The Barden Cottage–1907 Keeper’s Quarters

Story
Decoys
Credits

Bob Blevins is a Cape Lookout Park Artist in Residence

🟡 STRONG RESEARCH VOLUME

OWNERS

Graham A. Barden, Jr.
Mary Moulton Barden

1950s–land

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

Graham A. Barden, Sr.

Graham A. Barden, III

LOCATION
Cape Lookout Bight

Story

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The Barden Cottage—The Keeper’s Cottage

Graham, Jr., as a “kid”, went down to Harkers Island and Cape Lookout for fishing trips with his father—Graham, Sr. At the Cape, the would stay at Miss Carrie’s store (which apparently had limited rooms for guests. They had an 18 foot “bateau” rigged with a 3 or 4 horsepower Briggs and Stratton inboard engine. Graham loved the Cape.

As a teenager, Graham once left home on the Trent River in New Bern early in the day and, in this small boat, ran all the way down to Cape Lookout—taking most of the day.

Sam Whitehurst was the law partner of Graham, Sr. and, in the late 40’s or early 50’s, had much to do with the Torrens Act actions on and near Cape Lookout. Whitehurst had obtained a deeded lot on the Bight of the Cape described by Graham, III as “400 y 50 feet at low tide and 200 by 50 feet at high tide”. Knowing of Graham, Jr.s love of ther Cape, Whitehurst gave him the lot as a wedding present. This became the eventual site of the Barden Cottage.

Graham, Jr. and Mary at the Coast Guard Station

A friend of Graham, Jr. was in Norfolk and ran across the notice of the ongoing “auction” of the Cape Lookout Keeper’s Cottage in government notices. On return to New Bern, he notified Graham, Jr. (“Bardie”—as he was called) of the opportunity. Bardie, Mel Langston and another friend from Pamlico County partnered to make a bid. $666.66 was offered and won the bid—most bids were for $1-2 but committing to move or demolish the structure.

Awarded in December and with a March first deadline imposed or lose the structure to demolition and being charged for its removal by the Coast Guard, the partners were challenged to succeeded during this challenging time of year. A new Bern experience house mover, Collins, arrived with a flat bed truck, hand jacks, and a bulldozer for the task. Bardie wanted the central chimney kept intact—an additional challenge. the core of the structure was solidly built, although windows and doors were missing and deterioration and vandalism had left their marks.

To move the Keeper’s Quarters down the beach road meant encountering power lines and Collins approached the chief at the Coast Guard Station for permission to drop and protect the uncut cables till the structure was moved past and then replace them as they were. The chief would not give permission without calling Norfolk—and he would do it later in the day. Collins knew that meant “NO” from a bureaucratic desk far away—he went ahead without approval. Returning later in the day, with lines already replace, he asked for the answer—“No, they were government property—not allowed”—to which Collins informed them the task was already done—candidly asking forgiveness.

Placement facing the water failed to give th best prevailing breezes but work commenced in it’s repair. The partners were not long after bought out by Graham—they were not coming do3wn much at all. Graham, III remembers his first trip to the cottage being at about 2 years of age. Windows, doors and a bathroom were in place by that time. The cottage became their favorite vacation spot for all the family—for years to come.

After Bardens departed, the Park service maintains the cottage as part of the Historic Village

Graham, Sr. visited but never established ownership elsewhere on the Banks. The inlet bears his name, however, since after entering Congress, Barden enabled the dredging and establishment of a permanent inlet. The 1933 storm had opened a cut that allowed access to the Cape from Core Sound, but it had begun to shoal and close—threatening the livelihood of local fishermen. The new Congressman, in 1938, was assigned to the Waterways Committee and he discovered that he could work to add the inlet to the yearly dredging plans by the government—not even needing a separate bill. He endeared himself to the community which he had long cherished. (Before the inlet opened, the 10 miles of Shackleford waters had to be traversed to get to fishing waters and the return hauling heavy loads of fish was even more burdensome.)

Four generations of the Barden family cherished their experiences on Cape Lookout Bight.

Chase and Emily–children of Graham, III and Nora Barden on the porch of the cottage.

Neighbors at Casablanca (many), the Nash’s, the Bournes, Wiley and June Long, Dr. Latham, the Reeves and Bass families, Les and Sallie Moore and others merged into a small community. Cape Lookout Village, just up the sandy road, became included in the National Registry of Historic Sites through their efforts to push the Park Service into preserving this community and the preceding histories of this village.

The Barden’s supported Dr. Keith Rittmaster’s Marine Science School at the abandoned Coast Guard Station, where Graham, III erected a wind turbine and solar panels there and helped with similar projects for Haywood Holderness at Casablanca. As the National Seashore was being established, the Bardens consistently advocated for protection of the natural area and of the landholders rights. The evolution of the presentation to landholders was a weaving, evolving and bureaucratic maze of reassurances and choices—from state and federal politicians and Park Service representatives. The result left many feeling victimized by the decade of transition to a Park.

Graham A. Barden, III

Te Barden’s did eventually obtain a 25 year lease along with about $25,000 as purchase price.

They filled those 25 years with joy and memories of time at Lookout Bight. The cottage was their “get-away”. Here, they all learned how to prepare, improvise—to make do in an isolated but precious environment— like none other. Exploring for and of shipwrecks, riding and spinning the ancient Willis jeep on the mud flats, capturing the bounty of the seashore offerings of fish-scallops-oysters, adventuresome exploring of the Banks, the play atop and within the WW II gun mounts, or listening to tales from David e, just up the sandy road a piece—you could easily fill a day. And the nights!—Graham’s mom had difficulty convincing him that the thick Milky Way was a constellation of stars—Graham argued that it had to be a cloud.

Aerial shows remains of Ms. Carrie’s store to left, the Barden cottage, the Hussey-Nash house and original 1915 Jetty worker’s house on right–nestled close to shore on eastern portion of the Bight.

The Park Service Historic Structure Report for the 1907 Keepers Quarters can be accessed at the site below:

Cape Lookout Lighthouse Keeper’s Dwelling (1907), 2004 (pdf, 25.7 MB)