KURE BEACH RETROSPECTIVE
The people at Snow’s Cut Monthly magazine have graciously allowed us to use the following article, featured in their April 2007 edition, to place on our website. To contact Snow’s Cut Monthly, phone 910-458-0120 or visit their website at www.snowscutmonthly.com.
60 years ago this month (April 1947), Kure Beach became incorporated. We look back at life and tourism in those early days and how the town got its start.
MEMORIES AKIN TO THE SEA
By Jennie Kure Robertson Bagley (Born 1917)
My grandfather, Hans Kure, was born in 1851 and raised on an island off Copenhagen, Denmark. My grandmother, Ellen Mueller Kure, before marrying him, was a lady-in-waiting in the Danish court and could speak seven languages. They raised four sons, William L., Lawrence C. (who later became my father), Hans A., Andrew E., and a daughter, Elene Kure.
When he came to Wilmington from Charleston, South Carolina in the 1880’s, he was retired from a career as a ship’s captain. He built Wilmington’s biggest ship chandler and stevedore operation. Hans Kure built a beautiful two-story, four bedroom, two bathroom home at 314 Nun St. while he operated his business in Wilmington. Mr. and Mrs. Kure and their two sons, Lawrence and Andrew, lived downstairs, and Hans and his family lived upstairs. Hans was my biological father and worked at the Atlantic Coastline Railroad. He and my mother, Jennie, were blessed with five girls; Ellen, Laura, Jennie, and Dorothy. Hans died in August 1931 and later, in the 30’s, Lawrence C. Kure and my mother were married.
In 1900, still having sea water in his veins, he purchased property at Carolina Beach. He built a store which Andrew managed. He built a pavilion, ladies bathhouse, bowling alley, bar, and the Smith cottage.
In 1913, he sold some of his holdings at Carolina Beach and purchased a huge tract of land from Hanby Beach to the gates of Fort Fisher, and from the ocean to the river. The gates were built to keep the cows of Mr. Orrell on his property. It was known as the Kure Land and Development Company that developed Fort Fisher Sea Beach which later became Kure’s Beach and when incorporated became Kure Beach.
On December 23, 1914, Hans Kure died leaving his holdings to his wife who later passed them to their five children. L.C. Kure became secretary of Kure Land and Developmental Company and Hans A. became President.
On January 18, 1916, Kure Land and Development Company deposited $9,300.00 for the balance of the money to build a road from Wilmington to Carolina Beach and on into Kure Beach. That was the road that is now called Dow Road. It cost approximately $4,500 a mile. Hans paid $16,800.00 and the county paid a like sum making it a county highway and the first highway in the state to head directly to the ocean. The road was completed by April 1916 and was one car wide.
Mrs. Kure built a two-story house on Highway 421 leading into Kure Beach and she and Lawrence lived there in the summer.
It was known as Kure’s Beach because of the family name. A windmill pumped the water, and electricity came from a gas motor that ran a small dynamo. When darkness approached, the motor was started and we had lights; but at 10 pm lights went out and you used your kerosene lantern if you wanted to stay up. It was a quiet, small community where everyone knew everyone and you didn’t even have to lock your doors.
In 1923, L.C. Kure built the first fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast. He cut the trees from the river area to be used as pilings for the pier. In the Fall, the big blues were caught and in the Spring spots, flounder, and many other fish were enjoyed. There were so many people fishing that, if you left your place on the railing, someone eased into it and you were out of luck. The fee for fishing was thirty-five cents per day and an annual fishing permit was $10.00. At the entrance of the pier there was a building with drinks, bait, tackle, etc. Later Jim’s Café was opened.
Mrs. Kure died in December 1928 at the age of seventy-seven. In the early 30’s, the company was disbanded and the property was divided among the five children.
In 1947, Kure Beach was incorporated and Lawrence Kure was elected the first mayor.
In 1952, Bill Robertson, the husband of L.C. Kure’s daughter, Jennie, purchased the pier from L.C. Bill really loved fishing and being in the pier business. He even made photos of the big catches that were sent to all the newspapers in the state. Everyone was familiar with the sign on the front of the ticket office that read, “Man You Should Have Been Here Yesterday.” The reputation of Kure Pier made it the place to fish.
In 1954 Hurricane Hazel destroyed the pier completely. In 1984 Mike Robertson, grandson of L.C. Kure, bought the pier from his father.
