VOLUME XXIV NO. 41
LETTING OF BIDS
NEAR FOR MANTEO
TO INLET CHANNEL
Nearly One and a Half Millions
for 12-Foot Channel From
Ocean to Island
A total of $1,444,000 is due to
be spent soon in the Roanoke Is
land area when bids are let for the
most important waterways project
ever to come to the locality, and
the largest by far in any of the
counties of the Raleigh coastland.
The Manteo-Oregon Inlet proj
ect with wide channel into Mill
Landing at Wanchese, with depth
in the total project of 12 feet out
across Oregon Inlet bar is due to
be constructed this summer.
Cecil Henderson of the office of
the Corps of Engineers was at
Wanchese this week to confer with
the Commissioners of Dare County
with reference to fulfillment of
certain committments that had
been made by a preceding Board
of Commissioners.
Under the law, the contract can
not be let and the Federal money
expended until the provisions of
local participation have been ful
filled. i
Two years ago the County Com
missioners pledged to the Corps
of Engineers that they would
guarantee the Government safe
from harm or loss in this project
in that: Dare County would pro
vide all necessary rights of way;
it would provide a place on which
to deposit the sand sucked up
from the bottom in the dredging
process, and it would maintain a
public docking area, open to all
persons on equal terms.
Until a few weeks ago, no fur
ther steps had been taken to guar
antee fulfillment of these com
mittments, and it has required a
lot of time and travel on the part
of persons representing the County
Board to inform the owners of
lands concerned, and to enlist
their support in aiding Dare
County to fullfill this obligation
which is for the aid of the fishing
industry and the general benefit
of Dare County.
When the matter had been fully
explained, all persons were found
See CHANNEL, Page Four
OCEAN TOSSES
HARRY JARVIS'
BOAT ASHORE
New Trawler On Beach North of
Rodanthe; Wrecking Com
pany Would Save Ship
A new trawler, some 58 feet
long, named the Ralph Eugene,
got too close to the beach and was
tossed on it Wednesday morning,
high and dry. The vessel is owned
by Harry Jarvis of Engelhard and
in command of Capt. Sears. It was
one / of numerous craft fishing for
trout and croakers at sea, some
two mires south of the Pea Island
Coast Guard station.
Prospects are good for getting
the vessel launched again, accord
ing to A. W. Drinkswater, wreck
commissioner, who reports no in
surance was carried on the boat.
Mr. Jarvis was on the scene early
Wednesday, and found Mr. Drink
water on the job.
Mr. Drinkwater says' that the
stranded freighter which came
ashore a week ago near Little
Kinnekeet is now in the hands of
a wrecking company which is set
ting up gear to pull it off shore.
It has been under guard of Fred
Gray, Jr., Percy Williams and Al
vin Price of Avon.
This ship has attracted a lot of
attention and added an extra
strain on the ferries already ham
pered by shoal water.
HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION
PROGRAM AT NAGS HEAD
A commendable project is being
launched at Nags Head, and a
meeting will be held Friday night,
tonight, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jockey
Ridge Gifts store for the purpose
of cleaning the highways and
keeping them clean. The Nags
Head Chamber of Commerce is
holding this meeting, and all in
terested persons are urged to at
tend.
Enough cannot be said in favor
of the worth of street and high
way beautification, not only in dol
lars and cents from the tourists
who visit the area, but in the
satisfaction and pride of our citi
zens which will follow the praise
and the profits their efforts will
win.
Nothing impresses a stranger
more than a well kept community,
which marks its citizens as people
of pride and appreciation for the
better things of life. An aroused
and militant citizenship can work
wonders for the betterment of the
community, and can arouse senti
ment which will not tolerate the
untidy practices of other people,
some of whom deliberately take
their trash at night time and dump
it on the roadsides from running
cars.
THE COASTLAND TIMES
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA
CAROLINA GIRL PRINCESS
CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
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MISS MYRA NEAL MORRISON,
a first year student at the Uni
versity’s Woman’s College in
Greensboro, is Princess of the
Cherry Blossom festival, along
with those of 49 other states, in
Washington this week. The festi
val closes on Sunday, April 12th.
