Core Sound 2019 Yearbook

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Photo by Lillie Miller
& Heritage Center

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

Hurricane Florence certainly changed the landscape
of Down East last fall when it made its unwelcome
appearance. This place will never be the same.

The long nights, weeks, and months of struggle
that followed certainly brought out the best in us.
We showed each other love, resilience, sharing,
looking out for each other, and thanking God. I told
a friend just last week that hurricanes do not
discriminate, and when they come ashore, they
come to everyone. Everyone in this part of the
world understands that now.

My children, the next generation of Core Sounders,
learned more in the days following Florence than they
could ever learn in a textbook. The outpouring of
love and support that we witnessed was unbelievable.
They will never be the same for sure.

So when you ask us, “Why do you stay?” It is simple;
it is born in us; it’s what we do, how we have been raised,
and our ancestral ground. There is nothing
like Core Sound and the communities that
we call Down East.

Kathryn Smith Chadwick, Stacy

Chadwick Tire Company, Inc.
688 Hwy 70 Otway
Beaufort, NC 28516

252-728-6960 | [email protected]

Celebrating 27 years of
1 supporting and caring for Down East.

We are at our best when NOAA
things are at their worst.

~ K. S. C.,

1

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

PO Box 556, 1785 Island Road, Harkers Island, North Carolina, 28531
(O) 252.728.1500 (F) 252.728.1742 [email protected] www.coresound.com

Member / Partner

North Carolina Science Network - Smithsonian Museums on Main Street - American Association of State and Local History - North Carolina Museums Council
I.W.C.A. International Wildfowl Carving Association - Carolina Decoy Collectors Association - Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild
Outer Banks National Scenic Byway - Saltwater Connections - Carteret Catch and NC Catch - Duke Lab - NC Sea Grant
NC Humanities Council - NC Folklore Society - Arts NC - NC Arts Council

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center 2019 - 2020 Yearbook

Photos: Gordon Allen, Pam Morris, Chris Hunter, Teresa Everett, Barbara Lewis Styron, Katie Amspacher, Dan Williams, Heidi Merkley,
Dylan Ray, Baxter Miller, Megan Soult, Deb Brushwood, Susan Mason, Cheryl Burke, Bonnie Hunter,
Lillie Miller, Daniel Pullen, Pam Buck Griffin, Kerry Willis, J. J. Smith

Editor: Karen Willis Amspacher, Harkers Island, Designer: Amy LaChance, Wilmington, Printer: Acculink, Greenville

© 2019 Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center. All rights reserved.

CORE SOUND WATERFOWL MUSEUM & HERITAGE CENTER LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD MEMBERS EMERITUS
Lockwood Phillips, Chairman James M. Davis - 2001 Board Chairman, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
David Cory Lawrence, Vice President David A. Lawrence, Co-Founder - Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild and

Jim Briley, Treasurer Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Warren Davis, Secretary Billy Smith, Founding Board Chairman - Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Shannon Adams - Bill Britt - Cindy Taylor Brown
Valinda Coates - Scott Eckholdt - Tommy Fulcher Homer Fulcher, NC Folk Heritage Award Honoree
Jerry Gaskill - Craig Hamilton - Dave Inscoe - Tommy Jones Julian Hamilton, Jr., NC Folk Heritage Award Honoree
Bill Lathan - Chuck Lewis Roy Willis – Founding Board Member – Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Gay Mason - Chris McCutcheon Purcell Jones – Founding Board Member – Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Janet Salter McLendon - Todd Nelson
Randy Ramsey - Robbie Smith - Bob Stafford STAFF
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS Karen Willis Amspacher, Executive Director
John Civils - Guy Tucker - Carl Huff Pam Davis Morris, Facilities, Community Resources & Collections Coordinator
David Corey Lawrence for David A. Lawrence
Kathryn Smith Chadwick for Billy & Janice Smith Dr. Ike Southerland, Sponsorship
Doily Fulcher for Roy Willis Teresa Everett – STEM Education Coordinator
Jim Davis for James Davis Debra Kelly Brushwood, Office Coordinator & Gift Shop Manager
Danny McQueen for Purcell Jones
Tom Waller, Accountant
JoAnne McCarthy - Gift Shop Lynn Medlin - Office Assistant

Tammy Morris - Housekeeping

And a dedicated crew of volunteers!

OUR APPRECIATION TO THE BUSINESSES WHOSE FINANCIAL SUPPORT MAKES THIS PUBLICATION AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Cover photo: “A New Day on Core Sound” by Susan Mason. All of us are welcoming a
new day of recovery as we rebuild our communities and look forward to a new day …

2

What We Have Learned Our Storm Story 2019

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of
hope, it was the winter of despair …”
~ “Tale of Two Cities,” Charles Dickens

And it was … and it has been ever since.

It is impossible to capture in the pages of this yearbook our reality of that truth since September 2018 when Hurricane Florence spent three days off our shores, beating
us with tide and rain and wind, but for history’s sake, we have to try.

It was a long three days and nights and it’s been a long year since then. Its aftermath was (and is) real. Our communities had no idea before the storm what we would
face in the days, weeks, months, now years, ahead of us. But almost 15 months later, we do know this: we are changed. We will never look at a storm the same way again.

That was very evident this September when Dorian came our way. Children were stressed while adults, quietly and bravely held their breath, dreading the storm, scared
of losing the hard-earned progress that had been made and wondering how we could ever start all over. Storms are no longer a nuisance or a few days out of school; they are very
real (and frequent) threats and we know it.

For the most part, Down East was spared. With some relatively minor damage on Cedar Island and a few other low-lying places, we were lucky and thankful. Our
friends and family across the sound were not. Ocracoke suffered its worst storm since 1944 and the flooding was intense. Ocracoke’s sister island, Portsmouth, too was inundated
with a sea of water from Pamlico Sound like no one in this generation has ever seen. No one had prepared for that.

But Coresounders knew what to do. When word came of the damage, Cedar Island, Davis, and other families across Down East formed an armada loaded with food,
water, generators, tools, and chainsaws. They knew what to do, and they went to the people of Ocracoke. Eventually the whole world would rally to help Ocracoke, but that first
morning and the first painful days that followed, it was “the crowd from Down Sound” that landed there first, bringing help and hope to the people of Ocracoke. They knew,
they understood, and they went to them like people from Hatteras came to Down East in those first days after Florence a year ago.

It truly was the worst of times at that moment, but what has evolved is a new conversation about the future, the storms to come, how we can all rebuild stronger than
before, and how always to be ready to go to one another where the need is greatest. The storms of the past few years have rekindled generations of shared commitment to one
another in a way that only experience can teach.

Core Sound Museum’s storm story is a reflection of what this community has experienced. People came to us last year to help and encourage, and now we are doing all
we can to help the people who lost so much this year. It’s what we do.

We have learned much, and it has become very clear to all of us that recovery is a process of accepting the loss and adapting to what we have left. Core Sound Museum,
like every family, church, school, and business Down East, continues with the “slow process” of moving forward, regaining hope, and growing stronger, more mindful than ever
of the importance of our community, our homes and families, and thankful for the heritage we live every day.

Back in August, Core Sound helped celebrate the 120th anniversary of the “Great Storm of 1899” that uprooted Shackleford Banks communities and reshaped our his-
tory, reminding us that Florence and Dorian were not the first storms and we are not the first people to face a new way of life with the changes brought about by a hurricane. That
storm reshaped the landscape but it did not destroy those Bankers’ determination to rebuild a life here “on the edge,” but rather strengthened them to start again, adapt and move
on. Some things have not changed.

We are thankful for that legacy, that firm foundation, for the shared concern of neighbors “across the sound,” and the unending
support of friends and family inland who have brought the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center and the people and

communities we are honored to serve, through our hardest days. We are forever
changed, more determined than ever to hold on to the rich heritage that binds us
together no matter how many storms come our way!

~ KWA

3

Harm’s Way: Response, Recovery, Resilience How Storms Have Shaped Our Communities, Our History & Us

It has been years ago now that Nancy p And after the tear out these three words remained,
Solomon of Long Island Traditions, a “Response, Recovery, Resilience”
folklorist we met at the Smithsonian
Folklife Festival in 2004, contacted me
about doing a joint project with the
communities of Long Island that had just
experienced Hurricane Sandy. “You folks go
through these storms all the time,” she said,
“but Sandy was the first hurricane here in de-
cades and the storm has changed everything.”
We agreed to partner on this project, to
develop parallel exhibitions to tell our “storm
stories” to all who would listen. Little did we
know then what we know now.

