Contents
Story
Decoys
Credits
🟡 AVERAGE RESEARCH VOLUME
OWNERS
Carl and Violet Josenhans
1915
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
George A. Holderness–1922 purchase
NPS designation–“Jetty Worker’s House #2”
LOCATION
Southern Core Banks–Cape Lookout Bight–
Story
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Title
Carl Jonathan Josenhans worked in the Wilmington District from 1909 to 1919 and again from 1926 until his retirement in 1943. Josenhans remained in the engineering section of the district for most of his tenure in Wilmington, among other things designing three of the bridges over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Lock and Dam 3.
Carl and Violet Josenhans (of Wilmington) conveyed the “Josenhans Cottage” to Samuel E. Clark (of Wilson) Feb. 15, 1918. The deed states -“erected by said Josenhans for use during the construction of the breakwater” —June 1, 1915. (Located at the corner of the John Rose property.) The Carteret County Regiaster of deeds finds no deeds of acquisition of this property by the Josenhans or the U.S. or State governments. (Deed Book 38-pg208-9)–The simple nature of the early structure seen below might suggest that this was the shoreside work office since the cottage is elevated and away from the shore.
A family visitor recorded this reference and drawing in their diary. Content discusses Josenhans’ improvements to the cottage. (courtesy of Chad O’Shields, Wilmington)
There is no history to suggest that jetty workers were housed in this home–(making this and the Hussey cottage, alongside, mis-identified as jetty worker housing) the family and extended guest stays would have taken up the bedrooms. Journal entries by visiting family never mention others in the home overnight beyond the family.
When Clark conveyed the property to George A. Holderness on March 10, 1922, Holderness also obtained a deed for Lots 4,5 and 6 (Block 21, subdivision B) from the Cape Lookout Development Company. This might suggest that ownership of the land was in question.
An overview map of the planned development of the Cape and plot map showing the location of lots 4.5 and 6 that correspond to the structure site.
The Historic Structure Report (link below) describes the cottage at the time of NPS acquisition.
Josenhans Photo Album
Photos by Carl Josenhans taken while living at the Cape and more recent NPS photos–
Credits
- Josenhans photo–from “Great and Useful Purpose”, p.66 –a history of the Wilmington District Corps of Engineers
- NPS files and Archives
- http://npshistory.com/publications/calo/hsr-jetty-workers-house-2.pdf
- Other references within text