So many people have moved to the Ocean Drive Beach area hoping to enjoy "the lifestyle" that made this area so great. A lifestyle where everybody got along, based on the friendships, music and dance going on along the oceanfront and the boulevard. The original Galleon, Roberts Pavilion, Sonny's Pavilion, the Pad, the Barrel, Beach Party, Fat Jack's and eventually Fat Harold's Beach Clubs were the place to be.
Back in the day teenagers flocked to Ocean Drive in the summer in search of summer jobs, good times and hearing the jukebox music that wasn't allowed off the beach. Dancing the night away and watching the "jitterbuggers" do their thing on the dancefloors. Friendships were made that lasted through the years and stand today. The "lifestyle" of Ocean Drive began and fluorished as these early beach boys and babes grew up and became adults. Many had worked as lifeguards, snow cone cart pushers, bingo workers, waitresses and other jobs summers throughout their high school and college days.
Once adults they continued the friendships made in their earlier days of Ocean Drive. Some had gone on to finish college and become doctors, lawyers and major business owners. Some had never finished high school and wound up in the lower and middle classes. But when they met at OD none of that mattered. It was all about the bonds that bound them together during their younger years. The music was still here...and the memories will always be here. Fame and fortune was forgotten and the memories had never faded. Everyone met with hugs, shared memories and here is the OD Lifestyle that so many have sought after.
Then, the baby boomers moved in. Those born in the late 40s and early 50s either retired and moved to North Myrtle Beach....or they left and came here seeking work. Most were here to join in on the "lifestyle". The lifestyle starts to change...some of the originals had passed away, moved far away or not able to come back as in earlier years. Some of the new folks brought their cliques, along with the art of judging others that had been here long before him. With some of them it became "you can't be my friend if you're they're friend".
I walked to the OD Pavilion one day and saw Webbie, Billy Wingate, Swink Laughter and Tom Lilly sitting on the white plastic bench outside...enjoying their day, telling stories of long ago and watching the pretty ladies walking by. There was a group of new residents all dressed up ahead of me. As they passed these gentlemen, the ladies all laughed and I heard one say "senior citizens lookin' for a thrill". These "fine" ladies, here for the "lifestyle" had no inkling who these men were or that these men were key to what our lifestyle was all about. If it weren't for them and the others of bygone days these ladies wouldn't be here seeking out something they actually knew nothing about.
I am also a baby boomer but was lucky enough to have been at OD back when these fine men and women were just coming back from raising their families and rekindling the old friends from their younger days. I learned to respect these fine people and was lucky enough to get to know quite a few of them very well. I love them all! THEY are the reason I came here. Their love of old music, fas' dancin' and good times drew me in and although a late bloomer, they made me feel like I was welcome.
The new folk's "cliques" have taken over, and some of them are downright mean. They go to the clubs and pass judgement, making others not feel welcome. They are now the lifestyle. The only thing close to the old lifestyle is when the Sonny's Reunion folks show up twice a year. The new ones come, trying to belong, but they know very few of the originals. Narcissism has taken over quite a few and look down on the older ones that they do not know. I've watched a lot of the icons of the old OD Lifestyle be totally ignored, not known by the new ones that these people are the reason they spent their hard earned money to either move here or buy a second home here.
The real lifestyle of OD is no longer, except in the hearts of few.
I would appreciate any comments, good or bad...hopefully from those that are still enjoying what's left of the original OD lifestyle.
I quietly sit on this old porch and remember "what was". My mother had just passed away with cancer in her home here in Little River. I had spent the previous 3 months with her at the hospital in Wilmington, giving up my job, a failing relationship and clean clothes to be at her side and make sure that she had what was needed while there. We had to get a lawyer involved to get her home where she wanted to be.
Once I had her settled in and with a caretaker to be with her while I took care of her money matters, food shopping, and calls to relatives I went "home" to check on my house in Little River and get cleaned up and rested up. I was driving her beat up big ol' Lincoln and was going to get help to take it back to her as my car was supposed to be in my driveway.
