| Bald Head Island | |
|---|---|
| — Village — | |
| Village of Bald Head Island | |
| Bald Head Island Marina with Old Baldy lighthouse | |
| Nickname(s): old baldy | |
| Location in the State of North Carolina | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Brunswick |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andy Sayre |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.8 sq mi (15.0 km2) |
| • Land | 4.3 sq mi (11.1 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 173 |
| • Density | 40.3/sq mi (15.6/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 28461 |
| Area code(s) | 910 |
| FIPS code | 37-03150[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1027622[2] |
| Website | http://www.villagebhi.org/ |
Bald Head Island is a village located on the east side of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Compared to the city of Wilmington to the north, the village of Bald Head Island is small and somewhat remote. It is only accessible by ferry from the nearby town of Southport. Cars are not allowed; instead residents drive modified electric golf carts.
The village is revered for its picturesque nature and is a popular location for retirement. It was the primary filming location for the successful film Weekend at Bernie's in 1989, as well as being a major location in The Butcher's Wife in 1991. "Old Baldy", its out-of-service lighthouse, is the oldest still standing in the state, built in 1817. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Bald Head Island is tiny but has played a part in two American wars. During the American Revolution, it was home to Fort George, a British fort. During the Civil War, the same redoubts served as Fort Holmes, a Confederate base of importance to shipping and smuggling.
Located at the tip of Cape Fear and residing at the convergence of the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Gulf Stream, the land mass of Bald Head Island ends, trailing off into thirty miles of treacherous sand bars known as Frying Pan Shoals. In this area, large sand bars seasonally emerge from and subsequently retreat into the sea. These topographical transformations are often as rapid as they are drastic. The consensus view is that Bald Head Island emerged from one such sandbar, stabilized by a succession of plant life, leading to a permanent land mass.[3][4]
Author David Stick surmises that Native Americans used Bald Head Island in much the same way that it is used now, as a seasonal retreat. Bald Head Island's creek estuaries and its abundance of shellfish were probably as attractive to Native American fishermen as they are to modern fishermen. Shellmounds found on Middle Island and Bluff Island, indicate that Native Americans did visit the Smith Island complex but disease and war killed off most of the Native American population, so it is difficult to know much about the original inhabitants.[4]
Throughout the early European history of the Cape Fear region, Bald Head Island underwent several settlement attempts and went by many names. Unlike the specific landmarks which were re-named by each settler, the region was always known by the well-earned name, "Cape Fear".
Though Spanish sailors probably frequented the island on their way to intercept the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, Pedro de Quexos was the first documented explorer of the region in the 1520s, naming the river the "River Jordan". Quexos' sponsor, Lucas Vasques de Ayllon, visited the region himself in 1526. When Ayllon lost a ship to the treacherous shoals he abandoned his exploration efforts.[4]
Over one hundred years after Quexos, William Hilton initiated an expedition called the "Adventures about Cape Fayre" by English Puritan dissidents in the 1660s. The effort was abandoned due to difficulties farming the sandy barren soil. Hilton returned in 1667 with the support of backers from Barbados, the "Barbados Adventurers", aboard a ship, the "Adventure" (now the name of one of the Bald Head Island ferries). His efforts were again foiled by barren soil.[4]
In 1664, John Vassal founded "Charles Town" with the aid of Barbadian backers on the west bank of what is now the Cape Fear river (which Vassal named the "Charles River"). His efforts failed due to his agitation of the native population. He was further dissuaded when and his efforts to become governor of the region, Clarendon County, where subverted and the title was given to John Yeamans. After the settlers abandoned Charles Town and Yeamans nearly lost his life when his boat sank in a maze of sand bars in the mouth of the Charles River. Instead of trying to revive the colony, Yeamans established Charles Town farther south in what is now Charleston, South Carolina.[4]
Charleston rapidly became a center of economic importance in the colonies. Charleston business men often engaged in trade with Native Americans in the vicinity of Cape Fear reaping such prosperity that they had to pay special duties. Duties created political conflicts which ultimately led to the colony of the Carolinas being divided in 1710 along the Cape Fear river (named the "Clarendon River" by then). In 1713, to help establish the northern colony's claim along the eastern bank, Thomas Smith, son of former Carolina governor Thomas Smith, Sr. was issued a land grant to what we now call Smith Island (called "Cape Island" at the time).[4]
In 1776, Bald Head Island was briefly involved in the Revolutionary War after British Major General Henry Clinton and Lieutenant Charles Cornwallis (later promoted to general) used the island as a staging area for their voyage to Charleston, SC. The British left behind a small garrison of troops with a few naval vessels to help keep the port closed to Continental shipping. The garrison of about thirty troops, under the command of Captain John Linzee, created Fort George (after King George) on the southwestern corner of Bald Head Island. Continental Brig. General Robert Howe was stationed across the river in Fort Johnson. After watching the British carefully, the Continentals launched a raid of one hundred fifty men on September 6, led by Col. Polk, against Fort George. Polks men captured five British sailors but were forced to flee when the remaining twenty-five took cover and the British vessels moored just off-shore opened fire and initiated pursuit. Polk used local knowledge, fleeing through a maze of shallow creeks and escaped with only minor casualties (1 killed, 1 wounded). By October, the British troops withdrew and Bald Head saw no further action during the Revolution.[5]
The construction of a lighthouse at the mouth of the Cape Fear river was authorized by the Commissioners of the Cape Fear in 1789. The commission specified that the light be built "at the extreme point on Bald-head or some other convenient place near the bar of said river, in order that vessels may be enabled thereby to avoid the great shoal called Frying-Pan." Funds had been raised for the implementation of navigation aids by taxing vessels entering The Port of Brunswick at six pence per ton. Additional funds were provided by the newly formed US Congress who, in August 1789, assumed responsibility for construction, maintenance and operation of all "lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers" in the US. Land for the light was donated by Benjamin Smith in exchange for increased hunting regulation on the island.[4]
