Page 12 The Shoreline July 2005
The Iron Steamer Pier
Continued from page 9
Freeman set about making sure people knew
that fishing wasn’t the only attraction at the
new Iron Steamer Pier. Photos of the model
of the Prevensey, usually in the hands of a
comely young lady, popped up in newspapers
all over Eastern North Carolina. And Freeman
never missed a chance to hold forth on the
history of the iron steamer for which his
fishing pier was named.
He also struck up a friendship with a
popular television weatherman of the day,
and it was rare that the morning
“ telecast did not incl ude a report
on weather conditions on
Bogue Banks and how the fish
were biting off the Iron Steamer
Pier. Freeman also regularly
handed out accolades and
recognition for those who
caught the largest and greatest
number of fish in a day, and
pictures of those fortunate
fishermen just as regularly
graced the pages of East
Carolina newspapers.
Fueled by Freeman’s
enthusiastic and tireless
promotional efforts, the Iron
Steamer Pier got off to a rousing
start. But all of his efforts
threatened to come to naught
jix months after the pier opened
when Hurricane Donna roared
up the east coast in September,
1960. By the time Donna
departed, a lot of property had
departed with her, including
440 feet of the Iron Steamer
Pier.
Freeman approached the
devastation with typical zeal. He pointed out
to suppliers to whom he owed money that
while insurance would cover the damage,
they weren’t going to be paid anytime soon if
he couldn ’t get back into business. With their
help, the pier was up and running in record
time, charging visitors $1 to spend a day
engaging in their favorite sport.
In 1963 Freeman built an extension off
the east side of the pier to give visitors a
^tter view of the outlines of the Prevensey
lying below, and for eight more years he
continued his efforts to attract fishermen to
the site. By 1971 the daily grind of promotion
and keeping things running was wearing him
down. He describes himself as the “fill-in”
person for the pier, putting in 16-hour days to
do all the things no one else had time to do.
The sale of the pier in 1971 gave him the
opportunity to strike out in new directions,
something he had done most of his life.
Bom in Bertie County, he grew up on a
r
The late Grady Edward Love holds a
whopper of a king mackerel caught off
the Iron Steamer Pier in the early 60’s.
When the photo first appeared in The
Shoreline in June we were not aware of
the identity of the fisherman. But
Mr.Love’s sister in New Bern saw the
photo and sent a copy to Mr. Love’s
son Edward in Clayton, who contacted
us. It’s a pleasure to properly identify
Mr. Love, who had a beach house in
PKS and often fished from the pier.
The house in still in the family..
tobacco farm and later
became a tobacco
inspector for the N.C.
Department of
Agriculture. When World War II came.
Freeman found himself based in England,
flying 25 missions over Europe at the controls
of a B 24 Liberator.
Back in the states after the war, he bought
a small motel and restaurant on Route 1 in
Norlina, running that for a couple of years
before deciding to move to the coast. He
arrived in Morehead City in 1949 to manage
the Frontier Motel in Atlantic Beach, later
buying the property and then selling it in
1957 to pave the way for building the Iron
Steamer Pier. He was one of the early residents
of Pine Knoll Shores, building a House and
Garden plan house on Knollwood Drive.
The house is still there.
After selling the pier. Freeman didn’t get
too far away from the ocean. He acquired a
bait and tackle shop on the Atlantic Beach
Causeway and operated that until 1987. But
another of his passions was exerting its
influence on him, and in 1991 he launched an
antique car museum
To the best of his recollection, Freeman
first became interested in vintage cars back
in the 60’s when an antique auto enthusiast
suggested he buy one. His first old or “older”
car, again to the best of his recollection, was
a Cadillac convertible. But his first
“significant” older car
acquisition was a 1947 Lincoln
Continental cabriolet. It must
have been significant because
Shelby ’ s Collector Car Shop at
13"' and Arendell Streets in
Morehead City has a
preponderance of vintage
Continentals on the premises.
Freeman no longer operates
a museum as such, but he buys
and sells and stores vintage cars
on his premises. You can find
him there most days, prepared
to talk about his present four-
wheeled possessions. Now 85,
Freeman lives in Morehead
The photo is faded but the smiles city but has fond recollections
were bright as Shelby Freeman and an of his days in Pine Knoll Shores,
attractive visitor held a model of the xjig news late last year that
sidewheeler Prevensey at the opening the Iron Steamer Pier would be
ofthe Iron Steamer Pier. tom down to make way for a
10-unit subdivision of single family homes
brought him back across the bridge to take a
last look at the pier and visit with the folks at
Pine Knoll Shores Town Hall. The pier is
gone now, but Freeman’s happy recollections
of fine fishing days above an historic wreck
off the Pine Knoll Shores beach have not
grown dim.
Hurricane
Safety Tips
1. Enter each hurricane season
prepared. Check your supply of boards,
tools, batteries, non-perishable foods, and
other equipment you may need.
2. When you hear the first tropical cyclone
advisory, listen for future messages. This
will alert you well in advance.
3. When your area is covered by a
hurricane watch, continue normal activities,
but stay tuned to The Weather Channel for
further advisories. Be sure to keep a battery
powered radio around at all times. Remember:
a hurricane watch means possible danger; if
the danger materializes, a hurricane warning
will be issued.
4. When your area receives a hurricane
warning: Leave low-lying areas • Moor your
boat securely or evacuate it • Protect your
windows with boards, shutters or tape • Secure
outdoor objects or bring them indoors • Fuel
your car • Save several days’ water supply •
Stay at home if it is sturdy and on high ground
• Leave mobile homes for more substantial
shelter • Stay indoors during the hurricane •
When called to evacuate, do so immediately
5. Avoid the eye of the hurricane. If the
calm storm center passes directly overhead
there will be a lull in the wind lasting from a
few minutes to half an hour or more. But
remember, at the other side of the eye, the
winds rise very rapidly to hurricane force,
coming from the opposite direction.
6. Be aware of flooding. Hurricanes
moving inland can cause severe flooding.
Stay away from river banks and streams. A
hurricane causes sea levels to rise above
normal tide heights, with giant wind-driven
waves and strong, unpredictable currents.
These are the storm’s worst killers.
^MKicn )QjjK
Til lip Mundki, Sr.
X ItiiltiLMunden
2112 Arendell St.'
Morehead City
McLaughlin
Chiropractic Center
5039 Executive Drive
Morehead City
(In the Sound Bank Building
near the comer of Hwys 24 & 70)
808-2888
Surf Board Rentals ■ Surfwear For The Entire Family
Espresso, Cappuccino, Fruit Smoothies & ice Cream
PINE KNOLL SHORES
T-Shirts, Hats & Stickers
(across from the Sheraton)
ATLANTIC BEACH, NO 252-240-1008