Friends of Hammocks Beach and Bear Island plan to honor Saturday the North Carolina Teacher’s Association, the only organization for African American educators in the state, and a fundamental part of Hammocks Beach State Park history.
Set for 3 p.m. in the teacher’s building at 1572 Hammock Beach Road, Swansboro, the nonprofit friends group is recognizing “those who paved the way to help shape our coastline through the preservation of Bear Island and shaped the minds of many, through education,” organizers said.
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The $40 donation covers entry to the event and a meal. Register online.
The land that is now Hammocks Beach State Park was purchased by Dr. William Sharpe, a white neurosurgeon, in the 1940s for hunting and fishing. Sharpe hired John Hurst, a Black country club guide, to manage the site.
Sharpe intended to leave the land to the Hurst family, but Mrs. Gertrude Hurst, who was a school teacher, suggested the property be donated to theNorth Carolina Teachers Association, to provide recreational opportunities for Black residents in a segregated state, according to the state park.
In the early 1950s, the park became a gathering space for Black residents. In 1961, the state park was created, becoming the first coastal park in North Carolina specifically for Black visitors. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the park was integrated.
“FHBI proudly honors the North Carolina Teacher’s Association and hopes that you will join us as we share a meal and celebrate the memories that helped to create a space unlike any other,” the group said.
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