The Lincoln was way too big for Mother in her later years. She hit many a ditch backing out of driveways and a few other cars...lol. My boys used to run out to the end of our driveway any time she was leaving our house to see her (usually) hit the ditch.
On arriving at my house the first thing I notice is my car is gone. OK...so my insignificant other must be using it. I go into the house and stand there looking at missing furniture and a big mess. After further inspection it seems that while I was away with my mother he had come back and taken what he assumed was "his". Oh, well...c'est la vie...and good riddance. At least I had Mother's car.
My bank account was down to about $200 and I didn't have a job. What the heck was I going to do? I sat on this little screened in porch for the next couple of days and contemplated my dilemma.
Mother passed and I still had no plans. I sat on this porch and started making phone calls to hopefully find a job. I still had her old car and went out and about putting in job applications.
After a few days of local searching I called a girl I had worked with in Florence SC who handled the office for one of the larger mobile home dealerships . Telling her my plight I hoped she could give me a reference for one of the dealers in Conway. She told me to hold tight...she'd get back to me.
I sat on this peaceful porch for 2 days and she finally called. Gave me the deal of a lifetime, even though it sounded kinda sketchy. The mobile home sales industry was in trouble due to massive foreclosures on homes that sales personnel had doctored buyers credit applications. She explained that she could make me a foreclosure agent and if I could get a loan from my bank I could join the forces of many chasing bank auctions. I had about $125 left and gas had to be put in the old Lincoln. The deal went down like this....each morning we would receive a list of foreclosures in our area being auctioned off to agents that day. I found myself in the driveway of about 8 different mobile homes located from Myrtle Beach to Little River... bidding on the phone with 6 to 8 other agents in their cars. Finally won the bid on one in Creekside Mobile Home Park for $4000. Yippee! 2 days later I had the title. Sold it in one day for $18000. Bigger Yippee! Within 2 more days I
had bought 2 more houses and resold them. Bought me an old car and just in time...because Mother had left her Lincoln to my brother and he was coming to pick it up as he had it sold.
After a couple of weeks I got smart and started buying 2 at the time...keeping one for myself to rent out... and selling the second one. Within a few months I had 18 mobile homes paid for in my name, half were rented out already and I was spending my other profits to fix up the ones that needed a little work. The rest is history!
I spent many years living in this house and sitting every evening on this little porch...pondering on "what was" and "what is now". It took a lot of hard work. I loved this house and this little porch.
Eventually I bought a foreclosed house in North Myrtle Beach which is still my home. Getting older and now retired I've been selling off my mobile homes and now this house whose little porch saved my sanity and gave me a living for my future. Until it sells I'm sitting on it's old porch after working to get if up to snuff for a sale. I still find it peaceful as I look over the mess that was made by previous tenants and looks better every day.
I give thanks to "what was" and look forward to reflecting on my past and future on the porch of the little cottage I was able to purchase in my happy place, Eleuthera. And, NO, I am NOT moving away. Just looking forward to sitting on this new little porch as often as possible and look forward to what is to come. I'll miss that old screened in porch.
Enough! Might as well dance. Put the music on, Miss Baybay! Mr. Brady and I are gonna get down!
This blog is dedicated to Miss Baybay who left us way too soon...we miss you!
Thanks for dropping in! While you're here, won't you please leave a comment?
You can see from the satellite image how long and skinny Eleuthera is. And to me, it's the most beautiful place ever. Beautiful beaches, beautiful people and beautiful in many other ways. It has my heart.
As many of you know my dream of owning a cottage in Eleuthera has finally come true. I was forewarned many years ago that buying and owning a place on the island would be a challenge. And a challenge it has been.
First of all, it took a lot of haggling and 5 months to get the sale to go through. Was it worth it? To me, yes!
My little slice of heaven is much less than most people are interested in buying nowadays. But it was love at first sight and at a price I could finally afford. And it was far from perfect.
