Newspapers / The Coastland Times (Manteo, … / April 14, 1961, edition 1 / Page 1
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SEND RENEWAL OF SUBSCRIPTION BEFORE EXPIRATION DATE ON ADDRESS VOLUME XXVI NO. 42 HARBOR HEARING IS SCHEDULED AT AVON NEXT FRIDAY Shorter and Deeper Channel Into Pamlico Sound Proposed by Engineers Tire problem whether the com munity of Avon in Dare County is to get a deeper and straighter channel leading from Pamlico Sound into the community’s fine large harbor may depend entirely on the weight of argument present ed on Friday of next week at a public hearing before Col R. P. Davidson, District Engineer. In order that the required report may fully cover the matter, a Pub lic Hearing will be held in the Cape Hatteras Hotel at Avon, at 10 a.m., Friday, April 21. For your information the exist ing project provides for a channel from Pamlico Sound to Avon, 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide, with a basin at the shore end to the same depth, 100 feet by 300 feet. The route of the existing channel from deep water in the sound to a point near the shore zigzag.-, through several sloughs in which natural depths are 6 feet or more, except for one troublesome shoal area where dredging is intermit tency required to provide depth. All interested parties are invited to be present or represented at the above time and place, including representatives of Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies, and thene of commercial, recreational, industrial, civic, highway, and water transportation interests, and property owners concerned. They will be afforded full opportunity to express their views concerning the character and extent of the improvements desired and the need and advisability of their execution. It is understood that a new and deeper route from the basin to Pamlico Sound, in lieu of the exist ing project, is desired. Sponsors of the improvements are urged to pre sent pertinent factual data bearing upon the general plans of improve ment desired and to give detailed supporting data on the economic Opposing interests, if any, are also urged to state the reasons for their position. Included in the fact ual information should be data on the type, number, orgin, destina tion, and thee light and loaded drafts of boats expected to use the improvements, if provided; the es timated benefits from jnerpased loads of fish and shellfish, and oth er commerce transported over the project; and the benefits from pre vention of damage to boats, from reduction in operating expenses, and from similar items. An outline showting specific data of the type desired for justification has been furnished local interests previous ly; additional copies may be ob tained from the Wilmigton District office. Oral’ statements will be heard, but for accuracy of record all im portant facts and arguments should be submitted in writing, in sex tuplicate, as the records of the hearing will be forwarded for con sideration by the Secretary of the Army. Written statements may be handed in a the hearing or mailed beforehand to Col. R. P. Davidson, District Engineer. WALTON O'NEAL'S DEATH A LOSS TO BELHAVEN In the death of Walton O’Neal, 81, who died Saturday at his home in Belhaven, his community suf fered a great loss. Long identified with the business and civic life of the community, Who stood out as a man of unselfish, sterling charac ter. He was bom in Hyde County, for many years was a merchant in Lake Landing, and later engaged in farming near Pantego. Until his retirement a few yers go, he, for a number of years operated in the Belhaven Candy Co. He retired several years ago. He was an hono rary Rotarian and past president of the Rotary Club, a Mason, and member of the Sudan Temple of the Shrine and the Eastern Star. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church and served as senior warden for a number of years. He was twice manned, first to Florence Gibbs, who preceded him in death, second to Clara Dill Gibbs. Survivors besides his wife are two sons, W. P. O’Neal former Mayor of Belhaven, and A. Eugene O’Neal of Okinawa; two daughters, Mrs. M. E. Swindell of Leakesville and Mrs. Jack Watson of Slades ville; 10 granddhildren and five great gradchildren; one brother, Lonnie O’Neal of New Holland, two sisters, Mrs. T. T. Smith of New Holland and Mrs. Metrah Swindell of Swan Quarter. Funeral services were held at the St James Episco pal Church Monday at 3 p.m., con dooted by the Rev. Angus Miller and the Rev. A. C. D. Noe. Burial was in Belhaven Community Ceme tery. THE COASTLAND TIMES WITH WHICH IS COMBINED THE PILOT AND HERALD OF BELHAVEN AND SWAN QUARTER PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA THE CRUISE OF THE SLOOP "SAFARI" By 808 L. BASNIGHT Cliff Chappell, my wife Shirley and I were driving at a rapid pace down that part of U.S. 17 that run? parallel to the Dismal Swamp Ca nal. We were trying to reach my Father’s boat works, in