Friday, December 28, 2012

Thank You for this Amazing Journey

Hello Everyone!

     I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and support for the Goose Creek Island Journal and Goose Creek Island Album.
     With sincere gratitude, thank you all for sharing memories, stories, forwarding the journal to friends and family, and identifying residents and places. I am also thankful for the wonderful messages of encouragement.  It is a privilege and honor to share with you and for all who have generously shared with me.
     It is so wonderful to be connected with each one of you.  I wish each of you a Happy New Year.  I pray each of your lives will be ever-changed for the better with the amazing, magical, joyful love that all of us share on Goose Creek Island.

Please click on the link below for a video presentation of Goose Creek Island.  Turn your volume on.



Thank you Ballance, Potter, Sadler, Spain, Howerin, Lewis, Henries, Jones, Lupton, Leary, Ireland, Barnett, Watson and Spencer Families for sharing the photos in the video.  Also many thanks to New Vision PH Church for the use of their fellowship hall for our oral history recordings.

Special thank you to Adrian Henson Photography and Heather Foreman Henson for compiling the video.  

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Just Thinking About Christmas' Past

Christmas is just around the corner.  Just a few more days left and the magic of Santa Claus will be delivering his gifts.  I awoke this morning thinking about some of the gifts I had received when Santa Claus used to visit.  The arrival of the Sears catalog marked the beginning of the Christmas season for me.  Oh, how many times did I thumb through that book.  The back of that catalog was magical!  I thought I would share with you some of those toys that I remember receiving.

Banana Bike

This was the first bicycle I remember getting from Santa.  I know that I had a small red one with training wheels before, but I can still see that yellow and white banana bike sitting beside the tree.  It had those shiny streamers hanging from the handle bars and a white basket in front.  I can also remember that it was the first Christmas we had in the newly remodeled house; I don't think Heather was even born yet.


Weeble Woobles

"Weebles wooble but they don't fall down!" I loved these!  Of all the presents that I had gotten over the years, I believe I may have played with the Weeble Woobles more than anything.



Match Box Cars
Spirograph
10 Speed Bicycle
Lite Bright
Viewmaster
Kewpie Doll

I loved all of the presents I received from Santa Claus over the years.  Thinking back, I do not recall one present that kept us from wanting to go outside and play.  Me and Heather had always received something that we could play in the yard.  A basketball, a pogo stick, and bicycles. I even think Heather may have gotten a fishing rod and tackle box one Christmas.  Unlike children today, we never stayed in the house much.  Most of the time, the baby dolls, matchbox cars, and games followed us to the yard.  We could have more fun on a gravel rock pile with matchbox cars than a child today playing video games in front of the TV.

Remember on Christmas Eve night, how we all gathered at the church for our Christmas Program?  It never failed, Mom and Dad would let us open one gift on Christmas Eve before going to the church. It was always a Christmas dress for us to wear that night.  Do you remember Ms. Patsy Sadler directing us in the Christmas play and then getting us to sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" to get Santa to come visit?

Afterwards, we would go riding around the Island looking at the Christmas lights.  I can still see Ms. Bertie Ireland's house with all those large, lit yard decorations she would have.  How about Mr. Freeman Ireland's house?  He had Santa in his sleigh and all of the reindeer on the roof of his house.

All of us have special Christmas memories of years past.  The toys, the Christmas lights, the church, and our family.  I encourage you to take a moment out of your busy holiday preparations and think about your Christmas' memories.  Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Lewis Family Christmas Tradition continues....

 Doris Lewis & Juston Lewis receiving a Christmas present. A photo of their family home in Lowland.
Photo courtesy Tina Foreman Beacham (C)
 It began over 60 years ago with six children and a promise to each other that they will always celebrate Christmas together.

That promise was fulfilled again this past Sunday, when the descendants of Jonah and Ollie Lewis of Lowland gathered for their annual family Christmas party in Norfolk, VA.