Rotting porch, unlevel floors, windows and doors that had to be replaced and a world of work to be done to make it mine. The commodes are so short you can count the hairs on your knees while sitting on them. Water damage to the floors and ceilings. Lattice work that had flown away in the wind over previous years. Our work was cut out for us. Most homes are bought there completely furnished. Mine was completely empty. There are no furniture stores on the island or anywhere decent to buy home goods.
We've had to buy and ship all of it over on sea freight which is quite expensive and can be a nightmare. If you have followed our Facebook page you can read up on our journey get the house furnished - https://www.facebook.com/mimosa.cottage.eleuthera
This story is going to be about my third trip over trying getting her set up.
First of all, I had to go all alone. Zack was unable to go with me and the work had to be done. It was the loneliest trip I've ever made to the island and I've been going for many years.
Things don't happen in a timely fashion on the island. You've heard the expression "Island Time".
I arrived expecting all of the work to be done that I had contracted before leaving on my last trip. No....it had hardly been started. I DO know how to chill and I had to call on the chill gods to put me there.
We have an excellent contractor but I found out that not much gets done if you're not there to crack the whip.
It was my plan to get all of the rooms set up and decorated to be ready for a rental that I had taken on starting December 31. By mid-week (and remember I only had a week booked with the airlines) it was quite evident that my plans were not going to be even close to completed by week's end. I changed my flight to add another week. Most of my first week was spent sitting in the bedroom while, slowly, work was being completed. The kitchen flooring that I most needed to be present for had not arrived so I could do nothing about getting the kitchen set up. Piles of housewares were just sitting around crying for me to find them a home.
First half of the second week I worked at setting up the bedrooms, bathrooms and living room. The blinds that I ordered to be shipped in had been damaged and many of them could not be used and needed to be returned for replacement. So I was still exposed to the world from inside the house.
On Wednesday of the second week a major storm blew in...and blow it did. Lost power, internet and phone died. Needless to say nothing else got done in the cottage as I sat hearing nothing but the wind blow (50 to 70 mph gusts) Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. And that also meant no work being done and the kitchen flooring was somewhere on the island, but not with me. When darkness fell it was darker than I've ever experienced. I'd take an occasional break from sitting or lying in the darkness to venture out onto the porch for a smoke. Most of you know I smoke those darned electronic cigarettes. Shame on me. But I had run out of my cartridges by Tuesday of the second week...so...I had to buy a pack of the real things at $17 a pack. Anyhoo...sitting in the dark on the porch, with winds and rain gusting all around, the world was pitch black but if I looked up through the rain I could see the milky way. And if I looked out beyond the yard to the the brush there were thousands of fireflies blinking off and on. It took a lot of stress off just watching God's wonders.
Due to lack of internet and power I couldn't change my flight or check to see if the bridge would be open due to the storm. I kinda figured it would be closed. IF the airlines were still flying in or out of the island airports I had no idea. Here's where my story gets positive.
I had already made plans with the wonderful Lachadra Cadet to have me picked up Saturday morning early by a young gentleman who I've known for a few years that works for the Cadet's Car Rental company. He takes cars to the different airports to be ready for visitors to pick up when they arrive. His name is Jeremy Gierszewski. That's a lotta name for a young man born and raised on the island. Seems his grandfather was Polish. He's been instrumental in helping with my local fishing attempts and filling me in on the island's goings ons. I've always liked Jeremy a lot.
At this point I didn't know if he would pick me up or not. If the bridge was closed or the airports were closed he would have no need to deliver a car. I got my suitcases ready and did the best I could with getting the house in order with what could be done and he showed up about 8:45. My flight was leaving at 1:02 and it's normally about an hour's drive to the North Eleuthera Airport.
