The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-08-05
PLANS FOR BIG.
CELEBRATION
UP In The AIR
And All For Lack of Trans
portation To Virginia Dare
Shores

Plans for a monster celcbra-
ton at Kill Devil Hills on
August 18th in connection
with a formal transfer of a
site for the Wright Beacon to
the Federal Government by the
Virginia Dare Shores company
went up in the air Tuesday
night when Capt. Frank Winch
asked the Elizabeth City Cham
Der of Commerce to sponsor a
solicitation of funds to help
deiray the expenses OF the cele-
bration.
Capt Winch explained that the
cost Of the celebration would he ap-
proximately $4,000 and he thought
i only fair to ask Elizabeth City
to share half of the expense. Capt.
Winch said that everything was set
TO have squadron of airplanes.
the L. s. Marine Band from Wash
ington. the Norfolk Naval Base
Band. representatives of foreign
governments and many notable
American statesmen and public dig
nitaries take part in one of the most
impressive and spectacular ceremon-
les ever staged in Eastern North
Carolina. SO great would be the
crowds that he had already asked
for several platoons of the national
militia to handle the crowds and
preserve order. The celebration
would extend over three days.
August Is. 10 and Goth. Moving
picture camera men and expert pub
licity men i'm New York and Chicago
would give nationwide publicity to
the events. putting Elizabeth City
and Virginia Dare Shores in the
headlines Of every newspaper in
America and on the screens i'll all
moving picture theatres thruout the
country.
Elizabeth City could well afford
TO subscribe 81 800 for so much
publicity. thought Capt. Winch.
And the group who listened to him
thought 50 too. They thought so
we'll of it that committee headed
hy W. G. Gather. chairman was APP
pointed to take steps to raise the
81. 200.
But before proceeding on such
short notice 10 raise SO much money
for such Il StupendouS celebration.
the committee wanted definite as
surance that the transportation and
comfort of thousands of visitors
would he taken care of. That as
surance was not forthcoming.
There is 10 hotel ut Virginia
Dare Shores and only Il small payil-
lion that would shelter only Il few
hundred people at most. The pro-
moters of the development at Nir-
rinia Dare Shores have no transport
alton facilities for any considerable
number of people. How could COM
Portable transportation between
Point Harb0r HarhOr and Virginia
Dare Shores he provided for several
thousand visitors on short notice:
There was the rub.
1t was the opinion of those pre-
sent that to stage pretentlotlS
celebration attracting thousands or
participantS without assurance OF
adequate transportation. shelter
food and ice wafer for all who came
would give Elizabeth City and Nir-
oinia Dare Shores black-eyr that
would not easily heal. Even were
transportation provided to move
crowd of several thousand people
speedily and in comfort across Cur
rituck Sound to Virginia Dare
Shores. the people would be in a
devil of Il mess if thunder Squall
came MP and caught them out on
/ thp barren sands of Virginia Dare
Shores with no place to keep out
of the Wet.
! 4 Chamber of Commerce commit
fee will work with Capt. Winch and
his associates OH plans for an Ella,
horate celebration at later date.
Labor Day was suggested us
! far enough off perhaps to enable a
number of strong committees to
work out satisfactory plans to
handle big crowds at Virginia Dare
Shores. But even that idea has
lcen abandoned.
IF we only had bridge across
Curritlck Sound between POINT
Harbor and Kitty Hawk" sighed
the committee.
IF we ever got crowd or 9,oot
ipeople on Virginia Dare Shores We
could demonstrate the need OF S':c'
. bridge" said Cant Winch