Rock of the Eye: Boatbuilding Traditions Around the Albemarle Sound Audio Tour Preview

Audio Tour Intro

Welcome to the Museum of the Albemarle and the audio tour experience for Rock of the Eye: Boatbuilding Traditions Around the Albemarle Sound. Please enjoy and follow along by beginning our journey underneath George W Creef's pole barn, exploring northeastern North Carolina's role as a diverse maritime haven.

Panel 1: Diverse Maritime Haven

Boatbuilders have been constructing vessels to ply the waterways of the Albemarle region for thousands of years. With many traditions passed along by generations before them, these crafters have shaped the Albemarle region into a diverse maritime haven by connecting communities together. Whether building boats for business or recreation, or used as a means to freedom, boatbuilders, along with their vessels and shipyards, have impacted the maritime history of this region.

Panel 2: The First Boatbuilders

Along these waterways, boats began their history. Indigenous Americans were the first boatbuilders. The wooden canoes that they constructed became a means of travel and transport. Regionally built of cypress, pine, or the light and resistant Atlantic white cedar, “juniper,” these vessels could range from 9 to 60 feet in length, depending on the required usage or conditions.Archaeological excavations at Lake Phelps in Washington and Tyrrell Counties have uncovered over 30 canoes dating from 500 BC to the 1400s AD. The significance of boatbuilding to the Indigenous Americans is exemplified through these finds, as they were called “expert watermen.”

Panel 3 and 4: Kunners and Periaugers During the Colonial Era (1600–1763)

Boatbuilding depends upon traditions, geography, climate, skill, materials available, and economic resources. Arriving explorers and colonists to the region built “kunners,” dugout-type boats whose sides were made using one or more split logs. Built of juniper or cypress, most boats used oars, or paddles, and some had sails. Flat-bottomed periaugers (sailing vessels larger than the kunners) were built for fishing and transporting goods and trade items.Pole boats, flats, and other sailing crafts ferried cargo, animals, and passengers. Historical documents note that enslaved Africans also were proficient in building and working on these vessels. Ferries operated in present-day Perquimans, Camden, and Pasquotank Counties.

Panel 3A and 4A: MacKnight Shipyard

Archaeological excavations have been conducted in Currituck County of a shipyard, leading many researchers to believe it is the site of Thomas MacKnight’s Shipyard. His business built ocean-going and coastal-usage vessels from the 1760s to the 1770s. Enslaved persons served as caulkers, carpenters, and blacksmiths at the shipyard. MacKnight, a known Tory, left his North Carolina home and returned to England in 1776.

Panel 5: Regional Shipwrights

Panel 6: American Revolutionary Era (1763–1789)

During the American Revolutionary War, shipbuilders converted and constructed brigs and privateers to fight against British ships along the coast. The brig Fair American was built in Hertford County. Camden-based Lucy and Edenton-based Hiram became British spoils of war. Over 25 shipwrights and shipbuilders worked in the Albemarle region, including Thomas Gaines of Tyrrell County and Thomas Streeter of Chowan in 1766.Cornelius Moore operated a shipyard in Perquimans County in 1771. Shipbuilding also occurred in Hyde, Northampton, and Bertie Counties. During the Revolutionary War era, enslaved peoples and freed Black sailors sided with the British or the Americans aboard privateers, schooners, fishing vessels, and ferries.

Panel 6A: Port Roanoke at Edenton

Regional shipyards proved an asset to towns like Edenton, as surrounding counties brought cargo to this port for shipping and trade. The port led the region in exporting shingles and staves from the late 1760s to the early 1770s. Over 10 vessels were constructed in Edenton from 1774 to 1775. Tobacco, livestock, and barrels of pork were exported. Imports included iron, molasses, rum, and tea. Schooners and sloops traveling along the eastern seaboard coasts and to the West Indies entered the port in the 1780s.

Panel 7: After-War Shipbuilding

The American Revolutionary War left restrictions and regulations on the country’s trade industry. However, the North Carolina shipbuilding industry continued forward. While formal shipyards existed, many vessels were built in open fields along waterways. Ninety-nine shipbuilding sites operated in eastern North Carolina, building periaugers, canoes, barges, ferries, schooners, scows, barks, and brigantines.Among the operators were the Bell family of Hyde County and the Edenton shipbuilding company Collins, Stewart, and Muir. Records in Hyde County reflect free Blacks as shipbuilding apprentices. Anne Wynn and Sarah Crooke operated ferries in the 1790s. The cutter Mercury, built in Ocracoke, was constructed for the Revenue Cutter Service. Vessels outfitted as privateers were used during the Quasi-War and War of 1812.