We gathered images from storms a generation ago, as well as photos, videos, and
artifacts from recent storms, Isabel, Irene, and others. We interviewed those who had
responded to these storms, researched statistics, and found common themes across the years
and storms. We learned much about ourselves, our people, and our past. We had no idea this
exhibition, and all of us, would survive yet another storm in just a few weeks.

“Harm’s Way” opened in June 2018 with the title, “Harm’s Way: Response, Recovery,
Resilience.” Those three words were the only remnants of any exhibition left in the museum
gallery after the storm came, ripped off the shingles, saturated the building with 30 inches of
rain (making way for a mold infestation like no one has ever seen), causing ServPro to rip out
sheetrock, flooring, electrical, and all traces of 20+ years of museum work. Only those three
words remained, and we were LIVING them, again.

Today this exhibition, along with the accompanying RISING exhibit and programming in
the Education Hall during that summer, continues to echo through our conversations, and is truly helping shape us and our future, as
we and the communities around us continue to recover. The community work that was the inspiration for Harm’s Way continues, and
the exhibition will be expanded for our reopening in 2020.

4

How Storms Continue to Shape Our Communities & Us Harm’s Way: Response, Recovery, Resilience

RESPONSE

Today, the worry and the preparation begin when a disturbance is cited off the coast of Africa, days (sometimes weeks) before
it reaches our hemisphere. What a contrast this is to the stories of our grandparents, when the only warning they had was the storm
flag flying at the mailboat dock and word of a storm coming spread by word of mouth. Regardless of the lead time, traditional
communities respond very much the same way, protecting their belongings – especially their boats and homes, taking care of
families and neighbors, and “hunkering down” as the storm approaches.

RECOVERY

The cleanup begins the minute the wind dies down and the tide begins to fall and continues for weeks, months, sometimes
years. Often the losses cannot be measured in dollars; who can put a price on a family Bible or a wedding album or a baby picture?
Still, “we pick up the pieces, save what we can and throw away what cannot be fixed,” the local woman explained. “That’s not trash
on the side of the road; that’s people’s lives,” she added. Recovery is painful, exhausting work. Recovery goes on long after the
reporters leave and the world moves on to the next disaster.

RESILIENCE

“We’re not leaving,” is the shared response from long-time residents. “This is home, where would we go, what would we do?”
So local communities adapt, they raise their house, they rebuild docks, they prepare for the next storm, like their ancestors did
generations ago. “Some things are just born in you,“ islanders will say; “holding on is all we know to do.” Local communities
persevere, sometimes relying more on determination than reality. People here know, as did their ancestors before them, the next
storm WILL come, and until then, their hope is built on being better prepared to ride out the wind and tide the next time.

p Down East 2018 p Ocracoke 1944 p Hatteras 2003

5

RISING Change is a Constant

North River Marsh
6

A Resilient Future RISING

Change is a constant across the sounds and along the banks of coastal North Carolina. The perpetually shifting sands,
rising and falling tides, and unpredictable weather patterns have battered and blessed communities, all the while shaping these resilient
people. For generations, those who’ve lived at the water’s edge have adapted as omnipresent natural forces influence where they live, how
they build homes, what foods they eat, and how they make a living.

In a region where lives and livelihoods depend on natural resources — for traditional occupations of fishing and farming, and
for newer economies based on tourism and development — what does constant change, heightened by rising global temperatures and
encroaching sea levels, mean to those who live and work in these communities?

Advances in technology, engineering, and construction, alongside real and perceived commercial and economic demands and
drivers, have shifted how we adapt to environmental changes. We build bigger dunes and more jetties. We harden shorelines. We dredge
inlets and renourish eroded beaches. We build our houses higher, but closer to the water. We pave over land, and employ dikes to drain
agricultural fields and protect them from saltwater. We face decisions about fisheries regulations as waters warm and migration patterns
potentially change. We brace for storms with or without flood insurance — and hope that infrastructure is spared or restored quickly to
supply basic needs. As each new hurricane season unfolds, we learn to live with the uncertainty.

Beyond statistics, graphs, and projections, what are the experiences and adaptation strategies of people who live on the front lines
of coastal change? How might the stories of residents, business owners, commercial fishermen, farmers, and community leaders offer
insight into the multi-faceted threats facing coastal communities? Can their stories transcend political discourse and offer an alternative
perspective that captures the natural, cultural, and economic consequences of environmental change? How do their experiences affect
perceptions of future climate-related events and the need to prepare and adapt?

Bridging the arts, sciences, and humanities, RISING culminated in a traveling exhibition in an effort to help all North Carolin-
ians better understand the jeopardies of living, working, and doing business along our coast, and how to prepare and adapt for a more
resilient tomorrow.

The traveling exhibition launched at UNC’s Center for the Study of the American South in February 2018. The project traveled back to the coastal communi-
ties it represents and has been exhibited at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center in Harkers Island, NC (where it survived the wrath of Hurricane
Florence), as well as the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese, NC, in October 2018-March 2019. It was last shown at North Carolina State University in Raleigh,
NC in Spring 2019.

The project includes photography by Baxter Miller, oral histories conducted by Ryan Stancil and Dr. Barbara Garrity-Blake and scientific interpretation by
Dr. Jessica Whitehead. Additional team members include Karen Willis Amspacher (Marshallberg and Harkers Island), Alton Ballance (Ocracoke), Ben Cahoon (Nags
Head), Dr. Stan Riggs (East Carolina University), Susan West (Buxton) and photojournalist Margaret Cheatham-Williams (NY Times).

This project is made possible by The Community Collaborative Research Grant, a program of North Carolina Sea Grant in partnership with the William R.
Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science. North Carolina Sea Grant provides research, education and outreach opportunities relating to current
issues affecting the North Carolina coast and its communities. Sea Grant’s initiatives and projects touch a broad range of topics, including fisheries, seafood science and
technology, water quality, aquaculture, community development, law and policy, and coastal hazards. Learn more about North Carolina Sea Grant at ncseagrant.org.
Additional support has been provided by The Center for the Study of the American South, Southern Cultures, Food for All, Coastal Resilience Center, and the UNC
Department of American Studies, Coastal Studies Institute, NCSU Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

7

Before the Storm Our Storm Story - Florence

As Hurricane Florence moved closer to Carteret County everyone Down East began to prepare in earnest. The Core Sound
Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center was no different. Staff and volunteers packed, wrapped, moved, hauled, and prepared
as best they could and went home. “We’ve done this before,” we said …

Throughout the three days of the storm - and the hot, dark days and nights that followed -
CSWM&HC became a source of information to members, friends and family inland who were watching the
storm. Through cell phones, social media, email, radio interviews, and statewide contacts, the needs of Down
East and the Museum were relayed to the world.

A special thanks to all who assisted in this vital communication network, especially Ryan Stancil and Baxter
Miller, who served as the relay point for converting bits and pieces of texts and endless photos (when cell service would
allow) into Down East damage reports, calls for help, and a major part of our recovery efforts. Here are excerpts from
those reports that capture a glimpse of those days and nights … days and nights Down East will never forget.

September 12, 2019

This morning’s forecast had yet another possibility of it stalling just off the coast
(while the tide and wind pound us) and then turning south!

p Community exhibits, wrapped and ready Bottom line -- we don’t know, they don’t know! We do know for sure that a storm
is coming … and we have days of rain, tide and wind ahead. At this point, the question is
“how long will it last” -- whatever it is.

This year’s “Harm’s Way” exhibit reminded us of just how much this place and our ancestors have endured, adapted and how they
survived storms just as mean as this one. That gives us comfort because we know we will too. We will be adding a page to www.harmsway-
stormstories.com early next year, so please share your stories, pictures, writings, thoughts as this storm unfolds.

We are making history once again. The museum (like all of Down East) is boarded up. The museum’s priceless collection of original
artwork and our most valuable decoys are wrapped in tubs and placed in safe places in the building. All the exhibits are covered in plastic
and the computers backed up. It will take us weeks to put it all back together, but we’ve done all we can do to keep all that our community
has entrusted us to keep as safe as possible. That beautiful, hard-earned building is strong; we planned for such a time as this, so maybe, just
maybe, the roof will hold and the tide will spare us, and we’ll spend the next few weeks putting it back together.