“We were taught to celebrate family,” said Juston Lewis, the youngest child of Jonah and Ollie.  It was quite evident that a strong sense of family, fun and gathering together was what their Christmas party is all about.

Over 70 family members, representing over four generations celebrated at the Roosevelt Gardens neighborhood clubhouse, hosted by Doris Lewis Riddle, the only surviving daughter of Jonah and Ollie.  They shared a meal, countless desserts, rejoiced in their many accomplishments for the year, and spoke of countless memories of being together.

The first gathering was held in the early 1950's by daughter Doris.  Since that first family Christmas gathering, each sibling has played host.  Even though Derlie, Mae, Tincy and Marcus have passed, their children and grandchildren continue to honor the tradition as their parents would. 

It was evident that all who had gathered did so out of loyalty and respect for their family.  They are keeping a tradition alive.  When I asked cousin Doris the reason they all still gather, she said it was simple. “It’s love,” she said. “That’s what it is.”

Photo courtesy Tina Foreman Beacham (C)
Photo courtesy Tina Foreman Beacham (C)
Photo courtesy Tina Foreman Beacham (C)
Photo courtesy Tina Foreman Beacham (C)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Christmas Tree from "Down the Creek"

Down the Creek. Photo courtesy Aimee Leary Rowe.

Aimee Leary Rowe is the daughter of Sharon Leary and the late Benny Charles Leary.  Aimee, along with her husband William and two sons live in Lowland. As the only child of Benny Charles and Sharon, Aimee was both daughter and son.  Not only did she do all those things that girls do growing up, she also had to do the "boy things".  Hunting, crabbing, and trapping were included.  Aimee has shared a Christmas story.  Enjoy!

     One Christmas, Mama told Daddy that she needed the Christmas Tree out of the attic.  I overheard Daddy mumble that he had traps to set and things to do; he'd do it later.  I've always said that Daddy wasn't happy unless he was down the creek or stomping through the marsh.  Daddy left in his little Datsun truck, high tailing it to what ever made him happy.  As he pulled out of the driveway Mama said, "I guess we won't have a Christmas Tree."
     Growing up, I enjoyed looking through all our picture albums. I remember coming across Christmas photos of Daddy's family, the Learys.  Pictures of Christmas' that were taken before I was born. I came across one picture.  It was probably taken in the late 1960's.  It was a Christmas picture and the only child in it was David, son of Uncle Roland Jr and Aunt Ila. David was the first grandchild in the Leary family.   In this picture I noticed that the Christmas tree was real and looked as if it came straight out the woods. So, when Daddy came home, I approached him with the idea of going" down the creek" to look for our own live Christmas Tree. Of course, he agreed.
     So bright and early the next morning, we bundled up and headed out. I thought we would be looking for a tree and heading home. Nope, we were looking for otter crossings.  We had to set traps. We then had to set nets. Finally, after all these tasks, we began looking for a tree.  I remember we looked and looked and looked. I knew we had to bring home the perfect tree or Mama would say, "See you should've gotten the one out of the attic."
      Finally, we found a tree! I was a first timer at picking out trees. I thought me and Daddy had done pretty good.  When we drove up to the house with the tree hanging out the bed of the truck, Mama was standing on the back porch with her hands in her hips.  I knew by her expression that she was thinking, 'good heavens'. Me and Daddy unloaded and set the tree up. In my mind, I was thinking, it was the ugliest tree on earth and I knew Mama thought the same thing. She never voiced it but our feelings were mutual. I heard Daddy say, "Sharon there you go. She's all yours!" All  I could see was Mama setting fire to it.  But, she never said a word.  We got busy and decorated the ugliest tree on Goose Creek Island.
     When you're young, Christmas trees are exciting. It doesn't matter how big, how small or how ugly. The tree was confirmation that Santa would be on his way.
     I will never forget that Christmas. Because that was the ONLY year that we ever had a live "from down the creek" Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas from Aimee Leary Rowe and her family, William, Charles, Aaron and mother Sharon. 