The honor of being the State’s
princess is of interest in Dare
County, where her parents, Dr.
and Mrs. Fred Morrison, own a
home at Kill Devil Hills, and
where they spent the week end
last week. Our last paper carried
details of the Cherry Blossom fes
tival.
ELECTED CHAIRMAN DARE COUNTY EDUCATION BOARD
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ROBERT O. BALLANCE, who for
six years has been a member of
the Dare County Board of Educa
tion, this week was elected chair
man, succeeding Ellis A. Gray of
Avon, whose term has exnired.
Three new members of the Board
were sworn in: C. T. Williams 111
of Avon; Shelley Frontis of Bux
ton, and Floyd Hooper of Stumpy
Point. Mrs. Helen Briggs of Kitty
Hawk is the other member, suc
ceeding herself from Atlantic
Township.
Mr. Ballance, the chairman, who
is a contractor, is a native of Pop
lar Branch, is married to the for
mer Hilda Wise, a teacher in the
Manteo school, and they have
three children.
CHANNEL BASS LIMIT
TAKEN AT OREGON INLET
Good Fishing Reported From Hatteras
Inlet and Cape Hatteras
Also
George Mann of Nags Head and
Charles Midgett of Manteo landed
their limit of channel bass at Ore
gon Inlet Wednesday. Their four
fish ranged from 36 to 42 pounds
each, while trolling in the north
east section of the inlet with
Pfleuger spoons. Previously a 48-
pound channel bass had been land
ed by Dr. W. G. Harris of Mullica
Hill, N. J., while trolling with
Capt. Joe Berry.
Four channel bass were taken
in Hatteras Inlet on Saturday
morning by Jack Snyder, Balti
more and Jim O’Donnell of Wash
ington from Capt. Edgar Styron’s
cruiser anchored in the 'inlet. On
the previous day with Capt. Styron
Snyder, his son and Mr. O’Donnell
caught blackfin tuna and false al
bacore off Hatteras in the Gulf
Stream. O’Donnell also landed a
182 pound mako shark.
Best report from the surf this
week came from Rany Jennette at
Buxton who stated that Capt. B.
A. Ballance caught two channel
bass on Tuesday in the Cape Hat
teras surf. The two fish weighed
26 and 88 pounds each.
SCHOOL PROPERTY
UP FOR RE-SALE
AT KITTY HAWK
Manns Harbor School Brought
$2,500 on Last Bid; Another
Sale Ordered
The buildings and five acres of
land, formerly the Kitty Hawk
school, was sold again at the
courthouse door, Thursday, due to
the original bid of SSOO having
been raised by Capt. W. H. Lewark
of Kill Devil Hills. P. A. Tillett
of Kitty Hawk had made the bid,
which he said was an effort to get
the building to move out on the
beach for American Legion head
quarters. The land remaining
would then be worth some $1,500.
The last sale of the Kitty Hawk
school was held yesterday, (Thurs
day) and high bid was by Ted
Wood of Kitty Hawk for $2,500.
The bid will remain open ten days
whereby it may be raised.
On Monday, the Manns Harbor
school was up for re-sale for the
third time. The original bid by the
citizens of Manns Harbor was
SI,OOO. Three other bids were later
placed on the property. The last
bid was made by Ted Wood of
Kitty Hawk at $2,500, and another
sale has been ordered.
W. S. White of Manns Harbor
appeared before the County Com
missioners Monday, and Jaccie
Burrus before the Board of Edu-
See PROPERTY, Page Four
BOARD PROPOSES PUBLIC
AID TO SMALL HARBORS
Seen As Essential to Livelihood of the
Communities in Pursuit of Fish
ing for Livelihood
A proposal for public aid for
small harbors in several commu
nities of Dare County was brought
before the County Commissioners
this week by Dr. W. W. Harvey,
Jr., Chairman of the Dare County
Waterways Improvement Associa
tion. Tentative endorsement was
given to working out a proposition
for aid in cleaning out such har
bors as come within the scope of
public support, namely that the
nublic must own the land on which
the improvement is made, and im
partial use and access is granted
the nublic.
While in the past, many grants
of public money have been made,
and assistance rendered numerous
ditches and canals for the use of
boats, without regard to whose
land they benefitted, it has been
determined such past expenditures
in most cases were illegal; some
tims never budgeted and often
made at the expense of other coun
ty funds.