Now, my cottage is right beside the Governor's Harbour airport (GHB). Why, you might ask did I have to go an hour away to North Eleuthera airport (ELH)? During Covid GHB was shut down and they are slowly allowing smaller airlines to land and depart. I fly American because I can leave from MYR thru Charlotte with a nonstop to Eleuthera bypassing Nassau (which is an absolute nightmare). At this time I'm having to fly into ELH due to a lot of reasons, most of them being stupid and political.
Governor's Harbour Airport
North Eleuthera Airport
Anyhoo...in between me and ELH is an area known for the Glass Window Bridge. If you'll look back up at the satellite image this bridge is located at the teeniest, tiniest, skinniest part of the island. The Caribbean waters (called the Bight) and the Atlantic Ocean meet under this bridge merging water to water. When the weather is extremely windy the Atlantic side "rages" and flies up over the bridge. It's been known to wash people and autos over, therefore they have to shut it down. When this happens no one can drive from my part of the island into the northern part of the island, which is where ELH is located. Bahamian ingenuity has come up with locals having boats picking people and their luggage up from one side of the bridge, running them through the Bight waters to the other side of the bridge, then you have to take a taxi to the airport. (this is reversed if you're arriving at ELH and need to get to where you'll be staying past the bridge)
Glass Window Bridge
Check Out This Video Of The "Rage" On The Bridge
Jeremy made a call and found out the bridge was closed but the airport was open. He and I head out to the boat landing to catch the ride to the other side of the bridge. When we get there we see one boat leaving the dock with no one on it. What the heck? Usually there are a lot of boats there to load up. We looked across the way and saw folks loading their luggage into taxis and they seemed happy. Jeremy gets on the phone again. He finds out they're getting ready to open the bridge! Yay! So we hightail it back onto the highway (which is a very narrow two lane road with trees and brush growing all the way to the pavement) and head for the bridge. As we get close there are cars, vans and trucks lined up on both sides with a narrow opening in between that would barely fit a car going down. We stop at the back of the line. Jeremy gets out and talks to a few of the local guys and it seems there are are trees fallen on the road at both ends of the bridge and we're waiting for them to clear the way. We watch quite a few crazy people get out of their cars, unload their baggage and head out on foot to get to the bridge and cross it on foot. Man, that's a LONG walk. Jeremy makes one more phone call, looks at me and cranks the Jeep. We pull out and go down the narrow path of autos, and we're second in line to cross when they get the go ahead to take the road block down and let cars go thru. Jeremy looks at me and says "if you'll drive this car we've got several rentals that have been abandoned on this side and I need to drive one of those to the airport". Heck, yeah! Just get me there! We passed the "walkers" on our way over..lol.
Long story short....we made it to the airport...I made it in time for my flight...and I am home! Stay tuned to see if I find out the work was finished and she's ready for the rental family coming in.
My hero...Jeremy Gierszewski
It's time to shut down and save some of the good stories for later.
Put the music on Miss Bay Bay...it's time to dance! Miss Bay Bay passed away a few months ago....but she'll still be puttin' the music on for me and Mr. Brady from the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
This blog is in memory of sweet Miss Bay Bay
Before you go, won't you please leave a comment below?
First of all...I can't believe I haven't posted a new blog since mid 2021. Yes, I believe it's time for me to find time to sit down and write myself a new blog post. What to talk about...hmmmmm.
It's Saturday...second weekend the OD Pavilion is open for the season...and it's raining and 48 degrees. I don't wanna go! Still in my PJs and surfin' the net...seems like a good time to come up with somethin'.
Lately I only have one thing on my mind (other than waiting for the next chance to get out and dance a little). That one thing is a small out island in the Bahamas called Eleuthera. I know...I know. Y'all have heard me talk about til you walk away when you see me comin'.
I have had a dream for over 30 years...and that's to have a little hideaway on this beautiful island. It's really what I've worked so hard for. About 2 years ago I realized I needed to change my dream because it was WAY out of my reach since so many people have discovered Eleuthera and driven the prices for 2nd homes sky high.
As I sit here at my desk today it's all I can think about. Yeah, Kristye...get a life...it ain't gonna happen. Don't waste your dreams.
