NELL HOWARD'S HISTORY Nell
Howard attended Topsail Presbyterian Church, and
the education wing of the church is named after her. She wrote and made
several hand-written copies of her memories:
A
HISTORICAL SKETCH of HAMPSTEAD from
1871 - 1981 "Hampstead
is a widely spread, wide awake rural community of Pender County. It is situated between the New Hanover and Onslow County line. "Its
citizens are happy to boast of their heritage and their accomplishments
which set the trend for the future generations, also for their moral
conduct, making an impact on the children as to the integrity of their
lives as good citizens. "They
are known for their love, care and concern for others. They support
churches, schools, and the various activities of the community, namely
the fire department, rescue squad in their objectives, the Spot
Festival, the annual oyster roast, and the crowning of the Spot Festival
Queens and other activities needing support. "It is not known as to where Hampstead got its name, only suppositions, and these suppositions are incorrect. "There was only one grocery store at this time, it being a combination, since the Post Office was in one corner of this one-room building. This was owned and operated by one of the oldest residents here at that time. His name was George W. Mallard, a well-known, loved and highly respected citizen. He was the first Postmaster. "Even though this building was small, it was large enough to supply the needs of the patrons since not many inhabitants were here at that time. "However, since Hampstead was along the coast, the population was soon increasing, some residents coming from Harnett County, their belongings shipped to Wilmington by boat. A toll was paid, and the furniture was placed on a wagon drawn by mules and brought to Hampstead by the respective new residents. This was about the year 1878. "Economic standards were low, with all alike. Agriculture was the leading occupation, clam-digging, some sawmill, saw-filers, and shingle pullers since most houses were covered at that time with shingles drawn from the native trees in this area. A big sawmill and lumber shed was set up in later years directly across from where the Topsail Middle School now stands. It was operated by a company from the eastern part of the state known as the Duck Lake Lumber Company, this however giving more people work to do and bringing in more residents. "About the year 1910, the first, largest enterprise coming here was Potter's Oyster Factory, this employing men and women since the oysters had to be extracted from the water, opened, put into buckets and hauled about two miles to the station and shipped by freight, refrigerated boxcars, to northern markets. "This enterprise raised the economic standards and increased the population. "At this time there was also passenger trains running daily from Wilmington to New Bern, North Carolina. The Engine Number 9 asset enabled those in this area to shop in the Wilmington department stores. 9 "Then came the paving of Highway 17 from New Hanover to the Onslow County line. Again, an asset leading more residents. Then the Inland Waterway, the digging of the canal, bringing more people to this area, as many of the workers married girls here, raised their families and remained here. "The Oyster Factory Road is still the leading road to the inland waterway, which is now called "The Factory Road". "Hampstead can also boast of having a very important historical monument, the George Washington Monument, about one mile east of the said Factory Road. The erection and unveiling apocalypse* of this monument was under the direction of one of New Hanover High's history teachers, and the NHHS orchestra and band director playing the National Anthem and other historical numbers, and since this history teacher was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, made this a very impressive ceremony for all attending and leaving a memory of the Father of our Country, George Washington. "It was said that he stopped to rest under this big oak which is known as "The Washington Oak". "Hampstead can also boast of having one of the oldest churches in the area, the Topsail Presbyterian Church, located about two miles north of the village. "It was established on this site in 1871. "So, as the Presbyterian Church in America looks back to Scotland for its ancestry, the Topsail Presbyterian Church, through its founder, Dr. Dugald McMillan, looks back to Scotland also, for we learn that his grandfather came from the Isle of Skye to North Carolina with Flora McDonald's party and settled in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and on to Sloop Point which is known today as the Sloop Point Plantation. "Dr. Dugald McMillan was founder of Topsail Presbyterian Church in 1871 and its dedication 1873, however an even larger sanctuary has now been erected on the same site and the first occupancy occurred on Easter Sunday, April the 19th, 1981 with Dr. W. D. Hasty, Minister. "Yes, the importance of faith and trust in the lives of the church lives on, and grows. "The first school was situated three miles west of Hampstead. It was a one-teacher school. The teacher's name was Mrs. R. K. (Trudy) Bryan of Scotts Hill. Her husband, R. K. (Bob) Bryan, was a prominent lawyer of Pender County. "The textbooks then were non-graded and the school term was short because of lack of funds. This was in the year of 1878. "Some years later, a one-teacher school was available in the close-in area of Hampstead and located about a mile of where Topsail Middle School now stands and was on what is now called "The Hoover Road". Grades one through seven were taught, but very few students, poor attendance, school funds still low, consequently a short school term.
"Later in the year, 1910, a two-teacher school was built very close in this village with more students, better attendance and longer school term since more school funds were available. Grades taught in the Primary Department were One, Two, Three, and in the Elementary Department, Four, Five, Six and Seven. The Primary teacher's name was Miss Mildred Moore of Atkinson, North Carolina, Pender county, whose father was the historical leader of the Moore's Creek Battleground. Miss Moore taught phonics method in reading, therefore the child had no difficulty in learning to read fluently. Miss Maggie Johnson, on Ivanhoe, another native of Pender County, taught grades four, five, six and seven. This school went on as described until about 1923 when a referendum was passed and a consolidated high school was in the making. "So, in the school year of 1925-1926 the first graduating exercise was held in the Topsail High School under the supervision of Hugh L. Stone, the first Principal of Topsail High School. However, the graduating class at this time was small, only about ten or eleven members receiving the first sheepskin in topsail High School. They were as follows: Dolly Mae Bloodworth, Ruth Atkinson, Wilfred Downham, Minnie Edens, Mabel Edens, Lucy Futch, Edrie Futch, Daisy Leary, Nellie Leary, Estelle James, and Elizabeth Nixon. "Today, there is situated about three miles north of the old consolidated high school on the site which was once called "Annondale" stands a beautiful modern high school building with well-qualified teachers, with many more students and with a graduating class of about four or five times the number of graduates in the former graduating class of 1925 of the said Topsail High School consolidated building. "Yes,
one can readily note the rapidity of growth not only in the churches and
schools but that love, unity, oneness in heart and concern for one
another which our citizens have is the key in making Hampstead a better
place to live. "When
we say ‘our citizens’ we are including our newcomers who are vastly
moving into this area, for they soon join in to help reach our goals,
They are wonderful and we welcome all of them into our area, Hampstead. "We sincerely hope that this wonderful spirit will go on, as Tennyson's "Brook", forever with the best of the old and the best of the new, found and used everywhere." 9 |