8

September 14, 2019 Two Days Later

After two long days — and even longer nights — Down East Carteret County remains thank-
ful that Florence’s wrath has left us safe and more determined than ever to be the community we
have always been. Times like these make us who we are.

The damage here is extensive – as it is throughout the southeast region of our great state. From
Cedar Island to Harkers Island and throughout Carteret County and beyond, homes are flooded,
businesses damaged, cars lost, and families displaced. However, we all continue to be thankful that this
storm came as a category 2 and not the category 4 originally predicted. Had it been any stronger, there
would be nothing left but ruin.

Damage on Harkers Island has been overwhelming. One lane of the bridge
causeway by the boat ramp was washed out; the fishing pier destroyed; and the
damage to businesses, homes and our beautiful tree line is heartbreaking.

Throughout Down East, roofs have
blown off, buildings demolished and
bulkheads severely damaged. Still, we are
thankful that we have homes and businesses
to repair! And one important note: the
commercial fleet at the Island Harbor of
Refuge is holding strong, and we are
proud and encouraged at the
sight of them!

Our first priority now is to help our Images from Down East in Florence’s aftermath.
community. As we did following Isabel in 2003, the 9
CSWM&HC will be working with the Carteret
County Public Schools to identify school children
and families in need of financial and volunteer help.
We will work with classroom teachers, guidance
counselors and school personnel to identify those
most in need and work to provide help in getting
kids back in their homes ready for school and their
lives back to normal.

A Week Later The work ahead will require ripping out all the carpet and a large September 20, 2019
portion of sheetrock. They recommend removing the collection and exhibitions
so the objects can be cleaned and the building can go through the drying process. ServPro and their
They will then seal the building, dry and treat the structure. equipment and
crew took control
To say we are hurt doesn’t even touch how we feel. For all of us who have of the Museum
been in on this conversation and walked through that building today, our hearts and our lives for
are broken… ALL THAT WORK … I can’t even think about it … weeks! Packing
a 22,000 sf mu-
Today was a solemn moment in the museum’s history for sure. Pam and I seum is no small
are living a museum nightmare, but WE WILL RISE… task!

just you wait and see.

10

September 20, 2019 A Week Later

The storm has brought heartaches big and small to
Down East and all around us, and our first concern has to
remain helping our community get back in their homes,
churches and businesses. If you haven’t seen what this storm has
done, take a ride to Davis Shore. All the communities suffered,
but Davis is the epicenter of the flooding and it is a sad
situation.

Still – they (like all of us) are pulling through…

The museum and all our connections have been calling,
showing up with supplies, donating to our relief fund and
reaffirming our
role in this
community.
PEOPLE are what
we are about and
we will continue
to help our friends
and family pull
their lives back
together. Our
p The power companies were the heroes hearts and lives
q Tree damage was everywhere are stretched right

now but some way,
somehow, we will
take this as another
opportunity to
prove our strength
as a community
and our
commitment to
each other.
t Davis native and communty leader, Louie Piner, captures the story of Down East.
Special thanks to Pam Buck Griffin of Davis for this powerful image

11

Two Weeks Later Late September

Has it only been two weeks? It seems like a lifetime.

Down East Carteret County remains a weary land. Recovery is not easy or quick, it
takes a long time and it tests our spirits, but we are still thankful for the support that has
come to our communities from near and far. Work crews from churches, organizations,
neighborhoods and many just individual people have come with tools and time to share. It
has been an amazing experience. Schools are reopening on Tuesday and that will be
another step in bringing back some order to this chaos.

Since the power came back on last weekend, restoration crews have worked day and
night to get the schools ready for teachers and students. Many teachers are displaced as well
as the children, and the CSWM&HC and the Carteret County Public School
Foundation are helping get students back in their homes. Everyone in this community has
suffered in this storm, but none more so than the children, their parents and the older folks.
Many thanks to all of you who have
p Ten days without power Down East definitely makes given to our communities in all kinds of
the crews that “get the lights on” community heroes.

ways. The Museum-Schools partnership will continue to work with classroom teachers to
identify and help where needed most. Thank you for trusting your contributions with us.
We pledge to direct those dollars to families who need help the most.

t Cemeteries are one of the saddest
places after a storm.
q The marsh grass left behind marked the
tide line during the storm.
u Sherman Goodwin cleaning up at
Cedar Island.

12

Late September Three Weeks Later

The museum looks like a war zone right now, and we feel battle-weary as we
work day and night to pack and move 20 years of collecting, saving and keeping –
box by box. The Museums Collection is covered by a fine arts insurance policy and that
adjuster is here now with a professional packing crew to handle our carvings, decoys, art
and most treasured artifacts in the museum’s possession. We are going with our beloved
collection to its new, undisclosed location approved by our insurance company and out of
the mold and soon to come construction. Pam’s heart is breaking, as is mine, but we will
see this through, more determined than ever to be stronger than we have ever been before.

Many thanks to the volunteers who have helped and to NC Cultural Resources,
Duke Marine Lab, the Maritime Museum, LDS work crews and the National Park
Service/Cape Lookout National Seashore who have come to our aid during the hardest
week this museum has ever faced. ServPro’s crews are on site and helping us transport all these materials to the new locations and we are

very thankful for their eagerness to help.

Our plan going forward includes opening our Museum Store at 806
Arendell Street in Morehead City in a few weeks. Everything is there and work
is underway to setup our retail and online operation there until we’re back in
the museum. We will be open there
several days a week and we hope this
challenge-now-an-opportunity will
cause new folks to stop and visit. A
special thanks to John Gainey for wel-
coming us to the location and to the
museum gift shop staff and volunteers
who have carefully packed and carried
our inventory to this new location.

p Professional art handlers came and
packed our decoy and art collection.
u Partners from the NC Department of Cul-
tural Resources and volunteers helped us pack
all the memories and artifacts in our Commu-
nity Exhibits.
Delete the pic of boxes
t Offices were not spared the mold that set
in after 30 inches of rain and 10 days without
power.

13

Almost a Month Later We are doing all we can, just like everyone else in our Early October
communities and all the people around us.
p Chris Hunter, one of our most faithful, willing volun-
Eastern North Carolina has suffered a disaster for sure, and teers, helped “setup shop” for our Museum Store at 806
Core Sound and Down East are just part of a much larger tragic Arendell Street.
situation, but we – like generations before us – will adapt, work and
persevere. This was “our time,” I felt that from the beginning of this we used to celebrate that weekend “back in
storm, I think we all did. We have experienced storms all along but the beginning”, with whatever we can use of
nothing of this scope. We have watched our neighbors to the north, the building and lots of hard work. We were
west and south rise above major storms like Hugo, Matthew and already planning to revamp the Weekend with
Sandy and we know we, like they, will move on, better prepared for a stronger Christmas theme and that will see
the next one that will surely come. us through. We will need Christmas more this
year than ever and we will celebrate it together
Again, thank you for all you have given so far and for all you “at the end of the road.”
will give in the future. The needs are many and each person will
have to determine where they can best help. We are all committed to
repairing homes and returning displaced families to their houses and
that will remain our top priority.

Many have asked what we will do about Waterfowl Weekend
and know this: “It will happen at the museum.” We will work with
whatever stage the building is in at that time and return to the way

14

Early November Almost Two Months Later

Everything has changed now; everything.
Florence has left behind a weary land, disrupted families, damaged buildings and ailing businesses, but we are still thankful
that our storm was not catastrophic like Michael on the Gulf Coast. We have a mess, not a disaster, and we are working hard to put our
lives, homes and communities back together – and we will. This is not our first hurricane, nor will it be our last. It is the price of being
where we are and part of what makes us who we are, and we will remain strong, determined and committed to this place and the people
around us. We are tired but not defeated by any means!
Is it irony, or is it coincidence, that one of the few remaining walls of sheetrock in the museum building contains the headline
from our recent “Harm’s Way” exhibition – RESPONSE, RECOVERY, RESILIENCE? In almost all the pictures of the past two
months of tear-out and cleanup those words have remained the constant background, reminding us that we are only suffering the same
heartaches and losses of generations before, and we remain #downeastdetermined to rebuild back better than before. It is what we do.
The community is coming back, one roof, one home, one family at the time. Our thanks to the hundreds of you who have given,
worked, helped and prayed for the people of Down East and across the county and region. Core Sound has been part of that recovery
and continues to work with the schools, fishing community and others to connect our member network’s giving to the most urgent
needs. Working with partners inland, we have raised almost $100,000 in storm relief, helping rebuild homes, keep children in school,
provide temporary housing and ease the burden of lost jobs due to the storm. Now as the holidays approach we will continue to help
until all the needs are met and our people are home. Thank you to all who have helped us be that vital resource for our people.