Panel 7A: Moses Grandy

Waterman Moses Grandy worked on lighter ships, barges, ferries, canal boats, and schooners in the Albemarle Sound, Great Dismal Swamp, Pasquotank River, and across the Atlantic Ocean. Born around 1786, the Camden County native numbered among many Black individuals serving as watermen that helped shape the maritime history of this region.

Panel 8: Shipbuilding Towns

In the years leading up to the American Civil War, Elizabeth City, Columbia, Plymouth, and Edenton produced sloops, steamships, and schooners. By the 1850s, shipyards were operated by Timothy Hunter (Elizabeth City), Jesse Herrington (Plymouth), Isaac Tillett (Currituck), Robert Trent Paine (Edenton), and the Farrows (Hyde County).Notable steamships built included the Chowan (also called the Southern Star and Crusader) in 1857 in Murfreesboro and the Fox in 1861 in Elizabeth City. From 20 feet to 100 feet in length, flats using poles, sails, or oars transported cargo through the Dismal Swamp Canal and regional streams and rivers.

Panel 9: The Port of Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City became a center for shipbuilding with its entrance to the Dismal Swamp Canal via the Pasquotank River. In 1831 Elizabeth City was “a scene of bustle and activity such as we have never witnessed before.” The schooner Madison Barge (1827), the William C. Butler (1838), the brig Flora (1831), the Empire (1847), and the Scuppernong (1853) were constructed in the city.Alpheus Forbes and Herman Hinds were among several persons working as ship carpenters from 1815 to 1830. In the 1860s, Elizabeth City served as the home port for many free Black and enslaved seafarers.

Panel 9A: Timothy Hunter

Shipyards helped establish Elizabeth City as a prime port in the Albemarle region. Timothy Hunter (1804–1875) moved to Elizabeth City from Nansemond County, Virginia. By 1834 he had opened a shipyard, either building, repairing, owning, or outfitting over 35 vessels from 1837 to 1859. The business produced and repaired many vessels, including the 1843 schooner North Carolina, by using enslaved labor. The shipyard purchased supplies from local businesses such as Brodrick and Smith general merchandise and D. S. Kramer wood products.

Panel 10: Pre–Civil War Shipbuilding

panel 10A: London R. Ferebee

The craft of boatbuilding was taught to London Ferebee by his father while the family was among the enslaved community working in a Currituck County shipyard in the 1850s. The maritime industry, including boatbuilding, relied heavily on watermen such as Ferebee, as they often performed many roles, such as boat crewmembers, ferry operators, and canal boat captains. Ferebee recounted his experiences in his 1882 memoir.

Panel 11: The Civil War Era (1861–1865)

During the American Civil War, steamboats, schooners, and merchant ships were converted for military usage. For example, the schooner M. C. Etheridge was converted into the gunboat CSS Black Warrior. Federal and Confederate troops destroyed numerous vessels. Due to limited resources and the early occupation of regional cities by Union troops, shipyards could not construct many new vessels.The 152-foot ironclad CSS Albemarle was among the few built in eastern North Carolina. Shipyards struggled to construct new vessels following the war, as finances, personnel, and construction issues loomed. However, railroads coming into the region required the assistance of watercraft.

Panel 12: Steamships and the Askew Brothers

Steamships became a new source of transportation in eastern North Carolina in the early 1800s. Carrying passengers and freight, some vessels saw use in hauling salvage, fish, and shingles, and others for towing or excursions. Steamship and barge design were altered as cargo type, water depth, technology, and efficient usage of available shipbuilding resources changed.The Askew brothers constructed steamers Kalula (1870), Bertie (1872), and Tahoma (1884) in Bertie County. Shipbuilders like the Askews played a vital role in the social and economic outcomes of the towns they served. Their vessels carried cargo that connected northeastern North Carolina towns to other port centers and railroads.

Panel 13: New Vessel Construction and Repair Work

Slowly the maritime industry improved, and construction and repair work of schooners, steamboats, and fishing vessels continued. Into the mid-1880s, these watercraft types were being built in Edenton, Kinnakeet, Ocracoke, and Elizabeth City. W. E. Krause and the Askew brothers constructed vessels in Hyde and Bertie Counties, respectively.Fishing vessels, rowboats, and skiffs were built throughout the region in lumberyards, small boatyards, and lightering and towing businesses. Inland-use pleasure craft, fishing boats, and barge building grew in the 1890s. Sharpies, skipjacks, shad boats, and new gasoline-powered boats were constructed. Cargo vessels continued to carry produce, naval stores, and lumber.