The Commissioners wish to aid
such projects as are worthy, and
want to make it legal to do so. It
See AID, Page Four
A NEW BANKING
FIRM DISCUSSED
IN DARE COUNTY
Pledges are being obtained
whereby Dare County have another
banking institution. A group of
some 60 citizens, styling their
uroject the People’s Bank of
Dare, Inc., propose to set up a
lending agency, catering to time
payment loans, subscriptions pa
pers for SIOO,OOO capital stock are
being circulated. The total of
$50,000 must be paid in. The prin
cipal office of the bank will be in
Manteo.
At a meeting held Wednesday
night in the community building,
substantial progress was reported.
MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1959
MAYOR OF K. D .HILLS IS
OPPOSED BY ALDERMAN
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THOS. CHEARS, Jr., Mayor of
Kill Devil Hills, who is a candidate
for re-election May sth is being
opposed by one of the town’s al
dermen, R. H. Cooke, motel oper
ator. Mr. Chears has been Mayor
about a year, having been appoint
ed when Mrs. Emily Mustian re
signed. He has applied himself to
the task with zeal and interest.
Mr. Cooke, who has been an al
derman for two years, has been a
vigorous leader in the move to
abolish the town as a municipal
ity.
For post of town alderman, the
following are candidates: Robert
A. Young, a former alderman; El
wood Parker, an incumbent aider
man and former member of the
County Board of Education; Thos.
H. Briggs, hotel operator and for
mer member of the town board.
The time for filing for office
closes April 21. Registration books
will be open at the town hall, daily
except Sunday, April 18 to 25, the
last day being challenge day. The
filing fee is $3. Mrs. George Frank
has been appointed registrar;
judges, Mrs. W. L. Mann and Mrs.
C. J. Gilley.
SCHOOL BOOSTERS
COMMITTEE ASKING
LARGER PROGRAM
This Week Asking Board Furnish
A Teacher, and Other
Necessities
The Dare County Citizens Com
mittee for Better Schools listed its
recommendations for needed im
nrovements in local schools with
the Board of Education at its
meeting on April 7. Significant
among these recommendations is
the request that all teachers with
sub-standard teaching certificates
be required to improve their quali
fications through correspondence
courses or other training. Included
in these recommendations were an
additional teacher for the. Roanoke
School, which must be financed
through County funds, improved
lighting and painting of the Man
teo Elementary School, and addi
tional classroom space for the
Buxton School to be financed from
local school district funds. The
Committee was favorably impress
ed with the Kitty Hawk School,
however the need for higher
teacher certificates was apparent
at this school.
This Committee appointed by
the Board of Education last fall is
composed of Mrs. Walter Beasley,
Kill Devil Hills; Mrs. Ernest
Walker, Wanchese; Mrs. Robert
Gibbs, Nags Head; Julian Oneto,
Nags Head; Mrs. W. H. Smith, Jr.,
Kitty Hawk; Troy Shepard, Nags
Head; Mrs. Donald Oden, Hatter
as; Mrs. Carlos Oden, Hatteras;
Mrs. Lucy Miller, Avon; Mrs.
Blanche Midgett, Buxton; Mrs.
.George Meekins, Avon; Mrs. Jas
per Hooper, Stumpy Point; Mrs.
George Frank, Kill Devil Hills;
See BOOSTERS, Page Four
NIGHT TRIPS APPROVED
ON ALLIGATOR FERRIES
The State Highway Commission
last week approved establishment
of four nightly round trips by its
ferries over Alligator River, but
turned down the request for trips
across Oregon Inlet. This week the
Dare County Board asked for a
review of this action in favor of
the Oregon Inlet schedules re
quested.
The night trips on the river will
be during summer months only,
June, July and August, and from
8:40 p.m. to 1:20 a.m.
NEXT WEDNESDAY LAST DAY
TO FILE FOR MANTEO OFFICE
Wednesday, April 15 is the dead
line for filing for town office in
Manteo election set for May 6th.
