Newspapers / The Brunswick beacon. / March 31, 1988, edition 1 / Page 106
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i'< t Page 68?Supplement to The Brunswick I w ? - ? W* t f. . . ... . : , - ' . "jfe-V. - . ' '"> * <> < ?..' -V "' ) An aerial view of Holden Beach in 1954 its left, and John F. Koiden's family fc handful of cottages had been built on <? ' I Isle v '? ; BY MARJORIE MEGIVERN There is history that is dust-dry and irrelevant, little more than lists of dates, names and events. v'< There is also history that is bloody .! and turbulent, weighted with the lives of men and women who change the world. 1 > Somewhere in between is the kind ft'. of history you'll want to read about a j', special island that Is home and vacaV' tion haven to tliousands of people all over the country. It is personal, [v authentic and full of charm. V ?* This is "Holden Beach History," as ^ experienced and written by John F. * Holden of that island community. T'x Published in April by New Hanover /'. Printing Company, the little book is < as delightful as it is informative, iHolden is a descendant of Ben{ ^ " iamin HnlHori fn mKAm inn ~ . fcw rruuill U1C IWctL'IC j" island was granted in 1756 by the Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs for 50 shillings. Bounded by Lockwood Folly's Inlet and Bacon Inlet on east and west, by the Atlantic Ocean and a small creek on north and south, the island first began to be developed as a resort by the author's grandfather, John V. Holden Jr., who built the first hotel thpfA in 1Q9R ?? t Among the book's 22 chapters, few are as evocative of the past as those V, in which Holden reminisces about his '' beloved grandfather, whose big J, i home, beach fishery and store were M favorite childhood haunts. f'j The post-depression era, when fj Brunswick County was without industry, jobs and money, is described in memorable detail as the startingi point for island development. We see people trading corn or pigs for fish, at Jeacon, April-May, 1988 \ &JL'. T ' ? ? * ~ - ' - ' * J ' ) shows the Old Hotel, center foreground, omc, far right, destroyed in Hurricane H the beach and the first paved road (the n ind History < traveling all the way to Wilmington for jobs with the railroad or the cotton mill, losing their life savings, committing suicide. We see hospitality and kindness at its best, too. Holden tells of his grandparents' taking in a needy teenager to raise anri nf opruinoc ho us.. v? uv? >iwo iiw anu i uo father provided when they took over Holden Beach development about 40 years ago. "We gave mail service and sightseeing tours, delivered messages and picked up trash. These were done gratis, as hospitable gestures," he said. An entire chapter is devoted to entertaining anecdotes about his experiences with island guests. He was, at one time or another, an emergency vet, removing a fish hook from a dog's mouth, an amateur fireman, and even a "cattle rustler." But this modest history is factual, as well, outlining the progress that has occurred on Holden Beach from the first pavilion built in 1939, when there were 15 cottages on the island, to completion of the present high-rise Holden Beach Information Town Kali tt2Si!? and 842-?*n Town Administrator Tom Birmingham building Inspector Dwlght Carroll Mayor, John Tandy 842-2834 Commissioners: Gay Atkins, Mayor pro tem Guilford Bass Georgia Langley William Williamson Bob Buck Police Chief, Raymond Simpson?842-6707 Trl-Beach Fire Dept 7 8426858 Coastline Rescue Squad 842-2222 > ri j ~ . - Vv^.-V rJv,U: - '< * ' | the first pavilion to the center of the pi 11?i ' ? ioaci u? no*. v?oiy a pd west toward Sui arrow dark strip in BOOK REVIEW Stamped Wi bridge in 1986. In between there were ferries, bridges, even an airstrip that served as transportation links from the outside world. Slowly, painfully through the 20s and 30s, John Holden Sr.. then his snn Luther, and finally grandson John F., created the family beach that was John Sr.'s dream. Progress came step by step, with the first telephone, the first power line, the first restaurant, and in 1951 the first U.S. post office, presided over by John F.'s wife, Johnsie. No island history in the Carolinas would be complete without attention to Hurricane Hazel who dealt her Holder. Holden Beach is the com _ . ' ? - separated by an inlet, that were 1954. The portion from the eas Holden Beach until incorporate including Robinson's and Colon The pre-Hazel beach had b jamln Holden by the King of E thereafter to his son Job, grant John. It was then divided amc whom was Luther, father of Jo beach and father ot reaitor/dcv< Development was slow unti fl t ?!? n " ' ? miiciiuui iiit uiicr world ?Vsr li The first bridge was built ac 1925, but construction of the In eliminated it. Ferry service c mainland till 1954 when a turnb ing highrise replaced the old brii Holden Beach now has a pe 1,587 housing units. 8-^Sfete-* i. f*rv- -ik - -s^-ivv- _ *' . V- : ;. ' . / -..-v cture) extended north from the Intracoas jply. ith Personal J At ? " aeam diow in 1954. Holden devotes a long chapter to his personal ex- '> periences with this lethal lady and her rearrangement of his island. 1 Only 12 Holden Beach cottages 1 were left standing on their founda- 1 tions after that October day of Hazel's visit, but the author's 70-year-old father miraculously sur- < vived the storm. 1 It is clear through this narration '< that the writer has great affection for 1 his hometown and the people who 1 have helped it grow into a thriving i resort area. His fondest memories in- t elude the island's bird population and his own bluebird house project, as mall nrt ft L ? ao a uyioii oag groin project he i BCaCu ibination of two land masses, ' filled In by Hurricane Hazel in t end to the pier was known as n in 1969, when the west end, ial Beaches, was Included, een a land grant, given to Benhgland in 1756, and it passed dson John, and great-grandson >ng John's six children, one of hn Holden, now living on the ?Ioper Alan Holden. 1 tourism began to be a factor in r I* ross a creek to the mainland in tracoastal Waterway in the 40s onnected the island and the ridge was built. In 1986 a curvdge. rmanent population of 342 and tal Waterway to a point where it turnl:x. my spearheaded in 1971 to control ero- i sion on the east end of Holden Beach. Those who live in this community, j those who own property there and visit regularly, those who pass this way on rare occasion all orfii nhprich 'Holden Beach History." | John F. Holden has left a valuable iocument for these people, but also :or history. His eye for detail and for accuracy has given future citizens of i 3 runs wick County an important road nap to the past, as well as an engagng story of those who blazed the rails. i._. ii mi iiwimmmbfunm t 1 Holder) Beach Regulations 1 ine town at Hoidcn Each p?oi2tiU the following: Climbing or operating motor vehicle on or removing vegetation from dunes; Motor vehicles and wind-powered vehicles on the strand; Open fires; Uttering on the strand, roadway or private property; Load or offensive noise, Including music, profanity or ofaeceoe language; Fete not on a leash; Surfboards on the strand or to the water within MO feet of any fishing pier; Use of skateboards on Ocean Blvd. or the bridge or bridge rarope; Discharge of firearms; Hunting, with or without dogs; :'Jk of psths through ihs drj** or crossing over private property. Visitors are aramt lw Obey speed limits; Fish with nets in accordance with regulations, available at the Town Hall; Use designated public or private beach accessways only; Park off the pavement in unpoted areas only; Code cs the bssch only in containers made for the purpose, such as B-B-Q cookers.
March 31, 1988, edition 1
106
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