Panel 14: Commercial Fishing

As commercial fishing gained importance in the 1800s, vessels strictly constructed for that purpose were being built by local boatbuilders, fisher folk, and at fisheries in the 1840s. Larger cities such as Elizabeth City were building in its shipyards. Flat-bottom skiffs were built and used for shad and herring fishing. Called “bateaus,” these 40-foot-long vessels had platforms for bringing in the nets.Most watercraft were built by the fisher folk who worked them. By the 1850s, many fisheries operated along the Albemarle Sound, including those using free Blacks or enslaved persons as seine handlers, cutters, and fisher folk.

Panel 15: George Washington Creef

George Washington Creef was born into a boatbuilding family in 1829 in East Lake, present-day Dare County. After moving to Roanoke Island in 1861, he and his brother began repairing vessels in their shipyard and established Manteo Machine Shop and Railway.After moving to Wanchese, he started construction on “new” shad fishing boats in the 1870s. Known as the “workhorse,” the craft served many uses, from hauling cargo and fish to transporting passengers. Shad boats are mostly made of juniper and range from 22 to 28 feet. Traditionally, these uniquely built boats have round-bottomed hulls, a distinctive keel, and carvel planking.

Panel 15A: The Shad Boat

The tradition of shad boatbuilding started when George Washington Creef made his first shad boat. Consisting of available resources of juniper, the craft was adaptable, maneuverable, and fast. Its round bottom and sturdy framing made it safe in rough waters.Creef used dugout techniques paired with plank-on-frame construction. Shad boatbuilding required a complex, specific set of skills. Prominent construction of the shad boat declined by the 1930s. The shad boat is North Carolina’s official state historical boat.

Panel 16: Early 1900s with Skipjacks and Sharpies

In the early 1900s, fishing continued with skipjacks and sharpies. Small community builders constructed their own vessels. Steamers like the Tadpole in Gates County and Belvidere in Perquimans County were built. Elizabeth City was building and repairing out of at least four shipyards, including one owned by George M. Scott. Outer Bankers produced skiffs, shads, racing vessels, and small fishing boats, including those by the Creef family.Camden native Alvery (Alvirah) Wright built shad boats. Joe Meekins opened Wanchese Boat Shop and Railways in 1908. The abundance of timber led to the continuation of most crafts being wooden. Gasoline- and steam-powered vessels transported fish.

Panel 17: Fishing and Waterfowl Hunting Vessels

Vessels including schooners, shad boats, sharpies, steam flats, and small sailing-like canoes served as fishing vessels in and around the Albemarle Sound. Each area of the region requires various vessels and equipment to fit the fisher folk’s needs. From oars and paddles to steam, wind, and gasoline, fishing boats played, and still play, an essential role in the economy and society of northeastern North Carolina.The Dough family of Dare County has a long history in wildfowl hunting and boatbuilding for sport and commercial fishing. They were master boatbuilders whose patriarch, Otis Dough, learned the tradition from George Washington Creef.

Panel 18: World War I Era (1914–1918)

Irving and Frank Stowe of Hatteras Village were shipbuilders on the Outer Banks, and J. B. Hunt Barge Building Works operated in Elizabeth City. In 1914 Elizabeth City produced over 45 vessels, Plymouth built 5, and Edenton 7.In 1915, Hyde County shipbuilder, farmer, and fisherman Ralph B. Hodges built the Ada Mae. He made the vessel by “touch and feel, using not plans but instinct as his guide, as was the custom among watermen.” Known as one of the last skipjacks built in North Carolina, the 54-foot vessel was used for oystering, fishing, and hauling lumber and agricultural products.

Panel 19: Great Depression Era (1929–1941)

After World War I, pleasure craft and small fishing vessels continued to be constructed, along with a few tankards and freighters. Boatbuilding continued to occur along bodies of water, backyards, and open fields or lots. The need for ferries remained with Captain Thomas Baum operating one on the Alligator River; and another in Hatteras by Frazier Peele.Many sailing vessels were powered by gasoline with craft designs reflecting engine types. Watercraft like the moth boat were built for sport racing. Unfortunately, the Great Depression halted almost all shipbuilding in the region. It would not be until World War II that the trade would gain footing again.

Panel 19.5: Built for Sport Racing

Northeastern North Carolina has a long, storied past when it comes to racing. Spectators tend to love the sport, as well as those who push the limits, chase records, and live for speed. Captain Joel Van Sant, Harry O’Neal, and Ernest Sanders designed and built the first moth boat, the Jumping Juniper, at the Elizabeth City Shipyard. The new boat would be the focus of many regattas for the city beginning in 1931.Crafts for the American Power Boat Association were regionally built. Sport racing continues with regional events, including hydroplane racing, drag boat racing, sailboat regattas, and crew boat racing.

