When the cannery that opened in Marshallberg, a little village in Down East Carteret County, in 1937 ran out of oysters, tomatoes or other crops to can, they turned to canning sea turtles, writes historian David Cecelski.
Places
Bittersweet event: Restored Reaves Chapel to be dedicated
The long, challenging restoration of one of the oldest African American buildings in southeastern North Carolina is finally complete, albeit after the death of one who spent the last 15 years of his life fighting to preserve it.
Lockwood Folly has a name as unique as its history
Wake Tech Community College history instructor Eric Medlin dives into the possibilities of how the river and inlet in Brunswick County earned its name.
Bertie native, NCCU dean: Coastal identity a cultural blend
Dr. Arwin Smallwood of North Carolina Central University says in the eastern part of the state particularly, Native, African and European cultures are blended into a shared identity “forged over hundreds of years.”
Working Lives: The Herring Fisheries at Plymouth 1939
Using photos taken in 1939, historian David Cecelski illustrates the final days of two of the oldest herring seine fisheries on the North Carolina coast.
Sleepy Creek trail segment planners intend to ‘keep it wild’
The idea behind a planned new portion of Mountains-to-Sea Trail through the Holly Shelter Game Land’s lush pocosin in Pender County is to lure hikers safely away from Highway 17 and most other signs of civilization.
Dan Spinella replicates Hatteras lens parts piece by piece
The owner of Artworks Florida Classic Fresnel Lenses has been busy reproducing the 1,008 prisms and hundreds of other mechanisms and components as part of the project to restore the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
The Down East way: Harkers Island to celebrate waterfowl
This weekend, Carteret County’s historic traditions — and food — take the spotlight with the three-day Waterfowl Weekend, including the 36th annual Core Sound Decoy Festival.
Ocracoke a beacon of maritime history, quiet attraction
Accessible only by water or small aircraft, the barrier island and its villagers see the population swell each summer as visitors flock to its history, restaurants, nature and beaches.
Maps may yield clearest clues to ‘nation’s oldest mystery’
Archaeologist Eric Klingelhofer of the First Colony Foundation says a review of historic maps indicates that the Croatan tribe who had befriended the Roanoke colonists did not live year-round on Hatteras Island, so the missing English settlers likely just crossed the sound.
Preserved Skinnersville church bears builders’ handprints
Rural Washington County is home to a restored 170-year-old house of worship on the National Register, and the nonprofit group formed to restore the structure likely built by enslaved people says it offers revealing glimpses into our past.
Lost riverfront destination, Bayview Hotel nearly forgotten
Bayview on the Pamlico River is best known these days for its ferry terminal used by phosphate mine employees, but nearly a century ago, it was starting to gain attention for its grand hotel.
Museum to mark 125th anniversary of Ca’e Bankers’ exodus
The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center is host for the Diamond City Homecoming, a celebration of the hearty Cape Banks residents forced inland by storms 125 years ago.
The Road to Mashoes
Historian David Cecelski’s curiosity about the small Dare County community led to a deep dive into the old fishing village.
St. James folk bask among beauty, birds certification brings
The town of St. James in Brunswick County recently became the only coastal town to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat, a relatively easy-to-get distinction through a National Wildlife Foundation program.
Murfreesboro poised for growth balanced with preservation
This perhaps lesser-known older coastal town’s embrace of its history, scenery, significant architecture and long tradition of educational excellence is driving both its economy and its push for preservation.
