Captain George Flowers Reaches Shore Safely

                       Captain George Flowers, wife Elva with children Larry, Julius and John (J.F.) October 1943  Photo Courtesy Lisa Flowers Santimaw

In conclusion to last weeks post about finding numerous articles within the Dare County Library Archives for The Coastland Times newspaper, I found this article about Captain George Flowers of Hobucken, his two sons Julius and Larry, and A.J. Dowdy.  Published September 28, 1956.

Two Disabled Boats Reach Shore Safely

     Two separate work boats were disabled in or near Pamlico Sound over the weekend, reached land safely after spending the night drifting about.

     The boat "Mystery" broke down after leaving Swan Quarter Friday at 1 p.m. en route to Belhaven to be put on the railways.  As a wide spread search was getting underway Monday, word was received that the boat had drifted to Bayview.  Aboard were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gibbs and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Salter, all of Swan Quarter.

     The second boat was being carried from Belhaven to Hobucken Sunday by Captain George Flowers of Hobucken for a friend who had just purchased it.  Powerless after the engine quit Sunday afternoon, the boat drifted all night and then was poled into Swan Quarter Monday morning.  Aboard with Captain Flowers were his two sons, Julius and Larry Ray, and a third youth, A.J. Doudy, all of Hobucken. 

The Coastland Times, September 28, 1956

1963 & 1970 Hobucken Coast Guard Station in the News

On this dreary, cold, rainy day, I sat down to my computer and decided to go through the Dare County Library's Online Digital Collection.  This online digital collection stores The Coastland Times Newspaper archives.  This newspaper has been published in the Town of Manteo for the Outer Banks Region since July 4, 1935.  It is owned and still operated to this day by the Meekins Family of Manteo.

So on a whim, I began looking for anything published that was related to Lowland and Hobucken.  Because Lowland and Hobucken was so close to Hyde County and had ties to the Wanchese community, I thought I may find some interesting stuff.  The newspaper archives are from 1935 to 2009, so there would be plenty of reading material.

During my search,  I can't count how many Coast Guard reports from Oregon Inlet that I saw.  It seemed that every other Coast Guard report stated that the Clara, run by Ernest Mayo had either run aground, got a net in the wheel, or the clutch went out.  Ernest certainly had his share of the treacherous Oregon Inlet. 

The newspaper archives search came up with various individuals names for fishing violations, residents of the Outer Banks who had visited relatives at Lowland or Hobucken, many obituaries of Island residents, and much more. I found articles about trawlers from our Island fishing along the Outer Banks.  It was interesting reading for such a slow day and I will be publishing some of the interesting things I found in coming weeks.

So knee deep in my search, I came across an article about a hearing concerning the consolidation of Belhaven, New Bern and Hobucken Coast Guard operations to be solely stationed in Hobucken. It seems that the folks in Belhaven desperately tried to retain their facility in that coastal town.  This was 53 years ago that this story was published on February 15, 1963. 

I also found another story concerning the Hobucken Coast Guard Station.  A story was in the newspaper that North Carolina's Congressman, Walter Jones attended a dedication service for the new Coast Guard building at Hobucken on Friday, March 13, 1970.

For those of you interested in looking at the Dare County Library Digital Archives, I have attached the link.  http://darecountynews.advantage-preservation.com/

Here are the articles about the Hobucken Coast Guard Station.

The Coastland Times, February 15, 1963

The Coastland Times, March 19, 1970