Research for Coastal NC

Hey everybody and Happy Labor Day weekend,

I am working on a project that involves the history and architect of the coast of NC. It begins at the furthest northern point (Knotts Island area) to the furthest southern point (Sunset Point area). I am including the inner banks which would include east of Hwy 13/17 starting at Corapeake traveling south towards Washington on Hwy 17 towards New Bern, Wilmington, and Shallotte going all the way to Carolina Shores (it’s near Calabash).

I am looking for pictures of old buildings of the past that are no longer with us. For my project I need architectural detailed exterior features as well as interior details. To name a few examples of what I am looking for is: the Lumina at Wrightsville Beach, the Casino and the Tap Room that was in the northern OBX, the old railroad station across from the Masonic Lodge or the old Country Club, Edenton Restaurant (Mrs. Boswell’s it was later called) or Sandy Pt buildings that were in Edenton, , etc. These are just a few in the area I am where I grew up or lived. This is the architectural part of the project.

What's difference about my project is I am looking for people or a person preferably in the foreground of the picture of the long last building. You can include a picture of the building without person(s) too if you want. The person(s) hopefully is someone you know such as a relative or a friend or even a foe living or not with us anymore. If the picture is old enough, I feel sure there will be a lot of the latter. The end project will be more personal for you if it does include family or friends. If there is someone in the photo that “just happened” to get in it that you don’t know, that will be ok, just say so. Who knows; someone else helping with project might recognize this “unknown!

And the last requirement for my project is that you can tell me as much about the person(s) and the building (that is gone now) in the picture. Telling me what you know is the BIG history part of this project.

So start going thru/ your old photo albums, your family/friends’ photo albums and talk with each other. Enjoy your time reminiscing, laughing, crying and being with each other or just your own memories. This Labor Day if you are getting together with family and friends it would be a great time to start. It may be a picture you or someone else took on vacation while in the Coastal area of NC. So for that reason, would you please pass this along to others who could, can or wants to help me that would be wonderful? The more people, buildings, history and architectural details gathered and involved the better and the merrier.

This is a lot to take on, so I want you to know this is a long term project for me. I will be giving you an update throughout the process. I hope to complete this within 3 to 6 or 6 to 12 months. It will depend on how much help and info I receive from you & others.

You can email me the information or any questions you have at boz12157@gmail.com or mail it to Debra B. Phelps, H & A Project Mgr., and PO Box 804, Edenton, NC.

Let me just say in advance, “Thank you” for your help. I look forward to hearing from and working you on one fantastic project that I know we all will enjoy.

Have fun and happy reminiscing,
Debra