harbor; two granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3:30 in the Powells Point Christian Church by the Rev. G.C. BLAND, pastor. "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Peace, Sweet Peace" were sung by Mrs. Walker RAYBURN. Mrs. Inez PARKER accompanied at the piano. The casket was covered with a pall of red roses, Easter lilies and fern. Pallbearers were Pernell GRIGGS, Calvin OWENS, Edward OWENS, Shelburn MIDGETT, Jarvis GRIGGS and Julian SNOW. Burial was in the Powells Point Christian Church Cemetery.Friday, October 24, 1952; pg. 1
HYDE COUNTY NATIVE DIES IN CURRITUCK - Jeptha MASON, 71, a native of Hyde County, died in Moyock, Currituck County, Wednesday night at 11:15 after a long illness. He was the son of Dorset and Mary Equils MASON of Hyde County where he lived most of his life, but had been a resident of Currituck County for several years. He was the husband of the late Lillie Clements MASON and is survived by one son, H.T. MASON of Moyock; one step-daughter, Mrs. L.D. PAUL of Alliance; two step-sons: R.A. FLETCHER of South Norfolk and B.L. FLETCHER of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Zion MASON of Scranton, N.C.; a half-brother, Joe DAVIS of Columbia; and 9 grandchildren. He was a member of Burrows Memorial Baptist Church of Norfolk. Funeral services will be conducted in Elizabeth City Friday at the Roxey, Berry, Lynch Funeral Home at 2 p.m. by Rev. C.A. WILLIAMS, pastor of Providence Baptist Church of Shawboro. Burial will be in the Moyock Memorial Cemetery.Friday, November 14, 1952; pg. 1
HELPLESS AT HOME YET HE FINDS CAUSE FOR THANKS - Paralyzed and helpless, but with ever a cheerful mien, John TOLER who recently sold his old homeplace in Skyco, and moved town the road to Wanchese where he built a new home, would do anyone good to visit him. John, who like his father, a seafaring man who "rounded the horn" in a sailing vessel in 1849, gave up the sea but only because of illness. Few men are more beloved than John TOLER, He remembers on Armistice Day 1918 he was four days bound out of France for the USA. He had a great memory. For instance on most any given anniversary he can tell you what he did many years ago. He recalls that for Thanksgiving 1916 he had at lunch, hog chitterlings and sweet potatoes. It was the day he first left home to become a crew member of the Diamond Shoals lightship. He is a faithful reader of The Coastland Times, and like many another reader, tells us he especially enjoyed last week's editorials. He is 56 years old.Friday, November 21, 1952; pg. 2
BIRTHS - Born to Mr. and Mrs. Valton WILLIAMS of Wanchese, an eight pound son, Valton Gage, on Monday, November 17, at the Wright Clinic.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles WESCOTT of Wanchese, announce the birth of a daughter, Myrtle Gail, weight eight pounds, on Tuesday, November 18, in the Wright Clinic.
pg. 6
MRS. MORSE, NATIVE OF COLINGTON, IS DEAD - Funeral rites for Mrs. Polly Beasley MORSE, 76, who died Monday at the home of her daughter in Elizabeth City, were conducted at the home Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock by the rev. Howard JAMES, pastor of the First Christian Church, assisted by Dr. R.W. KICKLIGHTER, pastor of Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church. Burial in the New Hollywood Cemetery. Mrs. MORSE was a native of Dare County but had lived in Elizabeth City for 35 years. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wakeman BEASLEY of Colington, widow of Joseph MORSE and a member of Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church. Surviving are two sons: Joseph and Willie MORSE of Elizabeth City; six daughters: Mrs. Waco SAWYER and Mrs. Cader ROUGHTON of Elizabeth City, Mrs. Broadus H. CRABTREE and Mrs. Bennie ANDERSON of Durham, Mrs. R.D. EVANS of South Mills and Mrs. B.M. JONES of Belvidere; one sister, Mrs. Annie HINES of Kitty Hawk.
pg. 8FORGOTTEN CHURCH ON CAROLINA LONELY SEASHORE NEAR WASH WOODS
by Louise Venable Kyle in The Virginian-Pilot"There must be a story behind these photographs." That challenge set off a quest for deserted churches that once had stood near the life saving stations located at intervals along the coast below Virginia Beach, Many of these Coast Guard stations have been abandoned because of modernized facilities, and the communities around them have collapsed.