Elizabeth City, N. C., before eight o’clock that morning. We had been a little late leaving Newport News, Va. where Cliff and I work as desig ners for the shipyard. The reason for pushing the old car so fast was due to a telegram I had sent to the third member of our proposed sailing trip. Shirley was not going due to a delicate condition she now found herself in. In fact, she claim ed that I had chosen this time to make the Albemarle Sound cross ing, instead of some other period during six years of being married to her just so she could not go. This would be the first summer since I had owned the sloop “Sa fari” that she had not sailed with me. The telegram had informed Rich ardson Smith, known as Ritz, that if we were not at my father’s boat dock by eight o’clock Friday morning, to either go back to bed or proceed without us, and I knew crossing of the Albemarle sound at its widest point between the Pasquotank River and the Alliga tor River, a small affair as boating goes, had grown out of all propor tion to us three. We had planned and talked about it for years, ever since I had “Safari” built right after I got out of the Army in 1953. About a dozen times a year someone would say, “lets sail the sound this year”. That would set off hours of talk. How would we get the boat back? Would we sail her back or get a trailer? Could we all get leave from jobs and school at the same time? Not enough crew members. To many crew members. At last things had finally become coordinated. Upon arrival at the Basnight Boat Works, at 8:05, Ritz was wait ing on the pier for us. He said he had planned to give us twenty-five more minutes, and had already rig ged the boat. “Safari” is a seventeen-foot, flat bottom, open cockpit sloop. She carries a three foot bowspirit and a twenty-four foot mast. The boat is rigged heavy. There are two rows of reef points in the main and one in the jib. The sail material is 240 drill topsail ducking, and they were made by my uncle, J. W. Alexan der, who was a sailmaker years be fore he was forced into the tent and awning business. He made sails for working boats such as the bug eye and the skipjack, and the sails tor the “Safari” were cut with the same practical lines. Ritz, who was attending school up-state and was off for the Easter holidays, had arrived in Elizabeth City the day before. I had mailed him a list of instructions for things I wanted done to the boat before -ur voyage. And Ritz, who grew u, on the water crewing in Moth boats as ballast and in Snipes and Hamp tons as “jib man”, had carried out the instructions to the letter. He had not questioned any of the items on the list, even one request that would have sent the modern-day sailor yelling to his group leader. I had failed to put the traditional coin under the mast when I step ped it in the spring, and I wanted it under there for no special rea son that I could explain to anyone. Ritz had without change of expres sion taken down six turnbuckles, un-stepped the mast, and slipped under a dime. Another item, a little more logi cal, was the stowing of juniper boards and some screws that could be used to repair any rudder dam age. “Safari” caries a relatively See SAFARI, Page Six COUNTY SPENDING FOR STUMPY PT. WATERFRONT DIKE AND BULKHEAD Through the generosity of the Board of Commissioners of Dare County, there will be expended in the Stumpy Point community some $9,500 without local interests hav ing to meet the requirements of ■the small harbors law, by putting up some of the cost. A contract was let last week to George A. Daniels of Wanchese for $2,895 to build a bulkhead at the mouth of the old county ditch at the east end of he community. In order to administer the $65,- 000 granted from Hurricane relief funds, the county has obligated the sum of $6,500 to speed construction of a sandhill along the shore of a portion of the village to keep storm tides from coming in. This com munity was hardest hit during hur ricane Donna, which accounts for its having received the greater part of the relief money granted in the area, and was awarded on the basis of representations made by the county board. THE JOSEPH CONRAD OF THE ALLIGATOR REGION r-— — j ■ w lEr ssss mMhK 808 L. BASNIGHT is a product of the Alligator River Country, and he writes with the insight and en tertainment of Joseph Conrad, about his voyage across Albemarle Sound from Elizabeth City to Alli gator River. We are graceful to Mr. Basnight for giving our read ers an opportunity to follow him self and a companion in a small sailboat “The Safari”, last year. Our rivers, and boating is in his blood. His people were boatmen, his father operates a boat plant, and he is in the industry himself. By the facility with which he writes about boats and the water, we would take it he is a remarkably versatile young man in any capac ity. This piece is worth clipping for a scrap book, and we believe it will fire others with the desire to follow his sailings on oui - sounds and rivers. He lives at 301 W. Cy press St., Elizabeth City. ANOTHER PILOT LOST OFF STUMPY POINT FRIDAY Another in the long list of planes lost in Pamlico Sound fell Friday. An Oceana-based Navy Jet attack plane crashed at Stumpy Point, during an operational training flight. He was identified as Lt. (j g) G K. Hooper, 24, attached to At tack Squadron 86. He is married and resides at 311 33rd St., Vir ginia Beach, with his wife. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Hooper of Greenville, S. C. No details of the crash, which occurred at 9 a.m., were released. Stumpy Point is a target used bv the Navy for pratice bombing. It is 92 miles south of Oceana. The body was recovered and brought to Twiford’s Funeral Home in Manteo. DRUM CAUGHT IN SURF AT CAPE HATTERAS First channel bass of the season to be landed from the surf at Cape Hatteras was reeled in by Deputy Sheriff Raymond Basnett there early this week. The fish weighed 47 pounds according to Basnett who was in Manteo the day after catch was made. In the meantime, surf and inlet fishing for channel bass and other varieties of game fish was report ed spotty during the week, which was to be expected considering the stormy weather. All catches of channel bass to date, excepting Basnett’s fish on Tuesday have been caught in Hatteras Inlet or along the surf between Hatteras and the inlet—where a total of some 20 have been taken. WANCHESE SERVES AS A HARBOR OF REFUGE Wanchese with its harbor deep ened with funds obtained by Con gressman Herbert C. Bonner has not only been an unloading and supply for the multi-million dollar trawling fleet operating of the Outer Ban-ks during recent months, but the harbor has also been a place of refuge during storm. On Wednesday this week with full gale warnings displayed and winds which some reported reached hurricane force in gusts, Wanchese Harbor was crowded with large and small fishing boats, which rode the vtorm out successfully in the pro tected waters of the fishing town near the south end of Roanoke Is land. MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1961 BUCCANEERS OFF FOR INVASION OF PITTSBURGH, PA. Colorful Pre-Jamboree Events Un derway for Dare's Annual Festival April 28-29 Dare Coast Jamboree buccaneers who sailed into Raleigh last week leaving much publicity and good will in their wake- left Wednesday for Pittsburgh, Pa., where on Thursday they were planning to invite Mayor Barr to the vacation launcher here on April 28-29, and perform other public relations ac tivities in the city that has been mide famous by their Pirates ball club. The group of some 20 costumed buccaneers including King Black beard VI and Queen Ina Evans left at daybreak from Kitty Hawk with their ship on wheels, the “Sea Hag” launched last week and a convoy of station wagons, each flying the Jolly Roger of what has become one of America’s most pub licized vacation season starters. Julian Oneto was in command of the group and in Pittsburgh Gil bert Love, one of the best travel writing friends Dare Coast has ever had, will help line up various events. They will be making headquar ters at The Roosevelt Hotel, where one of the events will be a special party for members of the press, radio and television. Back here in Dare other prep arations are being made to pre sent one of the most successful Pirate’s Jamborees in history. Something new this year will be the mammoth parade starting at Avalon Beach at 12 noon on April 29, following the colorful pirate See JAMBOREE, Page Seven MANTEO HAS FINEST FURNITURE STORE IN THE WHOLE COASTLAND The biggest mercantile news of the month in Manteo is the open ing of the new showroom of the Manteo Furniture Company, own ed by the Wescott Brothers. Hav ing bought the former Ford agen cy building, it has been converted into a deluxe showroom, which ex tends their furniture display from County to Lodge Street. Beautifully decorated, and with vinyl floors from wall to wall, this showroom equals any to be found in Norfolk, Richmond or other large cities. It is completely stock ed! with luxury lines of furniture, and all in all it is a credit to the community, and a tribute to the hard work of the Wescott brothers which has brought them great com mercial success through the years. It is worth visiting by those to whom the beauty of a home means everything. Beyond contradiction it is the finest appearing furniture store in this whole coastland area. Among prizes to be awarded at an open-house party sponsored by the furniture firm Saturday night will be a General Electric washing machine, Kingsdown mattress, elec tric iron, electric and regular blan kets, rod and reel, corn popper, hassock, beverage ensemble, and automatic toaster. Refreshments will be served from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., when prizes are awarded. ALEPHEUS W. DRINKWATER IS HEADED FOR TEXAS Alpheus W. Drinkwater, 85, who had to do with dispatching