About Topsail Historical Society

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So far Topsail Historical Society has created 4 blog entries.

Bumblebee Buzz June 2019

Special thanks to The Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University
in Laurel, Maryland for providing videotape, models, and other documentation
for the Operation Bumblebee exhibit which forms the core of the Museum.
Museum Hours: Monday-Saturday 2-5pm now through Labor Day

Bumblebee Buzz June 2019

Preserving the Past, Enjoying the Present, Building the Future.

A Note From The President

Missiles and More Museum has been hosting visitors from all over North Carolina, the United States and abroad. The Bingo program began this week much to the delight of tourists and residents alike. Our exciting Summer Aquarium Program will begin June 26th. Plans are already in the works for our coastal arts and music festival, Autumn With Topsail 2019.
Make plans to join us at some of our fun-filled activities during the coming weeks!

Many HSTI members have requested a membership renewal notice. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2019-2020, you will receive a reminder, as requested.

All the best for a great summer season!

Volunteers in Action #HSTIStrong

In Memory of “Barney” Wiley B. Bryant
May 3, 1929 – May 27, 2019

Barney Bryan was an active HSTI volunteer and an integral part of our HSTI Bingo program for sixteen years. At 90 years old he was the senior member of our Bingo team. We were honored by his friendship and gentle leadership in Bingo accounting matters.

June 12, 2019~ Missiles and More Museum Banner Day-266 Visitors!
Photo by Edna C. Smith

Volunteer Today!

Museum: We need more than docents-good at organization, accounting, technology?? contact Rose Peters Volunteer in the Museum!
BINGO!: Join the Fun on those hot summer Thursday Nights!! No experience necessary. Need help in concession and card sales, accounting and technology!! Contact Barry Newsome: Volunteer for BINGO!
Aquarium Program: Fun for all ages but it’s all about the kids! Come out and see the aquatic world through the eye of a child! Contact Virginia Teachey: Volunteer for Aquarium Program!
Autumn with Topsail: Arts, Food, & Beach Music! Critical need: Silent Auction Manager-no solicitation! Be available October 19 and 20. Contact Rick Stidley: Volunteer for Autumn with Topsail!
Luncheons and Lecture Series: Delicious food, great speakers and friendly fellowship! Want to meet new people, can you make change, how do you feel about taking out the trash? We need you! Contact Gaylene Branton Volunteer for the Luncheons!

UP COMING EVENTS:

BINGO!! June 13-August 15, 2019: Thursday nights are fun for the entire family at the Historic Assembly Building! Doors Open at 6PM – Early Bird Games start at 6:30PM Main Games start at 7PM. Please no outside food or drinks. Concessions for sale on site!

All proceeds go to support The Historical Society of Topsail Island’s mission to collect, preserve and promote the history of the Greater Topsail Island area.

Summer Aquarium Program Presented by NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher Outreach: Join us Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. inside the Historic Assembly Building. These interactive programs are designed for families with school aged children. A donation of $1.00 per child is appreciated to defray the cost and enable us to continue these exciting programs.

June 26 Hermit Crab’s Friends (aimed at 4-5 year old’s), July 3 Jammin’ Jellies, July 10 Turtle Time, July 17 Fantastic Fish, July 24 Scaly Survivors, July 31 Our Living Seashells

Don’t Miss This:
2019 OCEAN CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL

10th Anniversary Celebration
July 4-7 2019
Historic Ocean City Community
2649 Island Dr, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460

More Information!

Bumblebee Buzz June 2019Topsail Historical Society2019-06-18T14:16:16-04:00

Historical Society of Topsail Island raffles limited edition canvas with portion of Surf City Swing Bridge

TOPSAIL BEACH – A Limited edition canvas, “The Last Sunrise” with swing bridge metal, has been donated to the Historical Society of Topsail Island (HSTI) by Topsail artist Jeff Wenzel. HSTI is selling raffle tickets at the Missiles and More Museum, Monday through Saturday from 2pm-5pm. The cost of tickets is $5 for one or $20 for five.

Earlier this year, Wenzel donated a 5-ft. steel truss and the wood base from the bridge fender system from the iconic structure. The pieces cut by Balfour Beatty and crafted into a unique exhibit by HSTI member, Rick Stidley is on display at the Missiles and More Museum.

“I am thankful to the bridge contractor, Balfour Beatty, for making this a reality,” said Jeff Wenzel, owner of Above Topsail Photography “The Swing Bridge was an important part of Topsail Island — the gateway to paradise to many — and it will be missed, but not forgotten.”

Tickets will also be on sale at BINGO! Thursday nights in the Historic Assembly Building from June 13 through August 15. One lucky winner will be drawn Sunday, 20 October 2019 during Autumn with Topsail. You need not be present to win but we would love to see you there!! All proceeds benefit the Historical Society of Topsail Island, which owns and operates the Missiles and More Museum.

The museum, housed in the Historic Assembly Building, 720 Channel Boulevard, Topsail Beach NC, opened in 1997 and expanded in 2005. Currently Museum displays include Operation Bumblebee, an expanded Natural History exhibit, two interactive media centers, a pirate exhibit, a Native American exhibit, and an Osprey Aircraft exhibit.