Officers to be elected are a Mayo#
and three aldermen. Incumbent of
ficers are G. T. Westcott, Mayor,
Sam Midgett, Leffers Barnett and
A. L. Mann, Jr., Aldermen.
COUNTY BOARD IN
SESSION THURSDAY;
HARBORS STUDIED
Making Plans For Mosquito Work;
Civil Defense and Collec
tion of Old Taxes
The necessity of conferring with
U. S. Army Engineers in reference
to the pending contract for the
dredging of a 12-foot channel from
Oregon Inlet to Mill Landing and
to Manteo, required the Board of
County Commissioners on Thurs
day to hold their second session
this month.
Before the Engineers could let
contract for this work, the County
Commissioners two years ago had
to make an agreement that several
conditions would be made. The
county is required to furnish with
out cost a disposal area; to furnish
all rights of way, and maintain a
public docking area as required by
the engineers.
Among other things before the
Board yesterday were Civil De
fense items, mosquito control, and
tax collections.
At the regular monthly meet
ing of the Board on Monday of
this week, a petition of a group of
voters in the “no man’s land” area
at Nags Head was heard. This
group, represented by J. E. Harris
and Troy Sheppard, and Attorney
Wallace Gray petitioned for an
election to join the Manteo school
district. In plans for the bond
elections for Kitty Hawk and Man
teo schools, this area had been in
cluded in neither district. The pu
pils attend Manteo school. They
said they wished to be a part of
this district.
The request for the election was
granted and it will be held on
June 6th.
The Board approved a road re
quest from Avon which was
brought in by Commissioner Wood
row Edwards. This is for black
topping 1,100 feet of neighborhood
road.
Plans are being made for a
drive on delinquent taxes, some of
the unpaid items dating back 16
years. A list is being made up.
On this list are many county em
ployes, as well as all four of the
county’s outside sheriff deputies,
one of whom owes for ten years.
It was decided that the job hav
ing been neglected so long, it
See BOARD, Page Eight
| ROANOKE ID. NATIVE TO PLAY ELEANOR DARE IN DRAMA
MARJALENE MIDGETT THOMAS, native of Roanoke Island, has
been chosen to play Eleanor Dare in the 1959 production of Paul
Green’s THE LOST COLONY. Mrs. Thomas, who has appeared in
the show each summer since her first try at show business when she
was a tiny flower girl to the queen, is well equipped to fill this leading
female role in the drama. She has played many parts in the show, and
for the last several years has understudied the Eleanor Dare role,
while singing in the Lost Colony choir and taking the part of Joyce
Archard. The above photograph shows her as Joyce Archard in the
fish net scene. She is the first island native to play the part of Eleeanor
Dare.
Mrs. Thomas is the wife of Harry Thomas, lighting director for
The Lost Colony, and they both teach in the Elizabeth City schools.
They own a home on Roanoke Island near Fort Raleigh, where they
spend summers and holidays. They have one young son, Harry Hunt
Thomas.
Mrs. Thomas was among those present in Raleigh Tuesday night
when Senator and Mrs. J. Emmett Winslow of Perquimans County,
and of the Carolinian Hotel, Nags Head, entertained at a “Yaupon
Tea Party.”
Supreme Court justices, state officials, legislators, lobbyists and
newspaper folk rubbed elbows at the affair. Mrs. Winslow described
it as a love feast.
“I don’t know much about the disagreements in the Legislature,"
she confessed. “So I just got this up as a kind of love feast for every
body—legislators, lobbyists, newspapermen—and everyone can just be
friendly.”
The party also featured costumed pirates, as a boost for coastal
vacation spots in Dare County, and members of “The Lost Colony”
cast who performed bits from the outdoor drama given each summer
on Roanoke Island:
EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP
RUNABOUT BOAT RACES TO
BE HELD IN MANTEO APR. 26
Concluding Attraction of Jamboree Follows Two
Full Days of Entertainment With Events Sched
uled at Hatteras, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Etc.;
Royalty to Be Crowned on Saturday Night,
April 25th.
