PAGE TWO
JF SS ’ S ’’“
i »
MEEKINS
HOW TEMPUS REALLY
FUGITS
Ninety three years ago, the
roar of cannons shook the shores
of Roanoke Island, where wooden
piles formed a barricade strength
ened by a mound of dirt and mud.
These structures were built by
soldiers intent on defending our
sounds and rivers against Federal
invasion. Today, the mighty blows
of a pile driver resound through
the woods of this island, as it
pounds deep in the sandy bottom l
the heavy concrete piles to sup
port a three mile bridge across
the sound.
Fifty years ago, and for some
years thereafter, I traipsed this
beautiful Roanoke Island shore
picking up lead bullets and round
shot, scraps of old guns, brass
buttons from soldier’s clothes, etc.
The mound of the old fort then
stood, but the waters were eating
closer every year. There was a
fort just a few yards southward ;
of the new bridge site —Fort
Huger. There was a smaller one
a mile down the shore, Fort
Blanchard;, and some four miles
down, just below Burnsides land
ing stood old Fort Bartow.
My father had quite a collection
of iron shot, some of them rang
ing in diameter frm 4 inches to
eight inches, and there were two
or three sizes of cylindrical shells.
There were old musket barrels in
his collection, along with sword
buckles and numerous other items.
It used to be easy to find these
old bomb-shells as we called them,
at low tide. Many of them might
be dredged up now. I once found
one while in bathing in five feet
of water off Burnsides.
All those old forts were built
of a huge earth embankment, with
a moat around them in which
stood sharp stakes. But little they
availed, for they didn’t defend the
island. The Yankees came ashore
at Ashby’s Harbor, now known as
Sky co landing, came through the
wet swamp, and they fought their
way up the main road which was
held by the infantry under Cnpt.
O. Jennings Wise, son of a former
Governor, of Virginia and then
General in command of the troops
at Roanoke Island. But General
Wise on that memorable February
day was ill in a hotel in Nags
Head and his son was slain de
fending the fort which stood at
the roadside where now is the
substation serving Roanoke Is
land.
There were other forts on Ro
anoke Island. One stood at the
north end where the highway now
runs overboard on the J. B. Grif
fin land. There were one or two
batteries on the opposite side of
Croatan Sound, one at Redstone
Point.
The new bridge will have its
Manns Harbor terminus near Red
stone point and the other end will
be near Fort Huger on Roanoke
Island.
It used to be fascinating, comb
ing the shore at low tide looking
for the old bullets, some of which
I now have. They would often be
found in a little depression in the
hard clay at the bottom. The
scouring action of the tide work
ing around the bullets, would
sweep out a small hole into which
the heavy lead would gradually
sink.
When I began looking along the
shore, only 40 years had passed
since the memorable battle, but
now 93 ‘ years have rolled on.
Time really flies, and each year
goes the faster. By certain marks
I had at the time, I determine that
the west shore of Roanoke Island
has been washing away, or reced
ing eastward at the rate of one
yard a year. Nearly 300 yards of
shore front is gone; plantations
that were cultivated then arc now
overboard.
There were many interesting
old trails. One might still drive a
cart 50 years ago, across the
Alder Branch where a log cause
way was built by the union forces.
This road, known as Main Street,
led from the North End of the
Island to General Burnside’s
landing. On the North End of the
Island stood Camp Foster, which
was occupied by Federal troops.
The old pictures reveal it a camp
of many log houses. It stood west
of the Ashley Dough House.
Thousands of freed negroes were
brought to Roanoke Island and
fed by Federal troops. Some 400
of them are said to be buried west
of the Reuben Payne house. They
died during a cholera epidemic. A
school and a place known as Old
Industry House was established
on land now owned by members
of the Charles Meekins family. A
huge sawmill was established at
Burnside’s landing, the timber
was commandeered and cut on
Roanoke Island to give employ
ment to the free negroes. It was
told me by old people when I was
a boy, that the virgin timber was
cut down until one might stand
HIGH TIDES AT THE
FISHING GROUNDS
OREGON INLET FOR FEB.
AM PM
Thursday 10 9:33 10:00
Friday 11 10:12 10:42
Saturday 12 10:52 11:27
Sunday 13 11:36
Monday 14 0:16 12:25
Tuesday 15 1:09 1:22
Wednesday 16 2:06 2:24
Thursday 17 3:05 3:25
Friday 18 4:00 4:20
Saturday 19 4:51 5:10
Sunday 20 5:38 5:54
Monday 21 6:20 6:37
Tuesday 22 7:02 7:17
Wednesday 23 7:41 7:59
Thursday 24 8:22 8:42
Friday 25 9:04 9:28
Saturday 26 9:49 10:17
Sunday 27 ,10:38 11:12
Monday 28 11:33
STUMPY POINT NEWS
Mrs. Guy Best and Roger Best
have returned from Miami, Fla.,
after visiting Roger’s brother,
Elmer Dean.
Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Etheridge
of Manteo 'were Monday visitors.
Mrs. Bill Anderson and son,
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wise, Jr. and
son of Norfolk visited Mr. and
Mrs. G. M. Wise, Sr., Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Hooper of
Norfolk, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie
Hooper and son Archie of Eliza
beth City spent the week end here
with their mother, Mrs. Francis
Hooper.
Little Steve Spitzer of Eliza-,
bet City spent the week end here
with Mr. and Mrs. Carson
Meekins.
Mr. and Mrs. Lennon Hooper
visited Marvin Hooper, who is
hospitalized due to a heart attack,
in Norfolk General Hospital Mon
day.
Leland Wise is a patient in
Marine Hospital, Norfolk under
observation and treatment for a
stomach ailment.
Mrs. Grady Strickland and
daughter, Lisa Ann, left Sunday
to make their home in Raleigh.
Mrs. Lili Payne accompanied her
daughter for a week's visit.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Twiford
! were in Manteo Tuesday.
I Mrs. Florine Hooper returned
I home from Norfolk Saturday
■ after visiting her daughters, Mrs.
' John Zach, ry and Mrs. Jessie Bell.
Lt. Major Irvin Hooper, Air
, Force, has arrived in Ramstein,
Germany where he will be asso
i ciated with personnel for two and
I a half years. Mrs. Hooper will
i join him soon.
Melton Hooper has been on the
I sick list for several days but is
improved.
W.S.C.S. MEETS
Mrs. Gertrude Wise was hostess
to the Stumpy Point W. S. C. S.
on Monday evening at 8 p.m.
with Mrs. Josie Hooper chr. of
Literature and Publications, lead
er.
The Program given in the Year
Book was used. The leader gave a
talk on the work of David Living
stone. Mrs. Florine Hooper offer
ed a prayer for the missionary
field. The president, Mrs. Ruby
Gray gave a brief message on
World Peace. After routine busi
ness, Mrs. Myrtle Burgess, Mrs.
Nita Hooper and Mrs. Lou Hooper
were appointed as nominating
committee to select new officers
to be elected in April. The closing
prayer was offered by Mrs.
Francis Hooper, the society’s old
est member 84 years. The hostess
served pie and coffee to the mem
bers present.
WINTER FERRY SCHEDULES
(Effective October 1, 1954-May 31, 1955)
CROATAN SOUND FERRY
tv. Manns Harbor Lv. Roanoke Island
6:45 A M. 6:00 A.M.
8:15 A M 7:30 A.M.
9:45 A.M. 9:00 A.M.
11:15 A.M. 10:30 A.M.
12:45 P.M. 12:00 Noon
2:15 P.M. 1:30 P.M.
3:45 P.M. 3:00 P.M.
5:15 P.M. 4:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M. 6:00 P.M.
7:30 P.M. 7:00 P.M.
11:00 P.M. 10:30 P.M.
ALLIGATOR RIVER FERRY
tv. East Lake Lv. Tyrrell Coon,
6:00 A.M. 6:45 A.M
7:30 A.M. 8:15 A.M
9:00 A M. 9M A.M
10:30 A.M. , 11:15 A.M
12:00 Noon 12:45 P.M
1:30 P.M. 2:15 P.M.
3:00 P.M. 3:45 P.M.
4:30 P.M. 5:15 P.M.
5:45 P.M. 6:15 P.M.
OREGON INLET FERRY
Lv. North Shore Lv. South Shore
5:00 A.M. April > Moy 1955 5:30 A.M.
6:00 A.M. 6:30 A.M.
7:00 A M. 7:30 A.M.
8:00 AJA. 8:30 A.M.
9:00 A M. 9:30 A.M.
10:00 A.M. 10:30 A.M.
11:00 A M. 11:30 A M
12:00 Noon 12:30 P.M.
1:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M
2:00 P.M. 2:30 P.M
3:00 P M. 3:30 P.M.
4:00 P.M. 4:30 P M
5:00 P.M. 5:30 P.M.
6:00 P.M. April & May 1955 6:30 FA.
