A little about the Hampstead area

George Washington passed through here in 1791, and spent the night at a tavern not too far from here. The monument at its base was placed there by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1925.

Hampstead was once a small fishing village and a whistle stop alongside the Atlantic Coast Line RR. Now it is probably the fastest growing area in the state, as more and more folks are choosing to live here. Many neighborhoods front the waterway, more are along the numerous creeks and even more line the area's four golf courses.

The land side of the sound is officially referred to as Topsail Township, and includes many small unincorporated communities, and the larger community of Hampstead.

There are still quaint fishing shacks on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway, though most are being replaced by much larger homes as new people * move into the area.

Highway 17 is being widened to a four lane coastal highway from Virginia to Florida, and offers convenient access to Wilmington, Jacksonville, and Interstate 40.

Now we have it all - a hamburger place, gas and taco place, take out pizza and take out Chinese, grocery store, drug store, hardware store, doctors and dentists and lawyers, a nice library, an oil change place, a few shopping strips and some excellent nurseries.

There are two wholesale-only fresh fish dealers, a very nice marina, and full service boat yard **, and lots of golf courses.

Every September, J. H. Lea & Sons contributes about 5,000 lbs. of fish to the yearly Spot Festival, the event of the year in the town.

History is everywhere, mostly related to marauders, both pirates and Yankees. Topsail Inlet was a frequently used entrance to Topsail Sound, a hideout for Blackbeard, Steede Bonnett and Captain Kidd, and Union raiders found it strategic to raid the salt works nearby, and generally disrupt waterborne commerce.

The bottom picture shows breastworks from the Civil War days. Breastworks were earthen walls piled up around gun emplacements, and these are near the entrance to Virginia Creek. There are more near Topsail Inlet.

Hampstead, and in fact all of Pender County, is seeing growth and change come quickly, and farmlands once used for blueberries and tobacco are growing houses and neighborhoods as development of the area increases.

* New people - almost always means rich people from up North - even after the 'late unpleasantness' many, many soldiers from up there just stayed here.

** Miss April is by Hampstead artist Michael Leahy. You can stop by the Hampstead Services & Printing, and Greater Hampstead Chamber of Commerce, to see it and find out how to get one.