We decided that today we would do drive around the area to see some of the seashore and lighthouses. So off we went.
We had no idea how beautiful this area is and how much there was to see so we were excited to explore. We made a stop at Bodie Island.
The current Bodie Island Lighthouse is the third that has stood in this vicinity and was built in 1872. It stands 156 feet tall. It was renovated from 2009 to 2013 and was made climbable by the public. There are 214 steps that spiral to the top. The structure is one of only a dozen remaining tall, brick tower lighthouses in the United States.
The first lighthouse was built in 1847 and abandoned in 1859 due to a poor foundation. The second, built in 1859, was destroyed by retreating Confederate troops who feared it would be used as a Union observation post during the Civil War. The current lighthouse was built further North and further inland on a 15-acre site. In 1932, the lighthouse became automated and by 1953 it had been transferred into the care of the National Park Service. It remained staffed until 1940 when the lighthouse was fully automated. In 1953 the generators were disconnected and power was supplied from the commercial electric grid.
The Visitor Center was previously the Keeper House until the lighthouse was automated and a Keeper was no longer necessary.
We walked out to the lighthouse (no, we weren't going to climb, thank God) and spent some time talking to the park ranger.
Notice the pattern of the stripes
Before talking with her, we had planned to just turn around after visiting Bodie Island but she encouraged us to go farther in order to visit Cape Hatteras. So we took her advice and kept driving.
In 1794, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton requested that a lighthouse be made on this location after his ship almost crashed and sunk on its way to The New World giving it the nickname "Hamilton's light". Congress appropriated $44,000 "for erecting a lighthouse on the headland of Cape Hatteras and a lighted beacon on Shell Castle Island, in the harbor of Ocracoke in the State of North Carolina." The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was constructed in 1802.
The light marked very dangerous shoals that extend from the cape for a distance of 10 nautical miles. The original tower was built of dark sandstone and retained its natural color. The original light consisted of 18 lamps and was 112 feet above sea level. It was visible in clear weather for a distance of 18 miles.
In 1860 the Lighthouse Board reported that Cape Hatteras Lighthouse required protection due to the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1862 the Board reported "Cape Hatteras, lens and lantern destroyed, light reexhibited." In 1868, Congress appropriated $80,000 to the United States Lighthouse Board to construct a new beacon at Cape Hatteras. Two years later the new lighthouse was completed.
After completion of the new tower in 1870, there had begun a very gradual encroachment of the sea upon the beach. This did not become serious, however, until 1919 when the high water line had advanced to about 120 feet from the base of the tower. The surf continued to pound steadily toward the base of the tower until 1935, when the site was finally reached by the surf. Therefore, the tower light was replaced by an Aerobeacon atop a four-legged steel tower and placed farther back from the sea on a sand dune 166 feet above the sea, visible for 19 miles.
In 1999, with the sea again encroaching, the lighthouse had to be moved from its original location to safer ground. Due to erosion of the shore, the lighthouse was just 15 feet from the water's edge. The move was a total distance of 2,900 feet to the southwest, placing the lighthouse 1,500 feet from the current shoreline. All other support buildings at the site were also moved at the same time.
Notice the pattern of the stripes
Lighthouses in fairly close proximity to each other have different stripes (flash patterns) to allow the mariner to visually identify their location as well as relying on their technical equipment on board. Some lighthouses in different geographical areas (i.e. east and west coast) share the same patterns.
We enjoyed our visit to the Outer Banks and were so glad that we visited.
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!
On the way back to the trailer we noticed a sign saying that the area we were passing through, Hertford North Carolina, was the home of Jim Catfish Hunter. For those who aren't familiar with Catfish, he was a professional baseball player and one of Ron's favorite players growing up. From 1965 to 1979, he was a pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. The Oakland Athletics won three consecutive World Series Championships in 1971, 1972, and 1973. Catfish was the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age 31. He is often referred to as baseball's first big-money free agent, and was a member two additional World Series teams with the Yankees.
Catfish retired at age 33 following the 1979 season after developing persistent arm problems and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in his early 50's and died of the disease about a year after his diagnosis.
I quickly looked on my phone to see where he is buried and sure enough, Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford! And we were only a few miles from the cemetery and made a quick U-turn so we could find our way there. As we approached the cemetery following our GPS, we were confused because it was taking us to a high school. Turns out, the cemetery is adjacent to the high school where Catfish played baseball.
Cedarwood Cemetery
We started down a street in the middle of the cemetery and just like that, there he was.
As we were taking pictures a man taking a walk stopped us to ask what we were doing. It was the middle of the day and very hot - it seemed odd that he was walking around with a back pack. His name was Mark and we figured out he was high on something. He was harmless and after a brief conversation, he went on his way.
Sister - this is for you!
It was sad to see the grave of Catfish's daughter
Kimberly died after a sudden medical emergency during a school fire drill at Hertford Grammar School. She was just 45 years old and had been a teacher there for 20 years.
I don't know why it struck me so much that the cemetery is right by the high school where he played ball. And there are the school busses just waiting to transport kids to and from school.
For two people who had no plans when we woke up, it turned out to be a great day!
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