The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-15

This season which Goes into full
swing today is looking to double
he number of vacationists seen
at the resort last year.
And Carolina has not been sleep
ing the six months since she babe
farewell 10 the last lingering va
cationist.
In the interim the resort has
built daily to its hotel, rooming
houses, ~boardWalks and other IA
c%ilities in preparation for the
crowds this season.
The resort once swept by fire.
today has rebuilt itself into one
of the finest pleasure spots on the
Atlantic Coast.
It's history dates back to July
IL, 17Ss when the Lord Proprie-
tors of the State of North Caro-
lima granted 20 Maurice Moore the
land which the resort has been
built on.
On April 81, 1886 this land WAS
sold to Thomas Merrick who died
about 1857, granting in his will.
his rights to his daughters Sarah
and Dorothy Merrick.
The daughters married and the
land was sold, whether for heirs
settlement or for other reasons is
not told, TO Peter Maxwell in 1894,
nearly 30 years after it was wille1
to the daughters. y
James Telfair the owner at the
time sold the land. and by cor
secutive conveyance it came into
the possession of Robert Bruce
Freeman, Croatan Indian in 1875
whose decendents reside in this
area until this day, as do many
of the descendants Of the Cree
Indians.
In the transactions part of the
rasort area was sold to John Bur-
riss who in turn transferred the
northern section of Carolina Beac':
to Joseph L. Winner who attemp-
ted to develop the strand and its
inland reaches in the name OF
St. Joseph
Years ago the resort was ac-
cessible only by water, and Cap
tain John Harper, piled tie wa
tiers of the Cape Fear with merry
makers and fishermen even then
who sought a recluse from their
daily are
The pier to which Captaia Har-
per tied his steamer connected to
that of a steam railway which
transferred his passengers to the
beach.
Later under the ownership of A.
w. Page the resort became ac-
cessible by a Well-paved highway
just a few minutes drive from
Wilmington.
In Pate's possession the $500
acres were laid out in 5000 build
ing lots. He then built the Grey
stone hotel and hired a staff CT
which most p~resent-day resort no.
tells would he envious, history tells
us.
Under the supervision Of high
pressure sales forces hired by the
developer, the guests we're
brought to the resort, wined ana
dined and then given the works.
to put it bluntly.
But under the plan the beach
began to thrive, and gather wide
spread attention from even the
most cautious landlubber, as well
as the sea salts inhabiting the
coast originally.
Under similar management and
the enchanting beauty of the ter
rain surrounding Cardinals Doth
Century gay madness, the resort
has come into its own.
Today the sincere and warm
welcome of Carolina, mecca for
old and young alike continues 10
attract visitors and welcome dwell
lers until this springs preseason
week-ends saw visitors and resi-
dents by the tnouands pouring in
to the resort.
One drawback to the routing Of
traffic on Week-ends and other
days is still the beautiful Canal
drive, built early in 1941 and be-
ing completed today. Although the
first DAYS of the season saw some
congestion caused by work on the
drive, officials point out that to-
day Only a few more hours will
be required to get the drive in
tip-top shape for the summers
motorists.
Preseason crowds topping TO-.
900 indicate a record season at
Carolina Beach.
On the other hand the resort
has spent within the last three
months more than So, 900 on drain
age. This, with the work being
done by New Hanover county and
the state has afforded the resor.
adequate relief from flood condi-
ions with which it has been con-
fronted during the past few years.
The county is now busily en-
gagged in widening and deepening
Old Heneka ditch to conform to
gravatorial specifications al tha
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