Saturday, December 15, 2012

No Santa Claus

 
     My husband Tommy is a Core Sounder.  Born and raised on the shores of Core Sound in Carteret County, he will quickly tell you that he's married a "woodser" from "across the sound".  Yes, those Core Sounder's really have a way with words. Their brogue is so salty, sometimes I even have trouble figuring out what they are talking about. 
     Even though Tommy will calls me a "woodser" (that is a Core Sounder's term for people who live over in Pamlico County, in the woods or as they would say, "across the sound"), Tommy has some "woodser" in him too!  His great great grandparents Lewis Tull and Lizzie Williamson are buried in the McGowan's Cemetery in Lowland.  He also has relatives on the Island; Uncle Sam Williamson's folks.
   When Lewis Tull and Lizzie Williamson's children were old enough to 'strike out' on their own, their  oldest son Sam chose to stay on Goose Creek Island. Their second son Tull went to Carteret County.  Tull is the grandfather of my mother-in-law Helen Williamson Beacham.  Tull is also the father of
Clifford Lewis "Sonny" Williamson who is the famed coastal "fish house liar", storyteller extraordinaire and author of many coastal heritage books.  Sonny resides in the Carteret County community of Marshallberg.
    Several years ago, Sonny completed a book about his life growing up in Down East Carteret County.  In the book Salt Spots for Breakfast, Sonny told a story about Christmas.  The story warmed my heart as I was taken back to the late 1930's in the little seaside village of Sea Level.

From Salt Spots for Breakfast by Sonny Williamson

     Life was pretty good back then.  Good until Tullie got in one of his teasing moods. "NO SANTA CLAUS" he called out over and over again.  I ran all the way to the Post Office to Aunt Josie the day Tullie dropped that bomb on me.  "There's no Santa Claus", he jeered.  "Even little dummies like you know that."  My brother was only seven years older'n me, so, "How much does he know anyway?"  I was thinking and hoping that Santa never came to see him.
     Aunt Josie was a lot older than Mama and she never had any kids so she was like the grandmother I never had.  She was not gushy, never had been.  I fled to her because I knew she would be straight with me. I also knew that the truth went down a whole lot easier when taken with one of her famous fig-stuffed light rolls.  I also knew that she would be at the Post Office, she was always there, that was her job, in back of the building was her home.  Between bites I told her everything. As usual she was ready for me.
     "NO SANTA CLAUS!?"  She snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't you believe it.  That rumor has been going around for years and it makes me mad, just plain mad.  Now put your coat back on, and let's go."
     "Go, go where Aunt Josie?" I asked.
     "Where" turned out to be Mr. Tine's General Store, Oyster Factory and Fish House, the only store in Sea Level that had a little bit of just about everything.  As we walked through its doors, Aunt Josie handed me five dollars.  I had never seen that much money in one place before. I guess I looked awful funny standing in the middle of the store with my mouth hanging open.
     "Take this money and buy something for someone who needs it.  I'll wait down by the candy counter."  Then she turned and walked away.  I was only six years old.  I'd often gone shopping with Mama and sometimes with Daddy, but never had shopped for anything all by myself.
     All of the sudden the store seemed big and crowded.  I knew many of the older men sitting in a circle around the big pot bellied stove, but they even looked different and little frightful.  For a few minutes I just stood there, wondering what to buy and who on earth to buy it for.  Suddenly I thought of Bobby Decker.  He sat right behind me in Ms. Lois' first grade class.  Bobby didn't have a coat.  I knew that because he never went out at recess during the winter.  He always said he didn't like to play silly girl games but I knew different.  I fingered the five-dollar bill with growing excitement.  I would buy Bobby Decker a coat.  I settled on a red corduroy plaid one that had a hood to it.  It looked real warm.  He would like that.
     That evening after supper, Aunt Josie helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and to write "To Bobby - From Santa" on it.  She said that Santa always insisted on secrecy and for it to have the special Christmas Spirit we could never tell.  Then she walked with me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever one of Santa's secret helpers.  She and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by the front door.
     When everything was clear Aunt Josie gave me a nudge.  "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."  I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his steps, pounded on his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Aunt Josie.  From there we watched Bobby come to the door, look all around and pick up his present from Santa.
     Sixty-five years hasn't dimmed the thrill of that moment shivering, both from cold and excitement, crouched beside Aunt Josie, hid in Bobby Decker's bushes.
     Later that night, as I lay snuggled in my feather bed where Mama had lovingly tucked me, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Aunt Josie said they were. Ridiculous.
     Santa was alive and well and I was on his team.  Still am.