mes sages and press about the Wright brothers’ early flights at K : ll Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, left Thurs day morning for San Antonio, Tex as, to attend a convention of a so ciety named Daedalus after the first man to fly, according to Greek mythology. He will be a special guest of State Senator Emmett Winslow, Goldsboro Mayor Scott Berkley. World War I aviators and the U. S. Air Force. Accompanying Drink water throughout the trip as keep er of valuable and important pa pers and pictures he will take with him will be his grandson, Johnny Booth, of Norfolk, Va. REV. BURROUGHS TO SPEAK TO MANTEO ROTARIANS Rev. Joseph Burroughs, rector of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church ,Nags Head, will be guest speaker Monday night at the meet ing of the Manteo Rotary Club. Mr. Burroughts, who is president of Friends of the Dare County Li brary, will speak in behalf of the library, as a feature of National Library Week. WEEK END WEATHER Temperatures will average near normal with highest near M and lowest 53. Scattered show ers indicated Saturday, other wise dry weather Friday and Sunday. NATIONAL SEASHORE WORKMEN UNCOVER MYSTERY SHIP I V- ’ | ■"* < - T 0* .7 ; r . tSiRLJ fe "Lj Tflk . *7 L a • . - w •-■-g « .-J -e’IME PARK SUPERINTENDENT ROBERT F. GIBBS and a construction employee of Cape Hatteras National Seashore are shown at the site of a “mystery ship” that was discovered near Buxton recently. The cor roded motors have been tentatively identified as possibly being part of a World War I destroyer or maybe a rum runner of the roaring twen ties of the prohibition era. Anyway, it’s a mystery and will be uncovered eventually as a tourist attraction. (Aycock Brown photo) DARE COUNTY WOMAN IS AN "ENUMERATOR OF THE YEAR" ■ E ft " IE- Iwf A Dare County resident, Mrs. Virginia L. Davis, of Wanchese, is one of four women from different parts of the United States to be chosen an Enumerator of the Year (1960) and to spend a week (April 3-7) at Census Bureau headquar ters, Washington, D. C., as a re ward. Mre. Davis was chosen for her work in the Census Current Busi ness Survey held monthly in select ed areas throughout the country by the Census Bureau, U. S. De partment of Commerce, to gather facts on the Nation’s business acti vity. Mrs. Davis worked under the direction of the Charlotte Field Of fice of the Census Bureau. The four enumerators were brougth to the Census Bureau for | the dual purpose of enabling them ' to view what is done with the ma terial they gather—and to make recommendations on how to im prove the system—and of per permitting Census officials to question the enumerators and to obtain, first hand, opinion! on how the Census current pro grams work in the field. As part of the week-long pro gram of work and play—their visit was scheduled to coincide with the famed Cherry Blossom Festival— the women were given gold medal lions by A. Ross Eckler, Acting Director of the Census. The medal lions are inscribed with the names of the enumerators and the pro grams on which each worked. NELL WECHTER PRESENTS TROPHY TO DARE LIBRARY Open House on April 21 to Cli max National Library Week; Public Is Invited Nell Wise Wechter, native of Dare County and author of popu lar juvenile books, has presented the Dare County Library with a handsome 16-inch trophy. Mrs. Wechter said, “This is my gift to the Dare County boys and girls, and is to be used to record the winner of an annual contest to se lect the most popular book of the elementary pupils.” Beginning next year, this winner will be chosen on the basis of essay, poem, or art work for the book of his choice. Mrs. Rennie Williamson, Chairman of the Library Board, will unveil and present the trophy at the li brary’s open house April 21, the big event of National Library Week, April 16-22. This year’s contest was only to select the most popular book among the county’s grades 4-6, for the Nell Wise Wechter Award bookplate. Each school participat ing will be given a book for its library. The announcement of this winning book by Mrs. William Meekins, grade 6 teacher in the Manteo Elementary School, will be one of the highlights of open house. Another feature of the evening will be the story hour children’s play under the direction of Mrs. Jeannetta Henning. Cartoons submitted by the stu dents of Manteo Elementary and High School will be on display. Mrs. J. C. Bardin and her commit tee will judge and announce the winners. The library will award books as prizes. the evening will end with a tour of the library’s special ex hibits of new books, distribution of the 1960 Notable Books lists, and refreshments. In addition to the regular Mon day night hours, the library will observe the week by staying open Tuesday, April 8, until 8 p.m. to receive the Lions Club as honored guests. The public will be welcome to any of these special events to pro mote reading and a knowledge of the Dare County Library’s