The photographs were first shown to Mr. and Mrs. John WATERFIELD who live near Sand Bridge. They identified the church as the old Wash Woods Methodist Church and gave me many facts about it. Capt. T.J. BARNES (retired) and Capt. A.L. BARCO (retired), former member of the United States Coast Guard, added to their story.
About 1895, during a winter storm, the three-masted schooner, John S. Woods, was shipwrecked when it ran aground off the coast between False Cape and Wash Woods life saving stations. The crew stayed on board, taking refuge in the rigging for several days, until the waves subsided and the men from the life saving station could rescue them. All on board were saved but the sailing vessel was lost and the cargo of cypress lumber washed up on the beach.ACT OF GOD, HOUSE OF GOD
Since an act of God had been instrumental in their procuring the material, the families who lived at the life saving stations decided to use the lumber and build a house of God so that they might have a place of worship near their homes. This church would serve those who lived near Little Island, False Cape, Sand Bridge and Wash Woods. This building was the first chapel to be built at Wash Woods.
Each of the four life saving stations had eight families living nearby and it was possible for them to reach Wash Woods by boat on Back Bay, by horse and cart or by walking on the beach and through the sand hills. Church was a social gathering and looked forward to by the entire neighborhood.
POPULATION:300
From Mr. and Mrs. WATERFIELD I also learned that prior to 1900 there was a village at Wash Woods. Around the village was good farmland but the shifting sand gradually covered the fields and pine trees and live oaks grew out of this soil. Now a woods covers what was once fertile acreage. The WATERFIELD's told me that there was a Disciples Church at one time in their community as well as the Methodist one. Wash Woods had a one-room school house where the children from up and down the beach were educated and all seven grades were taught by one teacher. The school teacher came from another part of the state and boarded in the neighborhood. There were two general stores in the village and Wash Woods had a population of more than 300 people.
By 1920, the little chapel built from the shipwrecked lumber was too small for the congregation. The church members gave $1,400 and the building was enlarged and improved. New pews were ordered and there was plenty of room for from 250 to 300 persons within its walls. (This is the church that John HATCH, director of the Norfolk Museum, found deserted in the woods and photographed.)CIRCUIT RIDER
The congregation at Wash Woods Methodist Church was served by a circuit rider, a preacher who came once or twice a month to conduct services. The parson had to come by train to Back Bay, then he was transported by boat or horse and buggy to one of the life saving stations where he would spend the night visiting one of the families in his church. The Rev. KING, the Rev. MOORE, the Rev. BUTTS, the Rev. BELL, and the Rev. FLUCHEE are names of former ministers who are remembered as preaching at Wash Woods.
Each summer revivals were held at the church and people would gather from all over lower Princess Anne County for the meetings and the farmers' all-day picnics.
Due to various causes the community at Wash Woods decreased in size. Transportation improved and the farm land was being ruined by the encroaching sand. By 1922 there was not enough people to support the Methodist Church, and the Disciples Church was no longer in existence, so it was decided to abandon the church and let the congregation attend services in other places. Today Wash Woods Methodist Church, hidden among trees and vines, is a crumbling symbol of its past influence in a remote community.ANOTHER WRECK CHURCH
Another church nearer to Virginia Beach was located at Dam Neck life saving station. Built earlier than the church at Wash Woods and called "The Chapel by the Sea". This Episcopal church was a mission from historic Eastern Shore Chapel at Oceana and the same rector held services at both churches. This church at Dam Neck was built almost identical to the plans of Eastern Shore Chapel and it had the same dimensions, but was constructed of wood rather than brick. It was built from limber from the three-masted barque Agnes Barton which was wrecked in front of Dam Neck Life Saving Station in April 1889 while it was sailing from Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore. Four lives were lost and six saved by the Coast Guard station. It was built by a man named BOYENTON and the work was under the supervision of Capt. Bailey T. BARCO who was in charge of the Dam Neck Life Saving Station. Members of the congregation helped.
