previously published by the Carteret County News Times Sunday, September 26, 2004

Dear Editor,

CONGRATULATIONS - ONCE MORE:

To the entire staff of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum on Harkers Island.

This past Tuesday night, in what was billed as the first Community Get Together featuring, no other than Rodney Kemp and the community of Davis, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum made history. This event, which closely followed the DIAMOND City HOMECOMING CELEBRATION this past weekend, was also a milestone in community history. There the Lighthouse Keepers and Lifesaving Service of Cape Lookout were honored, with the full support and participation of the National Park Service, in a solemn ceremony with the Scottish pipes of young master Andrew Prioli, lilting Amazing Grace in the background. If you missed that, you missed a great moment.

But the importance of Tuesday night rings in my head. I have long envisioned just such a night, but frankly I didn't think it would ever work and if it did, we would only have a few people in attendance. To the contrar’ - over 125 people showed for the debut to share the bountiful dinner prepared by the kind people of Davis' Shore and spred out on tables, the old fashioned way, with plenty of cold, sweet, ice tea and still steaming "light bread", just like Mama usta make.

As Rodney spoke of the many past accomplishments of such a small community you could see the faces light up as memories flooded back and soon everyone seemed to want to share these memories and historical knowledge, even those who normally sit quietly in the background and let the others do the talking. Here in this room WAS Davis’ Shore … Capt. James Styron, Fisherman Milton Styron, Historian Ed Pond and others. Ages ranged from 80+ to just youngun’s on their mother’s hip. They all came because they were proud Davis Shoremen. And others came because they want to know what we as Downeaster’s have taken for granted all these years.

So Down East you are being challenged. Challenged to outdo the fine performance of Davis Shore. Community groups are already being organized, so when your time comes you will be ready. Sea Level you're next, on Oct 18, it will be your turn to share your history with one another and with others who are eager to learn. Some of you have been personally contacted and more will be asked to participate in the days to come. We hope to cover in particular the fishing/shrimping industry, the oystering and oyster paking houses as well as the Core Sound Sharpies which were built to furnish them with the fresh produce. There should be a segment on the Taylor Brothers and the coming of the Hospital and the 1899 Storm where 18 men were drowned, near Swan Island. The hardships suffered in the 1933 Storm when from a single family (father and three grown sons) were wiped out, during a long night of sheer terror, while working the family Sharpie on the Long Bay oyster grounds.

These meeting are intended to bring all of our people together, each religious and political group, joining in peace, friendship and fellowship while celebrating their unbelievable rich maritime heritage and having a good time doing.it. HARD WORK - FOLLOWED BY THE GOOD TIMES - That was the traditional Down East way, how they survived through the many generations.

I am already looking forward to the months ahead --- Marshallberg in November, Cedar Island in January, Stacy in February … and the list goes on.

Feel free to call the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum for further information. 252-728-1500. FAIR WARNING - Get your reservations early.

Sonny Williamson
Marshallberg, NC
September 21, 2004