About

Dr. Stan Rule

Researcher, blogger

About

The personal story of a connection to and love for a cabin on Core Banks was shared with me by Charles Styron, of Atlantic, NC, as I worked on his decoys. Like 400 others, his family camp was lost to the establishment of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.  Structures in Portsmouth and Cape lookout Village have some historical documentation, though even that information is often hard to access. But most of the vanishing history of these cabins, camps, and houses remains undocumented. My goal is to document the rich stories of personal use and often beloved individual and family memories of this part of Core Banks heritage–and the impact on their lives then and going forward.

Interest in structures, geography and ownership stories serves as a framework into which I want to weave the story of the personal memories of experience and impact that the Banks had on the people who cherished them. I also seek to acquire and interweave representative photos depicting the cabin culture. I have chosen to limit focus to roughly 1900 to present day–the exodus from much of the Banks following storms of the late 1800s seems to divide the types of use and experience on these banks. Also, living resources for earlier times are unavailable and I feel interviews and personal contacts and sharing of photos and stories best meets my goals of depicting a spiritual connection with the Banks.

I hope you will be willing to share your memories and emotions, your family history regarding the Banks, and any photos and documents helping frame your and your family’s story. My intent is to continue to gather this information (now 465 pages and 300 photos) and bring it forward, “public facing.” Selected parts will be shared in ongoing basis with the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, the Cape Lookout National Seashore, the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild, and others interested but I intend to eventually develop a format for ongoing full access to finished products, as well as, notes/photos and interviews.

RESEARCH SOURCES

Cape Lookout National Seashore
Harkers Island NC

Carteret County Historical Society
Morehead City NC

Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild
Harkers Island NC

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Harkers Island NC

Get in touch

I’m always available for side collaborations and talks. If you want to chat about cabins, the Outer Banks, decoys, or anything else, don’t hesitate in reaching out.