The Rev. W.R. SAVAGE, for many years rector of Eastern Shore Chapel, encouraged the men at Dam Neck to build the "Chapel by the Sea". The Rev. John WALES of Norfolk used to come to the county and preach at both of these Episcopal churches.
CHANGING TIMES
In 1924 the "Chapel by the Sea" was no longer used as a church and Dr. Francis STEINMETZ, rector of Christ Church in Norfolk, bought the building for his church. It was moved a short distance from its location, just west of the life saving stations, and remodeled as a recreation camp for girls from Christ Church. The church furnishings, the altar cross and vases, the Bible, and the silver communion service now belong to and are used by the congregation of the Eastern Shore Chapel.
Dam Neck, Little Island, False Cape, Sand Bridge and Wash Woods are no longer isolated communities among the sand dunes. School bused ride along the beach and transport children to Princess Anne County schools. Electric power lines now reach out across the sand and radio and television bring the world outside to the homes along the coast; electric lights go on and Delco systems run by batteries are obsolete, Jeeps and helicopters go where the hard-surfaced roads cannot reach, the horses and beach carts of yesteryear are a memory, yet still, the sea, the sky and the sand hills in all their beauty remain unchanged.Friday, November 28, 1952; pg. 3
BIRTHS - Born to Mr. and Mrs. Claude W. BRANTLEY of Manteo and New Orleans, a son, Claude Warren, Jr., at Jarvisburg, N.C., Monday night, November 24. The baby weighed four pounds and 10 ounces. Mrs. BRANTLEY and son are in the Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City.Friday, December 5, 1952; pg. 3
BIRTHS - Born to Mr. and Mrs. Macon MEEKINS of Wanchese, an eight pound daughter, Minta Lee, at Wright's Medical Center, on November 25.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil WALKER of Manteo, a 10 pound son on Wednesday, December 3 at the Wright Clinic in Jarvisburg.Friday, December 12, 1952; pg. 3
SETH BEASLEY DIES SATURDAY - Seth BEASLEY, 73, died Saturday morning at five o'clock at Little Island, Va. following a long illness. He was a native and lifelong resident of Currituck County of the Corolla section. He was the son of the late Solomon and Arcensus O'Neal BEASLEY. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Florence BEASLEY of Corolla; one daughter, Mrs. Mildred MIDGETT of Virginia Beach; one son, Marvin BEASLEY of Norfolk; two sisters: Mrs. Maggie POWERS and Mrs. Mary WHITSON, both of Waterlily; four brothers: Solomon BEASLEY of Corolla, James BEASLEY of Kitty Hawk, Carl BEASLEY of Poplar Branch and Elwood BEASLEY of Waterlily. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Corolla. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock at the graveside in the Church's Island Cemetery at Waterlily by the Rev. SIGSBEE Miller and the Rev. Howard JAMES.Friday, October 31, 1958; pg. 8
Friday, January 30, 1959; pg. 2
HISTORY OF 100 YEARS RECOUNTED AT KITTY HAWK METHODIST CHURCH
written by Mattie Sanderlin Wescott
The first Methodist Church in the village of Kitty Hawk, N.C. had its birth in the year 1858 and was located in the center of a 4-acre field owned by Elijah SIBBORN, presently the B.F. PERRY homesite. This church was of small dimension, roughly about the size of the average neighborhood living room. It's frame was hand hewn, enclosed by vertically fastened foot-wide rough boards. The inside was unfinished and it was floored. The pews were long, wide boards resting on three upright blocks cut from a large log.