resourc es. 30 ON HATTERAS ISLAND ORGANIZE LIONS CLUB Curtis Gray President; Charter Night Saturday; 200 Visitors Expected Some 30 young men of Hatteras Island have organized a Lions Club, with Curtis Gray of Buxton acting President, and Charter night ban quet is planned Saturday night, April 15 at the High School. Some 200 out-of-town invited guests are expected. The Lions Clubs are affiliated with a national group, and engage in civic and community activities. Other Lions* Clubs of the area are in Swan Quarter, Belhaven, and Manteo. MAIL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO BOX 428 MANTEO, N. C. NOT TO INDIVIDUALS Single Copy HATTERAS GROUP WINS FIGHT FOR BETTER FERRIES Mew Schedules to Begin April 24th; Ferry Crewmen to Wear Uniforms A long-standing demand of the citizens of Hatteras Island for bet ter feny service across Oregon In let, and for putting employes op ' erating the boats in uniform, came to a successful conclusion this week as the result of citizens having re cently organized some 300 s ! rong, and going as far as Raleigh to see the Governor, with their appeal for relief from conditions which offer a great economic threat. The ferry division now plans to operate the boats from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Crew members and pilots will be required to wear un'forms, there by presenting a better ap pearance to tourists. Woodrow Ed wards of Waves, a retired officer in Charge of Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station has been employed as one of the pilots. The united effort of the citizens, led by Mr. Edwards, resulted in forming the Hatteras Island Bet terment Association. The gr .up earned their appeal for improved service to the State Highway Com mission, and failing to get the re lief demanded carried their appeal to Governor Terry Sanford, who promised to aid as far as he could. For his efforts in behalf of his neighbors, Mr. Edwards was re warded by employment on the boats, due to his knowledge of the waters and of the area and the people. The Highway Commission plans to let a contract this month to open the old channel, whereby the short run of 20 minutes may be establish ed. This channel having filled up last year, makes it necessary to take the long way across. As a re sult traffic is tied up for huors, and not adequately handled. DEDICATION THURSDAY OF PLAQUE IN THE ELIZABETHAN GARDENS On April 20th, at 2:30 pjn., a large bronze plaque on the front wall of the Elizabethan Garden on Roanoke Island near Manteo, will 'be dedicated. Mrs. J. B. A. Daugh tridge of Rocky Mount, President lof the Garden Club of North Caro lina, Inc., will preside. Mrs. Inglis I Fletcher will give the dedicatory address. The honored guests will ! be the four women who have been chairman of the Elizabethan Gar den Committee since the decision to build this Garden in 1951—Mrs. J. M. Tyler, Kinston; Mrs. Glenn Long, Newton; Mrs. Roy Home wood, Chapel Hill and Mrs. Cor bett Howard, Goldsboro. The money to pay for this plaque has been raised as a tribute to these women. The inscription on the plaque, written by Mrs. Fletcher, is as follows: “Down the centuries English wo men have built gardens to the Glory of God, the beauty of the countryside and the comfort of their souls. The women of the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., have plant ed this Garden in memory of the valiant men and women who found ed the first English Colony in America. From this hallowed ground they walked away through the dark for est and into history.” “1585—1951” The Garden is now in full bloom and for the next several weeks will be especially beautiful with dog woods, azaleas, camellias and other spring flowers. The Knot Garden is exquisite with gay pansies and edgings of helleri holly. The Mount, See GARDENS, Page Seven JAYCEE PLANNING MEET AT COURTHOUSE FRIDAY NIGHT SET FOR 8 O'CLOCK The possibility of organizing a Junior Chamber of Commerce in Manteo will be discussed at an open meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight (Friday) at the courthouse in Manteo. On hand will be Ralph Basnight of the Plymouth Jaycees, and Bob Brown of Ahoskie, North Carolina vice-president of the organization. A film will be shown and explana tion of Jaycee functions will be made. At a preliminary meeting held last week, Charles Hines was ap pointed temporary chairman and Carl Hayes, temporary secretary and membership chairman. The Junior Chamber of Com merce is a civic service organiza tion whose membership is open to young men between the ages of 21 and 35. Purpose of the organi sation is the improvement of the communities in which units are located and personal development of its members; both objectives being accomplished through a wide variety of project activities.
The Coastland Times (Manteo, N.C.)
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April 14, 1961, edition 1
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