From Down East, stories of resilience ~ Emma Guthrie
… Her family was chased from its house by floodwaters in the 1933 storm, and here she is again

85 years later, looking at a rebuild following Florence.
“I’ve lost everything,” said the Harkers Island native. “But you know what, I’m very, very thank-

ful. People ask me how I can smile and laugh and I tell them that I could sit down and cry or go on,
and I’m going on …

“When I opened the door, I almost passed out. Water from the damaged roof destroyed
everything …” she remembered. “But I think I was more hurt about the church than I was my house. I
was devastated by the damage to my little church across the road. I said I wasn’t going to cry, but …”
“Everyone has been so good I can’t believe it … A friend has loaned me her camper … God has blessed
me .. I’m doing fine. I grew up with hardly anything, so this is nothing to me … I’m happy.”

~ J. J. Smith, Carteret News-Times, October 3, 2018

15

Almost Two Months Later Early November

As you know by now, the museum itself has taken a mighty hit. It has taken seven weeks for the building to be dried, cleaned
and prepared for rebuilding. The entire building has been emptied (no small task) with 75% of the sheetrock removed and 90% of the
flooring pulled-out. We are thankful to report that ALL artifacts, decoys, exhibitions, artwork, documents, recordings and records were
not damaged, thanks to preparation of museum staff. Everything is stored securely in various locations and we look forward to gather-
ing it all back together soon, but for now, all is safe. Many thanks to the volunteers and partners who helped pack and move hundreds
of boxes, crates and tubs. What a time that was!
q It took weeks for the building to dry.
This year has been
yet another “test” of our
determination and
commitment and once
again, YOU have
overwhelmed us with your
caring support and
willingness to work.
Thank you for
helping us write the next
chapter of Core Sound’s
history with courage and
a renewed appreciation for
the community that we are!
Thank you for the over-
whelming support you have
given to our Down East
communities (over $100,000
raised) and the concern and
caring you have extended to
the Core Sound Waterfowl
Museum & Heritage Center.
We have work to do, but
“we can do hard things.”
#coresoundstrong

16

Early December t Core Sound’s 2018 Christmas Home for Christmas
Celebration of Recovery ornament by Susan Mason;
tq Judging the Champagne
Decoy Competition at the Friday Night
Preview Party;
tqq Lockwood Phillips giving Pam
and Karen a giant thank you; Brother
Gaskill’s winner decoy; Friday night’s
party kicked off the Weekend in our
building ripped out to the framing;
qVivian Howard joins us on Saturday to
sign books and offer her encouragement
to our community!

17

Downtown for Christmas December 2018

And it was a wonderful Christmas!
This community, tired and struggling, came together to
make sure that everyone felt the Christmas Spirit in an
even deeper, more meaningful way. Damaged homes
were decorated, churches celebrated, and Core Sound’s
new home in an old house turned out to be one of
Carteret County’s most beautiful shining symbols of the
Christmas Season.

806 became our “Core Sound Christmas” home in Downtown
Morehead City, a beautiful place to celebrate the Season after
a very trying year.
18

The Plan for Recovery The New Year Begins

Special Note of Thanks:
As of November 1, 2019 the
“Raise Our Roof” campaign
has raised $336,927 in
donations from individuals,
families, local businesses and
grants that will allow us to rebuild
stronger than ever before!

19

The Giving Continues Raise Our Roof Contributors

Jarrett Bay Boatworks John R. Farley Robert & Kathy Oslin David & Marguerite Henry & Mary Mahns
Peggy Lemons Hilda & Danny Wilson David & Jane Murphy Hanselman Ted Leneski
Jane Watt Balsley Leonorah Stout Scarborough Fare Catering Kathryn R. Grigg
Anonymous Patricia & George Howard & Rosa Gaskill Catherine Buoniconti Betsy & Wayne Cline
Janet Brown Beyer Ann Garner Diane Hardy Donald & Carolyn Hoss
Eric W. Barnhardt Clonninger III Susan Johnson Douglas & Nikki Kitzmiller Glenn & Ellen MacNaught
Frank & Anne Eastman William & Julia Fagan William Kincheloew Nancy Kay Lederer Charlotte W. Mirabella
Paxon McLean Holz Rosemary Enos Marshall & Mary Ann Penny C. George Neva D. Bridges
Leinster K. Lewis Dr. Rhodnick B. Lowe Glenn Eagle Wil Lou Graves-Morris
Robert & Carolyn Meadows Dr. Jan Roberts Hamrick Marcia Olson Kathleen Gray
Jon R. Reynolds R.S. & A.F. Bonnett The Eddie & Jo Allison Smith Don Acree Roger & Virginia Gardner
F. Leon & Ann D. Joyner Jr. Johnny & Phyllis Weathers Family Foundation, Inc. Mark Forshag Kenneth & Caroline Armstrong
William F. McGuirt Cecil & Diane Gillikin Jr. Geraldine R. Mason Prentice & Debra Stinson Carrie Stallings
Anne Eastman Mary Guthrie-Green J. Bryant Kittrell Michael & Teresa Street Beth Garner
Evonne D. Carawan Daryl Walker Sylvia P. Reavis Marianne Mitchell Terry & Sandra Asher
Donald & Donna Manley Charles Hagan Walter & Carol Basnight II Louie & Susie Piner Mary Louise Owings
Willard G. Blaich Michael Weeks Margaret Harper & Donald Nancy Hillmer Laura E. Foster
David C. Krehnke Gary Davis Thomas Southern H. Martin Lancaster
John & Sandra Atkins III Jeannie Speckman Lendle Suzanne Wieringo Joyce H. Brendel
Michael Davis Catherine Whitney Ty & Debbie Highsmith Eddie & Nita Gregory Hill Julian C. Hamilton
Kim Cummings A.E. Watson Keith Smith & Lisa Jones Ernie & Lynne Foster Dale Oller
Hollis M. Marshall Harvey McQueen Janet W. Gillikin Dan Smith Rick Diecchio
Graham & Nora Barden III John Day Kenneth & Ida Rustick Kimberly Hewitt Catherine Elkins
Ken & Gloria Cartrett Linda Collins Fred & Mary Sue Barry Danny Bell Susan Schmidt
Janie F. Vincent J. David Waller Marcia Collicotte Carolyn Salter Mason Mike Graff
Joe Bunn Joe & Vickie Jernigan Michelle & Lloyd Goode Barbara Garrity Blake Cathryn Newton
Roger & Cherilyn Ames Estate of Owen Weston Dr. John & Diane McQuade III Sandra Garrison Susan McNamara
Nancy B. Aycock Carl F. Barwick John & Celia Bane David Dicktel
Larry & Sandra Kellum Harrison Janey & Richard Jacoby Bill & Marcie Ferris Bill Ellis
Dr. & Mrs. Jack H. Welch H.H. Weaver Jill Hellman Jay Boone David & Leigh Ray
Lura Fulcher Richard Coleman Michael & Diane Fournel Greg & Danielle Stroud Piner Jesse & Linda Price
Roger & Jan Evans Jr. Ronald & Catherine Leslie & Judy Payne Jeffrey Salter Deborah Gaskill Whittington
Nelson & Nancy Hoyle Howard & Patsy Johnson Brad Rich Thomas Styron
John R. Pyburn Jr. Sappenfield James McElroy Janet McLendon Tammy Morris
David W. Greenleaf Larry & Tweedles Harkey John & Gloria Zimmerman Joyce Joines Newman Katie Amspacher
Jo G. Holloman Lynda Markewitz Bryson & Ida Epting Lora Gilliland Cathy Taylor White
Carmine & Elizabeth Prioli Richard & Lisa Brunette Jerry Lee Hinzman Marilyn Nolin Todd & Lynn Hess
Jack & Sue Jordan Carol Mizelle Robert B. Arthur Cecil & Carla Jones Janet Little
Sarah A. Delancey Reginald & Annice Rhue Peter & Mary Louise Wilson III Dawn Dale Jack Hankins
Hannah M. Warren Clinton Nelson John C. Hagan Susie Rockel Laura Lewis
Jessie Hall Gardner Nancy G. Dennis William S. Brown Jim Davis Harold Bane
Pamela Johnson Williams Hilary & Douglas Schultz David & Evelyn Dubose III Danny Taylor James McCutcheon
Clark & Norma Williamson Brian & Judith Herrmann Joseph A. Creech Wendy Maddox Sarah Exum Edwards
Sindi Austin Barbara Jane Buckley Allan & Sharon Donna Sparks Bennett Lucy H. Kernodle
Joseph & Anita Gerstle Sue M. Buck Jessica Whithead Douglas & Kay Damren
Michelle Czirjak Jessie Harold III Osika-Michales Jimmy & Karen Amspacher Keelie Kimmons
Sally Wayne Robert Rumain Denise C. Day Sammy & Dora Guthrie Dawn Merrell Simpson
Dorothy & Larry Pond Michele Gottlieb Eugene or Carol Streng Kenneth or Marilyn Mink Michael Davis
Brenda & Richard Rosemary Dandrea John & Susan Smeed Beth Simmons Sheldon & Leslie Daniels
Gordon Allen Shirley Stowell Lily Morse Natasha Oden
Lowdermilk Bruce Mason Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Herko Pamela Morris Chris & Kathryn S. Chadwick
Livingston & Debra Brooks Craig Cox Brian & Donna Wade Lawrence & Elizabeth Baldwin Joanne Piner Duncan
Emily Monk Davidson Mary Lou Booth Tom & Marcia Ohrt Isaac B. Southerland Bob & Janice Vogel
Kendall & Mark Huff Charles Parker Randy & Angie Davis William W. Stanaland III
20 Felix & Elois Weinhold ServoPro
Karl & Gladys Stimpson John Waszak

