The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-11-28
CURRITUCK BEACH CASTLE
AND 5000 ACRES SOLD TO
VIRGINIANS FOR $375, 900
Geo. T. Mclean, Portsmouth Contractor, Holds
Control OF Five Miles of Ocean Beach at Cor
ola; Transfer Considered Good For Prospects
OF Virginia Beach to Mays Head Highway;
Property Has Interesting History.
By VICTOR MEEKINs

AhC SICdC CdSIlc vi IIlG SdIlOS DIT
Corolla, Currituck Beach, built
nearly 40 years ago by the late
Edward c. Knight of Philadelphia
has another owner. George T. Nc
Lean, Portsmouth, Va. business
man heads a group who recently
bought the controlling stock of the
Whaleshead Corp, which owns the
5000 acres of land with it's five
miles of oceanfront, and it's big
house on the shore of Currituck
Sound.
Mr.. Mclean said this week that
his group would take over the
property shortly after Jan. Is next
when lease now in force with a
group of Washington, D. C. sports
men expires. This lease he said,
had been entered into before he
bought the property. The purchase
price is given as $375,0OO.
Associated with Mr.. Mclean is
Sidney Kellam, attorney, and Bill
Dewitt of Virginia Beach. j. C. 5.
Ehringhaus Jr., Raleigh, N. C. at
torney holds share of stock which
he acquired while attorney for the
late Ray T. Adams the last recent
owner of the property. The corpor-
alton, founded by Mr.. Adams con-
sists of 1900 shares of stock.
Mr.. Adams a Washington, D. C.
businessman bought the property
for $4,000 shortly before World
War II. 1t was subsequently taken
over by the Government and used
for several years as a Coast Guard
station. On its return to Mr.. Adams
he added several buildings from
decommissioned Coast Guard sta
tons at Penneys Hill and Poyners
Hill, moving them distance of
several miles. He set about Great
ing a large beach development. A
landing field and golf course was.
laid out, a massive campaign for
the sale of lots was undertaken.
The Virginia Electric and Power
Co. extended its lines from Kitty
Hawk.
Ten years ago Mr.. Adams, with
others, was active in attempting to
get toll bridge built from Virgin
ia Beach to Mays Head. Turnpike
Authorities Were created for this
project by the legislatures of both
Virginia and Norh Carolina. When
the road was projected, the minds
of many people were more con-
cerned with getting roads built in
more thickly populated areas, Hat
teras Island for instance, and a
bridge across Croatan Sound, all of
which now appear to be essential
to the success of the ocean road
projected by Mr.. Adams. Mr..
Adams died suddenly at the
Whaleshead property before his
dreams could materialize, and with
his death, the plan was suspended
The entry of Mr.. Mclean, ans
his associates into the picture now
brings new hopes that their re-.
sources and influence will have
great weight in aiding the beach
road to materialize. Mr.. Mclean
said this week that he and those
in interest with him look forward
to a dependable road linking the
entire coast and would work for
its achievement. Sentiment is now
universally strong on the N. G..
Coast for this road, which is con-
sidered essential to the full devel-
opment of the area. The projected
tunnel across Chesapeake Bay to
Cape Charles is viewed generally
as a factor of great consequence
to influence the success of the
beach highway.
The Edward C. Knight "castle,"
as it is sometimes called, is a
great structure of wood, with cop
per roof, rising three stories above
a basement on a large man-made
island on the shore of Currituck
Sound. 1t is a house of many
rooms, and in its day, had three
grand pianos, three grandfather
clocks, and it contains IL or more
bedrooms. Retired from active life,
the man who built it was welded
to a former French actress, Louise
LeBel Knight, who survived him by
several years and remained on in
her newly completed house. Upon
her death there were no relatives
interested in maintaining so big q
mansion. Some nieces were left,
See COROLLA, Page Eight
HIGHER EDlJCATlC)N QUOTA