This year on my little 10 day annual vacation (that I save my dollars for all year) I decided to look around and see what could'a been. When what to my wandering eyes did appear...but a teeny tiny little bungalow on a craggy driveway with a For Sale sign. It was cute...it looked almost new. I figured it was still way out of my price range but decided to set myself up for another disappointment by giving the realtor a call.
I couldn't believe my ears when she told me the price so I arranged to see it. That was the beginning of a lot of yes and nos by the owner. Did she...or did she not...want to sell it?
With me on this trip was an old runnin' buddy...Martha McNally. We expected to be hittin' the beaches and the bars, restaurants and shops....but noooooooooooo...she patiently waited with me for THE phone call. Not one with a lot of patience we snuck up that steep, rutty driveway and took a look, taking some photos of the exterior and checking out the lot. Out of nowhere the sweet lady who was presently living in the house came out on the porch and called out to us. Oh, oh...we're in trouble...was running through my mind. When I told her we were just checking it out and waiting for the owner to let a realtor show it to us she said "come on in, ladies...feel free to look around". Another reason I LOVE the Eleutheran people...they are so friendly! Martha looked at me and I looked at her and up the steps we went.
One step inside and I knew I had to have it if there was any way to work it out. Miss Carol had us look around and then set us on her big sofa to answer any questions.
We left and went down to a little bar & grill...got a drinky and a bite to eat. Before we sat down good a man I know from the island came over and leaned on our table..."I hear you're lookin' to buy a house?"
Boy, word travels fast on Eleuthera. Come to find out he has some property to sell and was nicely trying to get me to talk to him about it. Nope. I found my house if this lady will quit dilly dallying about letting us see it and make an offer. The sales price was unreal. You know the old saying: "If it seems too good to be true....". Well, I like this better:
Long story short....the price was too good to be true but we investigated...looked at other houses (all of which were a lot higher and in bad need of repair), and I made an offer. It took a couple more days of waiting and finagling until my offer was accepted. I'm on cloud nine and have no regrets. Working on a closing now...then the work has to be done of shipping furniture and all household supplies over from the states. Almost everything on the island has to be shipped in. 😳 Then hauled from the port and delivered to the house, assembled, set up and almost ready.
Once this is done Zack and I are going over with suitcases loaded down with housewares and decor to put the final touches on it. The "it" is my MIMOSA COTTAGE. She'll be available for vacation rentals after that....and I can come and go as I save money for airline fares. My DREAM has come true! Every little ting's gonna be alright.
Stay tuned!
On another note. Speaking about how word travels on the island....Martha and I were on our way to check out this little house when Martha said she'd like to find a bathroom before we got there. That's asking alot in Eleuthera, especially traveling down Queen's highway. Governor's Harbour Airport was ahead and I remembered there was a little bar there on the side. So we pulled in and I went inside while Martha went to the one and only bathroom. I looked up over the bar and gasped! There has always been a portrait of Patti LaBelle on the wall and it was gone! Patti owned a house there and like other well known folks on the island....we left left 'em all alone to enjoy the peace and freedom on the island just like we did. While the bartender was gettin' me a cold Radler (if you know, you know) I asked him what happened to the portrait. Was told the bar had been bought and the former owner took it with him.