Raise Our Roof Contributors And the Work Begins

Lillie Chadwick Miller Rebecca Harmon Ann Calamos Marshall G. Morris Rosanne Penley
Diane Mason Maurice Simon Augustina Carbonell David Reynolds John Tabb
Gaye McKeithan Charles & Betsy Briscoe Fisherman Creations’ Staff Paula Ward Ford & Randy McDonald
Melissa Staley Sue T. Goodpasture Eric Frame Rebecca Harriett Connie Mason
Jackie O’Donnell Julian C. Lupton Liz Demattia Deborah Barnette Kathy Revels
Gail Lloyd Crisp Martha Y. Troxler Karen C. Hart William Rivenbark Charles Harris
Thomas & Barbara Earnhardt Sandra & Birkett Howarth Jr. Cathy & John Murray Martha Y. Przysucha Kelly Pellegrino
Joyce & William McLean II Wallace E. Yancey Friends of the Downeast BL & Camella Marcom Robert Schlee & Cynthia
E. Dale Boyd Rebecca Felton Judith Kosik Young
Deborah Parise Nancy Mahoney Library Willa Thomas Pamela Murphy
Bert & CJ Thomas Mary E. Daniel Bill & Fossie Lathan Sharon L. Starks Allyn Powell
Dr. James & Sharon Wells Charles Bell Harry & Linda McDonald Nancy Smith Chris & Bonnie Hunter
Fulcher Electric Travis Tomlinson Crystal Coast Beekeepers Boyce & Laura Cheek David & Mary Lena Anderegg
Toni LePage Robert Terwilliger David Roberts E. Patton
Margaret Newman Jeffrey Cheney Association C.R. Hood Jr. Joy Wellons Moore
Stephen & Margaret Goodwin Barry Reese John Byrd Anna McLamb Rodney Wade
John & Paula Hodge Margaret H. Poindexter William Chadwick John Parker G. Smedes York
Dr. Mark & Gipsie Hixson Thom & Valerie Styron Ann Hunt Donna Giles Monty & Luz Willis
Janie Jones Robert L. Crawford Susan Barber Staley Drew & Linda Kennedy Peter Miller
Mary Ann Fitzgerald Jim & Sheryl Williams Scott & Amy Stanley Daniel Metz Lance Ratliff
Tom & Regina Rose Kelly Bridgman Marsha & Charles E. Parker Jr. Suzanne Jablonski Michelle Nolin
Mark & Julia Wax Dr. Charles & Susan Brooks Daniel Coughlin Amanda Moser Susan Robbins
Todd & Julia Nelson William D.C. Smith Lance Ratliff Maria Lockwood Leah Fulford
Socrates Gliarmis Marisha Bryant & William Larrington Chadwick Robert Metz Willard D. Inscoe
Rebecca S. Gupton MK Lawrence & Art Klose Willi Foster Jane M. Freeze
Janet Murphy Wheeler Chadwick’s Garage, Inc. Mary Jane Govoni Nancy E. Nelson
Sandra & Andrew Lytle III Stephen & Claudia Ura Allison Struyk Dawn Crowe Gerald & Valinda Coates
Sally Boyd Kenneth & Susan Andersen Bradford Dubik Jason Gray Harvey S. Martin
Margaret Sweeney Dr. Ronald & Joan Preloger Lockwood & Nikki Phillips Paul Harrison Emmett & Jane Pittman
John & Susan Chesney Elizabeth Faber Robin Pittman Ronald Keeney Steve Smith
Charles Pierce Shannon & Cecilia Adams Justine Winn Ann Carter Stephen E. Grant
Jim Welch Joanne McCarthy John S. Weske Virginia Hoell Kathy Schlabach
Sarah Mullikin Michelle Hooper Deborah Taule Charles Vassey John & Pauline Hagle
Daniel F. McLawhorn Charles G. Wilkins Susan Butler Sue T. Abreu Duane & Elizabeth Briggs
Charles T. Wilson Jr. G.B. Lewis Marsha & Charles E. Ragsdale Charles & Susan Mason Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Kafer III
Doily E. Fulcher Brother & Barbara Gaskill Joanne Kernodle John Thomas Elaine Eff
Chalk & Gibbs Mikki Sager Deborah Williams Terry Rogers David & Susan Briley
Robert Hancock Mary Elizabeth Respess Gina Dearaway Dennis Schlabach Jeanne W. Bryant
Tom & Gail Waller Kristen Brameld Bob & Suellen Monk Susan D. Jones Patty S. Herbin
Edward R. Salter Becky Gwinn Joyce Fitzpatrick Geraldine Mines Jim & Phoebe Briley
David & Billie Aman Lida Pigott Burney Kirkman Whitford Brady Ted & Belinda Hawley Jr. Susan C. Griffith
Sally G. Marks Jon VanBoskerck William & Leslie Hooks Carolina Decoy Collectors
Southern Bank Foundation Robbie Smith Berryman & Gordon, PA Ila F. Parker
Carteret-Craven Electric Naomi Graham Patty Tizen Delisa Styron Association
Barbara Young Mark & Penny Hooper Douglas Walker
Cooperative Corajane Adams James & Betty Turlington John O’Sullivan Special thanks to
Touchstone Energy Erin Binkley Grant & Ann Lynch Francis Amend these funders for
Chris Rogers Clifford Kiracofe Jeffrey West Debra Brushwood additional grant support:
Judy Betts Susan King Kimberly Sparks Daniel Bartley State of North Carolina
Debbie Lewis Karen Koenig Holly Dozier Rhonda Mabry Golden Leaf Foundation
Stewart Orgain Patrick & Harriett Joyce Lauren Salter William Mauney Cannon Foundation
Lawrence S. Earley Arlie & Gaylyn Henninger Steve Jolly Warren & Joan Davis
David & Louise Hughes Nancy Smith Fine Art Tom Steepy Lisa Ward Hayes Trust
Sarah Wiles Chadwick Tire Company, Inc. Lauren & Beth Edwards
Robert Johnson
Richard David

21

Repairing At Last, A New Roof

p We were glad to see these men at work
scraping away those damaged shingles.

Work on the roof began May 20
and what a welcome sight it was to see those old shingles
coming off and that new metal roof going on!

p Everyone was driving by to see our new roof finally going on!
p It was a long hot summer but the work slowly moved forward.
t We all held our breath while they replaced the tower roof. The roofer who went on top said
this was the highest he had ever been on a roof but the view was worth it!
p At last, a roof that will weather the storms!
22

Putting it Back Together Rebuilding

Thanks to the support of Thomas Simpson Construction,
our original contractor, work inside began in June to make sure
we had access to the Education Hall in August for events and
programs. As roof work moved forward, inside work
progressed. Our goal is to complete all building repairs and
upgrades by the end of the year.

tp It takes a lot
of scaffolding to get
the work done.
t t Faithful Terry
Krauss is cleaning
and repainting our
art hanging
system, one of
many important
pieces of rebuilding
our museum
exhibitions.
t At long last,
work began in the
gallery, first with
plywood with
sheetrock to follow.