KURE BEACH PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION
By Brenda Coffey
The Kure Beach Progressive Association was formed on December 31, 1945 for the purpose of improving conditions at Kure Beach. Items of concern included, fire protection, garbage collection, sanitation conditions and street lighting. There was great interest from the citizens and all readily volunteered to help. Mr. L. C. Kure stated he would provide water and fittings if volunteers would help. There was a need for 500 feet of hose for temporary safety, and plans were made to secure a fire truck. Photographs were taken of ponds, ditches and other places of stagnation along with a signed petition to be taken by the ladies and presented to the County Commissioners requesting their assistance in solving this problem. The Ways and Means Committee began planning turkey dinners, dances, shows and bingos as fund raisers. Much attention was given to include all residents and any interested persons in these improvement efforts. Results were gratifying. On February 26, 1946 the City of Wilmington announced they would loan a fire truck to Kure Beach, and the training of volunteer firemen was ready to proceed. Water and fire hoses had been secured, Mr. L. C. Kure had donated a lot for a fire department, and a building had been located to house the equipment. Plans for garbage collection and street lighting were progressing, and the County was investigating the problems associated with drainage. This Association paved the way for the incorporation of the Town of Kure Beach.
VACATIONING IN KURE
Sondra Nelder visited Kure Beach with her family in the 50’s as a young girl. The family remodeled a “fishing barracks” with concrete cinder block at 3rd and G Streets. Roads were not paved. The day was spent going fishing, going to the beach, drinking lemonade, eating grilled pimiento cheese sandwiches at Smitty’s, and checking general delivery mail at the post office which is where the T-shirt Shack is now. The evening started at the Boardwalk and Brits Donuts at Carolina Beach, and learning to shag and do the stroll and the Continental under the strobe light at “The Rec”-dancing just for kids under 18 years. About three times a week a man would come around selling vegetables from his truck. Sondra now lives in Kure Beach.
QUOTES
“I have actually been Chief of Police in this town 5 times. The longest stint was 6 months. Every time a policeman quit, or they fired one, they’d put the badge on me and swear me in until they could hire another one. I never had to personally handle a serious crime. If I had I would have called the sheriff’s department in and let qualified people do it. I made a few arrests; most were drinking problems.”
(Dub Heglar)
“I always fished, but my main fishing was I used to gig. I’d catch somewhere around 100-150 pounds gigging for flounder. We’d all go to the bay in an old truck, pull up where there was a big sort of a pond where the inlet had closed. We’d stop there. All the men would go fishing and the girls would sit around and talk until we got back. And when we got back, we took the fish ... spots, mullets, flounder, whatever we caught, and we cleaned them and ate them. I sold fish to a guy at the fish market at Carolina Beach.”
(Jack Lewis)
“In the late 40’s and early 50’s during the winter there was nobody here. They would block off the down town section on K. No one could take a car in. And that area was one reserved for street dances and for children with roller skates and was perfectly safe. There were always adults around. We would all hold hands and they’d play something called Crack the Whip.”
(Brenda Coffey)
“We had a little place down on the rocks near the ferry where my dad ran fishing parties. He didn’t have a motor. He rowed them out of Corncake Inlet all the way out to High Rock in the ocean, and he would troll these people across high rock with his oars. Usually when you went out High Rock you were fishing for mackerel. In the 30’s, I was about 5 the first time I went fishing with my mother, daddy, sister and brother. Daddy never got to fish, he was so busy taking them off and baiting hooks.”
(Isabel Foushee)
“All the kids would go to the little dance hall beside Smitty’s. There was a jute box all during the summer. It was free. We could buy cokes but no alcohol. We were just there to talk and laugh and dance. There were no tables and chairs. Usually when the girls went there, a father was somewhere close by and other adults sitting and talking somewhere keeping an eye on what was happening. It would start about 6 o’clock and go until 10 or 10:30.” (Brenda Coffey)“All the kids would go to the little dance hall beside Smitty’s. There was a jute box all during the summer. It was free. We could buy cokes but no alcohol. We were just there to talk and laugh and dance. There were no tables and chairs. Usually when the girls went there, a father was somewhere close by and other adults sitting and talking somewhere keeping an eye on what was happening. It would start about 6 o’clock and go until 10 or 10:30.”
(Brenda Coffey)
“Teenagers used mother’s ironing board for a surf board. It was just a board to fit mother’s table or between 2 chairs; or they got hold of a wide board and cut it out bow shaped. No strings attached.”
(Jack Lewis)
“In the face of erosion, building shortages and high costs, Kure Beach Boosters are planning a big season for the summer months of 1947. And why not? They have the Atlantic Ocean to offer, a warm sun, fresh breezes, millions of fish and, most of all, a friendly smile and large quantities of the famous Southern hospitality.”
(Star News 4/20/1947)