EARL NOE CAMP

Earl Noe, Sr., Earl Mac Noe, and Clifton Noe

EARL NOE, Sr.  ( from interview with Clifton Noe, grandson)

Earl Noe had a long connection with Portsmouth and his varied camps and friendships there were a gift flowing to multiple generations of his family.  Family documents show him active there in the early 50s–initially having a camp up the path from his eventual  long-term camp alongside Doctor’s Creek  and across from Henry Piggot’s home.  His first  Portsmouth camp was “Hubert Pulley’s Camp”,  just up the path from the camp on Doctor’s Creek. (below)

Armtek, an up-state company, had a 8×16 trailer–like structure that could be pulled from the village to the beach for use while surf-fishing. Company owners and guests used this till it was given to Earl Noe (probably in the early 60’s -since deed to his property was executed in 1965, giving him a 99 year lease from Elma Dixon).  Earl would, early on, make an 8 hour trip to Cedar Island for the crossing. “Hand bridges” got him across water barriers.  The 8×16 structure was moved near the shore alongside Doctor’s Creek and eventually included an 8×16 addition and 8x 16 porch (that being the convenient materials lengths) and later added a net house for decoys, boots ,nets and much else–along with a generator “house”.  

Clifton Noe began going over at age five, preceded by “Earl Mac” Noe (his dad) having long since becoming a frequent visitor there.  Surf fishing was a frequent goal of sport, but many days involved repairing the roads and bridges as part of community efforts prior to relaxation. Not uncommon would be three days of hauling sand and repairing road and bridges before sport. 

(Clifton made me promise to include the fact that there was work involved at Portsmouth, as well)

Earl Noe also built a fine new outhouse for Lillian Babb.  There were always chores and projects at the banks.  

At the start, Junis Austin came over from Ocracoke to mow the village grass and serve as general caretaker–until the state took over.  The mowing tractor had platforms alongside each front wheel and off the back for passengers–for projects or to the beach for surf fishing.  Red drum and “channel bass”  and “Hatteras Blues” (huge bluefish) were the main targets.

The Flying Fisherman’s Club, started by Charlie Veillenes, was based at the old Coast Guard Station, which he had leased for $1 per year when the Coast Guard abandoned the site.  There was also a bus–a “Greyhound style bus”- owned by the fishing club and based at the High Hills area.  Years later, the only remains of the bus was the vertical steering wheel shaft and wheel sticking straight up out of the sand.  

Clifton relates that evenings after supper, folk would gather at Elma Dixon’s  or Lillian Babb’s house for an evening of talk and tales.  Adults got the chairs, so kids lay on the floor, and listened to tales of past days or events.  Clifton cannot recall any of them but can remember that they were good times.  Henry Pigott would be there, having shared supper with Edna.  Edna was hard of hearing /deaf -some said.  As Lillian Gray and Henry told stories, Clifton recalls that she would call out “That’s not right” to which Henry would reply: “Thought you couldn’t hear”.

There were plenty of fig trees around Elma’s house and Clifton remembers hot days cooking and preserving figs with his grandfather.

Neither the “new” camp nor their prior camp at the prior Hubert Pulley camp were given names (though Pulley had given his camp a name, forgotten to Clifton)–just called by their owner’s name.

Dr. Tom and Ann Best got married in the Methodist Church.  Clifton said there must have been “ a hundred beach buggies” there that day.  Dr. Best worked at Sea Level Hospital and would fly over to check on health concerns of the Portsmouth crowd.

Everyone coming over would bring supplies or food items for the full-time residents.

Earl especially was mindful of Henry.  A dock crossed the creek up toward the head connecting Henry’s house with the village and with Earl’s.

Earl built a dock at their landing.  He also constructed a hand-made wooden “trailer” with slatted and wide wooden wheels–two at rear and one at front.  It could be hand rolled into the water and standing on the outer part to sink it, the skiff could be floated atop the device.  A wire cable connected to a motorized winch and powered by the 4 wheeler jumper cables was used to pull the skiff to high ground when prudent.

The family album shows herds of family and friends gathered for Thanksgiving, Dr. Best’s wedding, or frequent family events.

Earl, Sr. had a 1965 deed/ lease for 99 years but it was not registered at the Register of Deeds till 1969 and though notarized,his failure to record the deed shortened Earl’s use of the cabin to Ms. Dixon’s lifespan and not the 99 years that would have been received, if registered.

Clifton remembers many of the homes with furnishings and possessions left behind–as though they left with only the clothes on their back.  Left untouched in his youth, upon returning as an adult years later, found theft and vandalism had left unpleasant marks.

Earl Noe was called “the Old Man” by many at Portsmouth–he had flown? with Piedmont Airlines–and was at the “big camp” with the Fulcher family on occasion–Clay Fulcher remembered.

Clifton remembered others in the community:

ELLEN CLOUD, DALE MUTRA and JAMES BARRY GASKILL  (his dad was Lumm Gaskill, the last Portsmouth Postmaster)–possessed Edna Dixon’s house for a time after her death.

CHARLIE VEILLINES

the “Sugar Shack” was the name given to the smaller outbuilding of the Coast /guard Station.  Across the landing strip from the station, Clifton thinks it may have been the detached cook house for the CG.  “Sis”, his wife and he are pictured cooking in the “Sugar Shack”.

RICHARD HAMILTON–

Katy Noes’ dad, had a nice camp in Portsmouth with cistern, bathroom, water and a storage shed.  There was clear documented ownership of  the camp and the Park Service was allowing it to remain in ownership .  It was targeted and burned by two  jealous and angered men who had lost their camps.  It was, she believes-near Jimmy Chadwick’s camp.  Katie remembers the banks as “ hot “and “no air”.

JIMMY CHADWICK, DALLAS and DOT (Salter) WILLIS —

(she was Ben Salter’s daughter) were some of the many others connected to the banks mentioned by Clifton.

HENRY PIGGOT

Clifton describes Henry as a quiet man in his experiences around him/ Clifton was always over there/ Henry and Elma functioned as a couple in many ways through the year–he ate supper with her every night.

BEN SALTER,

ROSS SALTER

TOM SALTER–HAD A CAMP THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME-

BOBBY HILL’S camp