Friday, December 14, 2012

In Memory of George Jarvis Sr., Last Traditional Boatbuilder

 
     George Magellan Jarvis Jr., the last traditional boat builder of Goose Creek Island died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Beaufort. He was 83. He is a member of Wardens Grove Free Will Baptist Church. He is a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
     He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nina Jarvis; his son, George T. Jarvis of Alliance; four daughters, Barbara Jarvis of Alliance, Patty Loftin and Janet Hammond, both of Beaufort and Penny Jarvis of Newport; one sister, Wanda Sapper of Texas; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
     A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Wardens Grove FWB Church Cemetery with the Rev. Earl Sadler Jr., the Rev. John Carawan and the Rev. John Hill officiating and military honors by Pamlico County VFW Honor Guard.
     The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Pamlico County, PO Box 959, Bayboro, NC 28515; Hospice of Carteret County, PO Drawer 1619, Morehead City, NC 28557; or Voice of Freedom, 234 Snow Hill St., Ayden, NC 28513 or PO Box 30310, Greenville, NC 27833.

Online condolences to the family may be made at bryantfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are by Bryant Funeral Home & Crematory, Alliance.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A College Christmas Story

Photo courtesy East Carolina University Digital Records Collection
     
My Uncle Joshua "Muff" Potter, Jr. has always been a storyteller.  At family gatherings he is always educating us about the rules of a football game or telling us stories about something that happened in his life.  Stories about growing up on the family farm, leaving Lowland to go off to college, playing baseball and even tales of "thumbing" from Bayboro to the Island at night.  I recently asked if he would share a Christmas story and he generously offered.  Here is his story about his freshman year at East Carolina University.

     In August of 1963, I made the 60 mile journey from Goose Creek Island to the "big city" of Greenville to begin my studies at East Carolina College (.it changed to East Carolina University my senior year in 1967).  Sure, I had been to Greenville many times with Daddy when he went to the tobacco warehouses, but this was the first time I had ever been away from home.  I had settled in to my studies and before I knew it, the first quarter had come to an end.  I remember returning home to Lowland that first Christmas I was away at college.  I came home very discouraged and embarrassed.  I had failed English.
     During that first quarter, I had maintained grades in the low 80's.  That was nothing to brag about but I was passing comfortably.  My freshman year the East Carolina College English Department implemented what was called the "departmental theme".  In order to be able to take the final exam in English class, one had to pass the theme.  I will never forget it for two reasons.  First of all, for the impact it made on me.  Secondly, it was on the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated - November 22, 1963.
     I had struggled all through the night writing the theme in what was called a little "blue book."  It turned out to truly be a "blue book" for me, because when my paper had been graded by three professors outside of the English Department, I had gotten a failing grade.  Therefore, I could not take the final exam and thus failed the course. To say the least, I was devastated.
     I came home for the Christmas holiday break. I had to tell Mama and Daddy what had happened.  To me it was unfair to base passing or failing a course on one theme, especially after having passing grades for the whole quarter.  I was so upset that I told them that I did not want to return to East Carolina College.  If that was the way college worked I was ready to quit.
     To my surprise, Daddy told me that it was okay to quit....if that was what I wanted to do.  To this day I do not know whether he was seeing how I would react or whether he thought he would be saving money by me returning home to help on the farm.  Daddy did say that I would have to work on the farm with him if I stayed home.
      I pondered what he had said and throughout the holiday break, I thought of all the manual labor that kept a small farm going. I thought about things like working in tobacco, from the plant beds to transplanting, to chopping, to poisoning, to cultivating, to topping, to suckering, to pulling sand lugs and tips, to working in dry tobacco.  All these labor intensive jobs came to mind.  I even thought of weeding the soy beans of "cuckle burrs".  I also thought of having to use that back breaking bush axe to shrub the ditches.  So after some serious thought over the holidays and thinking about the consequences for quitting school, guess what?  I found myself hitching that ride back to Greenville to begin the next quarter at East Carolina College.
      In retrospect, I am so thankful that I did.  Some wonderful things happened to me as a result of continuing my education.  One is that I got a chance to play college baseball.  But greatest thing is that a fellow baseball team mate was instrumental in leading me to the Lord.  As a result of that, I met a wonderful Christian woman.  The love of my life, my wife, friend and companion, Alberta Jenkins Potter.  I have been truly blessed because of that one turning point in my life. 