The u p Our first gathering, Diamond City Homecoming, was the perfect time to
sheetrock “come home again.”
made a
mess but
it is
beautiful
now!

23

Keeping Old Traditions New Again A Perfect Place for Sharing Skills

While construction
“at the end of the road”
on Harkers Island slowly
progressed, the Museum
continued to do the work we
are dedicated to doing ~
sharing our heritage and
traditions, bringing back
memories of the museum’s
beginning back in the
“old museum.”

The PORCH became the
centerpiece of our efforts to
share Down East with
all who visit!

Carvers, artists, boatmakers and friends spent
many hours on the porch this summer, making
806 way more than a museum gift shop!
24

Sharing Stories, Experiences, Friendships Keeping Old Traditions New Again

806 has become a
gathering place for Coresounders
and their stories. Many thanks
to the carvers and crafters who
spent countless hours sharing
what they love.

25

Soundside Storytime Listening and Imagining

Core Sound’s Soundside
Storytime moved downtown for the
Summer of 2019 with stories and crafts
that make summer even more fun!

We love Friday mornings when the kids come to enjoy art Special thanks to Miss Teresa and Miss Kristen
and science activities. Programming for these summer who shared their love of children and teaching with
learning experiences were sponsored by the Redhead us during this important summer for Core Sound’s
Society. education programming. With their help,
26 CSWM&HC has continued to be a place to LEARN.

Fun with Science Soundside Science

Ross Allen Bob Guthrie Jay A. Parris
Jimmy & Karen Amspacher Julian C. Hamilton
Robert B. Arthur Larry & Tweedles Harkey Dr. & Mrs. Charles G. Pierce
Matt Pitman
Alton Ballance H. Denard Harris Carmine & Elizabeth Prioli
Jeff & Lisa Barnes W.W. Rodes Harrison
Edward L. Barrow Stephen & Holly Hill Barbara Basnight Rawl
Tommy Rogers
C. Munroe Best Jr. John & Emy Hinnant William S. Rule
Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Buff Jerry & Norma Hyatt
Chris & Kathryn Chadwick Charles & Janie Jones Leonard & Sarah Jo Safrit
Emmy & Robert Salsbury
Larrington Chadwick Purcell Jones James Gordon Salter
William Chadwick Dan & Maureen Kelly
Neal & Linda Conoley Henry & Amada Kidd John Sledge
Robbie Smith
Dr. James J. Crosswell Jr. Rhonda Kiker Thomas J. Smith
Sheldon & Leslie Daniels Bill & Marty Kincheloe
Taylor Daniels Wilbur & Carolyn King Stephen Smith, DDS
John Isaac & Jenny Southerland
SCIENCE CAN BE FUN and kids found that to Catherine Daniels Mary Ann Lamb Ike Southerland
be true at 806 this summer! From “Sweet and Juicy” David W. Darst Steve & Gail Lancaster Andy & Mary Frances Southerland
science to fishing tales, it was a good time to be a kid Warren Davis Bill & Fossie Lathan
around here! Wayne Davis Corey & Ashley Lawrence John Taylor Southerland
Robbie Stallings
pp Young art lovers were surrounded with beautiful drawings of some Pete & Nancy Deichmann Peggy Lemons Lt. Col. Michael J. Stroff III
of Down East’s most beloved landmarks and conversations about how Dr. & Mrs. Kent Denton D. Stuart & Anne Lindley
important our natural resources are to our community George Dill Ralph & Betty Lyon Valerie & Thom Styron
p Watermelon science – the perfect summer lesson plan! Jerry Talton
Joe Bernie Dupree Henry & Linda MacDonald Jennifer Taylor
Johnathan & Christian Earp Charles & Susan Mason
W. Loren & Beth K. Edwards Dr. & Mrs. C. Robert Means Jr. Sandy Thorpe
Jeff & Linda Turner
Lena Ennis Kenny & Stephanie Morris Bill & Jolene Walker
Joey Eubanks Curtis Mostellar
Robin Fields Sarah Mullikin David L. Ward Jr.
James M. Wells, DDS
Tommy Fulcher Steve & Kay Norris Barry West
Jack Gardner Tom & Laura O’Brien
Bob Garner Donald & Nadine Overby Ina Willis (deceased)
Charles T. Wilson
Walter Gaskill Charles W. Pake

Membership in Core Sound’s Redhead Society supports educational programs throughout
the year. A one-time gift of $250 welcomes all who support our educational mission.

27

Art Classes Offered at 806 Down East Artists Share Their Talents

Classes provided by Down East natives Walter “Brother” Gaskill and
Susan Mason provided Core Sound artists a wonderful opportunity to teach and learn from one another.

Brother’s decoy painting Susan’s drawing classes

This old house is filled with surprises including a
wonderful sunny room upstairs perfect for art classes.
Brother Gaskill and Susan Mason, two of the region’s
most experienced art instructors, made summer a
learning experience for the adults too. Core Sound has
turned 806 into a learning place for sure!
28

Thursday Afternoon’s ~ One of Our Favorite Part of 806 Porch Talks

That wrap-around porch was just too good to resist!
Almost every day, people gathered there to carve, paint, read, tell stories,
tell the truth and do what Core Sound does best, visit. Thursdays
were for “Porch Talks,” where writers, historians, and special guests
came to discuss coastal history, traditions, and issues. It was an amazing
mix of conversations! We are already looking forward to next summer
on the porch!

Porch talkers Chef Ricky Moore, Captain Ernie Foster, authors A special thanks to these “conversation
Deborah VanDyken and Susan Mason and menhaden leaders” who made every Thursday afternoon
industry historians were just a few of the many special guests interesting and informative! Thank you to
we brought together for our Porch Talk series. We are already Rodney Kemp, Susan Mason, Sue Suska,
talking about next year! Joanne Powell, Deborah VanDyken,
Jeff West, Ernie Foster, Bob Guthrie,
Susan Schmidt, Steve Goodwin,
Carolyn Mason, Barbara Garrity-Blake,
Shannon Adams, Barbara Guthrie Humphries,
Paul Hosier, Frank Tursi, Ricky Moore, and all
those who came to listen!

29

Down East NC – Beyond the North River Bruce Tarkington

Down East

This exhibition is the culmination of one to two
years’ work drawing scenes of eastern Carteret County
and the surrounding areas known as Down East NC.

This area is made up of small communities...
generally fishing villages... beginning at Bettie and ex-
tending all the way to Cedar Island which is the jump-
ing off point to Ocracoke via the Cedar Island Ferry.

“Bruce’s love for Down East and The people of this area are fiercely proud of
the people of Carteret County their heritage and traditions and are truly the salt of
the earth kind of people I’ve had the pleasure to
added a feeling of “homecoming” become better acquainted with since deciding to draw
to this beautiful exhibition. this beautiful area.
Welcome home Bruce!”
It’s my privilege to have been born in the heart
of Down East in the community of Sea Level where
our family had a house close-by in Beaufort as well as
in Gloucester, right on the Straits.

It’s been my honor to have drawn all the Down
East scenes you are about to see and hopefully immerse
yourself in.

It’s not just charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil
you’re seeing ... it’s a glimpse of people’s lives.

These are the peaceful scenes from my
childhood that have helped to put me to sleep at night
ever since I can remember....white boats on still water.

I hope you enjoy “Down-East – East of the
North River” and I hope you go away with a little of
the feeling I have for these hard working people living
in an area I consider a state treasure in so many ways.

