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Early History of Emerald
Isle
Like many of North Carolina's
coastal islands, Emerald Isle was first
home to Indians; the Algonquin Indian tribe
occupied the surrounding countryside from
about 500 A.D. to colonial times. Later,
the area was settled by whalers and fishermen.
Located on the western
end of Bogue Banks, with Bogue Sound dividing
it from the mainland, the Emerald Isle area
overlooks a small inlet. The settlement
of the mainland area inside Bogue Inlet
by English colonists began around 1730,
at the mouth of White Oak River.
This was, of course, famous
pirate territory. Blackbeard sailed from
Teach's Hole at Ocracoke Island, just to
the north around Cape Lookout. In the early
1720's, Beaufort (on the mainland across
from the eastern end of the island ) was
an official seaport --complete with customs
office. Twice during the summer of 1747,
pirates sacked Beaufort.
During the Revolutionary
War, a number of patriot privateers operated
through the inlet. Following the war, Swansboro
--on the mainland-- assumed such importance
that in 1786 it was declared a separate
customs district.
Captain Otway Burns, naval
hero of the War of 1812, was born and grew
up in Swansboro. In 1818, Burns brought
national attention to the area by constructing
the first steamship ever to float in North
Carolina waters. Captain Burns continues
to draw attention to this day, as he saw
to it that an actual cannon from his privateer
The Snap Dragon would adorn his grave in
nearby Beaufort.
The Civil War ended the
relative prosperity enjoyed by the mainland
communities behind Bogue Inlet. Later, with
the decline in the trade of naval stores,
the major industry became fishing.
Emerald Isle, which takes
its name from the large maritime forests
on the island, was mostly uninhabited until
the 1950's, when small family cottages began
to appear.
Recent History of Emerald
Isle
"In the early 1900s,
the area occupied by Emerald Isle was owned
by John A. Royall, a New Englander who owned
many islands in neighboring Onslow County.
In 1922, Mr. Royall sold the property to
Mr. Henry K. Fort of Pennsylvania for $70,000.
Mr. Fort was connected to the Dixon Pencil
Company of Pennsylvania and planned to use
cedar from the property in the manufacture
of pencils. I don’t think any timber
was ever used to manufacture pencils. Instead,
Mr. Fort drew up plans and specifications
for a resort development. There still exists
a copy of those plans which are remarkably
similar to the way the Town has developed.
"Upon the death of
Mr. Fort, the land was inherited by his
daughter Anita. She sold the timber rights
to W. B. “Bill” McLean in 1946.
McLean saw the potential to develop the
island as a seaside paradise, but Anita
Fort did not want to sell the property and
McLean did not have enough money to buy
the property.
"Anita later agreed
to sell the property for $350,000, and McLean
began asking friends if they would be willing
to invest in his dream along with his friend
George Spell. J. A. “Bus” Singleton,
Bill’s brother-in-law threw in, as
did Hiram Grantham, another family friend.
Between the four of them they had $200,000
which was pretty much their life savings.
They still needed another $150,000 which
was obtained when Robert Holding, then president
of First Citizens Bank of Smithfield, put
down the money in the name of his three
sons, Frank, Lewis, and Robert Jr.
"After the purchase,
the land was divided into 54 blocks, 1,100
feet wide each, running from the sound to
the sea. The seven then drew numbers to
see who owned which parcels and development
started. It is said that Emerald Isle received
its name when a consultant hired by Bill
McLean and George Spell to advise on the
property purchase, flew over the Bogue Banks.
The area appeared with its lush forest,
a green gem in the middle of a sea of sparking
water. The advisor suggested the name 'Emerald
Isle'."
Recent History
Provided by
Art Schools -
Mayor, Emerald Isle, NC
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