sam jones

Sam Jones

Although Sam Jones— (Berkley Machine and Foundry, of Norfolk)—did not have a physical structure on Portsmouth, his holdings, interaction with other property owners, resistance to Park Service takeover and use by his guests of these hunting grounds establish his firm history there.

Berkley Castle (photo at left) built in 1950 on Silver Lake, across from the Whitler’s Club which he also built.

Sam Jones had owned the Green Island Hunting and Fishing Camp on Ocracoke Island, located 2.9 miles southwest  of the present Hatteras Ferry Terminal off Highway 12.  The National Park Service took over the land in 1953.  This camp had existed there from 1897 through the 1930s, owned initially by a Mr. Ward of Pittsburgh.  Sam was prominent in the unsuccessful 1953 campaign against the Cape Hatteras National Seashore acquisitions for the new park, which included his Green Island Club properties.  His actions on Portsmouth were likely motivated by this experience.

Sam Jones —Berkley Machine Works and Foundry— purchased the Battle Boys property with a lease back to them.  This appears to parallel actions regarding the Ross Salter property and the Holt/Eubanks holdings on Portsmouth.  The Park Service was honoring leases in place at  time of acquisition, even as they forced sale of properties.  Sale and lease-back allowed continued use of properties by owners.  It is expected that Jones likely enjoyed opposing and out-manuvering the NPS that had taken his Ocracoke hunting club even as he also made the actions profitable.

It would be reasonable to assume, though not established, that Jones were, therefore, motivated by his own lost cause with the Green Island Club earlier.  His actions also  seem an extended partnerships with those who had supported his entertainment of his guest hunters.