SEAGIRT

Story

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Morton (click red text for more) had been visiting the Banks since childhood and built a camp on Horsepen Creek in the mid-40s. Granted a life estate by the NPS. Morton visited the Banks frequently–seemingly daily at times.

Born in 1916, Morton began visiting the Banks as a youngster and had deep roots there till his passing in 2001. He was thoughtful and consistent in his stewardship not only of the camp, but also all the surrounding Banks.

Morton, James and Jim made SEAGIRT a gathering place for family and friends–touching hundreds with adventure and fellowship. Memories of SEAGIRT are repeatedly related by others who were on the Banks.

Morton’s son, James, obtained Margaret Davis’ life estate that lay alongside Morton’s site and moved the SEAGIRT structure there upon Morton’s death on 12-21-01. James was on the Banks weekly and Morton’s grandson Jim still spends much time at the Horsepen’s Creek site. There was and remains a strong family connection to the call of the Banks. Jim proposed to his wife on the Banks.

Transportation–As a leaseholder. Morton received 2 resident parking permits yearly for vehicles at the camp–visitors paid $10 for any additional 2 week passes.

Origin of the camp–1945–as listed on insurance policy documents. The original camp burned in 1953 and was rebuilt alongside the site of the destroyed camp remains.

August 15, 1942–46 acres were purchased–likely the plot north of Horsepen Creek. Morton bought the 4.5 acre Horsepen Island from G.W. Duncan and George Brooks, along with one acre at the head of Horsepen Creek–October 29, 1944–recorded Nov. 6, 1945.

Feb. 17th, 1947, George A. Lewis sold Morton a half-acre plot on Horsepen Creek–alonside the Lewis’ dock site.

June 2, 1960, Morton purchased 123 acres on the banks.  ( in 1961, he obtained another 13 acres)).

July of 1971, J. Morton Davis sold his rights to 125 acres of land on the banks for $40,000, but retained lifetime rights to SEAGIRT.

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Delmas Lewis and Earl Davis early on and several others (in the 70s) along Horsepen Creeks were neighbors.

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“Morton’s first camp burned down–most likely an accident.  Jim (grandson) thinks he remembers Morton’s original camp going back to the 30s possibly.  Morton hunted the Banks as a youth growing up in Morehead City.  He owned the property on which SEAGIRT sat and also a big swath to the north as well.

Morton had to sail over to the camps as a young man, “that’s why they built the camps–in bad weather, they needed shelter— and for more prolonged stays.”

When NPS land acquisition was evolving, grandad Morton connected with Senator Helms–fought it–went all the way to Washington–presented documents to Congress. Claude Wheatley , Sr. helped as his attorney–but it was a futile attempt against the government mechanism.( Morton came to support the establishment of the Park and many of his recommendations to them became, or were consistent with, the eventual framework and goals. It is clear that Morton was a good steward of the Banks.)

There were very few trees in the area when James Jr. was growing up, The banks have grown up a lot now–a natural evolution–not that trees were cut or cleared.  Also livestock previously (since the 1700s) were left on the banks to graze and they may have had a small effect on controlling vegetative growth.

Campers used the same drive path from the beach road for the replacement camp–which was just remains of a “collapsed shelter” at that time.—-{-excerpted from Jim Davis interviews.}

(notes from interview with Jim Davis–2021)

The “Bernice L”, Morton’s Penn-Yan boat ( earlier than 1961), made trips to the Banks, easier than Morton’s early use of a sailboat . It has been said by locals that they knew when Morton went over because of the distinctive sound of th “Bernice L”.

As late as 1967, Morton was leasing use of a dock from Earl V. Davis for $10 per year.

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Seagirt Log Books—(1980-200?)–were a consistent component of the camp’s life and spirit:

—detailing the visits, the meals, the events and the birds taken at the Morton Davis and James Davis Camp.

The January 21, 1981 entry is telling of the special nature of this camp:

“Breaking camp for season.  Last night supper was out of this world.  Finished breakfast, packing.  Ready to leave camp for the mad race in town.  All heads bowed and thanks to God for a beautiful season.  Asking for return next season.  Thank you Lord.  Amen.”

And at the back of the book—

“No matter where life takes you, we all come back to old times, old memories, and old friends.  These are probably the only completely sober words written in these pages of lore.”

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Jim Davis continues to maintain several of the exact same blind locations held for over half a century.

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Upon Morton Davis’ passing in 2001, son James moved the structure 75-100 feet onto property held in a lifetime lease by Margaret Davis, from whom James had acquired the remainder of her lifetime estate.

James visited the Banks almost every weekend similar to Morton’s almost daily visits there earlier.

SEAGIRT , after being moved, had a 400 watt wind turbine, a Sunset 10 amp Solar Charger, a generator, gas appliances, and wind speed anemometer and with addition of a deck and other improvements was much upgraded at that time.

Margaret Davis died Nov. 18, 2002 but the use under lifetime estate continued till April 30, 2009 when the Park Service became aware of her death.

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Jim Davis still returns to Horsepen Creek frequently, and during duck season keeps his houseboat on the creek near by his memories.

GALLERY ….click to enlarge

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James Davis carved decoys–yearly for the time of the Decoy Festival

Credits

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1. Jim Davis, grandson
2. Jackie Booth, brother in law
3. NPS files and archives
4. Other references within text