For many years devotional services, other than prayer meetings, were conducted by transient ministers. Hymnals were noteless. The hymn leader was either the minister of a member of the congregation who would raise the hymn after first announcing its metre, such as long metre, short metre, or whatever metre.
In the year 1887 Elijah SIBBORN gave a parcel of land on the main road of the village, the present site of Kitty Hawk Methodist Church, to the church trustees and a new church was erected there. In the year of 1904 he submitted a deed for the piece of land.
This church was somewhat larger than the original one approximately 24x36 feet and a very nicely constructed frame building. It was finished outside with horizontal siding painted white and inside with horizontal sheathing painted white with a medium blue ceiling and a window trim. There were 9 windows. Three were in each side, two in the pulpit end (one at each side of the pulpit), and one between the two front doors in the front end. An aisle led from each front door down to the pulpit. Long pews were in the center between the two aisles and half-length pews on the opposite sides of the aisles and attached to the side walls. The pews were mill-made. Four matching oil lamps were suspended from the ceiling. One hung over the pulpit and the three others hung in line down the center of the room over the long pews. Four bracket oil lamps were on the side walls, one between each two windows.
The construction of the building was directed by Life Saving Service Keeper, James R. HOBBS, know as Captain HOBBS, and Thomas N. SANDERLIN, aided by all carpenters in the community working for free. The church's name was chosen as "Boaz" by Captain HOBBS, inspired by a verse of the Scripture referring to King Solomon's Temple, which reads: "and he set up the left pillar and called the name thereof Boaz." 1st Kings 7:21.
The charter members of the church were Mrs. James R. HOBBS, Mrs. Sidney TOLER, Mr. and Mrs. Edward O'NEAL and Thomas N. SANDERLIN.
The first pastor in charge was Reverend Sanderson PAYNE who came to the Kitty Hawk Methodist Church in 1888. During his pastorate at Kitty Hawk, Rev. PAYNE served as pastor to Nags Head Church whose membership was 4, alternating his Sunday between the two churches.
A Methodist church in the beach community of Currituck Inlet 30 miles north of Kitty Hawk, with a membership of 32, entered Kitty Hawk circuit of churches in 1900. Around that same time a Methodist church on Colington Island with a membership of 24 also joined the circuit. The Kitty Hawk pastor then conducted services one Sunday of each month in each church of his charge.
In 1902 the Ladies Aid Society of the church purchased, by installment plan for the amount of $75.00, a used organ. This organ had the appearance of a small pipe organ, though the pipes were only ornamental. The first Organist was Miss Nora L. BAUM, assisted by her brother, Elijah W. BAUM. Following the purchase of the organ for two or more summers, the young people of the community took short courses in music reading, referred to as "singing school". Those music courses of about 12 lessons each were taught by Mr. Ed SOWERS, assisted by his daughter, Bernie. Thus the choir was born. The first choir director was Elijah W. BAUM.
The organ for the church was selected and the business entailed in the full transaction was engineered by Franklin Harris MIDGETT, a trustee of the church. Captain Harris MIDGETT, as he was know to his neighbors, entered the church as a member in 1888. At the outset of his membership he was chosen as trustee and served in this capacity until his death in 1929. Throughout all those years of service, a major part of the financial responsibilities of the church rested on his shoulders and he bore them with joy. During the first lean years of the church's life, he was known to pull from his own pocket to make up a deficit after having previously given substantially.
The church was enlarged in 1905 with the addition of a 45x25 foot room at the pulpit end, making the church a "T" shaped structure. The inside and outside of the addition was finished to match the old one, and at the right of the pulpit a raised platform was built for the seating of the choir.
In 1922 the Currituck Inlet Church was withdrawn from the Kitty Hawk charge and the Duck Methodist Church with a membership of 6, replaced it.