ANOTHER GOOD ELIZ. CITY
FRIEND OF THE COASTLAND
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fa .y»~ "
HON. WILLIAM C. DAWSON of
Elizabeth City is another of the
top-notch friends of the Coastland
who live in Elizabeth City. At the
age of 56 he heads the Coca-Cola
bottling company which serves
several counties of the area. We
mention him because he has been
a lifelong summer resident of
Nags Head, and has always been
taking liberal and unselfish parts
in the movements that help our
area. Currently, he is making a
liberal contribution through his
company to the T.V. and radio
publicising of the Coastal Pirate’s
Jamboree. In his home town he
has been in most everything:
Chairman both of his county’s
Board of Elections and its Demo
cratic Executive Committee; mem
ber of the Elizabeth City Board of
Education; appointed by Gov.
Broughton on the State Board of
See DAWSON, Page Four
Single Copy If
By AYCOCK BROWN
Boat races featuring East Coast
championship competition for fam
ily runabouts using stock motors
will be a thrilling finale to the
fifth annual Dare Coast Pirates
Jamboree on Sunday, June 26, it
was announced this week by offi
cials of Dare Power Boat Associa
tion.
The races will be held in Shal
lowbag Bay at Manteo’s harbor
front with the first heat beginning
at 12:40 o’clock and continuing un
til 4:15 if all classes to which the
event is open are entered. Tro
phies for first, second and third
place winners will be awarded in
each class.
Power Boat Association officials
in charge of the event follow:
R. D. Sawyer, Jr., chairman; Bur
well Evans, timer; Jack Wilson,
Jr., starter; J. G. Kellogg, scorer;
Ellsworth Midgett, pit manager;
Dr. W. W. Harvey, Jr., medical,
and Horace Nixon, referee. This
group has sent out about 500 cir
culars and letters to boating en
thusiasts during the past week,
some going to nationally known
personalities who have family
motorboating, but not racing, as a
hobby.
There will be no special Pirates
Jamboree worship service this year
at one designated place as in the
past. Seevral ministers of Dare
have indicated they would have
special Spring Festival services on
the morning of April 26, with
special invitations to Jamboree vis
itors to worship at the church of
their choice.
The motor boat races Sunday
will follow two full days of ac
tivities on the Dare Beaches, Sat
urday, April 25 and on Hatteras,
April 24.
The Dare Beaches phase includes
the exciting pirate battle and land
ing at Avalon Beach, Kitty Hawk
Bay, followed by a treasure hunt
for children and the jumping frog
contests at the Wright Memorial
at 1 o’clock. During the afternoon
there will be an open air dance on
the parking area of Nags Head
Recreation Center and dory and
net fishing exhibitions on the beach
nearby. On Saturday evening in
the Casino, the grand Pirate Ball
honoring the newly elected king
and queen will be held with beards
and costumes adding color to it all.
On Friday, the opening day of
the Jamboree, except for the fish
ing contest which will be held
from boats or from anywhere
along the island’s beach, all events
will be held in the vicinity of
Hatteras. Scotty Gibson is in
charge of the Hatteras phase of
the Jamboree which will include a
Coast Guard demonstration, at
tractions for children, the world’s
biggest saltwater fish fry, banker
pony exhibitions by the Ocracoke
mounted Boy Scout troop, beach
buggy races and a buccaneer ball.
Pre-Jamboree Events
Two important pre-Jamboree
events are scheduled for this week
end. On Friday night the teen-age
Dagger Dance will be held at
Nags Head Casino at which time
See RACES, Page Four
BRITISH AMBASSADOR AND
HIS LADY DUE IN DARE
FOR VISIT ON APRIL 13
News reaches us that Sir Har
old Caccia, British Ambassador to
the United States, with his lady
will arrive in Dare County on
April 13th, for a visit to the Sea
shore National Park and observa
tion of the bird population at Pea
Island Game Refuge. The British
couple will stop at the Carolinian
at Nags Head.
This couple is not expected to
make any public appearances, but
prefer to rest on their visit here,
we are told.
The first visit of a British Am
bassador to this coastland was
on August 18th, 1926 when Sir
Esme Howard made an address at
the annual Virginia Dare birthday
celebration at Fort Raleigh. The
widespread publicity given this
event centered national attention,
for the first time on Dare County.
Immediately following, was Con
gressional aid for Fort Raleigh,
the creation of the Wright Me
morial, and the boom In real estate
that brought to the county its
present high development and
prosperity.
Sir Esme came to Roanoke Is
land at the invitation of Lindsay
C. Warren, who was then serving
his first term in Congress.