Wishing you all a very blessed Merry Christmas!

Joshua "Muff" Potter, Jr.







Friday, December 7, 2012

Our Greatest Generation.

     
     Today, flags are flying at half staff in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day, the day 71 years ago when Japan attacked the United States.  Many books and films have been produced reflecting on that day.  Some of them have been glamorized, yet when you talk with a Veteran, there was nothing glamorous about war. I do not know of anybody from Goose Creek Island who was stationed at Pearl Harbor on that dreadful day.  If any of my readers do know of an Island resident who was, please let me know. 
      Ms. Gladys Ives Holton, native of Hobucken, said that she remembered the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. She was in the 7th grade at Hobucken School and it was a Sunday. She recalled that she and friend were roller skating down the road in Hobucken that Sunday afternoon.  Matter of fact, she remembered that she had one skate on and the friend had the other.  Her friend had commented that he had heard about some planes from Japan bombing "us".   The next day when the Island kids got to school, Principal Banks had turned on the radio in the gymnasium (classes where held in the gym because the school had burned earlier that year).  She said ,"We all listened to President Franklin Roosevelt's address to Congress declaring war on Japan." 
        My Uncle James Foreman, who still resides at Clark's Corner in Lowland, was a veteran of World War II.  Matter of fact, he may be the only World War II veteran who is still living on the Island. He did not go to the Pacific and was only 16 years old at the time of the Pearl Harbor bombing.  He served in the European Theatre, which is another story of our war history.  Oh, how I wish that he would share his story with me, but I know deep in my heart, he never will.  His war experience was horrific and the only stories I have heard have been passed along to me by my father and his brother Charles.  
     On January 23, 1943, the day before his18th birthday, James Foreman registered for military selective service. Little did James know that during the summer of '43, while he was working with his father in tobacco, that plans were being made for Operation Overlord, the allied invasion to liberate France.  A year later, after his registration, James enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on January 27, 1944. The allied invasion at Normandy began on June 6, 1944.  I do not know the details of what company he served with or when he traveled to England and then on to France, Belgium and other countries.  I do know that he experienced a side of war that Tom Hanks or Stephen Spielberg probably couldn't reproduce for the movies.
     Through my family history, the story is told that my great grandparents had received a telegram sometime in late 1944 or early 1945 that their youngest son James was listed as "missing in action".  It was many weeks later that they finally learned that he was safe.  It was those weeks that he will not talk about, or about any of his military service.  The story is that he had become "trapped" behind enemy lines and had become separated from his unit.  He and a fellow service member were on the run throughout the country, trying to stay one step ahead of the Germans.  Trying to stay alive. Unfortunately, the fellow service member perished before being reunited with American forces.  Uncle James got lucky.
     Before Uncle James had left for Fort Bragg, my great-grandfather Walter Foreman had promised a gold piece to him when he returned home safely from the war.  The story is that Uncle James returned home and it was late at night when he finally got to St. Clair's Creek in Beaufort County.  My Uncle Charles said he remembered he and his older brother Harold were asleep. Uncle James came rushing up the stairs and woke the boys up. He hugged them so tightly and was so happy to be home that he was crying.  Uncle Charles said as a young boy, he did not fully comprehend what was happening that night.  But when he was older, he truly appreciated and understood the impact of what had happened to Uncle James and how close he came to not returning home.
     To this day, Uncle James does not talk about his service to his country, nor do we pressure or ask him to talk about it.  The only time we have ever heard him mention anything about war was, "Honey, I hope you never have to see what I have seen in my lifetime."  And that is all that has ever been said. 
      Today, many of our Island's "greatest generation" are no longer with us.  The term greatest generation was pinned by the journalist Tom Brokaw.  Of course the term gives meaning to those who have served and have war experience, but I see our greatest generation as some thing more than just war service.  The men who served came back home and freely gave to their communities. Their hard working ethic helped to rebuild America and they never had a task that was 'too hard'.  They had already done the hardest work of their lives.  
     We have seen this in our Island community and we still see it today. Many years ago, when that group of Island residents banded together to form the Goose Creek Island Ruritan Club, they formed their own "Band of Brothers".  It was their way of giving back and to become good stewards to their community.  Those charter members, our greatest generation, had served in World War II.  Carol Ross was in the Battle of the Bulge, Mike Lewis had been stationed in the South Pacific. So had Glenwood Sadler.  It was these men who would most humbly gather at the local cemetery and prepare a grave for one of their own, a task that no one wanted. They have always given honorable service to our community and have always risen to a challenge. Their contributions to our community still live on today.  That is what makes them the "greatest generation" to me.    