By 1938 plans were perfected for replacing the frame church building at Kitty Hawk with a brick structure and in that year the old building was razed and in June 1938 the cornerstone of the present church was laid. The brick church was completed at a total cost of approximately $9,000. Rev. Ransom GARDNER was the pastor.SUNDAY SCHOOL
Kitty Hawk Sunday School had its beginning in 1880 in a small room in the home of charter member, Mrs. James R. HOBBS, later known as Aunt Eliza. Mrs. HOBBS was born Eliza MURPHY in Liverpool, England and was fairly well educated for her time. She met her husband, then a mater of an ocean-going vessel, in New York City before the war between the states. He brought her as a bride to Kitty Hawk and they made their home in a cottage atop a hill surrounded by grass and huge oaks on the site presently occupied by VEP Power Plant. For many years on Sunday afternoons, she taught the village children to read and write and she read to them children's Bible stories and from the Bible. Two students in her very first class of pupils were Eliza Twiford PERRY and her sister Nancy Twiford TILLETT.
After the second church was completed and the Sunday School classes began meeting there, Ezekiel MIDGETT, SR. was elected superintendent of the Sunday School. He served until his death in 1898. However, the person who has merited the most credit for the perpetuation of Aunt Eliza's Sunday School is the some of Ezkiel MIDGETT, SR., William, who is known as Captain Will MIDGETT. He was elected superintendent of Kitty Hawk Sunday School following the death of his father and served almost continuously until his death in 1952. He gave to the youth of the church a lifetime of tireless devotion to service and strict attendance.PARSONAGE
The site for the first parsonage of the Kitty Hawk Methodist Church was deeded to the three trustees: Thomas N. SANDERLIN, Harris MIDGETT, and Edward O'NEAL on July 1, 1896 by James R. HOBBS. Shortly afterwards the first parsonage was built there. It was "L" shaped. A front porch extended down the west side it's full length. A center hall opened from the front porch and led through to a back porch which extended eastward along the north side of the back wing of the house. The dining room and kitchen opened on this porch. On the left of the center hall was a living room, on the right was a bedroom, and leading from it was a second floor consisting of two bedrooms. The furnishings of the parsonage was a gift from Mrs. Hannah LYONS. The same team of builders who built the second church also built the parsonage under the same working agreement.
This parsonage was abandoned and razed and the site sold in 1919. A similarly styled house owned by Captain W.J. TATE and on the site of the present parsonage was purchased by the church for their pastors in the same year. In 1928 this second parsonage was burned. Shortly thereafter the present parsonage was erected. The site of the original parsonage is now occupied by a large white frame house owned by George R. FEARING.OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Though members of the Kitty Hawk Methodist Church frequently attended camp meetings in other nearby communities (and 3 of these were held on Colington Island between 1888-1905) there appears to have been only one camp meeting for which the Kitty Hawk church was host. This was held in the summer of 1887 at the east end of Kitty Hawk Bay, south of the village, and for many years that particular area has been known as the Camp Meeting Grounds.
Frequently services were conducted by men stationed in the nearby Lifesaving Stations, and Nelson HOLMES and Dan W. HAYMAN were among those early lifesavers who conducted services prior to 1900.
With kind permission, the following is an excerpt from e-mails I received from Annie Lee Wightman of Staten Island, NY who, at one time, lived in Kitty Hawk and whose family had strong ties to the Methodist Church there.
Among the things I read this morning was an article you had condensed about the Methodist Church in America and particularly in eastern N. C. That is a subject close to me as my father's family were Methodists way back. I don't know whether I told you about it but I found a deed in the very early 1800's that mentioned the Methodist Road in Kitty Hawk, although the organized Methodist Church in Kitty Hawk did not come into being until the mid 1800's. My Beacham grandparents' [Decatur Beacham, Jr. & Annie Eliza Perry Beacham] house was just a few hundred feet from the start of a road always called "the Methodist Road". I have no idea why, but I suspect it was the road referred to in the early deed. It is nowhere near the actual Methodist Church. It started at Kitty Hawk Road just past my grandparents house, went straight back a few hundred feet and then made a right angle turn straight North to Martin's Point. I was on it many times and rediscovered it in the 1980's or 1990's on foot. It is unpaved as it approaches Highway 158 a mile or so on and stops there, although before the bridge and highway were built when I was about 6, it was unbroken all the way to the Point, which had been sold by the Hodges Gallop heirs. Because of their tradition with the Gallops, my Beacham relatives were still allowed to pen and shear their sheep on the Point, as they did after my grandfather's death in 1931. On that day, we drove straight through to Jeanquite Creek mouth.