We had our drink and went on our way. The next day we went to a little grill for lunch and the bartender said "you must be the ladies lookin' for Patti Labelle". Geezo...we weren't looking for her (which puts a big X on you on the island...leave 'em alone) I just asked what happened to the portrait. A couple of afternoons later we caught a taxi with Mr. Arthur Nixon to go back and forth to LeoRose Sunset Bar & Grill to keep from driving the curvy, unlit, potholed highway at night. We weren't pulled out of our driveway before Mr. Nixon said "so you're the girls lookin' for Patti Labelle". This was NOT the reputation I wanted on the island! I told him how it must have all conspired and he told me Patti has sold her house and left the island. We did, however have a good time laughing with him about how things travel on the island and he said he'd set it straight. Have I told you how much i LOVE Eleuthera? And Mr. Nixon... lol
One more thing...the saying is "Eleuthera's Not For Everybody". If you're looking for a vacation where you'll be catered to and pampered with luxurious hotels and restaurants you don't won't to visit. All my island has to offer is peace and quiet, over 100 beautiful beaches where you'll probably be the only one on it, no big stores only locally owned shops, restaurants/grills and bars. Most have to be found by trying out the dirt roads you see off of the highway.....and the best locals I've found anywhere. No street lights, lots of potholes on the one main road through the island, very few shoulders and you better watch out for cows stepping out of the brush onto the road. I LOVE it!
It's time to shut down and save some of the good stories for later.
Put the music on Miss Bay Bay...it's time to dance!
Before you go, won't you please leave a comment below?
Music, friends and dancin'. My love for all three began at the innocent age of 12. My brother was 9 years older than me and I had heard stories of him sneakin' off to a place out in the middle of nowhere called Williams Lake when I was much younger but the curiosity of it's magical draw didn't hit me until the hormones did.
And, hit me, they did. My daddy had a friend and golfing partner named Gene Driver. Mr. Driver had a younger brother, Harry Driver. Daddy often spoke of the dancin' Harry and his wife, Dottie, did at the Chicora County Club clubhouse during the member parties held there. Eventually Chicora tried it's hand at "teen" parties. The first one I attended Harry had arranged for a band to play. I'm terribly disappointed that I don't remember who that band was....but I do remember I was smitten with their music and the dancing that went on. The feeling of that night has never left me and has been firmly planted in my soul ever since. Harry Driver was and is still my fas' dancin' hero.
Harry at a Chicora golf tournament receiving trophy from "Uncle" Benny Spears
Harry and Dottie Driver - The best of the best dancers, in my opinion
Harry was a snappy dresser and a dream on the dance floor.
My brother had a little record player and the music he played would seep through the doors of his bedroom. I'd sit out in the hall and listen to that wonderful music and memorize the lyrics. My favorite, and probably the first one I had memorized was "May I" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.
I still sing this in the shower!
At 14 we had family friends with kids I grew up with...Gene and Mary Baker. Their daughter, Rebecca, was a couple years older than me and was already aware and in love with Williams Lake. My first trip to this magical place was with Rebecca...and we were both underage...me by a lot!
I remember driving what seemed like FOREVER and after passing outside of Dunn it seemed there were nothing but woods with an occasional farmhouse. Then, I heard the hard beat of a base drum drifting through the car windows. The closer we got the more we could hear music. I was so excited...we were breaking the rules...and I was finally gonna see what Williams Lake was all about.
The parking lot was packed! We could hear the music inside but there were kids everywhere in the parking lot. High school kids, Campbell College kids...and now there was ME! There were coolers outside of the cars with beer flowing rampantly. A few mason jars with moonshine...and some of the coolers were filled with this purple lookin' stuff having slices of fruit floating around in it that I later learned was PJ...Purple Jesus.
Just to let you know...we did NOT drink any of these enticing beverages on my first visit. I'm sure my eyes were bulging taking in the sites. But the BEST sight was looking inside the old wooden doors going into the building. Smoke filled the air and there were folks dancin' their hearts out. There was even a guy gettin' pulled down out of the rafters! I was hooked.
Williams Lake is where I fell in love...not with a boy...but with the music and the dance. I'm still in love with both to this day.
I think I can honestly say I was at The Lake almost every weekend afterwards...until the sad day of it's closing. The music there led me to Ocean Drive and here I still am. Much to my surprise I found out Harry Driver was a legend here at the beach. My, my, my. So I wasn't the only one enamored by him. Harry is an icon here and will always be remembered by anyone who loves our music. Famous for his "on the beach" days...famous for his dancin'...famous for contributions to what is now known as "beach music".