30

Susan Mason Living on the Edge

At Water’s Edge “Susan’s keen eye for the
natural world around her
I grew up and live Down East. The and its relationship with
activity of recent years has prompted many to ask her community is evident
me, “Why do you live down there?” Down East is in both her photography
an area of exceptional beauty. Every day, I have the
opportunity to see people, animals and especially and artwork.
the birds going about their lives with Core Sound
as a backdrop. This
exhibition
I wake in Atlantic and see the sun rising celebrates
over North Core Banks. Shadows pass overhead the beauty
and I look up to see pelicans and blue herons of that
starting their day. I hear the sound of a boat engine connection
and look to see the path created on Core Sound by along the
the “wake” as a commercial fisherman starts his shores of
day. Walking down the dock at Atlantic Harbor of her home,
Refuge, I see old fishing boats and items fishermen Core
use to work the water resting in a cultural still life. Sound.”
I stand on North Core Banks and look to my left
and right and I will often not see another person. 31
I do not know many places where you can watch a
blue heron, pelicans, gulls, an osprey, eagle and red
fox all in one day.

All this imagery is tied together by Core
Sound. Core Sound has colored our existence. On
a good day, indescribable beauty exists. I am thank-
ful and think often of a prayer by Abraham Joshua
Heschel, “Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder.
Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of
Your universe … Each day enrapture me with Your
marvelous things without number.” Life Down
East is lived “At Water’s Edge” and the beauty of
Down East surrounds us.

How We Do What We Do! “It really is about the people …”

Folks have asked hundreds of times over the past almost 30 years, “how
have you done it?“ How have you built this place? How have you raised this
kind of money? How have you gotten all these people to do all this work – most
of the time for free? How have you held on all these many years?

How have WE done all this?
The quick answer is FOOD, events, projects, grants, friends who can
write checks, friends who will work hard, a lot of asking, a few failures, a whole
lot of setbacks, the list goes on …
But the real answer is PEOPLE. People who have shared the vision and
become part of our community of communities to build a place we can call
home, complete with experiences to make memories and PEOPLE to share
them. THAT’s how WE continue to do all we do.
Over the past two years this realization has been stronger than ever. The
dedication of OUR PEOPLE has been what has maintained our operation, kept
our events on schedule, supported our gift shop, attended the classes, written
the checks, and showed up when the work needs to be done. Thank you.
Our gatherings, whether for an event or workday or porch talk or class,
are the mainstay of our efforts to keep this Museum a living, working, commit-
ted family of families, sharing the heritage we love! All are welcome here…

32

Learning the Details Core Sound Decoy Painting Workshop

Turning paint into
realistic looking feath-
ers takes work, skill
and practice. Students
gained skills in both
brush and airbrush
techniques by watch-
ing and practicing with
one-on-one instruc-
tion. Students rang-
ing from beginners to
experienced learned
much in the three day
workshop.

In March 2018 Core Sound
hosted a two-day decoy painting
workshop for a small group of
“carving artists” to learn from
Walter “Brother” Gaskill, our very
own world champion. The setting
was the Oyster House on North River
and the results of hours of hard work
were amazing!

Core Sound will be planning
additional workshops for artists,
carvers, writers, birders and
others who long for a day-apart to
learn and experience the beauty of
Down East.

33

2018 Core Sound Rig of Three p Rig of Blackducks by Kent Hood Memorial Hunting Rig Competition
Robbie Robertson,
Greensboro, NC. Robbie’s rig t Judges for the
placed first in Puddle Duck 2018 Core Sound
Division and Third Place Best Kent Hood Memorial
in Show overall. Hunting Rig
u Competitors Stan Rule Competition: Monty
and Ashley Wimberly pose Willis, Corey
with their rig of Tundra Swan Lawrence, Jerry
at the 2018 Core Sound Kent Talton.
Hood Memorial Hunting Rig u Rig of Long Tail
Com-petition. Duck (Old Squaw)
and Surf Scoter by
34 Robbie Robertson,
Greensboro, NC.
Best in Diving Duck
Division, First Best in
Show overall.

This contest was organized in
2007 by former IWCA president
Bob Sutton as a fun event to show
different styles of working decoys
from across the country. The idea is
to encourage decoy carvers to team
up and get a rig together for the most
fun competition in the country. The
competition was renamed in 2013 to
honor Kent Hood, a carver who was
instrumental in running the compe-
tition and passed away from cancer.
The Core Sound Kent Hood Memo-
rial Hunting Rig Competition is
run jointly between the Core Sound
Davis Springle, Beaufort, NC, shows off his rig of Lesser p Decoy Carvers Guild and the Core
Scaup (Blackheads) that placed third in the Diving Ducks
Division. Sound Waterfowl Museum &

t Rig of Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser by Patrick Heritage Center.
Bearden, Mt. Pleasant, NC. Patrick’s rig placed second in
the Diving Ducks Division and Second Place Best in Show
overall.

Superior Decoy Carving Craftsmanship Competition 2018 Core Sound Rig of Three

t Patrick Bearden’s Second
Place Best in Show rig of
Glodeneye and Hooded
Merganser on display in the
Core Sound Museum

u Winners of the 2018 Superior
Decoy Craftsman Carving
Competition.

q Marshallberg Carver Ken
Humphries participating in the
2018 Superior Decoy Craftsman
Carving Competition.

The purpose of the p Robbie Robertson’s First Place Best in Show rig of Long-tail Ducks
Superior Decoy Craftsman- and Surf Scoter on display in the Sore Sound Museum.
ship Carving Competition is
to “crown a carver” as a 35
superior craftsman by way of
judging a “naked”
(unpainted, no sealer, no
filler) decoy.

Judges look for many
things including, but not
limited to symmetry, flowing
lines, wood choice, and tight
seams. This competition is
held by the Kent Hood
Decoy Carvers Foundation
and is hosted by the Core
Sound Waterfowl Museum &
Heritage Center.

2018 in David’s Room Before the Storm, Carvers Gather at the Museum

David’s Room has If visitors came to the CSWM&HC on Wednesday during the
always been “the place” summer months more than likely they spent time with a
for carvers to spend their faithful crew of decoy carvers who volunteered weekly,
time learning from each chopping, whittling, carving, sanding, painting and sharing
other and sharing with all Core Sound’s waterfowl heritage with hundreds of
who visit the museum. museum-goers. Our thanks to those who gave their time to
add this opportunity to the museum experience.

36

Learning Can Be Fun! 2018 Kids of All Ages

Sometimes it is hard to tell
who is having the most fun
at Core Sound’s programs –
the teachers (Woz and Miss
Teresa) or the kids! From
Earth Day to Sun Camp to
wetland restoration projects,
Core Sound’s commitment to
STEM education is strong and
growing.

Miss Teresa’s last
spring/summer season
was filled with student

field trips, Earth Day
projects, summer

camps, and her favorite,
“Soundside Stories”
programs on Friday
mornings.
Congratulations
to Miss Teresa on
her retirement, and
our thanks for
coming back often
to help keep the
learning fun at
Core Sound!

37

Winter Taste 2019 Sammy’s Southern Salt, Morehead City

It was a wonderful winter night on Morehead City’s waterfront. The food
table was endless, the silent auction great fun and the all-important
encouragement this overwhelming crowd brought to the museum made
our Winter Taste 2019 much more than event! It was reassurance that
our community’s commitment was as strong as ever! Thank you!

Remembering 2018

The 2018 Winter Taste took Our thanks
everyone back to the hunting clubs and camps to Sammy Boyd
of Core Banks with a menu of traditional Core for welcoming
Sound game and seafood recipes served with us to his restau-
memories of days gone by. rant for our 2019
Winter Taste!
Almost 300
hungry museum
friends enjoyed
a wonderful
winter night,
enjoying a feast
of wild game
and seafood!

38

A Day for Families on Shell Point Core Sound Run

Core Sound’s Annual 10K, 5K
and Family Fun Run has grown
to more than 300 runners who
come to enjoy the family atmosphere,
the friendly competition, and the
beautiful mornings on Shell Point

overlooking Core Sound.

2019’s Core Sound Run was the largest yet, but
the best part was having so many families in-
volved. Harkers Island’s first-ever track team were
the special guests of the day with their families
and friends cheering them on! We are already
preparing for 2020’s Core Sound Run on April 4.

Remembering 2018

Despite the threat of thunderstorms and
rain, 2018’s Core Sound Run brought hun-
dreds to enjoy the cool, cloudy weather!

39

Core Sound’s All-American Shrimp Fry Honoring our Active Military and Veterans

Every summer the
Core Sound Waterfowl
Museum & Heritage
Center recognizes the
sacrifices (past and
present) of those who have
served our country by
hosting a complimentary
local shrimp dinner for
all active military families
and local Veterans. This is
an important opportunity
for our community to
“give back” to those who
have given so much.