Construction of the original light was completed in December 1794 at a final cost of $11,359,14. The light was placed under the care of lightkeeper, Henry Long who operated the light until 1806 when he was killed in a hunting accident on the island.[4]
Less than twenty years after it was built, the original light succumbed to erosion as it had been built too close to the water. By July, 1813 the light was officially declared inoperable.[4]
In 1813 Congress allocated $15,000 to build a new lighthouse on Bald Head as the existing light had been rendered inoperable by erosion. This time they planned to build a sturdy lighthouse on high-ground, away from eroding shores. Revenue Commissioner Samuel H. Smith wrote an extremely detailed specification outlining how the light was to be built to ensure the longevity. Daniel Way was awarded the contract to build the light and keepers quarters. Using bricks from the original light, Way completed the project in 1817 at a cost of $15,915.45.[4]
Immediately after lighting Old Baldy it was discovered that the light was neither tall enough nor bright enough to help vessels navigate around Frying Pan Shoals. Its purpose was limited to helping vessels enter the southern entrance to the Cape Fear River. To avoid Frying Pan Shoals, many vessels decided to enter the Cape Fear through New Inlet at Fort Fisher, about seven miles north of Bald Head Island. As a result, little emphasis was placed on maintaining the Old Baldy and it fell into disrepair under its revolutionary veteran lightkeeper.[4]
Old Baldy Lighthouse was effectively decommissioned for the first time at the outset of the American Civil War when the Confederate States turned off all their lighthouses in order to hinder navigation of Union vessels. At the end of the war Old Baldy was not re-lit. The light was in disrepair and of little use with most vessels entering New Inlet, which had its own lighthouse at Federal Point.[4]
Circumstances changed by 1879 when natural forces closed New Inlet forcing the closure of the Federal Point light and the re-lighting of Old Baldy. Improvements were made to Old Bald including a new light, keepers quarters, and a stone jetty to stabilize the shoreline which had begun eroding quickly due to the closure of New Inlet. According to reports, the jetty was built just in time to prevent Old Baldy from falling into the sea during the hurricane of September 1883.[4]
Old Baldy was downgraded from a lighthouse to a navigational radio beacon in 1935. It was completely decommissioned in 1959 when the Oak Island Light was built.[4] Old Baldy Lighthouse now stands as the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, having survived neglect, war and weather. It is on the Register Historic Places and is open to the public.
Old Baldy lighthouse, built in 1817, failed to aid vessels trying to avoid Frying Pan Shoals due to its restricted height and brightness. To patch the problem, a lightship was stationed on the shoals themselves in the mid 1800s. On multiple occasions the lightship broke loose and drifted freely, leaving Frying Pan Shoals without a light, or worse with a light in the wrong place. This problem was compounded when New Inlet closed and vessels were no longer able to avoid navigating around the shoals.[4]
Proposals for construction of a second lighthouse on Bald Head Island started in 1889 with the suggestion that a 150 ft tall, 18.5 mi visibility, masonry tower be built at a cost of $150,000. Approval did not come until 1898, at which time it was suggested that a steel tower be built for $70,000. Land for the construction site on the east end of Bald Head Island had to be condemned by the state from the island's owner. Construction began in 1901 by laying a railway from the west end of the island to the east. This railway would transport materials and supplies over three miles to the site both during construction and operation. The Cape Fear Light was operational on August 31, 1903. The light was operated by Devaney F. Jennette and then by Capt. Charlie Swan.[4]
In 1958, the Cape Fear Light was demolished and replaced by the Oak Island Light. Lightships and a light tower were used to augment navigation around Frying Pan Shoals through the 1970s.
Bald Head Island is located at (33.861876, -77.990138).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km2), with 4.3 square miles (11 km2) of it being land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of it (25.73%) is water.
Since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Bald Head Island is no longer a distinct island, but is connected along the shore by shoal with the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area to Pleasure Island. Like Pea Island after the inlet separating it from Hatteras Island closed, the two joined areas have maintained their historical names.
There are three beaches on the island, as the north side consists of marsh.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 173 people, 88 households, and 71 families residing in the village. The population density was 40.3 people per square mile (15.6/km²). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 139.5 per square mile (53.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.38% White, 2.89% African American, 0.58% Native American, and 1.16% from two or more races.
There were 88 households out of which 5.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.3% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.17.
In the village the population was spread out with 5.8% under the age of 18, 1.2% from 18 to 24, 11.0% from 25 to 44, 63.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,083, and the median income for a family was $56,964. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $45,585. About 10.8% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
The island has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool winters.
| Climate data for Bald Head Island, North Carolina | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 13 (55) |
14 (57) |
18 (64) |
22 (72) |
26 (79) |
29 (84) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
29 (84) |
24 (75) |
20 (68) |
16 (61) |
23 (73) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1 (34) |
2 (36) |
6 (43) |
9 (48) |
14 (57) |
18 (64) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
17 (63) |
11 (52) |
6 (43) |
2 (36) |
11 (52) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 134 (5.28) |
106 (4.17) |
114 (4.49) |
78 (3.07) |
105 (4.13) |
128 (5.04) |
170 (6.69) |
195 (7.68) |
227 (8.94) |
98 (3.86) |
88 (3.46) |
106 (4.17) |
1,549 (60.98) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[7] | |||||||||||||
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