Mattie Sanderlin Wescott, who wrote the article, was a descendant of Josiah Holly Tillett. The Thomas N. Sanderlin mentioned in her writing was her father. He was Thomas Nelson Sanderlin. Mattie was a young and intelligent widow of an older man (Capt. Bob Westcott from Roanoke Island) with a son about my age and she settled in Washington, D. C. where she obtained a position and raised her son. Like most native Kitty Hawkers, she returned home upon retirement. Her family owned land in Kitty Hawk and even her son, after a long absence, built his retirement house there. Mattie Wescott was a first cousin to the children of Theocanus Tillett, whom I remember well. His family lived across the road from the Austin Cemetery, a short distance from my Beacham grandparents.
In the first paragraph of Mattie Sanderlin Wescott's story of the church, she mentions the land of B. F. Perry and Elijah Sibborn. B. F. was my great-uncle "Ben Frank", my grandmother Beacham's brother who bought the Sibbern land. Elijah Sibbern, Jr. was my uncle Carlis/Carlos Dowdy's maternal grandfather. And HIS father, Elijah Sr., had originally owned the land my grandfather Midgett bought in Kitty Hawk in 1892. My grandparents lived across the road from Uncle Ben and Aunt Winfred Harris Perry. Elijah Sibborn, Sr's wife Kiziah certainly survived him.
Although the article says that there was no history of the early Kitty Hawk Methodist Church preserved, locally everyone knows the history of the church as established by Mrs. Eliza C. Hobbs, wife of Capt. James Hobbs, a half-brother of Zebulon Beacham's children by Betsey Luark Beacham, who as a widow, married Noah Hobbs. (The 1832 will of John Beacham, Zeb's son, names all his siblings, including the half-brothers and sisters.) Mrs. Hobbs was said to have been from Liverpool, England, where Capt. Hobbs had sailed as a seaman. Mrs. Hobbs, who founded the Kitty Hawk Methodist Church that still exists, was buried next to the church. Her tombstone was removed when a larger church was built out over the site. Eliza C. Hobbs' marker was placed in Austin cemetery next to her namesake, my great-aunt, Eliza C. Twiford Perry, wife of my grandmother Beacham's brother, Wm. Thomas "Tommy" Perry. Aunt "Lizar" was mentioned in the article as Mrs. Hobbs' pupil. They apparently remained close. Mrs. Hobbs was long before my time but she was a legend in the village.Among the charter members, Mrs. Sidney (Hines) Toler was the wife of Capt. Caleb Hobbs Toler, who also served like Capt. Hobbs, as a keeper of the Kitty Hawk Station. At one time, I believe he was stationed at Caffee's Inlet. I know his son Wm. Roosevelt "Ted" Toler served there later. She was the grandmother of my cousin Shirley Dowdy's husband, "Bill" (Wm. Roosevelt Jr.) Toler.
The Mrs. Hannah Lyons who donated to the church was one of the women who owned the former Willis/Hodges Gallop land at Martin's Point on Jeanguite Creek. She or someone had left a trunk full of dresses in the old Gallop house there and I remember dressing up in them when I played there. But I, of course, never knew her.