Williams Lake died in 1970. I give to you the best history I've found on this wonderful place....thanks to Mary Lemuel Blalock, may she rest in peace:
Imagine a rough timber dance floor, built over water, and located out in the middle of rural Sampson County, North Carolina. The entrance road is dirt and dust, and the closest small towns are Dunn and Clinton, 15 miles west and east, respectively. You can hear the crickets chirping and the frogs croaking; and the mosquitoes are biting? Welcome to the 38-year phenomenon known as—Williams Lake.
Clayton and Lillian Williams owned Williams Lake. They lived across the road from The Lake and spent the majority of their lives giving young and old, alike, a place to go and have fun. All you could ask for, and more, happened at The Lake from 1932 to 1970 … jitterbugging to music on the jukebox in the 30s, 40s, and 50s and bopping to the sounds of live music in the 60s.
It was the Swing Era—early 1930s—a time when uncertainty was building around the world. Little did people realize that in a few years there would be ultimate chaos that would affect their innocent and uncomplicated lives forever. For the present, leisurely summer days of swimming and picnicking, with families, is all that seemed important.
The Depression had a big effect on music in the 1930s. People needed security and wanted to hear lively and spirited sounds; it was a reflection of the way they were feeling. They wanted to feel happy. In 1934, a bandleader known as Cab Calloway introduced a cut-time, four-beat energetic tune, and it would evolve into a dance that would take the nation by storm. The song was titled—The Jitterbug.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams would eventually provide a haven for protection during the Depression by introducing a new addition to their lake pavilion—Music; and it would be provided by a generator-powered jukebox. Teenagers from surrounding towns heard about the arrival of the jukebox and set off on those sandy and dusty roads to Williams Lake in order to dance the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug. The music of recording artists Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington was gaining fame in a small wooden shelter in the middle of a place that no one outside of two or three counties knew existed—Williams Lake!
Eventually, those 1930s fun and carefree days ended. The world was at war in the early 1940s, and it was a sad and lonely time for most families who had at least one child defending our nation in World War II. However, one local sanctuary remained positive—Williams Lake! Mr. and Mrs. Williams continued to provide a place for families to come together and forget about the oppression of war.
Times had changed and so had the music genre. The combined styles of the 20s, 30s, and 40s would eventually come to be known as Rhythm and Blues and Rock and Roll. Nonetheless, the music from Miller, Goodman, Shaw, and others, bounced around the nation; but sounds from other artists as The Mills Brothers, Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatrawere taking shape. Two O'clock Jump, Shoo-Shoo Baby, and White Cliffs of Dover were reverberating over the radio and on the jukeboxat—Williams Lake!
By the late 1940s and early 1950s, we were in the middle of the Korean Conflict. Rhythm and Blues was in full influence and recording artists as Dinah Washington and Buddy and Ella Johnson were paving the way for another generation of teenagers. It was not uncommon to hear Evil Gal Blues, Caldonia, and Old Maid Boogie on the jukebox at—Williams Lake!
In 1953 and 1954, Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters and The Dominoes were recording influential songs as Money Honey and Sixty-Minute Man. The dance known as the Jitterbug had now evolved into the Bop and was ultimately popular on the East Coast and in clubs from Virginia to Florida. One such dance club in NC was—Williams Lake!
A further music style was additionally coming into existence—Doo-Wop—a Rhythm and Blues character of music with vocals. This method originated in the northern black communities, became popular in the 1950s, and blossomed throughout the 1960s—resonating of tranquil harmonies from The Platters, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and more. These groups made it possible for people to slow dance with each other. Sometimes couples could be seen standing in a close position and just swaying back and forth to songs as Only You and Tears on My Pillow … yet one more reason for sweethearts to flock to—Williams Lake!
About 30 miles from Williams Lake, another small town was also about to enter the music arena. Dynamic musicology was catering to another teenage era in Faison, NC; and it would feed the high school and college enthusiasm by introducing live R&B music to surrounding NC counties.
