Contents
Story
Decoys
Credits
🟡 AVERAGE RESEARCH VOLUME
OWNERS
Clay and June Fulcher
purchased from Benny Styron in early 1970s
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
Lloyd Nelson –built 1962
LOCATION
North Core Banks, “Wib’s”
Story
do you know more? contact me.
Title
Clay and June Fulcher Camp—
next up the road from Freddie Hooper at Wib’s
LLOYD and ALICE (Hill) NELSON ————
The camp was built around 1962 by Lloyd Nelson , of Atlantic,. He worked at Cedar Island.
Built with help of carpenter Aulbert Mason (master carpenter and father of KaraJo, Charles Styron’s mother). He was a commercial fisherman and the tender of the bridge at the “Thoroughfare”.
George Hill had the first known camp at this site (from mid 1800s till 1933) and the chimney remains from his house.
In the early 70s, the house was sold to Benny Styron who kept it just a year and sold it to Clay snd June. George Hill was an ancestor of Lloyd’s wife.
This area had been owned by and known by the Styron name earlier..
With evolving difficulty for water access to the “big camp” and deterioration in that structure, Clay and June decided to purchase the smaller camp at Wib’s. Clay told that he and June started going to the Webb’s (Wib’s) camp area in 1956.
The “little camp “suited their needs in size and convenience and became a treasure to June and the kids. There was a survey mush-marker under the edge of the porch and 3 mush-markers triangulated around the property.
There was a water pump with double siphons up in the dunes between the cabins and beach–had the best water on the banks (except that in the High Hills).
“Living off the island was a part of it–fish, clams, oysters-gathering from the seaside what was needed.”
“Fixed up nice/ outdoor toilet/ a chemical toilet inside/ 2 outside showers/one bedroom with window facing SW which had a double bed–nice place for 4 –put nets up in bunk room to keep kids from falling out of bed.
At the time of imminent NPS takeover–Clay said he went over to the banks to cut the grass–and was feeling it was not worth the fight to hold onto access legally—then he said to himself–“that’s not right–I’ve had the best of it and the kids deserve to have it too”—he and June fought and got a 25 yr lease- on the Wib’s “little camp”——“thought it was a long time in younger years–25 yrs feels not as long now”.
—They got control of the road and of the dock to keep control of development and access–NPS could come inspect with notice first.
Clay emphasized, they were “not just squatters”, but owners of Banks properties–Wib’s/ the Banks– ”What it meant to people–to our family–a lasting thing”– “I’m showing you this history so you can see (how precious it was). Clay later took me to this area of the Banks to see it for myself.
Neighbor toward the creek was Freddy Hooper (from Mill Creek) -whose camp-had been bought with 3 other guys. He was an accountant at Cherry Point–his son, Rev. Bill Hooper, told Clay—“You know, Clay, when I dream, you know what i dream about–I dream about being to the Banks.”
June and the kids especially loved the camp. Prolonged summer and school vacation times were spent on the Banks. Clay “commuted” across the sound–bringing any needed supplies along. The kids, after feeling a little bored the first day, quickly fell into the Banks routine–plenty of freedom and exploration interwoven with the responsibility of helpful chores.
After Clay’s father’s death, his mother spent fifty days on the Banks with Clay checking in frequently. The camp was integral to the Fulcher family spiritual life.
James Ray Willis’ camp was the next camp inshore up the road. In front of the Willis camp were the remains of the George Hill house fireplace–all that is left after the 1933 storm.
Remains of George Hill’s chimney at Wib’s————Clay relates that the home was destroyed in the 1933 storm .—-(remaining at the site and near a geodetic marker, this was the site of Clay Fulcher’s camp—chimney base seen in some photos of that camp.
1977 Park Service Survey Document–below
The Wib’s community was on the Nelson Camps lands (pier marked on the creek with road marked)–further north (to right) is the “big camp” site
Wib’s was a community shared by like-minded families. They helped each other, looked out for each other and cherished their experiences. The cabin owners had a 99 year leases obtained from Madge Nelson (Wilbur Mason’s sister) and this allowed their getting 25 year use of their camps after park takeover.
At first, there were mostly men there, over time –in spring and summer, it became a family place//hunting in the winter however.
“June has had some of her best times there–took the kids over–Clay was working–she loved it–got there and kids were bored for first 1 to 2 days then they were wide open”.
Clay was busy with boats and fish houses. June stayed more at the “little camp” than the “big camp” She could walk to the beach/ the boats were near by to mullet fish or catch soft crabs– or they could just go beach combing.
Clay loved to hunt duck and shorebirds with Jack Rose. Told as a “fish-house lie”– He or Jack would drive the command car and the other sat on the fender of the vehicle ready for a shot at shorebirds on the beach.
Trash?—everbody had a trash pile–there was no plastic, paper was burned and glass saved, tin cans rusted out into dissapearance. There was not much trash till plastics became prominent. Trash was thrown into the Yaupon bushes.
Water—they had cistern water–couldn’t get good water near the shoreline-they-had pumps in bathrooma and kitchen — it was between fresh to brackish–used for washing.
Out on the hills–the ridge toward the beach–a deep pipe with double strainer –could produce 15 gallons of good water before pumping sand—all supplied by a rainwater bubble collected under the sand. Jebb Smith later put an electric pump on it and ran it dry.
Wib’s creek–they kept it dug out, not supposed to do it, but there was not much water in the creek. They would tie two in-board boats stern to stern–one ahead and one back swirled up everything–Sammy often worked this project.
Camps generally faced the ocean to get the prevsiling breeze. You really had to love it–to put up with the insects, sand, and all–you would have 2 good days a week at times.
“So many stories–different people– different times”–(Elmo Gaskill, James Ray Willis, Dr. Kendall, Sammy Salter, Jack Rose, Frank and Monty Nelson, Lloyd Nelson, Wilbert mason, Freddy Hooper, Daryl Willis, John Lupton, Sammy Mason, Joe Fulcher, and many others were part of this community).
“There were a lot of families there–got together–cranked ice cream.”
About 1970, they got 3 wheelers–enjoyed those–at first rode anywhere– but soon after became thoughtful of the dunes and grass.
There were seals on the beach three times–they would come scross the sand to the sound side.
Jarvis was Clay’s favorite dog–he would go to the closet and pull his food out and put it on the counter but without opening it.
June told Clay-”why don’t you write your own damn book!?”–she was right.
Clay, with sons and grandson on the Banks–
I cannot do justice to the colorful stories and the extensive historical information Clay shared about the Fulcher family camps and th others up and down the North Core Banks. I could experience, through Clay, the allowed and rich memories of and connection to the Banks.
Clay had compiled maps, deeds and artifacts of his ancestors and their historical connections to prior inhabitants on the Banks, The Pilentary Club, and, from memory, Clay could tell of the other camps along the shore. The framework for what I compile is rooted in his shared passion and his mentoring of my efforts. I will ever be grateful for our times together.
In the end, they didn’t burn it–so the NPS had a problem with people over that–Bentley Brooks got a contarct to tear them down and haul them off instead.
Gallery
Credits
- Clay Fulcher, III
- NPS files and archives
- Other references within text