For More information, visit www.missilesandmoremuseum.org or www.topsailhistoricalsociety.org

For your own piece of the iconic swing bridge, visit Jeff’s website, abovetopsailphotography.com

Historical Society of Topsail Island raffles limited edition canvas with portion of Surf City Swing BridgeTopsail Historical Society2020-02-20T11:13:39-05:00

Bumblebee Buzz May 2019

Come visit the Missiles and More Museum and see our new Exhibit:

And then there were three…Topsail Island Piers

Bumblebee Buzz May 2019

Preserving the Past, Enjoying the Present, Building the Future.

A Note From The President

Thank you for your support during my term as president of HSTI. Without our dedicated, hardworking volunteers none of our programs and events would be possible.

I would especially like to thank our HSTI Board members. Many challenges were met by this Board with a keen determination to do what was needed and to do it right. I appreciate their courage, insight, and commitment to preserve our historic Assembly Building. Each of them has served well and offered their unique talents to make possible the continuation of programs and services for our island community.

We have just celebrated the reopening of the Missiles and More Museum. The Summer Aquarium and Bingo programs will begin soon. Plans are already in the works for Autumn With Topsail 2019. I hope you will join us at some of our exciting activities during the coming weeks.

All the best for a great summer season!

Volunteers in Action #HSTIStrong

A few of our outstanding Bingo! 2018 Volunteers. Bingo! begins June 13th–Join this fun-loving team!

PEP 2019 HSTI Spelling Bee team
Gaylene Branton, Betsy Johnson, Edna Smith & Steve Smith

April 15, 2019~ Missiles and More Museum Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Pictured above are representatives from Topsail Chamber of Commerce, Town of Topsail Beach, HSTI Board, and museum docents.

Photo by Irene Lambert.

Volunteer Today!

UP COMING EVENTS:

All proceeds go to support The Historical Society of Topsail Island’s mission to collect, preserve and promote the history of the Greater Topsail Island area.

June 26 Hermit Crab’s Friends (aimed at 4-5 year old’s), July 3 Jammin’ Jellies, July 10 Turtle Time, July 17 Fantastic Fish, July 24 Scaly Survivors, July 31 Our Living Seashells

Autumn with Topsail wins award!!

During the Annual Eastern NC Coast Host meeting, May 2nd, Pender County Tourism recognized their award winning festivals and events. So here’s to Historical Society of Topsail Island ‘s Autumn With Topsail, Poplar Grove Plantation’s Paranormal Investigation Tours, the NC Bacon Festival, Air-play events, Olivia Dawson, Topsail Island Jeep Week, Moores Creek National Battlefield’s Anniversary Reenactment, the Ocean City Jazz Festival, the Town of Burgaw, Art Beat, Pender County Historical Society, Pender County Public Library, the Pender High drama dept. and our special events partner Pender County Parks and Recreation. Photo provided by Pender County Tourism.

Bumblebee Buzz May 2019Topsail Historical Society2019-05-13T10:11:19-04:00

Bumblebee Buzz April 2019

2019 HSTI Scholarship Winners and Education Chairman

(l-r) Abigail Korenek, Sophie Korenek, Virginia Teachey, Madison Snyder and Anna Bradshaw

photo by Stephanie Key

Bumblebee Buzz April 2019

Preserving the Past, Enjoying the Present, Building the Future.

A Note From The President

We are nearing completion of our extensive restoration projects for the Assembly Building and Missiles and More Museum. Hundreds of volunteer hours, as well as, professional services have gone into the roof truss system and post hurricane restoration. To date we have invested about $437,000 to keep our Assembly building strong and safe. Without our volunteers, the cost would have been much higher. We are so grateful for their dedication and service to the historical society.

We are now in the process of rebuilding our financial reserves so that we can continue to effectively operate our building and fulfill our mission to collect, preserve, and promote the history of the Greater Topsail Area.

While we celebrate our restoration, we are mindful that many others are still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Please help when and where you can.

DONATE or Join/Renew Membership Here!

Volunteers in Action #HSTIStrong

2019 Docent Training: Denise Compton, Sue Bankes, Beth Holder and Tammy Proctor

Docents_Denise-Compton_Sue-Bankes_Beth-Holder_Tammy-Proctor-2019

John-Morris_Rose-Peters_and_Dave-Stipe_Museum-2019

2019 Docent Training
John Morris, Rose Peters and Dave Stipe

♦ Docent Training

Missiles & More Museum
Ribbon Cutting
& Open House

Monday
April 15, 2019
2PM-5PM

After extensive restoration and many volunteer hours post hurricane Florence,
our Missiles and More Museum will reopen to the public with a ribbon cutting and open house!!

Volunteer Today!

UP COMING EVENTS:

May 9, 2019: Luncheon and Lecture Series: Beverly Tetterton, retired research librarian and archivist, New Hanover Library will regale us with tales from Colonial Wilmington.
Lunch catered by the Beach Shop and Grill will be fried Chicken, homemade potato salad, green beans, green salad, rolls and iced tea. More info?

Congratulations 2019 HSTI Scholarship Winners!

Competition was tough but these 4 ladies outshined the other 8 applicants to win coveted HSTI Scholarships.
They presented their projects at the luncheon held on April 11th at the Historic Assembly Building.

pictured (l-r): Dixon HS Seniors, Sophie Korenek (Women Air Force Service Pilots) & Abigail Korenek (Displaced: The Old Onslow) and Topsail HS Seniors, Madison Snyder (The Dangerously Repetitive Pattern of Hurricanes) & Anna Bradshaw (Name Calling).

Photo by Stephanie Key

Bumblebee Buzz April 2019Topsail Historical Society2019-05-13T10:10:18-04:00

About Topsail Historical Society