Panel 20: World War II Era (1941–1945)

Regional shipyards constructed vessels to support the Allied cause during the Second World War. Elizabeth City produced tugboats, subchasers, and military rescue craft. Manteo constructed air-sea rescue vessels, life floats, army launches, sailing dinghies, and landing craft. Wood continued to be the primary source of building material, with aluminum and steel scarcely available.After the war, many shipyards closed; others repaired boats. Small yards in Wanchese built fishing craft. Changes in boat design reflected changes in technology, especially in understanding the weather and the ongoing desire for speedy vessels. Fishing boats and ferries continued to be repaired and constructed in the region.

Panel 21: Growth of Tourism and Sportfishing

In the 1950s, tourism grew, and sportfishing became popular. The building of boats for industry, trade, and commerce continued to shift to building for recreational purposes. Highways, bridges, and railroads played a role in this shift as they also transported goods. Sportfishing boats can link their heritage to the workboats of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many boats were constructed for function with environmental concerns in mind.Charter boat fishing increased, as did the demand for fishing vessels. Warren O’Neal, called “the father of the Carolina sportfishing boat,” trained many boatbuilders on Roanoke Island. The tradition continues today as O’Neal’s “Carolina” style evolves across the region.

Panel 21A: O’Neal and Davis

Warren O’Neal crafted his first boat in 1925 at age 15. He founded O’Neal Boatworks in Manteo in 1959 and constructed many sportfishing boats. His “classic Carolina boat” transformed designs, trades, and forms in the Outer Banks boatbuilding business. His creations included deep-V-forward hulls for speed and flared bows. Like his predecessor George Washington Creef, O’Neal, too, taught others the boatbuilding trade, including Carson R. “Buddy” Davis Jr. Davis is known worldwide for his “Carolina Flare” bow on custom-built Carolina sportfishing boats.

Panel 21B: Currituck County Boatbuilders

Currituck County has been the home of boatbuilders for generations and holds many diverse traditions. Wallace O’Neal built “the sailing-est” shad boats. Joe Hayman “built boats when machinery wasn’t available.” Bob Morse built hunting and fishing boats from 1912 to 1960 using hand tools. John Roley built Dixie, noted as the “fastest boat in the region from 1906-1914.”Newton Hampton, Wilton Walker, and the Hayman, Gallop, and Dowdy families all were involved in shipbuilding. Many boatbuilders had secondary professions including fisher folk, boat captains, carpenters, and decoy carvers.

Panel 22: Specialized Boats

Fiberglass took over as shipyards began to produce specialized boats, with recreational craft, utility vessels, and sportfishing boats being built. The desire for faster boats that could travel further, haul bigger catches, and carry the latest technology led to the success of sportfishing boats and yachts.Buxton Woods Boat Works repaired and constructed boats, including flat-bottom net skiffs and dead-rise commercial fishing boats. Briggs Boatworks opened in 1985, Blackwell Boatworks in 1989, Forbes Boat Works opened in Manteo, and Bob Sullivan began work on the “new style of sportfishing boats.”

Panel 23: A Respected Legacy

Today, specialized boatbuilders like Regulator Marine Inc. and Albemarle Boats in Chowan County and Paul Mann Custom Boats, Bayliss Boatworks, and Scarborough Boatworks in Dare County provide economic stability for their employees and communities. All strive to meet the customers’ requests for more substantial, faster, and bigger vessels with better propulsion systems, custom interior designs, and technologically advanced electronic systems.Combining traditions with passion, commitment, and technology, boatbuilding has become a respected legacy in northeastern North Carolina. Many coming from long-standing fishing traditions, these boatbuilders take pride in their work as they ensure that the art of boatbuilding continues for future generations.

Panel 24: The Journey of Boatbuilding Traditions

Boatbuilding traditions began many centuries ago. Each builder passed along knowledge and technique from one generation to the next; each adds their own unique yet innovative and daring style, making boatbuilding imperative to our culture. A few still build their own boats in their backyards, working tirelessly to keep traditions alive.Boatbuilders of the Albemarle region have constructed renowned vessels for many uses, both work and pleasure, many by intuition and feeling, the “Rock of the Eye.” In the end, this journey exemplifies the boatbuilding traditions that tie generations and communities together, showcasing the Albemarle region’s strong, diverse maritime heritage.