Nebraska

1998 Map of Hyde County by Bob Parrish

How many of you know where Nebraska is located?  I'm not talking about the State of Nebraska. I'm talking about the little community just across the Sound in Hyde County; Nebraska.  Nestled in between Last Chance,White Plains and Lake Landing, Nebraska could pretty much be a replica of Lowland or Hobucken.

The story I am going to tell you comes from the late Shirley Williamson Ireland.  One of my last visits with her was in New Bern one February 2015 afternoon.  Myself, Ms. Shirley and Lil' Shirley were having dinner in a local restaurant when Ms. Shirley told a story.  The characters in this story is herself and the famous Cullen Williamson.

I assume this story goes back to the 1970's or even very early 1980's. Cullen was over in Hobucken.  He called Shirley and told her that if she was going down to Lyle's that evening, he wanted to go and for her to come pick him up.  So later on that evening, Shirley drove over to Hobucken to pick up Cullen.  When he got in the car, she could immediately tell that he was "a bit under the weather".  To put it more clearly, he was in good spirits and had even drank some.

So Cullen nestled in the passenger seat of her car and they headed towards Lowland.  Within that short distance, Cullen fell fast asleep as the car rolled along.  Shirley made her turn onto Oyster Creek Road.  When she had rounded the first sharp curve Cullen woke up.  About that time, the headlights on the car was shining into the wooded area before you reached Lyle's entrance.   The lights shone on a sign that said NEBRASKA and Cullen's eyes focused in on that word.  In that instant, Cullen looked at Shirley and said, "My God Shirley, how long was I asleep.  I thought we were going to Lyle's?"

The sign that said Nebraska had come from over in Hyde County.  She said someone had put it up on Oyster Creek Rd.   As for Cullen Williamson, if there ever was an Island character he certainly made his mark.  He was a fun, jolly soul and everyone that encountered was sure to remember him.