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Tracey and I, while sitting on our front porch, had a chance to look at the south side of the river. It is amazing how it has grown. From no lights to too many lights on the south side.

I can remember when there were only a handful of lights over there. There was Whichards Beach, Camp Hardee and Fort Hill to name a few . Now they are lit from Cypress Landing to Blounts Creek and beyond.

At Marshall Todd Singleton’s home, there used to be a few across the river from him. There used to be two homes over there. A friend of Tracey’s, the Wood family at Old Fort Shores and of course Laverne Parker , who all of us boys knew.

The bottom used to be muddy and the channel ran over there. Made it deeper when Dave Tayloe skied over there. Logs would float
on the south side, also making it non-skiable besides the muddy bottom.

Now, there is an island with homes on it and Cypress Landing, which has a golf course on its acreage. And to add to it, Joanie and DeWayne Kellum live across the river from us! There is Moore’s Beach down from Joanie and DeWaynes home beside Fort Hill.

Whichards Beach was once a thriving community. It has many homes over there now. It was one of the busiest beaches around. Wendy Earle used to work over there as a lifeguard and helped with the waterslide.

There used to be nothing on the south side of the river! I mean nothing, now it has grown up to be a light show of sorts . We sit on the front porch of our home in total amazement getting used to the south side! It has grown up, boy how it’s grown up!

They were best of times with the best friends and in the best of places, Washington, N. C. The Original Washington !

Harold Jr.