VOLUME XVII NO. ♦ WANCHESE NO LONGER MERELY A FISHING TOWN: NEW HOMES, BUSINESSES MARK PROGRESS Dare’s Largest Village Transformed By Many Modern Homes, And Growing Invest ment of-Its People in Accommodations for Sea And Inland Fishermen; Great Future Prosperity Predicted By Confidence of Its Citizens. The community of Wanchese on Roanoke Island, which is so often referred to as "the largest village In Dare County,” is going places these days. In a matter of three or four years It has shown remark able gains in residential building. The pride of its people in their public buildings has been mani fested by considerable investment in church property, and in the care of the public school, which is the community’s chief concern. Wanchese is said to have a pop ulation of about 1,800. However, a great many of its residents are employed in Norfolk or are sea men on ships, which occupations keep them away from home a great deal of the time. Some 25 years ago, the entire population was en gaged in commercial fishing, and the camps at Roanoke Marshes, Hog Island, Duck Island and other remote spots were busy places in season. Fast motor boats have made it possible for fishermen to dispense with this expense, so all fishermen now live at home when night comes. There has been a rapid decline in commercial fishing during the past several years, and about the beginning of the war times were prety dull because of the necessity of many people chang ng over to other occupations. Luckily the sportfishing business has develop ed, and this new industry is em ploying a large part of the popula tion, and bringing additional in come to a number of tourist homes. The growing number of boatmen at Wanchese who have abandoned commercial fishing and are cater ing to the rod and reel men and the trailers, has brought about modernization of many homes for the care of fishing parties, and has caused an enormous investment to be made in boats. Some of these are exceptionally fine craft, indeed, many of them using two motors, and now and then one with three motors. Your modern fishing craft today has to be good to satisfy the fisherman, and it must be assured ly safe. Boats used today are large and roomy as well as fast, and fishing parties often go as far as 50 miles away from their base during the day, and are therefore equipped with two-way ship-to shore radio telephone. Wanchese is becoming more and more an attractive community to visit, and it is becoming more im portant as a fishing center. Like all rural communities, it has its ups and downs, but it has neighborly people, and they are helpful to each other, as well as cooperative and hospitable toward the visitor. Perhaps nowhere else in North Carolina will a community more readily respond to a plea for help, and when someone is in hard luck, the needed sum is quickly raised by taking up a collection. Nobody holds back, no questions are asked. It is a standing rule in some of the Sunday school classes to donate a given amount each week to a number of people who have gotten into hard luck through no fault of their own. Wanchese has two fine churches. Bethany Methodist, the oldest, is one of the largest and best sup ported Methodist Churches in the Coastland. It owns a new and mod ern parsonage and extensive en largement and improvement of the building has been underway for several years. Rev. C. W. Guthrie, now serving his third year, is a highly popular minister, and the church and Sunday school enjoy a most successful administration. Remarkable gains have been made by the people of the Pente- See WANCHESE, Page Five DeFEBIOS SEEK CUSTODY OF 1 HEIR THREE CHILDP.EN Dear, is Hollowell, Washington, D. C., attorney, was in Manteo yes terday afternoon conducting nego tiations with C. S. Meekins, juve nile ccurt judge, and Mrs. T. S. Meekins, Jr., welfare superintend ent, in the name of Mr. and Mrs. Frank DeFebio. Judge Meekins told the attorney that whenever the local welfare department was satisfied that the conditions of Ids judgment in the ease, that the De- Febics had established a “proper home" for their children, the chil dren would be returned to their parents at once. The chi|dren are at present placed in a boarding home in Perquimans county. THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA COASTLAND FAVORITES BEACH FOR TWO WEEKS HON. LINDSAY C. WARREN, Comptroller General of the U. S. and Mrs. Warren, are again in Dare County for their annual va cation, spending two weeks at the Croatan Hotel at Kitty Hawk. Mr. Warren has been enjoying some excellent fishing off Oregon Inlet with Capt. Charlie Perry of Kitty Hawk during the past ten days. HEALTH CENTER GROUP ELECTS NEW OFFICERS The Women’s Auxiliary of Cape Hatteras Health Center, Buxton Branch, met at the home of Mrs. Edna Barnette on the 16th of July at 8 p.m. The following new of ficers were elected: Mrs. Beuna Ballance, president; Mrs. Nina Hehl, vice president; Mrs. Edna Barnette, treasurer; Mrs. Paula Fulcher, board member; Mrs. Peg gy Hornstein, secretary. After the business was complet ed a parcel post sale was held which made SB.OO. Also"” two checks were donated from Mrs. Gladys Baker, New York City, S2O, Mrs. Edith Erwin, New Jersey, $5, which brings the amount in the treasury to $38.58. The heaitn cen ter thanks Avon for the two bed trays and Hatteras for the twelve yards of material for curtains and three bed spreads. WANCHESE HAS PLENTY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION OF THE TOURIST, FISHERMAN, LOVER OF THE OUT OF DOORS ;j 1 J Bg|My ■ .•■■ <¥« ■ ■* ■V ■ «B .isSF A ■■fcft-g- *«• ■■' ■ vt . }■...-’c •;• .& '?7"~ ■»-'"'•• /• »*y<» WW £ - dH >.".■ ~‘ ■■..>■' - -:W' * aft • V x*. K 'x- S*. - ' ■"< 1 ’ * ‘ ‘ »J /’'S’ IPLsSSt "tsHfflS * Jy" i to**..** ■ .—’■*.«■>■■—"»^> ~•«—. • ■ ‘ ■*x JI te»£Stf < . <• ‘ ■«» ,«>: ■ |F HJi r • • ’ r ~ *»■_. I ' 1 ■'•*:£•&'..' I ■ ■',A< ” V ■*"“■' I '*B V ■ > i, " « > *** • & 11 -fl. —J .. | £ * ’’ 1 <:A I R Ait ? ■ ' vF® < S « "■ [. I .«;>.. 4>A.r i \IL) ’ "” ~w flff ! ML. AgMHaB *~*T*WRBP ~ mI . ... 4 1>- jBBWWhM HiI..MHL! ,-.. 1 .■ K, . -;< r . In .JttlMk fiVW '' I bßSf* • mP ' ■/> a. .•>.■■«» • / Hn : a " “'■ * ■•> ** ■■ "Hf? < '«wMhobsi » >- . r ff -ij ■- ■■•■ X/ ■■ • ... ®6» * .a I''" MILL LANDING at Wanchese presents a lovely scene of an evening when the fishing boats come in and tie ip. To the right a young fellow appears all ready to go out with the boys. They start early to leant all about a beat at Wanchese. Bottom row shows artist sketching a scene at Mill Landing. To the right are the fish markets, stores and stands that cater to the fishermen. Mill Landing is really the sportfishing center of. the community. Photos by Victor Meekins. WANCHESE POSTOFFICE IS IN CENTER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY " w •’T ’« j? <>> "■ > '" ? t " ~ || " > v --- '’>l ‘ : M — -