Contents
Story
Decoys
Credits
🟡 LARGE RESEARCH VOLUME
OWNERS
Edna Heslep
Edna Bjerke
1950s origin
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
Opal Hill, Mary Austin
–lost to arson-Jan. 1987
LOCATION
Shackleford Banks, east end of Wade Shore
Story
do you know more? contact me.
Edna’s Camp
Chris Sabiston interview (March, 2021)
EDNA HESLET CAMP
Her camp was between the Ghermann Holland and Dr Moore camps–hers was more near the shore, with a dock and in the Wade’s Shore area alongside (about 300 yards west) of Gherman’s near the “walkover” path to the beach.). On the walkover path was a water pump used for washing off. Dr Moore was on the “walk-over” more toward the beach. From the shore, there was a high white dune seen in the area and the tree line stopped in the area of the camps. There were still telephone poles thru the area.
Young folk like Chris -(pre ’67 when he graduated from high school)- “would go over for a week or so each spring to fix the roof, screens or whatever was needed, to earn the right to use the camp thru the year.” Billy Stanley was over at the camp some during those years.
Chris related that “you can not pay any amount of money to have that much fun”.
One time , they had a parachute and took turns throwing people up into the air -”like the Eskimos do in Alaska”.
.
Edna was Dr Moore’s longstanding nurse. She often would loan or rent her camp to others. An 80- year-old couple from up north (Massachusetts?) who came down each year–they stayed all month without a boat, having supplies brought over to them periodically–repeated their visits for 10 years. . Her camp had a gas stove and frig and a well. Chris remembers that she had a “deed” from the King giving ownership of the property. Chris was there in the early 60s and believes she had the camp in the 50s.
from the back cover of her book about practicing with Dr. Moore.
——————–
Dr Moore’s camp is remembered as being a block building, more substantial–?concrete blocks possibly- with flat top.
Looking east, there was a shore/hammock jutting out into the shoreline.
Chris became connected with Miss Edna through the Mason family. Ronald Earl and Joyce Mason (Register of Deeds and at one time, in the legislature). Chris was at the camp with Cindy and Angela Mason, Sam Thomas, Teresa Brown, Billy Stanley and others.
46–Edna Heslep Bjerke
It took a lot of work at the pitcher pump to fill the “bathtub”–the water was fine for bathing, not for drinking.
Ever-present livestock with the “walk-through” to the beach behind them.
Edna’s camp holds memories for the many friends with whom she shared her sound-side camp.
Dr. More’s camp at head of Whale Creek–seen from Edna’s.
seen from the west–aerial photo by Bob Simpson (NPS files)
falling into dis-use and water encroachment
Looking east toward Bald Head Bay–cabin roofs visible.
The Lewis family had an memorable catch.
Laura Lewis– interview 4-28-21
Laura’s mother was Opel Hill (Clerk of Court and County Commissioner)
who has been identified by some interviews as having a camp on Shackleford.
Laura relates that she did not own camp and that the camp associated with her was that of Edna Heslep. Opel served as caretaker of Edna’s camp after the death of Edna’s husband Hess and when Edna had trouble getting over there. Edna would occasionally visit there with them, however.
Edna was granted lifetime rights to her camp because she had a deed and documented ownership. The camp was near Dr. Moore and Gherman Holland. Laura who is now 66 years young said she stayed there every July 4th and lots of weekends.
The same is true, Laura states, for the history of Mary Austin’s camp. References to her camp also were because of her use of Edna’s camp. Mary Austin was Clerk of Court also—but a different tenure.
The camp was destroyed by arson carried out by “the boys” who were not going to allow others to have their respective camps when the “boys” were losing theirs to the NPS.
In the photos of Edna’s camp is one of “The Catch”— when Laura’s niece and nephew “caught” the large shark in knee deep water. The group was eating supper–kids and parents and friends– when the line with live bait that had been left out the back of the boat could be heard playing out of the reel.–”going out”. Laura’s husband ran out and , with difficulty, pulled in a large shark.
5-28-21 interview–Laura and Robbie Lewis-Beaufort
Laura’s parents-David and Opel Hill- often went with Edna and Hess to the camp before Hess died in the early 70s. Bill Bjerke and Edna did not have a boat and did not utilize the camp and the Hill’s took over caretaker status. First of every Spring, there was a “fix-up” trip to the camp by the Heslep and Hill families.
Laura is sure that Edna had a deed of ownership–possibly from Dr Moore–and received a 25 yr lease at the Park takeover. Unfortunately, Edna’s camp was burned the night before the NPS takeover, by the “boys” of HI (Emma Guthrie tells). They were unhappy someone could retain their camp when they themselves were losing theirs–though they had deficient documentation of ownership. Chris Sabiston told me that Edna told him that she had a deed that went “back to the Queen”.
The dock was built in the 70s–the artwork showing the camp is from photo/ or memory before that time. When built, the dock had a deck built to one side.
Robbie and Laura flew and one pic is from the air in 1982.
One 1982 pic shows Lisa and cousin Roberta on the screen porch.
Many families gathered there, by invite or spontaneously, for oyster or clam roasts and fellowship. Frank and Peggy Langdale, Eskine Blankenship and family, Paula and Bruce Cayton.
Mary Austin was there also but may have also had a camp more to the west–Laura is unsure–Eddie Willis had thought so. (It was in the Holland “annex” of camps)
Gas stove, hand-pump water for washing dishes and flushing toilet and “brought “water for drinking and cooking. Unsure of where the toilet exit went–maybe straight pipe at first then later into a large buried drum barrel.
David and Opel always had the 4th of July reserved for their week of use among other times–(Cary and Peggy Blount of Morehead went there as her guests).
One storm caught the Lewis’ unaware in summer and water came high–David tied the boat to the back steps of the camp and Joe Lane Lewis from Harkers Island came in a bigger boat to ferry those at Edna’s and Gherman’s camp to the island–the boat survived, tied off to the back.
Laura remembers that Dr. Moore’s camp had been the Coast Guard Hospital–she felt secure in her memory.
“The Trash Collector” came every morning. Leftovers, cans, bottles and all trash was thrown on a pile in back of the camp. At daylight, a large wild boar came daily to get rid of the trash–”including the cans”
Near later years, Frank Landale brought over an old army truck with the back opened up for rides over to the ocean and such.
Robbie and Laura stayed there every summer with their last visit being the year it was destroyed.
Loading up tor return home.
Laura’s best memory was that of the large, multifamily gatherings for cookout/clams/oysters and youth and adults gathered as community to enjoy the Banks. They did not do baseball, or set activities–kids found things do do in free-style , inventive fashion.
Robbie and Laura
Austin’s and guests at camp.
Kitchen.
Hanging out on the dock.
January, 1987–the camp fell victim to arson. The Austin’s considered and were approved to build another structure on the half acre 25 year lease but no camp was built. (see Austin’s story separately)
Credits
- Bob Simpson–aerial photos–from NPS files
- Chris Sabiston–Beaufort
- Mark Hooper–photo
- Robbie and Laura Lewis–Beaufort
- Other references within text