James Ray Willis Camp

Contents

Story
Decoys
Credits

🟡 AVERAGE RESEARCH VOLUME

OWNERS

James Ray Willis

Date

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

Wilbur Nelson

Elmo Gaskill


LOCATION
North Core Banks, Wib’s

Story

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James Ray Willis Camp

James Ray Willis had the camp alongside Clay and June Fucher, third camp up the road from the head of Wib’s (formerly Styron) creek. The camp pictured was built at the site of Wilbur Nelson’s house which Willis had acquired . That Nelson two-story structure with upstairs bedrooms was used to house fishermen and hunters he hosted. Elmo Gaskil (1980-2003)l, and wife Wanda, later used the camp–as did others.

James Ray earlier had hunted with Lambert Morris at Merkle Hammock. Lambert Morris built a camp out of a garage building, had made a floor out of snow-sand fencing.  James Ray took over Lambert’s garage camp for a while before moving down to Wibs.  He stayed a Wib’s old house after abandoning the Merkle Hammock site.  Willis tore down Wib’s old house and built a new camp there.  He often stayed there alone.

more recent day photo of the High Hills camp of Judge Lambert Morriss

Morris placed a garage building at the High Hills. insulated it and sealed it off–could stay there in winter–James Ray Willis helped construct the camp.

At Wib’s:

2020 photo shows the remaining chimney foundation from George Hill’s house (destroyed in 1933) that sat in front of the Willis camp–seen in the camp photo.
Park files contain this hand-drawn map showing cabins and owners–Freddie Hooper helped draw it.

James Ray Willis camp is on far left of photo alongside the red Fulche “little camp”–the dock and Hooper’s camp are at the head of the creek.

Google Earth showing site and remaining camps–this site will be the location for the new Park cabins on North Core–replacing Long Point.
The chimney foundation of George Hill’s camp is seen in this photo.

A 1977 NPS structural survey described the dwelling in “fair” condition–creosote pilings, asphalt shingle roof, good wood frame construction and an outhouse rotted. Madge Nelson and Willie Mason were noted to be attached to the property by tax records.

“Wibb’s at Mile #12 North Core Banks —Wilbur Nelson’s camp site (1930s, 40s 50s)—camp was owned by James Ray Willis (Atlantic)—main use was Elmo Gaskill (Atlantic) 1980-2003.—notations on back of photo of camp above.

Aerial shows the camps–remains of old Wib’s fishing camp buildings are seen up the road–upper right.
NPS document from files
aerial
from Connie Mason interview of Elmo Gaskill –he discussed the cabins in the area
A “Who’s Who” of hunters, owners and builders associated with Wib’s.

Decoys

These photos of Edwin Binney decoys are holding spots for future additions of related Wib’s photos

Credits

  1. Clay Fulcher, III–Atlantic
  2. NPS files and archives
  3. Connie Mason interview of Elmo Gaskill for CALO interview project
  4. Other references within text