In 1960, Mr. C. P. Ellis opened up his produce warehouse in Faison showcasing a little-known black band called Ulysses Hardy and The Mighty Blue Notes. Ulysses excited the crowds with his rendition of James Brown's Please, Please, Please by hanging from the rafters during the song. One of the Blue Notes musicians was a 15 year old saxophonist who would later go on to play with James Brown and become one of the most eminent national and international Jazz and R&B artists of all time. His name—Maceo Parker!
Additionally, appearing on the scene and playing with The Blue Notes for several years, was Henry Slocumb, a white teenage bassist from Dunn, NC. Henry would maintain the distinction of being the only white musician to perform with The Blue Notes at Faison. The Blue Notes played in Faison from September to Easter, and Williams Lake opened the Wednesday before Easter and remained operative through Labor Day … Faison in the fall and winter and Williams Lake in the spring and summer. It was a dream come true for teenagers.
The British groups were invading the music industry by 1964. Faison's entertainment future was uncertain; so the doors to the C. P. Ellis Produce Warehouse Shed 403 closed for good that year.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were now physically unable to continue operating Williams Lake; in 1965, they turned the management over to 22-year-old Robert Honeycutt, who had begun working at The Lake when he was 14. Robert would introduce a regenerated remembrance and forever put Williams Lake on the map.
The Lake would, undeniably, become unprecedented for the appearances of NC bands, as well as, premier national recording artists as Martha and the Vandellas, Maurice Williams, Billy Stewart, Jackie Wilson, The Coasters, and many more.
The inaugural band to perform at Williams Lake on April 21, 1965 was Bob Collins and The Fabulous Five out of Greensboro, NC. The Five was considered to be one of the top three favorite bands to play at The Lake, and they are still entertaining audiences today in 2008.
Another local band that gained popularity at The Lake was Gene Barbour and The Cavaliers from Dunn, NC. The Cavaliers often backed up celebrity groups as Joe Pope and The Atlanta Tams, Clifford Curry, Major Lance, and other prominent recording artists. In 1969, The Cavaliers merged with another Dunn band, The Tymes, and adopted the name Men of Distinction. The Men continued to perform throughout the Southeast through the 70s and will always be remembered as emissaries of music from the small town of Dunn, NC. Later to become Harry's Band, named in honor of their long-time manager and mentor, the late Harry Driver, the power show band continued to excite audiences until 2005.
Rounding out the top three best-liked bands was Ken Helser and The Tassels, later called Pieces of Eight. Reminiscent of Ulysses Hardy, as he did at Faison by hanging from the rafters, the crowd was energized by Ken when he did the same at The Lake. Ken Helser continues to electrify audiences today through the power of his ministry, A Place for the Heart.
Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times [...], we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way." Vietnam, Woodstock, Anti-War Protestors, Drugs … Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez … And so it was that in the early dark hours of January 1, 1970, an era ended with the closing of—Williams Lake!
Thirty-eight years have since passed. Nonetheless, anytime you happen down NC Side Road 1002 in Sampson County, the crickets are still chirping; the frogs are still croaking and the mosquitoes are still biting. And if the summer breeze is blowing just right, you can also hear the faint sounds of Joe Pope and The Atlanta Tams singing those familiar words, "There's a ram shackle shack down in old Caroline; And it's calling me back to that heart of mine"—Williams Lake!
Mary Lemuel Blalock
Dunn, North Carolina
2008
The Lake is long gone, but the memories and love for it's good times lives on.
This place gave me a fever that I've never been able to control....Thank you Harry Driver, Robert Honeycutt and Williams Lake!
***Note that if you ever visited Williams Lake please join our Facebook group and share your memories. Remember Williams Lake #2***
https://www.facebook.com/groups/430269611643417
What to do now? I'm sittin' here all alone and I'm just gonna dance! Put the music on Miss BayBay...I'm gonna dance with Mr. Brady!
T
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