Capt W. J. Tate, who bought the old Methodist parsonage on Moore Shore Road, was originally from Maine and he married Elijah Sibbern, Jr's daughter, Addie, who was sister of Uncle Carlis's mother, Missouri Sibbern Dowdy, wife of Wm. Ivy Dowdy. She is buried with her parents and sisters in the old cemetery that was at the edge of Aunt Mathilda's land on Elijah Baum Road. My great-uncle Capt. Will Midgett, the lay minister of the church, was married to her sister, Nancy Sibbern. Aunt Nancy, as I have heard it, died of a tumor, thinking she was finally pregnant.
After reading some deeds this morning, I think that the brief road near my grandparents land, running west across my great-uncle Tom Beacham's land from Kitty Hawk Road to the Methodist Road, was probably a shortcut, made quite some time after the establishment of the Methodist Road itself. This is merely my opinion but it makes sense to me.
The actual Methodist road runs north and south and parallels Roberson's Creek on its west, which parallels Currituck Sound on ITS west. There is just no way, given the deeds actually in my possession, to say where the Methodist Road's beginning actually originated. It makes little sense that it would have begun or ended abruptly on what became Uncle Tom's land. Maybe its southern end was obliterated long, long ago.
What is now Ridge Road, covering what once was the dirt Methodist Road on its Southern end, has been extended south on the west side of the Austin Cemetery to the point where Kitty Hawk Road passes the cemetery on its way to Sound Landing on Currituck Sound. I suppose it is possible that there was a landing there even at the time of the Methodist Road. Present day Kitty Hawk Road (which directionally is the same as Kitty Hawk Road at time of my birth) twists and turns like a snake through the village. I am inclined to think the Methodist Road was likely named for circuit riders, certainly a part of Methodist history. They could have landed at Jeanguite Creek opening at Martin's Point on Currituck Sound or in Kitty Hawk. Or anywhere in between or beyond Kitty Hawk Road at a private landing, for that matter.
METHODIST ROAD in deeds
But to explain for you the land through which METHODIST ROAD runs.....
Enoch Dozier of Currituck mainland was the seller to William Tillett, whose land was then sold to Elder Avery J. Austin by Wm.'s heirs. Elder Austin's heirs sold it to my great-uncle Wm. Thomas "Tom" Beacham, whose land bordered my grandparents on the west and north. Uncle Tom's heirs still have some of the land but in recent years they sold off large portions of it for housing development, particularly the parts bordering my mother's inherited land. But I could not find a reference to the METHODIST ROAD in any of these deeds. I found the deeds I wanted under both ALLEN and BEST. Thomas Allen and his wife Mary have Currituck wills, both probated Feb 4, 1799, which have proved helpful in researching other families, particularly the Curles family, which includes Williams and Whitson families. I don't know whether the Allen's actually lived in Kitty Hawk, although a deed to Josiah Perry (1809 Bk. 12, p. 142) involving the land they left to the members of the Curles family above, describes the land left them by Mary Allen as being 50 acres on the NORTH BANKS. (Josiah Perry's significant other, Penina Boswell, was a witness)
There must have been a son Thomas Allen, Jr. because there is also a 1806 deed in Bk. 9 to Josiah Perry from Thomas Allen describing "land Thomas Allen left in his will to me"... There is also a Bk. 9 deed to Josiah Perry describing "Joseph Allen line near Joseph Gamewell" although I do not know Joseph Allen's relationship. In fact since I have abbreviated Jos., it may very well have actually been JAS. ALLEN. Some deeds include JAMES Allen, (one from Thomas Allen).
A Bk. 9 (p. 368) deed is from WILLIAM BEST to THOMAS ALLEN and included references to METHODIST ROAD the Sound (Currituck) and JAMES BEST line...50 acres...
Bk. 10 (pg. 99) 1808:
THOMAS ALLEN to JAMES WALL (land at) WILLIAM BEST line, METHODIST ROAD, JAMES BEST line _______(?) line, Soundside... Wit: William Best and Wm. Everton.