Remembering 2018

It seems like so long ago now when we were It was like “old home week” to have all those men (and even a few women) who have served in the
hosting events in our education hall back in military to come and visit with us. Many thanks to all the volunteers who made this shrimp dinner pos-
2018! We look forward to holding our All- sible and to the many museum members who sponsored those military plates.
American Shrimp Fry there again in 2020!

40

Happy Birthday Chief Ira Lewis, 100 Years Young 2018 Our Favorite Coastie

pt Upper left: Members What a celebration it was for
of Scout Troop 252 carry the Harkers Island, Down East and all
birthday banner – 100 Years of North Carolina! Chief Ira’s friends
Old! and family shared in his big day with a
p Troop 252 Scouts were parade, picnic, and afternoon gather-
part of this historic day. ing of Coasties from across the coun-
t VADM Dean Lee, try, who returned to Harkers Island
USCG(ret) listens intently to to help rekindle friendships and relive
Chief Ira Lewis, one of the na- memories. What a fitting tribute to a
tion’s oldest living Coasties. man who has lived a life of service to
pu VADM Dean Lee, his community and country.
USCG(ret) welcomes Chief
Lewis with a smile and shared
commitment to the US Coast
Guard.
u Chief Lewis, surrounded by
the young friends and family.
uu Chief Ira Lewis, USCG,
always proud to wear that
uniform

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Down East is Truly a USCG Community Recognizing All Who Have Served

Our US Coast Guard Appreciation
Day Parade was not only a birthday
gift to Chief Ira, but also a “reunion”
of Carteret County (and beyond) men
and women who have served in the US Coast Guard. Coasties came from California and all over the US to celebrate Chief Lewis’
100th Birthday and to honor the history of the Coast Guard in Carteret County, especially Down East. Family members joined in
the parade with golf carts to chauffeur their US Coast family members and friends who have served. It was an unbelievable day!

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USCG – Serving Our Community for Generations Carrying the Tradition Forward

u Remembering those who have served was an important Memorials John A. Brooks
part of the day’s program. The day began with a wreath- Mary Patricia Tessier
laying ceremony at Harkers Island Veteran’s Memorial. Livingston Brooks
q The USMC Band was a highlight of the day. Lib Brooks Mary Lou Smith
p The Lewis family and cousins join the active US Coast Guard men who attended for this important Lisa Davis Burgess Lupton
ceremony at the Memorial.
Roy Everett Clayton Gay Lupton
John A. Christie, Sr. William Earl Nelson

Mary Weigl Twila Nelson
Hallett Gibbs Captain Fred Gillikin
Kathy & Michael Williford
Roy Hilton Willis Frances Yeomans
Chris & Kathryn Chadwick Hubert Davis
Roma Salter Shawn Davis
Chris & Kathryn Chadwick
Betty Salter Bradford Sherman Nelson
Chris & Kathryn Chadwick Sharman Nelson Gillikin
Robert Jones Nathan Robinson
Graham Jones Colleen Guthrie
Dennis Pittman Dana Lloyd Guthrie
Serina Kannan Merita Guthrie
John Robinson
Wendy Robinson Honorariums
Jonathan Robinson
Elmo Gaskill Arlie Daniels
Wanda Gaskill Ricky & Lisa Daniels
Samuel F. Yeomans
DM2 USCG Chief Ira Lewis
Dan Yeomans USCG (Ret) William Graham Jones
Hugh Salter The T.L. Hanes Family
Cindy Lewis
Paul Williams Mary Weigl
Charles R. Bulla Sr. Chris & Kathryn Chadwick
Commander Billy Sasser
Mary Lou Smith Pam Morris
BMCM Edwin Booth Jerry & Norma Hyatt
Newman USCG (Ret) Jimmy & Karen Amspacher
Lenora E. Newman
Margaret L. Newman Ken Davis
Pam Morris
G.B. Lewis
Louie & Susie Piner
Jason Frivance
Jason & Rachel Frivance
Hunter Hill

Paul Hill

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Our Second Annual USCG Reunion Remembering Our Friend, Master Chief Bobby Hill

Our second annual USCG
Reunion was dedicated to the
memory of Master Chief Bobby
Hill whose years of service to the
Guard and this community have
been exceptional.

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And Another Birthday for the Chief #101 Our Second Annual USCG Reunion

Coastie’s, past and present, spent the evening More than 100 Coasties
rememnering old friends and making new ones. gathered once again to remember their
days of service and to help Chief Ira
Lewis celebrate another birthday,
this time #101!

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Diamond City Homecoming Remembering Who and What We Are

Every five years, Core Sound, the Promise Land Society, and Cape Lookout National Seashore bring together the fami-
lies of Shackleford Banks who migrated to Salter Path, Promise Land, and Harkers Island/Down East to celebrate the an-
niversary of the Storm of 1899 that drove their Shackleford Banks ancestors to higher ground. It is a powerful experience,
taking these descendants “home” to the stories and traditions they have heard about all their lives.

Just as important as the lighthouse that stands as a sentinel to the East, or the coastal fortification known as Fort
Macon to the West, here lie the graves of our crowd… they bear names and dates of former times… that now (more than a
century later) seem like a whole different world.

Forty years have passed since my first visit to the cemetery. Back then the
path was so much longer... My family had Camps at both end of the banks...
about ten years (mostly summers) I spent over here.

I feel like that allows me to claim that at least for a small portion of my life,
I too “lived on the Banks.” I’m extremely thankful for the days of my youth
spent along these very shores.

As a boy and long after I’d grown into a man…I never left the house
without hearing mama say….”I love you.” And then she would follow that with
“remember who and what you are …”

Today we gather along this beloved
shore to honor and remember and celebrate
who, what we are - and may I also add,
where we come from.

Descendants and friends gathered at the Park Service dock to make the rainy trip across Back Sound to the
Wade’s Shore Cemetery, but the weather just would not cooperate, so everyone returned back, wet and happy,
glad to have seen the shore, remembering the hard life those Bankers lived on that precious strip of land.
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Shackleford Descendants Honoring These Bankers

We are the descendants of
Fishermen… Farmers
Carvers… Clammers
Net menders… Mid-wives
Whalers… Waterfowlers
Storytellers…. Sailors of Shackleford Banks.

Each of us are blessed… to be from the surrounding communities who Throughout the day, family history
are able to trace our family roots back to this place... was shared in many ways, through
To this beautiful, sacred place … stories from the Promise Lander’s
We are most highly favored … or family history boards from Salter
Because of folks such as everyone gathered here … Path, and visit with Islanders whose
Those people whose lives and story we honor today shall never end…and for that too … I am grateful. ancestors moved just across the
sound to their new life on Harkers
Corey Lawrence, Diamond City Descendant Island. It was a day of rekindling
family ties and honoring the com-
mon bonds shared by the
communities of Salter Path,
Promise Land and Harkers Island.

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Our Ancestral Home Our Connection to The Banks

A Yearning for the Banks

Once upon a time, on the sands upon this shore Homes were dismantled, packed up with care then
A people came to settle a community of yore floated across the water

Before this nation even was, our families called this home Rebuilt in new places but always having a window
And ever since that time to now, most still care not to roam looking back o’er yonder
A land of freedom, blessed by God, where families were raised
The memories made, that still remain, are cherished here today Harkers Island, Marshallberg, Salter Path and Broad Creek,
Fathers, mothers, daughters, sons all worked to make their lives The Promised Land was settled, too, and all are forever linked
They fished the waters, tilled the land and did all to survive From Core Sound’s salty waters to the sandy banks of Bogue

They prayed in churches and in homes, they sang We remain united from a time we did not know
along the water Through blood and through memories, our family ties remain

Their lives reflect a simple time, filled with laughter, We may not know each other’s faces, but we all know
love and order and share our names

Boats were built, clothes were made, great whales hunted, too No matter how much time had passed, those folks
The residents of Diamond City were a strong and hardy crew who had once lived there,
Then at the turn of the 20th Century, the mighty storms did rise
Made sure the memories of Ca’e Banks were remembered,
Folks loved this home, but their families more, and passed down and shared
soon they realized
The place that had been their daily homes, became our
They had to leave, go inland some—seek shelter from the dangers summertime destination
The children of the next generation would know each
other as strangers The children of the Bankers would return there for vacation
As time passed by those summer camps became few and far between

The camps, set ablaze, were done away where
sturdy homes had been
(cont)

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