Note—6-6:30 A.M. and 5-5:30 P.M. Trips
Will Be Discontinued from November let
through January 31st. (A 5-5:30 A. M. Trip
and a 6-6:30 P.M. Trip Will Be Added for
Months of April and May 1955.)
at Walter Dough’s house and look
across to the Sound shore at
Burnside’s headquarters.
There is a wealth of interesting
history that many of us knew in
those days, but is now forgotten.
It would be worth while in years
to come, had it been preserved.
ENGELHARD PERSONALS
Miss Jane Guthrie of Manteo is
visiting Mrs. Sudie Farrow, Alton
Baum and family near Engelhard.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Jarvis were
in Washington Sunday and dinner
guests of Mr. and Mrs. M. K.
Hurst.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Brittain are
visiting in Suffolk and Richmond.
Miss Margaret Lawrence, re
turned missionary from China and
Mrs. Settle of Greenville spent
Sunday here.
H. C. Harris is a patient at
Oteen Veterans hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. E. Spencer
and son Tommie spent the week
end with relatives here.
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Williamston
and son of Norfolk spent the
week end with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Otova Berry and family.
Mrs. Mildred Guthrie of Smith
field visited her mother, Mrs.
Florence Gaskill.
Mr. and Mrs. David Weatherly
and children of Portsmouth visited
relatives here.
Mrs. Bruce Midgett has return
ed from the Tayloe Hospital in
Washington.
Mrs. La Rue Marshall of Ra
leigh visited her parents and chil
dren near here.
Claud Litchfield has gone to
Florida to work.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gibbs and
Miss Dorinda Berry visited here,
returning to Raleigh early last
week.
Alton Baum, Walter and Nancy
Baum, Mrs. Sudie Farrow and
guest, Miss Jane Guthrie spent
Saturday in Washington.
Burnie Williams is in Baltimore
this week.
SERVICES AT GL’LROCK
There will be services at the
Gulrock Church of Christ Sunday,
Feb. 13. Rev. Ray Elliot will be
the guest speaker. The public is
cordially invited to be present at
2:30 p.m.
■ll i i IL* i'-~ i
* " 1
f 131% >
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a nHB
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Ask: "Does this truck have a
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THIS YEAR the truck industry is beginning
follow Ford’s lead to modern short-stroke
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RSBSiililA./ »P *o 53% I Save up to one gallon of gas
in seven! But ONLY FORD has four V-B’s • ; $
t one f° r evef y s * ze truck in a full line ...
available right now!
JW T rung to take over in trucks— just as
s they’ve already done in passenger cars.
J ( Today, virtually every passenger car
I offers short-stroke V-8 power. Before
W... _ t I too long, the same will be true of
trucks. So, if you buy a truck with a
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■ —■ ■■ ii «■■■ P.D.A.R.
THE COASTLAND TIMES, MANTEO, N. C.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
PROGRAM AT ENGELHARD
Wednesday afternoon last week
a meeting at the home of Mrs.
Chas. Swindell planned to observe
World Day of Prayer on February
25.
Representing the various
churches of this section were
from Gull Rock, Nebraska, Amity,
St. George, Middletown and En
gelhard, as follows, Mesdames
Mildred Gibbs, Bessie Adams, A.
M. Cameron, Joan Colley, Jabin
Berry, Virginia Midgett, Sidney
Spencer, Evelyn Swindell and
Retfa Neal.
World Day of Prayer is spon
sored by National Council of the
Churches of Christ in America.
Services were be held at the
Engelhard Baptist Church on Fri
day night, February 25th at 7
o’clock.
The public is urged to attend
this worth-while program.
MIDDLETOWN NEWS
Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskins and
friends of Vanceboro, visited Mrs.
Lida Miller Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carawan
were the week end guests of Mr.
and Mrs. Emmitt Carawan.
Mrs. Mattie Davis left Sunday
to visit her daughter, Miss Doro
thy Davis of Hampton, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Gibbs,
Mack and Dawn visited Mr. and
Mrs. Will Marshall Sunday.
Mrs. Mattie Davis, Mr. and Mrs.
John L. Mann and Betty visited
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Payne Satur
day.
Mr. \and Mrs. Derwood Payne
and Lu Ann were the Sunday
guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. W.
Payne.
Mrs. Mae Swindell, Mr. and
Mrs. Palmer Swindell, Wanda
Weston, Mrs. Zuna Edwards and
Elizabeth visited Mr. and Mrs.
Mitt Gibbs at Bath Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Gibbs visited
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McKinney
Monday.
SOIO
pint
$3.40 is qt.
j oIENDED WHISKEY. 86 proof. 7214% grain neutral spirits. Frankfort Distillers Co., N.Y.C.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1955