A personal note - James Foreman to this day does not like Japanese cars and will tell you so! 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Let It Snow?



     
    How about this weather we have been having?  Yesterday I believe the temperature got to almost 72 degrees and its December!  I was talking with my sister Heather today and she said that Johnny Holton of Reelsboro was putting straw out around his shrubs and bushes.  She had asked him, “Why the rush?”  He said, “Well, it’s going to snow in a couple of weeks. Can’t you tell by this warm weather we are having?  Anytime we have a warm front in December, it is going to be followed by a strong cold front that will produce the white stuff.”   
   His comments to her prompted me to look into the old sayings and folklore in weather predicting.  For centuries, farmers and sailors have always relied on weather patterns to predict the weather.  Even antiquated, simple instruments like the barometer continue to predict weather along with the new technological instruments.  Many times I have seen my grandfather walk up to the barometer on the wall and see if the pressure was rising or falling.  Looking for a change in the weather he'd say.
   Weather lore is part of being a Goose Creek Islander.  We have all heard the saying 'red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning or red sky at night, sailor’s delight.'  But there have been other myths, old wives tales and proverbs to predict the weather. I have included a few that I have heard.  I am quite sure there are more and there is probably some debate to their accurateness or predictability. 

Aches and Pains
            How many of us have heard someone say, its going to rain, my elbows, knees, and joints are achy.

Lying Cows
            The old saying is that cows lying in the field indicate rain is on the way. 

Rainbow in the Morning
            It is raining to the west of us and we are sure to get rain.

Thunder in the Winter
            It will snow in a few weeks.

Ring Around the Moon
            Snow or rain will come soon.

Chimney Smoke
            If the smoke descends, fair weather is soon to end.

Squeaking Doors and Catchy Drawers
            When the rain comes, it will pour.

Fish Bite Best
            When the wind is out of the west.

What do you think….think we may have some ‘white stuff’ for Christmas?