BESTS:
I have never been able to prove the relationship between James Best (who died in early 1800s) and William Best who apparently had bordering land. I am fairly sure that their land was north of the JOHN DOUGH land.
I have a deed dated 1808 from Bk. 10, p. 25: WILLIAM BEST to JAMES WALL which includes lines of Isaac Tillett and Avery Tillett the Sound 'To James Wall line", etc. and a second deed dated 1815, which is from Richard Wall of Richmond, Va ., and the heirs at law of James Wall to Jonathan Lindsey Bk. 13, p. 202. This deed also included NORTH BANKS land (Isaac and Avery Tillett lines) Joseph Gamewell line to James Best line "the same land James Wall bought of THOMAS ALLEN and WILLIAM BEST.
JAMES BEST 's inventory, as you will find in the Court Minutes, was apparently under date 1805, but my reference says THOMAS GARRETT was the administrator for JAMES BEST, dec'd, in May 1806, and a reference to his orphans is dated 1806. James had orphans Hannah, William, and Sally Best and their guardian was WILLIAM BEST. Hannah Best, orphan of James Best, was bound to William Best's wife, but ordered released Feb. 1808
I have a deed notes dated 1801 (Bk. 3, p. 182) from Thomas Garrett to JAMES BEST. East side of Jeanguite Creek, Dancing Ridge... Wit: Burkett Guard. Thomas Garrett was more than likely the brother-in-law of John Dough.
Joseph Best owned a lot of land in this vicinity, including land on Dancing Ridge Pond, as did Josiah Perry and son Fred. I have always believed that Joseph Best was connected somehow to William Best, but I can't even determine the relationship between William and James. Despite my studying them for years, some of the Bests are still a complete mystery to me.Friday, March 27, 1959; pg. 4
Twenty-five years of the 62 years of this man's life have been spent in a wheel chair. Mr. TOLER, who grew up in the Skyco community, sold his old home a few years ago to Dr. NASH, an Ohio college professor, and built a modern home at Wanchese opposite the Methodist Church. For 25 years he has sat in his chair, smoked his pipe, looked out the window, and welcomed the few friends who have called to see him. He has always been a popular man, and prior to his illness visited much, but now he is sometimes disappointed that so few of his friends call to see him. He has been paralyzed from the waist down due to some obscure disease caught while on a voyage to India. Seafaring came natural in Mr, TOLER's blood, for his father, the late Thomas TOLER, was one of about two Dare County men who in their young sailing days, rounded Cape Horn during the California Gold Rush of 1849 and came home to talk about it ever after. The above picture of Mr. TOLER was made several years ago when his son, George, was a small boy. Mr. TOLER's wife is the former Rosa GIBBS of Engelhard and they have this one son who lives with them. There is one thing lacking in the life of this beloved man, and that is more companionship of old friends he can no longer get out from home to visit.
Friday, July 24, 1959; pg. 10
JOSEPH OWENS, CURRITUCK NATIVE, DIES IN NORFOLK - Joseph B. OWENS, age 67, resident of Washington, N.C., died in the Marine hospital at Norfolk on July 16 following a critical illness of several days. He had been in failing health for the past year. Mr. OWENS was born in Currituck County on Dec. 16, 1891, son of the late Jordan and Penelope OWENS. He was a retired Coast Guardsman and had been living in Washington since 1945. He was married to the former Della DUNBAR of Hyde County who survives. Other survivors are one son, Marvin OWENS, warrant officer, U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, Ky.; two step-sons: Joseph and John LIVERMAN, both of Baltimore, Md.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Malcolm S. SIMMONS of Belhaven; 3 grandchildren; 5 step- grandchildren and two sisters. Funeral services were held at the chapel of the Paul Funeral Home in Washington Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. Earle J. ROGERS, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Oakdale Cemetery. Nephews served as pallbearers.Sunday, December 13, 2009; pg. 13A
No part of these records may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything here that pertains to your families, I would strongly suggest that you look at the record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information.
© 2004 Kay M. Sheppard
