Genteel Plantation & International Thanksgiving
Genteel Thanks
What a great job you and your staff did to Genteel Plantation.
Everything First Class. I have had numerous comments on pho-tography,
verbiage and presentation. I could not have been more
proud and humbled by the article and as always my sincere appre-ciation
to the “amazing” Ricky Kelly, Louise Spencer and the dogs
and the quail.
This is all made possible by the grace of God. You have a
standing invitation. Thanks.
— Bobby and Estell Harrelson
Congratulations on another great issue
Husband, Bill Coleman, and I both enjoyed this month’s
magazine. The hunter in him was so interested in the articles
about Bobby Harrelson and the game recipes. But each article
was interesting and well written, offering something for everyone
who picked up the magazine. And of course, the photography is
always excellent.
Another fabulous issue and my compliments to all.
— Suzanne Coleman
Great issue!
Just a note to let you know your article “The Genteel Life” was
excellent, enjoyed learning of Mr. Harrelson and his enviable
gentleman’s life in Pender County. He enjoys a wonderful life-style
surrounded by nature, friends and family.
Also, the article regarding Thanksgiving errs in stating that the
Mayflower pilgrims in 1621 began the holiday, which is really a
New England version which has come to dominate our thoughts.
The first official Thanksgiving was held at Virginia’s Berkley
Plantation celebration, and recognized as such by President
Kennedy in 1963; even Jamestown, Virginia claims an earlier
Thanksgiving in 1610 when starving settlers welcomed a ship full
of food arriving. We really do not know what was eaten and it
probably wasn’t turkey, which was a Victorian-era invention;
settlers probably ate venison and fowl.
Nonetheless a great issue, keep up the fine work!
—
Bernhard Thuersam,
Cape Fear Historical Institute
Summer Rest Road
What an incredible article about the Smiths and Holmans of
Summer Rest Road. You really captured the way that life use to be
for families along our waters; island adventures, web footed children
and fish fry’s WERE the order of the day. Although our area may
have changed its appearance, families like these have shown that if
we pass these experiences on to the next generation, we can preserve
its soul. —
Haywood Newkirk
Sweet trip down memory lane
What a sweet trip down memory lane your article about
Summer’s Rest was for me. Having been fortunate enough to
grow up in that little haven among Smiths and Holmans I thor-oughly
enjoyed the photos and the remembrances about those
enchanted days over 50 years ago.
I often tell people I had the perfect childhood. I grew up on
the tidal creek in a modest ranch house that my father had built
for seven thousand dollars. I had a bike, a dog, a basketball hoop
and the Intracoastal Waterway. What more does a kid need? All
the neighborhood kids spent the summers in the water, and in
the winter when the copperheads weren’t around we were in the
woods playing Army (or sneaking into Pembroke Jones estate).
I live near Boston now, I come back every now and then. I’m
startled and saddened by how drastically the area has changed. I
remember when there was not even a stop light at the Military
Cutoff.
I guess I did have one complaint growing up, I was not allowed to
ride my bike to Wrightsville Beach School like all my friends from
Harbor Island. I wonder if the boy’s bathroom is still outside the
back door at WBS?
By the way, that modest ranch can now be had for 599 K.
Thanks again. — Mary (Alda Byers) Hardy,
Nashua, New Hampshire
letters to the editor
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WBM
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Letters to the editor are printed verbatim.
december 2013