The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-04-19
Only 26 Years Ago
Dare County
And Man+eo
Back in 1881
By Ye Olde Scribe

abeth City on board his faithful
little steamer, Trenton. Round
trip fares for adults had been re-
duced to only 81 while the pas
sage both ways for children was
to be only 80 cents. He was also
willing to transport an automobile
and driver from the metropolis on
the Pasquotank to the Dare Coun-
ty sea shore for only $3.50. The
Eastern Carolina Transportation
Company, with whom Capt. john
ston was then associated, was
urging folks to "save the differ
ence and enjoy the cool ride down
the beautiful Pasquotank River
and across Albemarle Sound on
the steamer Trenton
W. C. "BILL" DAWSON and his
brother-in-law, D. Guy Brockett,
of Elizabeth City, had leased the
new pavilion at Kitty Hawk beach
then owned by the Kitty Hawk
Amusement Company, Inc, Of
which w. L. "Bill" Jones, of Eliz-
abeth City, was president and C.
c. "Chuck" Collins, head football
coach at the University of North
Carolina, owner of a one-third in
terest. Collins later married Miss
Nell Jones who also had an in
terest in the new venture.
w. P. "BILL" LENNON, along
with Capt. Thos. P. Midget and
j. E. Duvall were snapped by an
alert photographer seated on the
courthouse steps in Manteo and
described as the "three wise men
of Dare County"
R. C. EVANS was president of
the Bank of Manteo whose other
officers included D. Bradford Fear
ing, vice-president, and R. Bruce
Etheridge, cashier. 1t was de-
scribed as "an institution estab-.
lished in 1907 which had weather.
ed three national financial depres-
sions and didn't owe a dollar to
anyone"
w. M. JOLLIFF could usually
be found in those days at his
Serv- u Filling Station which was
described as "The Brightest Spot
in Manteo."
w. B. FEARING was boasting
Roanoke Islands most modern
soda fountain where sandwiches
were electrically toasted.
THEODORE S. MEEKINS was
the man to see then for anything
in Dare County real estate, beach
property, lots and acreage.
L. B. THORNTON was proprie-
tor of the Wild Duck Inn located
at the Dare County end Of the
Wright Memorial Bridge where
levery convenience was offered Wis
iting motorists and campers.
DUVALL AND CREEF were
the proud proprietors of Manteo's
new Fort Raleigh Hotel which
had been completed on August 1,
1881 offering thirty large and
comfortable rooms to overnight
guests for $3.50 a day.
E. J. Afford was proprietor
of the Fort Raleigh Soda Grille
where souvenirs of Roanoke Island
could be purchased.
ALVAH H. WARD was sole
owner of the Dare County Ice Com
pany which was then located at
Wanchese with daily capacity of
Is tons of ice dedicated to keep
ing Dare County cool.
S. A. GRIFFIN was a we'll
known merchandise dealer in Man
teo who also sold coal, paints, steel
products, feeds and flour.
w. o. WILLIE o." TWIFORD
was operator of the Kill Devil
Hills Service Station and informa-
ton bureau over on the beach.
G. T. GRASSY WESTCOTT
operated the Virginia Dare Cafe
in connection with his drug store
in Manteo which was described as
the center of social life on Ro-
anoke Island with tables and
booths to accommodate more than
so persons at one time.
A. w. DRINKWATER was Of
fering luscious tree-ripened Ro-
anoke Island figs packed in s.
ounce jars at $3.50 a dozen at
Drinkwater's Fig Orchard in Man
teo.
BILL CASEY, owner of the big
dance hall, restaurant and garage
property on the beach at Mays
Head was offering it for sale to
the highest bidder.
E. E. BURRUS & SONS were
proprietors of the Atlantic View
Hotel, at Hatteras, where boating,
bathing, rest or recreation was
being offered visiting hunters and
fishermen.
R. B. ETHERIDGE, along with
Theodore S. Meelxins, Of Manteo,
had undertaken what they describ-
ed as the first high class Develop
ment between Roanoke Island and
the Wright Memorial Bridge,
known as Kill Devil Hill Beach
] See OLD DAYS, Page Eight